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men he could, not confining Christianity to a party. A friend of peace and a diligent promoter of it among Christians.* In point of learning he was one of the brightest ornaments of the University of Oxford. Even. Mr. Ant. Wood, who seldom could drop any thing favorable of a pious non-conformist, thinks fit to own, that "he was a person well skilled in the tongues, rab"binical learning, and Jewish rites; that he had a "great command of his English pen, and was one of the "fairest and genteelest writers that appeared against the "church of England." His Christian temper in managing controversy was admirable. He was well acquainted with men and things, and would shrewdly guess a man's temper and designs on the first acquaintance. His labors, as a minister of the gospel, were incredible. He was an excellent preacher, having a good elocution, graceful and affectionate: and could, on all occasions, without any premeditation, express himself pertinently on any subject; yet the sermons were mostly well studied and digested, though he gen

* The following letter to a friend, which was never published, tending in a measure to illustrate this part of our author's character, is deemed not unworthy of insertion here.

"SIR,

"I AM very sorry to find that there is a difference arisen be"tween Mr. C and yourself. Since the receipt of yours, I "received one from him, with an account of the difference, and "his thoughts upon it at large. I do not therefore judge it meet "to write any thing at present about it, until I am ready to give "unto you both an account of my thoughts, which by reason of "many avocations I cannot now do. All that I shall therefore "say at present, is, That without mutual love and condescension "no interposition of advice will issue the business to the glory "of Christ and the gospel. I pray God guide you both by that "Spirit which is promised to lead us into all truth. Upon the "first opportunity you will have a farther account of his sense "who is your

"January 2d, 1678-9."

"Affectionate brother, &c.

erally used no notes in the pulpit. His piety and devotion were eminent; his experimental knowledge of spiritual things very uncommon. In every depart⚫ment, and in all relations of life, he conducted himself like a great Christian,* a faithful and loving husband, a tender father, a good master, a prudent governor in places of honor and trust, and a very dutiful, peaceable subject. The following extracts from Mr. CLARKSON's funeral sermon for Dr. OWEN may be here subjoined, in justice to his character: "A great light is "fallen; one of eminency for holiness, learning, parts "and abilities; a pastor, a scholar, a divine of the first "magnitude: holiness gave a divine lustre to his other "accomplishments, it shined in his whole course, and "was diffused through his whole conversation. It was "his great design to promote holiness in the power, life, "and exercise of it. It was his great complaint that "the power of it declined among professors. It was his "care and endeavor to prevent or cure spiritual decays, "in his own flock: he was a burning and shining light.

*The following extract from a letter to Sir JoHN HARTOPP, which is not in print, may not be unacceptable, as a specimen of the Doctor's friendly correspondence: "My duty, my obligations, "and my inclinations, do all concur in the esteem I have for you "both; [Sir John and his lady] and I do make mention of you "daily in my poor supplications; and that with particular res"pect unto the present condition of your lady. That God who "hath revealed himself unto us, as the God that heareth prayer, "will yet glorify his name and be a present help unto her, in the "time of trouble. In the mean time, let her, and you, and me, "strive to love Christ more, to abide more with him, and to be "less in ourselves. He is our best friend. I pray God with all "my heart that I may be weary of every thing else but converse "and communion with him; yea, of the best of my mercies, so "far as at any time they may be hindrances thereof. My wife "presents her humble service unto your lady and yourself, as "so doth also, Sir, your most affectionate friend and servant in "our dear Lord, JOHN OWEN."

"He was master of all parts of learning requisite to "an accomplished divine; those that understood him, "and will be just, cannot deny him the reputation and "honor of being a great scholar; and those that detract "from him in this, seem to be led by a spirit of envy, "that would not suffer them willingly to see so great an “ornament among those that are of another persuasion. "Indeed he had parts able to master any thing he ap"plied himself unto, though he restrained himself to "those studies which might render him most serviceable "to Christ, and the souls of men. He was a passionate "lover of light and truth, of divine truth especially; he "pursued it unweariedly, through painful and wasting "studies. He was ready to spend and be spent for "Christ; he did not bury his talent, with which he was "richly furnished, but still laid it out for the Lord who "had intrusted him. He preached while his strength "and liberty would serve, then by discourse and writing. "That he was an excellent preacher, none will deny "who knew him, and knew what preaching was, and "think it not the worse because it is spiritual and evan"gelical. If holiness, learning, and a masculine unaf"fected style can commend any thing, his practical dis"courses cannot but find much acceptation with those

*

*Tam in Palæstra, quam Pulpito, Dominatus est:
In Pulpito, maxime Infirmi Corporis
Præsentia minime infirma:

Gestu, Theatrica procul Gesticulatione,
Ad optimas Decori Regulas composito:
Sermone, a Contemptibili remotissimo; Canoro,
Sed non Stridulo: Suavi, sed prorsus virili;
Et Authoritatis quiddam Sonante:

Pari, si non & Superiore, Animi Præsentia;
Concionum, quas, ad verbum, totas Chartis commisit,
Ne verbum quidem, vel carptim & stringente Oculo,
Inter Prædicandum Lectitavit:

Sed Omnia, Suo primum Impressa altius Pectori,
Auditorum Animis, Cordibusque potentius Ingessit:
GILB. Epit.

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"who are sensible of their soul concerns, and can relish "that which is divine, and value that which is not com"mon or trivial. His excellent "Comment upon the "Hebrews"* gained him a name and esteem, not only "at home but in foreign countries. When he had fin"ished it (and it was a merciful providence that he lived "to finish it) he said, Now his work was done it was "time for him to die."

$30. The late Rev. Doctor GIBBONS has given us, through the vehicle of the “Nonconformist's Memorial,” an English translation of the Latin epitaph abovementioned, which, as it may gratify the curiosity and pleasure of those in a peculiar manner who are not possessed of that work, or may not be versed in the Latin language, so the inserting of it here is highly proper as a just tribute to the Doctor's memory, and a suitable recapitulation of these memoirs:

JOHN OWEN, D. D.
Born in the county of Oxford,
The son of an eminent minister,
Himself more eminent,

And worthy to be enrolled
Among the first divines of the age.
Furnished with human literature
In all its kinds,

And in its highest degrees,
He called forth all his knowledge
In an orderly train

To serve the interests of religion,
And minister in the sanctuary of his God.
In divinity, practic, polemic, and casuistical,
He excelled others, and was in all equal to himself,

* Cujus Prælustri e multis unum Sufficiat Epitaphio: AUTHOR QUADRIPARTITI IN EP. AD HEBR. COMMENTARII.

The Arminian, Socinian, and Popish errors,
Those Hydras, whose contaminated breath
And deadly poison, infested the Church,

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He, with more than Herculean labor,

Repulsed, vanquished, and destroyed.

The whole œconomy of redeeming grace, Revealed and applied by the Holy Spirit, He deeply investigated, and communicated to others, Having first felt its divine energy, According to its draught in the holy scriptures, Transfused into his own bosom.

Superior to all terrene pursuits,

He constantly cherished, and largely experienced,
That blissful communion with Deity
He so admirably describes in his writings.
While on the road to heaven

• His elevated mind
Almost comprehended
Its full glories and joys.
When he was consulted
On cases of conscience
His resolutions contained

The wisdom of an oracle.

He was a scribe every way instructed
In the mysteries of the kingdom of God.
In conversation he held up to many,

In his public discourses to more,
In his publications from the press to all,*

*A COMPLETE CATALOGUE OF DR. OWEN'S WORKS.

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