42 



time ; no sort of learning seems to have escaped him, and it fg 

 surprising to observe with what dexterity and effect he turns 

 subjects apparently the most unconnected and remote into 

 the happiest and most striking illustrations of his arguments. 

 Had Barrow been known to the world only as the author of 

 Geometrical and Optical Lectures, and a cultivator of the 

 method of indivisibles, he would be entitled to a high rank 

 among the learned men of his country ; but by directing the 

 resources of his strong and highly improved understanding 

 to the elucidation of the doctrines of Christianity, he has 

 established for himself still more extensive claims to the gra- 

 titude and admiration of England. Clarke would have been 

 still regarded with veneration as the friend of Newton, the par- 

 taker in his studies, and explainer of his system, had it not 

 been considered that the best proof of his mathematical abi- 

 lities was his demonstration of the Being and attributes of 

 the DEITY. And the present age has to boast of men of 

 our own country and university, who have shewn the fruits 

 of their more abstract speculations in masterly and scientific 

 works on questions of the highest moment and most entan- 

 gled complexity, in discourses that display the discursive fa- 

 culty employed in the most exquisite perfection on the most 

 difficult and important doctrines of the Christian religion. 

 HoAv great the utility of close and accurate reasoning is to the 

 eloquence of the Bar or the Senate, is too obvious to require 

 a detailed and minute exposition ; it is well known that seve- 

 ral of those great men, who are now in the highest reputa- 



