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Primitives vindicates et illustratus,' in which he fairly dis- 

 lodged his opponent, and established his own position, both 

 as to the authority of the apostolical canons, and the time 

 in which they were made. 



In his new parochial charge his earnestness and dili- 

 gence were so constant, and his labours in the service of 

 the church so unwearied, yet prudent, that he obtained 

 the appellation of ' the great restorer and reviver of primi- 

 tive piety,' and his parish was referred to as a model of 

 Christian regularity and order. It is delightful to contem- 

 plate such a character in any instance ; but in this it is the 

 more remarkable and the more worthy of admiration, when 

 we look to the nature and course of his studies. Profound 

 as they were, and occupying a large portion of his time, he 

 nevertheless was an active parish priest, unfailing in all the 

 calls and obligations of his office. The favourable notice of 

 his diocesan, Dr. Henchman, was exemplified in his colla- 

 tion by that prelate in 1674, to the prebend of Chiswick, in 

 the cathedral of St. Paul's; and in 1681 he received a 

 further mark of diocesan approbation and confidence, in his 

 collation by Bishop Compton, the successor of Henchman, to 

 the archdeaconry of Colchester. 



A fresh scene was now opened to him, in which he 

 showed a correspondent ability and usefulness. He per- 

 sonally visited each parish within his jurisdiction, a practice 

 not then common ; thus setting an example, which, if 

 strictly copied, would have greatly added to the efficiency 

 and reputation of the church. ' He took a very particular 

 and exact account of every church he visited ; the con- 

 dition it was in; what utensils it had, or wanted; what 

 repairs were necessary, and the like. The same method he 

 used with regard to the clergy's houses ; and all those 

 things he set down distinctly in a book, which was in the 

 possession of his successor.' In 1684 he became prebendary 

 of Canterbury, and, at the Revolution, was nominated 

 chaplain to King William and Queen Mary. On the 

 deprivation of Bishop Kenn, who had refused to take the 

 new oaths, the bishopric of Bath and Wells was offered to 

 him, which, however, he thought proper to decline, and, as 

 was alleged, from an unwillingness to step into a see 

 which had thus become vacant. The previous incumbent, 

 who had been distinguished, in trying circumstances, by 

 the strongest fidelity and most undaunted courage, was 

 still living in ejection and poverty. The declining of the 

 bishopric under the circumstances was honourable to Beve- 

 ridge. His advancement to the episcopal rank was thus 

 delayed some few years longer ; and it was not till 1704, in 

 July of which year he was consecrated bishop of St. 

 Asaph, that he received the promotion which he so well 

 deserved, on the translation of Dr. Hooper to Bath and 

 Wells. As in every station he had hitherto filled the per- 

 formance of his duty was his main object, so in this he 

 manifested the same activity and the same earnestness ; 

