Page images
PDF
EPUB

him profane and ungodly. It will be kind to use all the proper methods we can to convince and reclaim him; but to condemn, anathematize, and censure him as a heretic, and then cry, Away with him from the earth, this is the very spirit of the Inquisition, and a conduct worthy only of that shameless church who has no bounds to her claims, nor any pity or remorse to those that dispute them."*

Mr. L. devoted himself with great diligence to all branches of study connected with his profession, but more especially to Jewish learning and antiquities, in which he became a thorough proficient; justly conceiving that the most important light is thus to be thrown on the doctrines of the New Testament, in which there are continual references and allusions to the rites and customs of the Jews, both those which are founded on the Mosaic law, and such as had been added on the authority of human tradition. The result of these studies he laid before the public in several very curious and valuable publications, particularly a dissertation "on the Civil Government of the Hebrews," in which the true design and nature of their government are explained, and the justice, wisdom, and goodness of the Mosaical constitution are vindicated; in particular from some unfair and false representations of them in the "Moral Philosopher," 1740. Also, "A Rationale of the Ritual of the Hebrew Worship;" in which the wise designs and usefulness of that Ritual are explained and vindicated from objections, 1748. He published, in 1745, a Paraphrase and Notes *See "Historical Proofs and Illustrations of the Hewley Case," p. 91.

on the Revelation of St. John, in which he was, perhaps, as successful as any other writers have been in divining the true intent of that mysterious book. Mr. Lowman died in 1753, in the seventy-third year of his age. By the account of Dr. Chandler, who preached his funeral sermon, he appears to have been a man of genuine and unaffected piety, and moderate and charitable in his religious principles; but firm and decided in exercising himself the same privilege which he was ready to allow to others, of forming his own judgment.

His habits and manners appear to have been retired, and he was averse to the heat and vehemence of public controversy. Difference of opinion in equally worthy men made no difference in his esteem for them; and he knew mankind too well, to think that all honesty, truth, and good sense, were confined to one party, and shut up in the narrow enclosure of any single denomination of Christians. He loved a good man, in whatever communion he could find him; and he was himself respected and esteemed by many worthy members of the established church, and especially by the principal persons of his own neighbourhood, who cultivated his acquaintance and friendship.

Messrs. Bogue and Bennett, in a short biographical notice of Mr. Lowman, after admitting his claim to commendation as a writer, speak of him as a very poor preacher, and add that " an intelligent man, who was his constant hearer, declared that he could never understand him." The present writer has no means at hand of appealing to other testimony on this subject; but he finds

T

it difficult to imagine that the same person who was correct and perspicuous in his writings could be habitually unintelligible in the pulpit. The "intelligent" person referred to very probably laboured under some strong theological bias, which prevented him from assenting to Mr. Lowman's conclusions, and perhaps, in some cases, even from perceiving the drift of his arguments, and, therefore, it is possible enough that he might sometimes misunderstand him; but we can hardly place much reliance on the testimony of a man who, by his own account of himself, remained a constant hearer of a preacher whose discourses he could never understand.

275

CALEB FLEMING

WAS a distinguished and active member of the liberal school of dissenting theologians in the middle of the last century, and not an unworthy associate of the eminent men who have been already commemorated. Hence, though his numerous writings, notwithstanding the ability and learning which many of them display, had, for the most part, only a temporary interest, and, consequently, are little read at the present day, his name cannot be altogether passed over in a work whose object is to do honour to those who have been eminently instrumental in promoting the cause of religious truth. We are, unfortunately, obliged to content ourselves with a brief and imperfect outline; which is, however, of such a character as to lead us to believe, that, if the requisite materials were now to be obtained, the life of Fleming would present a much greater variety of incident to impart the kind of interest we expect to find in a biographical memoir, and the absence of which, it is feared, will have been complained of in some of the preceding articles. The exertions which he appears to have made under considerable disadvantages to supply in after-life the deficiencies of an imperfect and desultory education, his early struggles with adverse circumstances, his honourable integrity in the sacrifice of flattering prospects, and in declining powerful patronage, which might, probably, have

led to advancement and distinction, all encourage the persuasion that, if we had the means of filling up this outline as it seems to deserve, we might present both an interesting and a highly valuable picture. It was understood that these means were in the possession of the late Dr. Towers, and that a more detailed memoir of this eminent man might be looked for from his hands: but the expectations of the public were disappointed; and the present writer can now do nothing more than bring together what has already been made known, accompanied by such a review as may be thought desirable of the permanent memorials which the author has left of himself in his writings.

The subject of this memoir was born at Nottingham, Nov. 4, 1698. His father was engaged in hosiery, then, as now, the staple trade of that town; his mother, whose name was Buxton, was of an ancient and respectable family in the adjacent county of Derby. He shewed an early taste for literature, which was to a certain degree cultivated and encouraged by his parents. For this purpose he was placed under the care of the Rev. J. Hardy, who for some years kept an academy at Nottingham for a small number of pupils, and by whom he appears to have been introduced to an acquaintance with many branches of knowledge important to the Christian minister. This gentleman is said to have been a man of learning and liberality:* what his own opinions were on controverted questions has not been stated; but he appears to have adopted with his pupils the more consistent and honourable course usually

*He is said to have afterwards conformed, and taken orders in the church of England.-See Bogue and Bennett, ii. 251.

« PreviousContinue »