Memoir of Rev. John Prince, LL. D. 213 



chair, was enabled to inspect the temples and the structures of 

 ancient and modern Rome, to explore the ruins of the old world, to 

 traverse the streets of London, Paris, and St. Petersburgh, to visit 

 the villas of Italy, and noblemen's seats in England, to watch the 

 successive aspects of an eruption of ^tna or Vesuvius, and literally 

 to survey the whole earth and the glories of it. 



Thus did our venerable philosopher make science contribute to 

 his own happiness and improvement, and to the happiness and im- 

 provement of his friends and acquaintances. 



Dr. Prince was a very learned theologian. In all the facts, illus- 

 trations and reasonings that constitute the science of natural theology, 

 his philosophical attainments gave him preeminence. He was also 

 thoroughly versed in revealed religion. His views of the interpreta- 

 tion and general criticism of the scriptures were wise and compre- 

 hensive. Few divines have ever been so conversant with the history 

 of opinions in the church. His acquaintance with the literature of 

 theology was extraordinarily minute and exact. With the character, 

 bearing, and general contents of every work of note, in our language, 

 or in the Latin tongue, he was familiar. Having for more than half 

 a century corresponded with the principal London booksellers and 

 been in the constant receipt of their catalogues, he had enjoyed great 

 facilities for the accumulation of a theological library, and was pos- 

 sessed of a most valuable, rare, and extensive collection of standard 

 works.* 



Although he was numbered among the liberal clergymen of the 

 present day, his preaching, in reference to the doctrines inculcated, 

 has I am inclined to think been but little, if at all, affected by any 

 of the controversies of the last half century. His theological senti- 

 ments were always substantially the same, and would probably be 

 found to harmonize very nearly with the views in which serious and 

 candid christians of both parties, if they could get rid of the disturbing 

 influence of names and phrases and sectarian lines of division, would 

 discover themselves to be united. His preaching was rational, catho- 

 lic, philosophical, and liberal, and although not calculated to be pop- 

 ular at the present day, was duly estimated and admired by our pre- 



* Dr. Prince's library, consisting of about 3,500 volumes, numerous engravings, 

 specimens of art, curiosities of nature, and philosophical instruments of all sorts, 

 either made or improved by his own hands, constituted it is probable, as rich, and 

 various, and valuable a depository and treasury of literature and science, as have 

 ever been possessed by a private gentleman in this country. 