 it seemed to be the aim of his endeavours to make others 

 what himself had been. ' Indeed,' says the biographer, 

 'being placed in this eminent station, his care and dili- 

 gence increased, in proportion as his power in the church 

 was enlarged ; and as he had before discharged the duty of 

 a faithful pastor over his single fold, so when his authority 

 was extended to larger districts, he still pursued the same 

 pious and laborious methods of advancing the honour and 

 interest of religion, by watching over both clergy and laity, 

 and giving them all necessary direction and assistance for 

 the effectual performance of their respective duties.' Im- 

 mediately on his promotion he addressed a ' Pastoral Letter 

 to his Clergy,' pressing upon them the important duty of 

 catechizing ; and, the more to enforce his recommendation, 

 he at the same time printed his ' Church Catechism Ex- 

 plained,' a useful tract, as the many reprints of it tes- 

 tify ; and one very proper to come from an individual who 

 had shown himself so competent and exemplary in his various 

 offices in the church, and in the imparting of instruction to 

 all classes and conditions. This excellent man possessed 

 his episcopal see not quite four years, dying on the 5th of 

 March, 1708, in the seventy-first year of his age. He died 

 at Westminster in the cloisters of the abbey, and was buried 

 in St. Paul's Cathedral. The larger portion of his property 

 he bequeathed to the uses of the two Societies for Promoting 

 Christian Knowledge, and for Propagating the Gospel in 

 Foreign Parts. To the vicarage of Barrow, and to the 

 curacy or chapelry of Mount Sorrel, part of which lies within 

 the parish of Barrow in Leicestershire, he bequeathed a rent 

 charge for religious and charitable purposes therein. The 



works already described do not comprehend the whole of the 

 published writings of the bishop, but they are all which 

 were published in his lifetime ; and it is matter of doubt 

 whether he had an intention of giving to the world any of 

 those which after his death were printed under the direction 

 and on the responsibility of his executor; some of them 

 he certainly had no intention of publishing. The prudence 

 of so general a publication has been disputed ; but we 

 venture to think that his executor acted wisely. These 

 works were attacked, and with no gentle hand, by those 

 who were opposed to him in leading principles. His 

 posthumous works are 1. ' Private Thoughts upon Reli- 

 gion, digested into Twelve Articles, with Practical Resolu- 

 tions formed thereupon.' This manual was drawn up or 

 framed soon after his entering into holy orders, and with 

 the sole design, as is evident from that fact, of confirming 

 himself in principle, and of assisting him in the course to 

 which he was committed. His method was suited to his 

 purpose, as it obliged him to a review of the evidences of 

 bis religion, including their practical operation. These 

 articles contain the substance of his religious views, and 

 they show that he had not without due deliberation 

 attached himself to the Christian ministry : they prove 

 his careful inquiry, and his conviction of the truth of the 

 doctrines of the Gospel, and may be profitably studied, es- 

 pecially by candidates for orders and the younger members 

 of the ministry. 2. ' Private Thoughts upon a Christian 

 Life, or Necessary Directions for its Beginning and Progress 

 upon Earth, in order to its Final Perfection in the Beatific 

 Vision.' 3. ' The Great Necessity and Advantage of Public 

 Prayer and Frequent Communion.' This was a subject which 

 he was admirably qualified to handle, and on which his con- 

 viction was most seriously alive. To it he added ' Medi- 

 tations, Ejaculations, and Prayers ' fitted to the design, 

 and breathing a spirit of piety primitive and sincere. 

 4. ' A Hundred and Fifty Sermons.' ' Of these,' says 

 the excellent Mr. Nelson, ' I cannot forbear acknow- 

 ledging the favourable dispensation of Providence to the 

 age in which we live, in blessing it with so many of 

 those pious discourses which this truly primitive prelate de- 

 livered from the pulpit ; and I the rather take the liberty to 

 call it a favourable dispensation of Providence, because he 

 gave no orders himself that they should be printed, but 

 humbly neglected them as not being composed for the press. 

 But this circumstance is so far from abating the worth of 

 the sermons, or diminishing the character of the author, that 

 to me it seemeth to raise the excellency of both ; because it 

 showeth at once the true nature of a popular discourse, and 

 the great talent this prelate had that way. For to improve 

 the generality of hearers, they must be taught all the mys- 

 teries of Christianity and the holy institutions belonging to 

 it ; since it is upon this true foundation that the practice of 

 Christian virtues must be built, to make them acceptable in 

 the sight of God : and then all this must be delivered to the 

 people in so plain and intelligible a style, that they may 

 easily comprehend it ; and it must be addressed to them in 

 so affecting and moving a manner, that their passions may 

 be winged to a vigorous prosecution of what is taught. If I 

 mistake not, the sermons of this learned bishop answer this 

 character ; and I am confirmed in this opinion by the judg- 

 ment of those who are allowed to have the greatest talents 

 for the pulpit, as well as for all other parts of learning. He 

 had a way of gaining peoples' hearts, and touching their 

 consciences, which bore some resemblance to the apostolical 

 age ; and when it shall appear that those bright preachers, 

 who have been ready to throw contempt upon his lordship's 

 performances, can set forth as large a list of persons whom 

 they have converted by their preaching, as I could produce 

 of those who owed the change of their lives, under God, to 

 the Christian instructions of this pious prelate, I shall readily 

 own that they are superior to his lordship in the pulpit. 

 Though, considering what learned works he published in the 

 cause of religion, and what an eminent pattern he was of 

 true primitive piety, I am not inclined to think that his lord- 

 ship will, upon the whole of his chracter, be easily equalled 

 by any one.' Dr. Henry Felton speaks of the bishop and his 

 sermons in similar terms. They are masterly performances, 

 and ' may, for acuteness of judgment, ornament of speech, 

 and true sublime, compare with any of the choicest writings 

 of the antient doctors of the church, who lived nearest to 

 the apostles' times.' 5. ' Thesaurus Theologicus; or, u 

 Complete System of Divinity, summed up in brief notes 

 upon select places of the Old and New Testament ; wherein 



