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By Root 5168 0

examination into his spiritual state. That this religious earnestness, and in particular an observation of the influence of the Holy Spirit, has sometimes degenerated into folly, and sometimes been counterfeited for base purposes, cannot be denied. But it is not, therefore, fair to decry it when genuine. The principal argument in reason and good sense against methodism is, that it tends to debase human nature, and prevent the generous exertions of goodness, by an unworthy supposition that God will pay no regard to them; although it is positively said in the Scriptures that He ‘will reward every man according to his works.’ But I am happy to have it {in} my power to do justice to those whom it is the fashion to ridicule, without any knowledge of their tenets; and this I can do by quoting a passage from one of their best apologists, Mr. Milner, who thus expresses their doctrine upon this subject. ‘Justified by faith, renewed in his faculties, and constrained by the love of Christ, their believer moves in the sphere of love and gratitude, and all his duties flow more or less from this principle. And though they are accumulating for him in heaven a treasure of bliss proportioned to his faithfulness and activity, and it is by no means inconsistent with his principles to feel the force of this consideration, yet love itself sweetens every duty to his mind; and he thinks there is no absurdity in his feeling the love of God as the grand commanding principle of his life.’ Essays on several Religious Subjects, &c., by Joseph Milner, A.M., Master of the Grammar School of Kingston-upon-Hull, 1789, p. 11.

a [Epigram, Lib. ii. ‘In Elizabeth. Angliae Reg.’]

a My friend Sir Michael Le Fleming. This gentleman, with all his experience of sprightly and elegant life, inherits, with the beautiful family Domain, no inconsiderable share of that love of literature, which distinguished his venerable grandfather, the Bishop of Carlisle. He one day observed to me, of Dr. Johnson, in a felicity of phrase, ‘There is a blunt dignity about him on every occasion.’

a [The second edition is here spoken of.]

b Life of Johnson, p. 425.

c From Sir Joshua Reynolds.

d Life of Johnson, p. 425.

a Letters to and from Dr. Johnson. Vol. ii. p. 278 {p. 387}.

b Pr. and Med. p. 50.

c Ibid. p. 51.

d Ibid. p. 58.

a Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, 3rd edit. p. 316.

a Sir Joshua’s sister, for whom Johnson had a particular affection, and to whom he wrote many letters which I have seen, and which I am sorry her too nice delicacy will not permit to be published.

a Pr. and Med. p. 61.

a Pr. and Med. p. 66.

b Pr. and Med. p. 67.

a Mrs. Burney informs me that she heard Dr. Johnson say, ‘An English Merchant is a new species of Gentleman.’ He, perhaps, had in his mind the following ingenious passage in The Conscious Lovers,218 act iv. scene ii, where Mr. Sealand thus addresses Sir John Bevil: ‘Give me leave to say, that we merchants are a species of gentry that have grown into the world this last century, and are as honourable, and almost as useful as you landed-folks, that have always thought yourselves so much above us; for your trading forsooth is extended no farther than a load of hay, or a fat ox. – You are pleasant people indeed! because you are generally bred up to be lazy, therefore, I warrant you, industry is dishonourable.’

a Mrs. Piozzi’s Anecdotes, p. 279.

a He was probably proposing to himself the model of this excellent person, who for his piety was named the Seraphic Doctor.

a It is remarkable, that Mr. Gray has employed somewhat the same image to characterise Dryden. He, indeed, furnishes his car with but two horses, but they are of ‘ethereal race’:

‘Behold where Dryden’s less presumptuous car,

Wide o’er the fields of glory bear

Two coursers of ethereal race,

With necks in thunder cloath’d, and long resounding pace.’

Ode on the Progress of Poesy.

a Mr. Langton’s uncle.

b The place of residence of Mr. Peregrine Langton.

c Mr. Langton did not disregard this counsel, but wrote the following