SOME EIGHTEENTH
CENTURY CHURCH-
MEN; GLIMPSES OF ENGLISH

CHURCH LIFE IN THE EIGH-
TEENTH CENTURY

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING
CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE

NEW YORK: THE MACMILLAN COMPANY

M3

CONTENTS

SAMUEL JOHNSON

Popular ignorance of Johnson and his work-Sketch of his life

-His greatness seen in (a) his independence, (b) his extra-

ordinary sanity and common sense, (c) his love of humanity

-His character based upon religion-His sincerity and

prayerfulness-His sense of sin and fear of death-His re-

ligious habits-His views more Catholic than those of his

time-His tenderness

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13

GEORGE WHITEFIELD

His early life-Connection with the Oxford Methodists-

Ordination and first work-Work in Georgia-Outdoor

preaching in England and opposition-Savannah and the

Orphanage Building of "the Tabernacle "-The Cambus-

lang Revival-Fashionable hearers-Whitefield's zeal, ill-

health and death-His Churchmanship-His great influ-

ence due to (a) his oratorical powers, (b) his love of souls,

(c) his disinterestedness, (d) his love for Christ.

JOHN WESLEY

His greatness-His parents and home training-Charterhouse

and Oxford-Ordination and College Fellowship-Epworth

-The "Holy Club"-Work in Georgia-The Moravians and

their influence-In England, with the "Societies "-Out-

door preaching undertaken-The ignorance and immorality

of the English people-The sloth of the clergy--Wesley's

lay-preachers and ordinations" arising out of the needs

of the times-" Manifestations at his preaching and

opposition-Wesley's various organisations for confirming

the newly-awakened-His immense labours-Marriage-

Clerical helpers-His death-Wesley's Churchmanship-

Modern Methodism

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63

564

JOHN NEWTON

Evangelical writers-Newton's early life, degradation and

conversion-Marriage and ordination-Olney; friendship

with Scott, Cowper and other religious leaders-Incum-

bent of St. Mary Woolnoth-His personal influence-His

hymns-The Cardiphonia, a mirror of the writer's person-

ality-Newton's favourite themes, human depravity and

the all-sufficiency of Christ-His certainty of God's over-

ruling Providence-His power of analysis, and wise sayings

WILLIAM COWPER

The charm of the eighteenth century-Cowper's early days,

insanity, conversion and recovery-Olney, Mrs. Unwin

and Newton-His writings and growing fame-His later

days-Cowper as Churchman-His daily life and Puritan

spirit-Criticism of clergy and Church services-The influ-

ence and naturalness of his poetry-His charm as a letter-

writer-Three specimens

BISHOP PORTEUS

Eighteenth century bishops-Beilby Porteus' career, a fore-

runner of modern episcopal activities-His Primary

Visitation Charge to the London Diocese-Its references to

Bishop Lowth, non-residence of clergy, scarcity of Sunday

services, Sunday-schools, Church singing-The Bishop's

efforts for the better observance of Holy Days, etc., for

the anti-slavery movement, and for Foreign Missions,

especially the S.P.G. plantations in the West Indies

BISHOP WATSON

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109

127

Latitudinarian and political bishops-Watson's life as told in

his Anecdotes-His education, and appointment to Pro-

fessorships of Chemistry and Divinity, and to See of

Llandaff-His various interests and neglect of episcopal

work-The age's acquiescence in episcopal sloth-The

Bishop's indefinite Christianity, and eagerness for prefer-

ment -Anecdotes of George III-Story of a Confirmation 143

HANNAH MORE

Her early life and quickly earned success as a playwriter and

poet-Friendship with Garrick, Johnson, Horace Walpole

and Bluestocking' ladies-Retirement to Cowslip

Green, and growing seriousness of purpose-Helped by

Wilberforce in efforts for education of poor-Her later

writings-Her part in English literature and life

166