Dr. Lardner's connections and friendships were not confined to persons of his own religious communion. He was conversant with several respectable clergymen of the church of England, and received from them testimonies of their esteem for his character, and approbation of his works. The letters which passed between him and bishop Waddington, and his long and uninterrupted acquaintance with archbishop Secker, have already been mentioned. He maintained a large correspondence both at home and abroad: and particularly in America and Germany. In consequence of the reputation he had acquired by his publications, he was visited by most of the learned foreigners who came over to England; and, after their return to their own countries, many grateful acknowledgments were transmitted to him of the friendly reception he had given them, and the assistance they had derived from him in their literary designs and pursuits. Y

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Such being the excellences which Dr. Lardner possessed, both as a writer and a man, it was natural that he should often be spoken of in terms of respect and applause. Lord Bar. rington concluded his correspondence with him, concerning Jairus's daughter, in the following language: Thus I think ' our controversy ends. But our friendship and correspondence I hope never will, but with our lives and our 'friendship, I hope, then but for a season. I have had so 'much satisfaction and instruction from your great learning and judgment, and from your patience, candour, openness, ' and obliging manners, that, whenever I have difficulties to 'put, in the future course of my inquiries, or want to see what 'difficulties my sentiments are liable to, I shall take the liberty 'to trouble you, unless you forbid me; or (if your great civility ' will not allow you to do that) I forbear, from the sense I have of how much I rob the world, in the result of the learned 'pursuits they justly expect from you, by such kind of inter'ruptions as those I have given you.'

This was a tribute paid to Dr. Lardner's merit in early life: since which he has been justly applauded by a variety of respectable writers. Dr. Benson speaks of our author as his highly esteemed friend;' and refers his readers to the Credibility, as a fair, full, and impartial account of the testimonies of the ancient fathers. a

With respect to the external evidence of christianity,' says Dr. Jebb, it may be observed, that the works of the very learned and ingenious Dr. Lardner, are calculated to

5 Ibid.

z Memoirs, ubi supra, p. 41, 42.

• Benson's Paraphrases, vol. i. p. 326, and vol. ii. p. 376, second edition.

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produce a firm persuasion of the truth of those historical 'facts which form the foundation of the christian institution.'" The bishop of Carlisle (Dr. Law) has prefaced a quotation from our author in the following terms: I shall only beg leave to introduce the testimony of a candid and judicious writer, who appears to entertain right notions both of the 'nature of the christian institution, and of the best means for 'the propagation and support of it; and who has supplied us 'with the most valuable collection of ancient evidences of its 'truth.'c

In an anonymous tract, known to be written by Mr. Lindsey, that gentleman observes, that the publication of the Letter on the Logos, in 1759, soon made a great revolution in the opinions of learned men.d For the piece was soon 'known to be his, though without his name; and his numerous writings were already in the highest request; his character also for probity, impartiality, for critical skill, and the knowledge of the scriptures and of ecclesiastical history, inferior 'to none; and in some of these respects, superior to of 'the age.'

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any

The same gentleman, in the same publication, has drawn Dr. Lardner's portrait somewhat at large; and it is with particular pleasure that I present it to my readers. To praise the living would be invidious and awkward: but of those who ' have finished their course well, we may speak freely and be 'heard. Is there a literary character that stands higher upon 'the lists of fame, as a man, a christian, and a divine, than the ⚫ late Dr. Lardner? After an education in a university abroad, at that time not inferior in learned tutors to either of our own, on his return to his own country, he became early acquainted with the worthy and learned in the church established, ' and out of it. Archbishop Secker, bred a dissenter like himself, cultivated and courted his friendship through life. His Vindication of some of our Lord's miracles against Mr. Woolston's attacks, is among the first upon that occasion, ' and the most candid. But his Credibility of the Gospel, in 'seventeen volumes, octavo, and Jewish and Heathen Testi'monies to its Truth, in four volumes, quarto, have exhibited such a mass of evidence for it, and established it on so broad

b Short Account of Theological Lectures, quarto, 1772, p. 17, note. ⚫ Considerations on the Theory of Religion, p. 30, note, seventh edition. d I do not agree with the learned and worthy writer in this assertion. It does not appear to me that the influence of the Letter on the Logos was speedy, but slow and gradual, and in conjunction with other publications; among which may be mentioned Mr. Cardale's Treatise on the true Doctrine of the New Testament concerning Jesus Christ.

a foundation, as nothing can shake. In this he gives con'tinually curious and useful instances of critical skill and judgment: but his love of truth and impartiality are without 'example, in fairly representing every argument and objection, without the least discernible bias to any opinion or 'party. His piety and humility are conspicuous in all his writings, and particularly in his sermons, some of which are among the best models for pulpit-discourses in our language, ⚫in explaining important passages of the gospel, and pointing out the easy and natural instruction to be deduced from it.' Bishop Watson, in his catalogue of books of divinity, having mentioned Dr. Lardner's Letter on the Logos, immediately subjoins some reflections, which are so admirable, that they cannot be omitted. Newton and Locke,' says his lordship, were esteemed Socinians, Lardner was an avowed one; Clarke and Whiston were declared Arians; Bull and 'Waterland were professed Athanasians. Who will take upon him to say that these men were not equal to each other ' in probity and scriptural knowledge? And if that be admit'ted, surely we ought to learn no other lesson, from the 'diversity of their opinions, except that of perfect moderation and good-will towards all those who happen to differ from ' ourselves. We ought to entertain no other wish, but that ' every man may be allowed, without loss of fame or fortune, et sentire quæ velit, et quæ sentiat dicere. This absolute freedom of inquiry, it is apprehended, is the best way of investigating the sense of scripture, the most probable mean of producing an uniformity of opinion, and of rendering the 'gospel dispensation as intelligible to us in the eighteenth century, as, we presume, it was to christians in the first.'

