BRIDGES-STREET.-Presbyterian, Extinct. To the foregoing account it may be added, that Dr. Manton was a person of general learning, and had a fine collection of books, which sold for a considerable sum after his death. Amongst them was the noble Paris edition of the Councils, in 30 vols. folio, which the bookseller offered him for sixty pounds, or his sermons on the 119th psalm; but finding it too great an interruption to his other work, to transcribe these discourses, he chose rather to pay him the money. His great delight was in his study, and he was scarcely ever seen without a book in his hand, if he was not engaged in company. He had diligently read the fathers, and the principal schoolmen; which was a species of learning much in vogue in those times. He had carefully read the scriptures, and had digested the best critics and commentators, making a vast collection of judicious observations of his own, which are every where to be found in his writings. Dr. Bates used to say, that though he sometimes heard the greatest men deliver a mean discourse, he never heard such a one from Dr. Manton. He took great care in composing his sermons, and usually wrote down the heads and principal branches of his subject: if any new thought entered his mind during the night, he would often light his candle, put on his gown, and write for an hour together at a table by his bedside, even in the coldest weather. He was well read in ancient and modern history, which rendered his conversation entertaining and instructive; and particularly recommended him to persons who had travelled. He would often discourse with such accuracy, as if he had been with them on the spot; and surprise them with the recollection of things which they had forgot. In this view, Mr. Waller, the poet, used to say of him, "That he never discoursed with such a man as Dr. Manton, in all his life." He usually devoted Monday to relaxation, and the reception of company. Some persons of quality and distinction, who went to their parochial churches on the Lord's-day, attended his Wednesday lecture. A person observing to him, that there were many BRIDOES-STREET.-Presbyterian, Extinct. coaches at his doors on those days, he answered, smiling, "I have coach hearers, but foot payers;" and yet he was far from the love of filthy lucre; for when it was proposed to raise a subscription amongst his hearers, he would not consent; but said, his house should be free for all, as long as he could pay the rent of it. He had several persons of the first rank belonging to his congregation; as the Countesses of Bedford, Manchester, and Clare; the ladies Baker, Trevor, and dowager Trevor; the Lord and Lady Wharton, and most of their children, &c. By this means he always made a considerable collection for the poor, which afforded him great pleasure; as it enabled him to relieve the necessities of many distressed ministers, as well as the poor of his own congregation. He used sometimes, pleasantly to say, that he had money in the poor's bag, when he had little in his own. There seems, therefore, to be but little truth in Wood's insinuation, “That he got more from the brethren, than if he had been a dean, or had continued in his rectory;" though if the fact had been so, it is only a proof of his merit, as he depended entirely upon voluntary contribution. The Doctor was a man of great gravity, and regular, unaffected piety; yet extremely cheerful and pleasant amongst his friends, upon proper occasions. His religion sat easy upon him, and appeared amiable to others. He greatly disliked the forbidding rigours of some good people, and the rapturous pretensions of others; and used to say, he had found, by long observation, that they who were over-godly at one time, would be under-godly at another.† As to the Doctor's person, some judgment may be formed from his portraits, of which the quarto is the most like him. He was of a middle stature, and of a fair and fresh complexion, with a great mixture of majesty, and sweetness in his countenance. In his younger years he was very slender, but grew corpulent in his advanced age; not from idleness, • Athenæ Oxon. ubi supra. + Memoirs, &c. p. 68-74, BRIDGES-STREET.—Presbyterian, Extinct. or excess, for he was remarkably temperate and unweariedly diligent; but owing to a sedentary life, and his long confinement by the Five-mile Act, which first broke his constitution. There is as little justice as there is decency, in Wood's cavalier description of him, "That when he took his degree at Oxford, he looked like a person rather fatted for the slaughter, than an apostle; being a round, plump, jolly man; but the royalists resembled apostles, by their mascerated bodies and countenances."*"Which (says Dr. Harris) besides the injurious falsehood of the insinuation, is a coarse and butcherly comparison. I doubt it would not be safe to make that the standing measure of apostolical men."