Including Medicine and Surgery, Natural History, Experimental Philoso- phy, Agriculture, Navigation, Geography, Astronomy, Perspective, Ar- Containing the Transactions of Literary Societies, Biography, Antiquities, Philology, Classics, Poetry, Drama, Novels, Tales, and Romances [311] THE HISTORY OF KNOWLEDGE, LITERATURE, AND TASTE, IN GREAT BRITAIN, DURING THE REIGN OF JAMES II. TH PART II. . HE short and tempestuous reign of James afforded small encouragement to the belles lettres, or the arts. Theology indeed flourished in all its branches; and controversial, devotional, and metaphysical writings filled the libraries. Amongst the non-conformists were some authors of very considerable merit, whose works are now in general neglect; as much from the style of that age, as the taste of this. But though they sub-divide to perplexity, and circumlocute to tediousness, their subtlety of wit, depth of reason, and extent of knowledge, well compensates for defect of language. Ever will their pages be dear to piety and learning, and their lives and sufferings be remembered with honour and veneration! In this class, Richard Baxter stands eminently prominent *. Richard Baxter was the most extraordinary instance of weakness of body, and strength of mind; for possessing the deepest sense of religion himself, and exciting it in the profligate and thoughtless; for preaching 1803. b more Defective as was this reign, however, in taste and entertainment, it was immortalised by the greatest revolution ever made in the world of science. Under James IL, sir Isaac Newton published his "Principia,"-a performance affording the most illustrious proof of the powers of the human mind, and remaining the highest instance which ever has, or probably ever will be, given of its exertions and success. This new system of natural philosophy did not at first receive the honour it was justly destined to command: the pleasing but visionary "Hypothesis of Des Cartes" had then obtained full possession of the public opinion: he addressed himself to the imagination, and was easily understood; but Newton, with an unparalleled penetration, and unexampled strength of intellect, pursued nature to her inmost recesses; demonstrated his sublime theories with that elegant conciseness of the ancients; his consequences flowing with such rapidity from his principles, that the acutest reasoner could not at first comprehend them, and the best mathematicians were long in fathoming the depth of his discoveries; but no sooner were they understood, than the burst of admiration from every voice and every country where science was diffused, became universal. "Does Newton eat, drink, or sleep, like other men?” said more sermons, engaging in more controversies, and writing more books, than any other non-conformist of his age. He spoke, disputed, and wrote with case; and discovered the same intrepidity, when he reproved Cromwell and expostulated with Charles II., as when he preached to a congregation, or restrained a mob. His zeal for religion breathed the ardour of primitive times; yet it never prompted him to faction, or transported him to enthusiasm. This champion of the presbyterians was the common butt of men of all other sects, and of those who had no principles at all. But this had no effect upon him: his presence and firmness of mind on no occasion forsook him. He was the same character before he went into a prison, whilst he was in it, and when he came out of it and maintained this uniformity, so uncommon, to the last gasp of life. This is a very faint sketch of his virtues. His portrait, in full proportion, may be seen in his "Narrative of his own Life and Times," which contains a great variety of memorable things; and is, as far it proceeds, a history of non-conformity. His "Catholic Theology," and his " Saints Everlasting Rest," are the most considerable of his writings. the |