The ingenious writer of the Memoirs of Thomas Hollis, Esq. has mentioned a short, but beautiful encomium, which was passed on Dr. Lardner, and one of his eminent contemporaries, by a very learned person, who has often said, that if he were sentenced to imprisonment for seven years, he would not desire to take any books with him into his confinement besides the works of Jortin and Lardner. f

As several of our author's publications were of course subjected to the examination of the different literary journals which this country produces, the conductors of them were necessarily led to give, on various occasions, their sentiments

Examination of Mr. Robinson's Plea for the Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ. Preface, p. xviii. xxvi. xxvii.

Memoirs of T. Hollis, Esq. vol. i. p. 254.—I am indebted to my excellent friend, Dr. Disney, for collecting and presenting me with the preceding testi

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concerning him; which, I believe, has uniformly been done in terms of approbation and respect. In one place, the Monthly Review thus speaks; Before we present our readers with a 'view of what is contained in this volume, (the first volume ' of the ancient Jewish and Heathen Testimonies,) we cannot, as friends to the religion of our country, forbear expressing ⚫ the grateful sense we have of the eminent service our learned and worthy author has done to the cause of christianity, by 'his excellent writings in defence of it. Of the many able ⚫ writers that have appeared in the present age, as advocates for the truth of the christian religion, there are none, in our opinion, that deserve to be preferred to Dr. Lardner; few, indeed, that can be compared with him. In point of learning, his merit is very considerable: but what is much more ⚫ valuable than mere learning, there is a pleasing simplicity in his manner of writing, and a very uncommon degree of can'dour and impartiality. He seems to have nothing in view 'but the discovery of truth; scorns the mean and contempti'ble arts of misrepresentation, or concealing objections and difficulties, and gives his readers a clear and full view of the subject. How amiable is such a character! how worthy of 'imitation !' s

In another place, the Monthly Reviewers have expressed themselves in the following language: From the great ser'vice rendered to christianity by the laborious pursuits and learned compilations of Dr. Lardner, his name will ever be distinguishedly honoured in the history of the christian church. Dr. Priestley, when he speaks of this most learned and excellent man, generally calls him, 'the prince of modern divines;' ' and we think this tribute to his illustrious merit not improperly paid. To the most elaborate and extensive investigations of ecclesiastical antiquity he added all that knowledge ' of Greek and Roman literature, which enabled him so thoroughly to discriminate the comparative worth and excel⚫lence of the sacred and profane writers. To the learning of the scholar he added also the veracity of the historian; 'while the amiable candour and humility of the christian gave a pleasing lustre and embellishment to his more eminent accomplishments.'h

Language to a like purpose occurs in different parts of the Critical Review; but I shall content myself with referring to one place, in which Dr. Lardner is described as master of a great extent of reading; as possessing a clear head to collect and state facts and evidences, and a sound judgment to deterMonthly Review, vol. xxxii. p. 1. h Monthly Review, vol. lxiv. p. 33

mine concerning the weight of them; and as having spared no time or pains in his laborious task.i

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In consequence of the recent original of the English Review, it hath had but one opportunity of characterizing our author; but that opportunity it hath embraced with distinguished zeal and energy. The name of Lardner,' says the Reviewer, is well known in the literary world. No writer, 'from the very existence of christianity, ever conferred so ' essential a service upon true religion, or contributed more 'to clear up its evidence and elucidate its antiquities. Ac'cordingly, there is no country, where the christian religion is professed, in which his name is not held in the greatest esteem. Every church would have been proud to boast of him as their 'member, and his voluminous productions have been trans'lated into almost all the languages of Europe.

Dr. Lardner certainly possessed a very clear and sound ' understanding, and great shrewdness of judgment. His in'dustry in the pursuit, and perseverance in the investigation, ' of truth, are without example. But the quality by which he was chiefly distinguished, and which was perhaps of more 'service to him than all the rest, was the candour and ingenuity of his mind. He examined every thing without prejudice. Seated, as it were, in a more elevated sphere than ' other men, he was not subject to have his understanding darkened by the clouds, and jaundiced by the noxious mediums, of partiality, bigotry, and enthusiasm. He has, therefore, been as successful in refuting the false and sub'orned evidences of christianity, as in asserting and illustrat'ing the true. Thus he has contributed, more than all the 'mistaken zeal and the pious frauds of a thousand saints and 'pontiffs could have done, to the rendering it that simple, ' venerable, attractive, and engaging structure which God and 'Jesus intended it. It is no longer obscured by impostures, ' and disfigured by the false props and buttresses that were brought to support it.'*

A manuscript eulogium on Dr. Lardner has been put into my hands by a friend, Ebenezer Radcliff, Esq. the principal part of which is inserted at the end of this narrative.

I have only recited the testimonies given to our author by writers of our own country; but foreigners have not been deficient in spreading forth his praise. Those who have translated his works have introduced them with proper encomiums on their merit; and different learned men have taken

iCritical Review, vol. iv. p. 517.

* English Review for December, 1785, p. 423.