The Life of Samuel Johnson - James Boswell [880]
b Upon this objection the Reverend Mr. Ralph Churton, Fellow of Brazen-nose College, Oxford, has favoured me with the following satisfactory observation: – ‘The passage in the Burial-service does not mean the resurrection of the person interred, but the general resurrection; it is in sure and certain hope of the resurrection; not his resurrection. Where the deceased is really spoken of, the expression is very different, “as our hope is this our brother doth” {rest in Christ}; a mode of speech consistent with every thing but absolute certainty that the person departed doth not rest in Christ, which no one can be assured of, without immediate revelation from Heaven. In the first of these places also, “eternal life” does not necessarily mean eternity of bliss, but merely the eternity of the state, whether in happiness or in misery, to ensue upon the resurrection; which is probably the sense of “the life everlasting,” in the Apostles’ Creed. See Wheatly and Bennet on the Common Prayer.’
a [Malloch continued to write his name thus, after he came to London. His verses prefixed to the second edition of Thomson’s Winter are so subscribed.]
a Let it be remembered by those who accuse Dr. Johnson of illiberality that both were Scotchmen.
a In Mr. Barry’s printed analysis, or description of these pictures, he speaks of Johnson’s character in the highest terms.
a Now the celebrated Mrs. Crouch.
b Mr. Windham was at this time in Dublin, Secretary to the Earl of Northington, then Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.
c Son of Mr. Samuel Paterson.
a Vol. ii. p. 268, of Mrs. Thrale’s Collection.
a Poor Derrick, however, though he did not himself introduce me to Dr. Johnson as he promised, had the merit of introducing me to Davies, the immediate introductor.
a His Lordship was soon after chosen, and is now a member of the Club.
a Pr. and Med. p. 226.
a Mr. Malone observes, ‘This, however, was certainly a mistake, as appears from the Memoirs published by Mr. Noble. Had Johnson been furnished with the materials which the industry of that gentleman has procured, and with others which, it is believed, are yet preserved in manuscript, he would, without doubt, have produced a most valuable and curious history of Cromwell’s life.’
a I do not wonder at Johnson’s displeasure when the name of Dr. Priestley was mentioned; for I know no writer who has been suffered to publish more pernicious doctrines. I shall instance only three. First, Materialism; by which mind is denied to human nature; which, if believed, must deprive us of every elevated principle. Secondly, Necessity; or the doctrine that every action, whether good or bad, is included in an unchangeable and unavoidable system; a notion utterly subversive of moral government. Thirdly, that we have no reason to think that the future world, (which, as he is pleased to inform us, will be adapted to our merely improved nature,) will be materially different from this; which, if believed, would sink wretched mortals into despair, as they could no longer hope for the ‘rest that remaineth for the people of GOD’,1141 or for that happiness which is revealed to us as something beyond our present conceptions; but would feel themselves doomed to a continuation of the uneasy state under which they now groan. I say nothing of the petulant intemperance with which he dares to insult the venerable establishments of his country.
As a specimen of his writings, I shall quote the following passage, which appears to me equally absurd and impious, and which might have been retorted upon him