THE RIGHT REV. WILLIAM BEVERIDGE, D.D.

LATE LORD BISHOP OF ST. ASAPH.*

BISHOP BEVERIDGE may, with great propriety, be considered as one amongst that constellation of divines which, under God, has illumed the Church with the bright radiance of truth, as revealed in the Holy Scriptures.

William Beveridge was born at Barrow, in the County of Leicester, in 1638. On the 24th of May, 1653, he was entered at St John's College, Cambridge, and admitted in 1656 to the degree of A.B., A.M. in 1660, and D.D. in 1679. He was so well versed in all the learned languages, that, at eighteen years of age, he wrote a Treatise on the Excellency and Use of the Oriental Tongues, especially of the Hebrew, Chaldee, Syriac, Arabic, and Samaritan. This he published in octavo, when he was about twenty. He also distinguished himself by his early piety and seriousness of mind.

In 1660, Doctor Sheldon, Bishop of London, collated him to the vicarage of Ealing, in Middlesex. In 1672, he was chosen by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London, Rector of St. Peter, Cornhill, on which account he resigned Ealing. Upon his being thus placed in the metropolis of this kingdom, he applied himself, with the utmost labour and zeal, to the discharge of his ministry, in its several parts and offices. And so instructive was he in his discourses from the pulpit, so warm and affectionate in his private exhortations, so regular and uniform in the public worship of the Church, and in every part of his pastoral function, that, as he himself was justly styled "The great reviver and restorer of primitive piety," so his parish was deservedly proposed as the best model and pattern for the rest of its neighbourhood to copy after. His merit having recommended him to the favour of his diocesan, Bishop Henchman, he was collated by his lordship, on the 22d

Extracted from the preface to "Sermons selected and abridged from the Works of Bishop Beveridge, by the Rev. John Dakins, A.M." VOL. IV. L

of Sept., 1674, to the Prebend of Chiswick, in the Cathedral of St. Paul, London; and by Bishop Compton, in 1681, to the Archdeaconry of Colchester. This dignity he sustained with great benefit to the Church, in a most regular and exemplary manner. For, not satisfied with the reports of the churchwardens at visitations, he visited, in person, every parish within his archdeaconry; and took an exact account of every church he visited, the condition it was in, what requisites it had for the due solemnization of divine service, what repairs were necessary, and, what was of the last importance, how the duty was discharged. He was likewise very minute in his inquiries with regard to the houses of the Clergy.

On the 5th November, 1684, he was installed Prebendary of Canterbury, in the room of Dr. Du Moulin, deceased. He was likewise appointed Chaplain in Ordinary to King William and Queen Mary. In 1691, on the refusal of Bishop Ken, from a conscientious principle, to take the oaths of allegiance to their majesties, Doctor Beveridge was offered the Bishopric of Bath and Wells, but he could not bring himself to accept it, because, in the language of those times, "He would not eat Dr. Ken's bread. Doctor Kidder, Dean of Peterborough, succeeded; but, on the translation of Bishop Hooper to the See of Bath and Wells, which happened in 1704, Doctor Beveridge was consecrated, on the 16th July, of the same year, Bishop of St. Asaph. From the time he became a Parish Priest, he earnestly desired, and fervently endeavoured, to render his flock a pattern to others for true piety and holiness. He revived amongst them the primitive practice of administering the Sacrament every Lord's day, and his diligent and faithful discharge of every part of his sacred office was crowned with remarkable success. One particular instance of the success of his labours ought not to be omitted. One of his flock, when he was near his end, expressed a wonderful resignation to the will of God, and very little fear of death; great comfort in reflecting upon the better part of his life, especially his charity to the poor, and his zeal in recommending that duty to those about him; and, above all, in a very delightful anticipation of those ecstasies of joy and happiness, which he was going to in another world; as well as an uncommon and enlarged understanding of the mysteries of religion. In the midst of these holy raptures, he owned his great obligation to Doctor Beveridge, for those spiritual blessings. Vigilant and faithful in the care of a single parish, when he was advanced to higher stations in the Church, his anxiety and diligence increased in proportion. He was very faithful in watching over the Clergy and laity imparting to them both all necessary instructions for the regular discharge of their respective duties. On his being consecrated to the Episcopal dignity, he in a most pathetic and obliging manner addressed a circular to the Clergy of his Diocese recommending to them the duty of catechising the children, and instructing the people committed to their charge in the principles of the Christian religion; " to the end they might know what they were to believe and do, in order to salvation." And told them "He thought it necessary to begin with that, without which, whatever else he or they should do would turn to little or no account, as to the main end of the ministry." And to enable them to effect this in the best manner, sent to them a plain and easy exposition upon the Church Catechism.

In short, he so conducted himself in the discharge of his high function, that he was, with great justice, esteemed a truly primitive Prelate.

As he was remarkable for his great piety and zeal for religion, so was he highly respected for his ability and learning, which he wholly applied towards promoting the interest of his great Master. His reading was extensive; almost universal. His skill in the Oriental languages, particularly in the Hebrew tongue, appears from many of his sermons. Indeed he was furnished, to a very eminent degree, with all useful and important knowledge. His readiness in the Scriptures excited much admiration; for he made it the business and study of his life, to acquaint himself thoroughly with those sacred oracles, whereby "he was furnished unto all good works." On all occasions he was able to produce suitable passages from them, and with great facility and happiness he explained them to others.

Thus did this worthy man improve his time and talents in the service of God, and in the exercise of active benevolence, till he attained a good old age; when it pleased his great Master to give him rest from his labours, and to assign him a place in those mansions of bliss, where he had always laid up his treasure, and to which his heart throughout the whole course of his life and actions, had seriously and devoutly aspired. He died at his lodgings, in the cloisters of Westminster Abbey, on the 5th March, 1707-8, in the 71st year of his age, and he was buried in St. Paul's Cathedral.

As his whole life was spent in acts of piety and charity, so his death exhibited remarkable instances of both. His character is represented in a most amiable and interesting light. When he was dying, one of the chief of his order deservedly said of him, "There goes one of the greatest and best of men that England ever had." The pious and excellent Mr. Nelson says, "that he cannot forbear acknowledging the favourable disposition of Providence to the present age, in blessing it with so many of those pious discourses which our truly primitive Prelate delivered from the pulpit: because the Bishop gave no orders himself that they should be printed."

Dr. Felton, in his " Dissertation on Reading the Classics," and forming a just style, observes, that "our learned Bishop hath delivered himself with those ornaments alone which his subject suggested to him, and hath written in that plainness and simplicity of style, which gives authority to the sacred truths he teacheth, and unanswerable evidence to the doctrines he defendeth. There is something so great, so primitive, and apostolical in his writing, that it creates an awe and veneration in our mind, that the importance of his subjects is above the decoration of words, and that what is great and majestic in itself, looketh most like himself the less it is adorned."

Bishop Beveridge left the greater part of his estate to the "Society for propagating the Gospel," and to that "For promoting Christian Knowledge." He augmented the Vicarage of Barrow, in his native county of Leicestershire, 531. a-year, and bestowed the patronage of it upon his college. To the Curacy of Mount Sorrel and Vicarage of Barrow, in thankful remembrance of God's mercies vouchsafed to him therein, he bequeathed 201. a-year for ever; on condition, that prayers. be read in the morning every day, according to the Liturgy of the