AUTHOR'S NOTE

SOME of the sketches in this little book have appeared during the last few years in either the Treasury or the Commonwealth. The editor of the Treasury has kindly permitted me to use the chapters on Newton, Bishop Porteus, Hannah More, and the latter half of that on Dr. Johnson; whilst the chapters on Cowper and Bishop Watson are due to the courtesy of the editors of the Commonwealth.

These chapters, with others hitherto unpublished, are now issued in book form in the hope that they may prove something of a cordial to drooping spirits in these difficult days. The volume, in the form of biographical sketches, gives glimpses into an age of great unbelief and immorality in the world at large and of great sloth in the English Church in particular. It will answer its purpose if it brings home to any reader the fact that because the Church is Divine, she has always immense recuperative powers; she may languish for a while, but can never die. The Church in England survived the eighteenth century, when selfcomplacent sloth and indifference in priests and people alike had, to all appearance, established themselves ineradicably within her bosom. Much more may we

abundantly hope for her usefulness and revival in these days when a deep spirit of penitence and an eager desire for truer service has been fanned into a burning flame in the hearts of so many of her sons and daughters.

Let us gird up our loins, and remember that the Church, by her Master's promise, can bring out of her treasure things new and old wherewith to meet the needs of each succeeding age.

SOME EIGHTEENTH CENTURY

CHURCHMEN

SAMUEL JOHNSON 1

I

Popular ignorance of Johnson and his work-Sketch of his lifeHis greatness seen in (a) his independence, (b) his extraordinary 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 religious habits-His views more Catholic than those of his time-His tenderness.

THE English nation is extraordinarily ready to retain in its memory and affection the names of its great men of letters; yet it knows astonishingly little of their lives and achievements.

Particularly is this true in the case of Dr. Johnson. Samuel Johnson, though nearly one hundred and thirty years have passed since his death, is still recognised by the English people as one of its great men; his name is still a household word, his portraits are familiar, his witticisms repeated. Yet how many Englishmen, if asked what was Johnson's particular claim to greatness, could give an answer?

The popular conception of Johnson, indeed, is the

1 The writer acknowledges gratefully the help which, in writing this chapter, he has received from Mr. John Bailey's little book, Dr. Johnson and his Circle.