+ Perhaps few men of the age in which he lived, had more virtues, or fewer failings, than Dr. Manton; or were more remarkable for general knowledge, fearless integrity, great candour and wisdom, sound judgment, and natural eloquence, copious invention, and incredible industry; zeal for the glory of God, and good will to men; for acceptance and usefulness in the world, and a clear and unspotted reputation, through a course of many years, amongst all par ties of men. The Rev. Jaines Granger, author of the Biographical History of England, has characterized Dr. Manton in the following terms: "Thomas Manton, rector of Covent-garden, one of the greatest Divines among the Presbyterians. His industry and learning, his talent as a preacher, his moderation, his activity, and address in the management of their public affairs, in all which he was a leading man, are mentioned with respect by several writers. He was one of the commissioners at the Savoy conference, and was very desirous of a comprehension. Lord Clarendon intimated to Baxter, that he should not have despaired of bringing that affair to a happy issue, if he had been as fat as Manton. Athenæ Oxon. ubi supra. + Memoirs, &c, p. 75. note. Ibid. 74, 75. BRIDGES-STREET.-Presbyterian, Extinet. Archbishop Usher used to call him a voluminous preacher; and he was no less voluminous as an author. He composed 190 sermons on the 119th Psalm, which are printed in one volume folio. He was also author of several other pieces, specified by Dr. Calamy." * (T) Lord Bollingbroke, the celebrated infidel and Tory, in a : Granger's Biog. Hist. of England, vol. iii. p. 304. (T) WORKS.-1. Meat out of the Eater: a Fast Sermon before the House of Commons, June 30, 1647. Zech. xiv. 9—2. England's Spiritual Languishing, with the Causes and Cure: a Fast Sermon before the House of Commons, June 28, 1648. Rev. ii. 3.-3. The Saint's Triumph over Death a Funeral Sermon for Mr. Christopher Love, Aug. 25, 1651. 1 Cor. xv. 57.-4. A practical Commentary on the Epistle of James. 4to. 1651.-5. An Exposition of the Epistle of Jude. 4to. 1652.-6. Smectymnuus Redivivus: Being an Answer to a Book entitled, "An humble Remonstrance." 1653.-7. The blessed Estate of them that die in the Lord : a Sermon at the Funeral of Mrs. Jane Blackwell. Rev. xiv. 19. 1656.-8. A Sermon before the Lord Protector and Parliament, on a Day of publie Humiliation, Sept. 24, 1656. Amos iv. 12.-9. A Sermon in the Morning Exercise, at Cripplegate, on Matt. xv. 7. 1661.-10. Farewell Sermon at Bartholomew-tide, on Heb. xii. 2. 1662.—11. How we ought to improve Baptism in the Supplement to the Morning Exercise at Cripplegate. Acts ii. 38. 1674.-12. A Sermon against Popery: in the Morning Exercise in Southwark. 2 Thess. ii. 15. 1675-13. A Sermon on Rom. v. 12. in the Morning Exercise methodized. 1676.-After his death were published the following: 14. Twenty Sermons on the Psalms, Acts, &c. 4to. 1678.15. Eighteen Sermons on 2 Thess. ch. ii. containing the Description, Growth, and Fall of Antichrist, 8vo. 1679.-16. A practical Exposition on the Lord's-Prayer. 8vo. 1684.-17. Several Discourses tending to promote Peace and Holiness 8vo. 1684.-18. Christ's Temptation and Transfiguration explained. 8vo 1683.-19. Advice to Mourners under the Loss of dear Relations: a Sermon on 1 Cor. vii. 30. 1694.-20. A practical Exposition of the 53d Chapter of Isaiah. 1703.—Besides the aboye, there are five folio volumes, published since his death, which pass under the title of his works. Vol. 1. contains Sermons on the 119th Psalm. 1681. Vol. 2. Twenty-seven Sermons on Matt. xxv. Forty-five sermons on the xviith of John: Twenty-four Sermons on Romans vi. Forty-five on Rom. viii. and Forty on 2 Cor. v. 1684., Vol. 3. Sixty-six Sermons on Heb. xi. a Treatise on the Life of Faith; a Treatise of Self-denial; several Sermons on the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, &c. 1689. Vol. 4. Select Sermons an several Texts. 1691. Vol. . A Continuation of the same. BRIDGES-STREET.-Presbyterian, Extinct. letter to Dr. Swift, has the following extraordinary passage, relating to Dr. Manton. "My next shall be as long as one of Dr. Manton's (sermons), who taught my youth to yawn, and prepared me to be a high-churchman, that I might never hear him read, nor read him more.' If such were the grounds upon which his lordship became a high-churchman, we may judge of the value of those reasons that induced him to reject Christianity, and embrace his infidel principles. RICHARD BAXTER.-Of this very worthy and eminent minister, we have already spoken at large, under a former article. We have nothing further to add respecting him in this place, but shall have occasion to mention him again under some subsequent articles. ANDREW PARSONS, M. A. was a native of Devonshire, and as he is not mentioned by the Oxford historian, most probably received his education in the University of Cambridge. Some years before the civil war broke out, he was appointed to the living of Wem, in Shropshire; but after that event being driven away by the king's troops, he went to London, where he became acquainted with Mr. Pym, who sent him down again to Wem, when that town was garrisoned by the parliament. He continued to exercise his ministry there till the year 1660, when he was brought into trouble, through the misrepresentations of some malicious persons, who charged him with preaching sedition. Being tried at Shrewsbury, before Lord Newport, Mr, Sergeant Turner, and others, on the 28th of May, 1661, he was found guilty, fined two hundred pounds, and sentenced to be imprisoned till it should be paid. This trial made a great noise at the time; and the more so, as Mr. • Swift's Letters, vol. ii. p. 112. edit. 1766. |