always gay and good-humoured. He was never sour of sullen with the young, but made a proper allowance for the levities peculiar to their age, having nothing of the old man about him, except that he was a little deaf. Of children he was remarkably fond, and could spend hours with them, partaking of their little sports.

He once consented to dine with a certain Bishop, on condition he would have dinner on the table at two o'clock; but Mr. Skelton went exactly at twelve, when his lordship and his lady were going out on business. When the Bishop was apologizing, he observed that his lordship need not be concerned, as he would amuse himself" with these sweet little things," pointing to the children. Accordingly he diverted himself with them at ball or marbles, or such-like childish sports, until his lordship returned; when he said he was charmed with their company, and that they only wanted wings to be angels.

In the year 1784, he published, by subscription, his sixth volume, entitled, An Appeal to common sense on the subject of Christianity. This volume, the profits of which were, as the former ones, to be applied to the Magdalen Charity, is also dedicated to Lady Arabella Denny,

The appeal is, in style and arrangement, even superior to any thing he ever wrote before. It contains an histo rical proof of the truth of Christianity: and shews his faculties were in full force at the age of seventy-six.

A few days after the publication of this volume, he received the following letter:

Rev. Sir,

I have read your Appeal to Common Sense on the subject of Christianity. Twish all the world could say the same; but at present, few can have that advantage. If you will permit a less expensive edition to be published, that may be the means of rendering the circulation more extensive, and of promoting the great end for which you laboured. I am &c.

SARAH STRINGER.

In compliance with this proposal, which, it may be supposed, was very agreeable to him, a new edition was published soon after, at Mrs. Stringer's expence, with the foregoing letter prefixed. When it was in the press, he sent her twelve pounds, to pay part of the expence, of printing; but she refused to take it. Of this edition, he bestowed about two hundred on each of the parishes he had had the care of, either as curate or rector.

He

He was accused this year of being author of a political pamphlet, called the Alarm, which he publicly disavowed

in a news-paper.

In the following year, his seventh volume was published, entitled, Senilia, or an Old Man's Miscellany. Its materials are variable, and wrought into a style natural and agreeable: the most valuable part of it, is Brief observations on some passages of the New Testament; which are useful, intelligible, and consistent with scripture and

common sense.

This volume, being also octavo, was published by Sleater, to whom Mr. Skelton, when he gave him the copy, agreed to pay 201. to purchase the paper, being diffident of its success, as it was written in extreme old age. But this bookseller informed him, when it was in the press, that he was of opinion it would be attended with the sale desired, and that he would not take the money. This is an instance of generosity somewhat extraordinary, as but few men of business, in such à case, would have any scruple to take whatever sum should be offered them.

A part of these twenty pounds, and also of the twelve pounds, which Mrs. Stringer refused to accept, he bestowed on the poor in Dublin, and the rest on those in Fintona, who had a more natural claim on him than the others. Yet, a great city affords such innumerable objects of charity, that a man of a benevolent mind, who lives there, is excited both by his feelings and his duty, to relieve some of them. A young clergyman, who was intimate with Mr. Skelton, went once by his desire to a bank in Dublin, to know if they could exchange for him eleven light half guineas, which they had sent him; but on his return from the bank, he found that he had given them all away to the poor.

He published this year (1786) a short answer to a catechism used in Sunday schools, written by one Watson, a Yorkshire vicar*, which he supposed to contain an erroneous doctrine with respect to the state of men immediately after death. This answer he sent to all the Bishops in England and Ireland, that they might exert their authority against a book apparently of such pernicious tendency. Accordingly the Archbishop of Dublin stopped the use of it in his diocese.

Mr. Watson was Vicar of Middleton Tyas, near Richmond, in Yorkshire: he died at Bath, about two months ago: he was a very exemplary and respectable man; and an excellent parish priest.

In the latter end of this year, he was busily employed in re-publishing the sermons of Rob. Walker, a Scotch Presbyterian minister, which had deservedly had five previous editions in Great Britain. To the sixth edition, he prefixed a long letter to encourage both the Dublin bookseller and the Irish reader. "The sermons of this worthy author," he observes, "are most excellent in themselves, and greatly wanted in these times,"

"In February 1787," says Mr. Burdy, "I parted for the last time, from that dear and worthy man, of whose friendship I shall always retain a grateful remembrance, When I was just going away, he said to me in the most affectionate manner, I know I shall never see you again, but God be with you-trust in Christ, and he will preserve you; when you meet with afflictions and disappointments in this world, as you surely will, ask for his gracious aid, and he will give it to you; he will comfort you in your sorrow. Preach the gospel to your people without any false refinements, and act as it becomes a minister of the gospel, and God will reward you.'

