Pasian Pres. Assocn.

vol.1.2 only.

BIOGRAPHICAL ACCOUNT

OF THE

AUTHOR OF THESE VOLUMES.

THE Rev. WILLIAM ENFIELD, LL. D.
was born at Sudbury in Suffolk, on March
29, 1741, O. S. In common with many
other characters of moral and literary ex-
cellence, it was his lot to come into the
world deftitute of the advantages of birth.
or fortune. His parents were in a hum-
ble condition of life, which they rendered
refpectable by their virtues.
His early
education was probably on the narrow
scale marked out by his circumstances.
By his amiable difpofition and promifing
parts

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parts he recommended himself to the Rev. Mr. Hextall, the diffenting minister of the place, who treated him with peculiar notice, and took pleafure in forming his youthful mind. He particularly awakened in him a fenfibility to the beauties of our principal poets; among whom, Akenfide, by the charms of his verfification, and the exalted tone of his philofophy, was a peculiar favourite both with the inftructor and the pupil. It appears to me no unreasonable fuppofition that to his early fondnefs for this author, Dr. Enfield was indebted, more than to any other fingle circumftance, for that uniform purity of language, that entire freedom from any thing like vulgarity, as well in conversation as in writing, by which he was ever diftinguished. Mr, Hextall's good opinion was probably the chief cause of his being devoted to the chriftian miniftry. In his 17th year he was fent to the academy at Daventry, then conducted by the Rev. Dr. Ash

worth,

worth. At this feminary he passed through the usual course of preparatory ftudy for the pulpit. Of his academical character I know no more than that he was always confpicuous for the elegance of his compofitions; and that he was among the number of those students whofe inquiries led them to adopt a lefs rigid system of chriftianity than was the established doctrine of the place.

It was a ftriking proof of the attractions he poffeffed as a preacher, and as an amiable man in fociety, that almost immediately on leaving the academy he was invited to undertake the office of fole minister to the congregation of Benn's Garden in Liverpool, one of the moft refpectable among the diffenters. To that fituation he was ordained in November 1763; and in a town abounding with agreeable fociety, and distinguished by liberal fentiments and hospitable manners, he paffed feven of the happiest years of his life. He married, in 1767, Mary, the

a 3

the only daughter of Mr. Holland, draper in Liverpool; and a moft cordial union of thirty years gave full proof of the felicity of his choice. Though greatly engaged both in the pleasant intercourses of society, and in the ferious duties of his office, he commenced in this place his literary career with two volumes of fermons, printed in 1768 and 1770, which were very favourably received by the public. Their pleafing moral ftrain, marked by no fyftematic peculiarities, fo well adapted them for general ufe, that many congregations, befides that in which they were originally preached, had the benefit of the inftruction they conveyed. A collection of Hymns, for the use of his congregation, and of Family Prayers of his own compofition, for private use, further added to his profeffional and literary reputation.

On the death of the Rev. Mr. Seddon of Warrington, Mr. Enfield was one of the first perfons thought of by the trustees of

5

the