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MEMORIALS OF RAY : 



ness of manners, qualities which shone brighter and 

 brighter to the latest period of his life. His merit occa- 

 sioned him to be chosen a minor fellow of Trinity, along 

 with his friend Barrow, September 8th, 1649. On taking 

 his degree of master of arts, he became a major or senior 

 fellow, and afterwards, October 1st, 1651, Greek lec- 

 turer of the college. At the end of two years he was 

 appointed mathematical lecturer, and in two years more, 

 October 2d, 1655, humanity reader. He subsequently 

 filled several respectable offices in his college, as junior 

 dean, college steward, &c., and during his residence in 

 the university, became tutor to, many gentlemen of rank 

 and fortune, who were sensible of their obligations to him; 

 amongst whom, the most eminently distinguished by 

 personal worth and congeniality of talents with himself, 

 was Mr. Francis Willughby, of Middleton Hall, in War- 

 wickshire, so well known by his posthumous works on 

 birds and fishes, edited by the affectionate care of Ray. 



At this period it was usual for young men of ability 

 and learning, though not in orders, to deliver sermons 

 and common-place readings as they were called, not only 

 in the chapels or halls of their own colleges, but even 

 before the University body at St. Mary's Church. In 

 these Ray eminently distinguished himself. He was 

 among the first who ventured to lead the attention of his 

 hearers from the unprofitable subtleties of scholastic divi- 

 nity, and the trammels of Aristotehan philosophy, to an 

 observation of nature, and a practical investigation of 

 truth. The rudiments of many of his subsequent writings 

 originated in these juvenile essays, particularly his cele- 

 brated book on the ' Wisdom of God manifested in the 

 Works of the Creation,' known all over the world by its nu- 

 merous editions and translations, and universally admired 

 for its rational piety, sound philosophy, and solid instruc- 

 tion. This book is the basis of all the labours of following 

 divines, who have made the book of nature a commentary 

 on the book of revelation ; a confirmation of truths which 

 nature has not authority of herself to establish. In it the 