On Good Friday, the 6th of April, he was attacked with a suppression of urine, Yet he rose every day, and felt little or no pain, but just dozed away. About this time, a young man from Fintona called to see him. Having enquired of him most affectionately concerning his parishioners, he lamented, with tears in his eyes, the irregu larity of their conduct, but especially their unhappy pro pensity to drunkenness, of which all his instructions could not cure them. The disorder, though it daily consumed his constitution, yet had no effect on his understanding, so that he saw death approaching, with a calm and steady mind. The Rev. Dr. Hastings, Archdeacon of Dublin, attended him carefully during his illness; which, having confined him to his bed only two days, put an end to his life on Friday, the 4th of May, 1787. The preceding evening, he repeated, intelligibly, the Lord's Prayer, and never spoke after.

He was buried the Tuesday following, at six o'clock in the morning, near the west door of St. Peter's Churchyard, the place he had appointed for himself.

He left behind him near 7001. of which at least 5407. were due from his parish, including 1207. chargeable on his successor; so that he had hardly 1507. clear in his own hands. The whole he disposed of by will, which began thus, In the name of the glorious and eternal Trinity.

Το

To his nephew, Dr. Skelton, he left 1507. To his servant, John Swap, 407. and the rest to Miss Leslie, daughter of Henry Leslie, Esq. and grand-daughter to the late Rev. Wm. Leslie, his best friend. He appointed the Rev. Dr. Hastings his sole executor. As an apology for his making his will in this manner, he mentions in it, that he was indebted to the Rev. Wm. Leslie, under God, for his preferments in the Church, and to his family for many kindnesses for a series of years.

His manuscripts and his works he left to Dr. Hastings, whom he styles his excellent friend.

In our two next numbers will be given a well-drawn character of this upright and benevolent man.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

ON THE RESISTANCE MADE IN ALL AGES TO THE CORRUPTIONS OF THE ROMISH CHURCH.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCHMAN'S

SIR,

MAGAZINE.

F you should find a few pages, in your entertaining and instructive work, unoccupied by better matter, I trust, you will not deem the following paper unworthy of insertion. For my own part I think it curious, as it gives a complete answer to the question "Where was your Church before Luther?" so triumphantly urged against us by the Papists at the Reformation, and constantly revived in every Popish controversy. It shews us also that in every age the Lord had reserved unto himself a remnant "who had not bowed the knee to Baal."

It is an extract from "the works of that learned and reverend divine, John White, doctor in divinity" published in 1624 by his elder brother the Rev. Francis White, D. D. Dean of Carlisle, respecting whom some of your readers may, perhaps, give further information. The former was a member of Gonvile and Caius College, Cambridge, and had afterwards some preferment at Eccles. The treatise from whence the following is excerpted is entitled "The way to the true Church". It was written

written in answer to "a Popish discourse concerning the Rule of Faith, and the marks of the Church", by one A. D. a Jesuit. The edition before me is the fifth.

I am, Sir,

Your sincere well wisher,

FLORILEGUS.

DIGRESS 52. Showing that the present religion of the Romane Church was observed and resisted in all ages as it came in and increased naming withall, the persons that made the resistance; and the points wherein; and the time when; from fiftie yeares to fiftie, throughout all ages since Christ compendiously observed out of historie, for the satisfying of their error that so much conceit the antiquitie of Papistrie, and thinke it was never controlled till Lu

ther's time.

18. Againe the Jesuite, with much rhetoricke and confidence, asketh, What voices, what stirs, what lamentations, were heard when Rome brought in a new faith? Were all asleepe? did none resist? no Bishop preach? no Doctor write against the alteration? none to suffer martyrdome? never a true hearted Christian to lament it? no Historiographer, neither Greeke nor Latine, farre nor neare, to make at least some obscure mention of such a matter in his Commentaries? You see what a face he setteth on the matter, and yet all Histories confute him; for I never saw ancient Historie Greeke or Latine (and yet I have seene and read those which our adversaries reckon up for the best and most ancient) but it containeth some notable memorie of alterations made in the Romane Church, observed and lamented by some other then living. For which cause our adversaries, at this day have taken exception against every one of them, and charged each particular author either with falsifying the truth themselves, or with being falsified by others; which needed not if they contained nothing in disproofe of that which here the Jesuite hath boasted. Yea the Jesuite himself would lay this very imputation upon them, if he should be driven to answer that which is produced out of them. And then the case would be altered: for he might say no more, was there no Historiographer Grecke or Latine? but you should see he would answer in another tune. There are Historiographers, Greeke and Latine, farre and

neare,