BRIEF MEMOIR

OF THE

REV. W. BATES, D. D.

ON

On the utility of Biography or personal history, there is a general concurrence of opinion. Some there are, who, in point of utility, judge its claims to be superior to those of general history. Without presuming to decide those claims, it may be asserted without much hesitation, that to the generality of readers, Biography is a species of reading, the most instructive, interesting and amusing. Its legitimate object, is, in the faithfulexhibition of particular characters, to rouse the mind to a noble emulation of the virtues of the good, and excite its abhorrence of vice, in all the Proteus forms it may assume.

Hence the Biographer selects those characters, of whom the por. traiture will be the best calculated to produce these important results.

“ They are,” as :ar excellent

'? living author observes, “ by no means persons raised to the highest elevations, or distinguished by: the most extraordinary achievements. - För:not" to observe that such characters are rarely remarkable for goodness and worth, it is easy to see, that they fall not within the reach of common imitation that they exhibit nothing that leads to self-reflectionnothing that occasions moral comparison—nothing to stimulate, to encourage in the course we pursue. Neither are eccentric characters the best suited to instruct and impress. Eccentricity is sometimes found connected with genius, but it does not coalesce with true wisdom. For the purposes of Biography those lives are the most eligible, that are the most

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imitable; and these are derived from characters that are found in the same relations and conditions with ourselves, whose attainments while they resulted from the divine blessing, appear not to have been preternatural, but were made under no greater advantages than our own: whose progress was not less owing to the stroke of the oar, than the favourableness of the wind; whose excellencies while they do not discourage us by their perfection, animate us by their degree; whose success teaches. us, not how to be great, but how to be good and happy.”

To produce the results contemplated by the Biographer, it is requisite that the imperfections of the character placed before the reader, should be impartially stated. And who are they that claim exemption, and say we have no imperfections, no shades in our character? The sun has spots on its disk. The most illustrious saints whose lives are recorded in scripture, exhibit moral blemishes, and the scriptures in recording them, manifest an impartiality that tends to remove every suspicion of a design to impose. They were men of like passions with ourselves, though men of distinguished piety. It is the peculiar character of good men in another and a better world" Just men made perfect."

The writer of this biographical sketch, is convinced that his author, though one of the "excellent of the earth was the subject of frailties and imperfections, and had they come to his knowledge, he would not have hesitated to record them; as they have not, he has the more grateful task of stating his excellencies only, as an example for others to imitate. Viewing his amiable character, the mind's eye is not dazzled with an overwhelming glare, but refreshed and delighted, with the softest, the mildest beams of light. Here is every thing to rouse to holy emulation; to quicken to the most vigorous exertion; to impress the mind with the peerless beauties, and incalculable worth of true religion.And it will be to the advantage of the reader, to

keep in mind, that in what was the Doctor's brightest ornament, his spirituality of mind, he may reach the same eminence or even a yet higher; for though his piety was above the degree attained by the generality of christians, it may be exceeded. What christian can be satisfied with possessing ordinary, when super-eminent degrees of piety may be attained: or who is not fired with a holy ambition to equal, if not excel those holy men whose names are handed down to us with so much honour, and whose memories are so greatly blessed?

The following account of Dr. Bates claims no higher character than that of a Biographical sketch. The Rev. J. Howe, who of all others, was the most capable of producing a full and interesting life, both on account of his long and intimate acquaintance with him, and his own great abilities, has unaccountably omitted it, which omission is justly lamented by all who are attached to Dr. Bates' character and works. He has indeed, in a funeral sermon preached on the occasion of his death, in his own energetic style, given an admirable character of him, and which cannot be read without exciting admiration of the character, which combined so many excellencies; but he has given no memoir, a deficiency, which the present sketch, is a feeble attempt to supply.

Dr. W. Bates was born Nov. sixteen hundred and twenty-five, the year in which the unfortunate Charles the I. ascended the British throne. His family connexions appear to have been respectable; his father being an eminent physician, and author of a work entitled, "Eleuchus motuum nuperrime." After a suitable school education he was sent to Cambridge, where he was admitted of Emanuel College, from which he removed to King's College, in sixteen hundred and forty-four At the age of twenty-two he commenced Bachelor of Arts, and in sixteen hundred and sixty was admitted Doctor in Divinity, a theological distinction not often better deserved, and never better graced.

Amidst the ample acquisitions he was making to his mental store, theology was his favourite study. His progress in theological learning was hence unusually rapid, and at the same time in happy connexion with corresponding progress in personal religion.

He began to preach early, probably in the twenty-second year of his age, and soon became one of the most popular preachers of the day. Nor is it to be wondered at, since there was a happy and unusual combination of circumstances to render him SO. His person was handsome and elegant-his countenance mild yet dignified, his voice peculiarly sweet-his style inimitably polite for the age in which he lived: his subjects were plain, pious, and practical, flowing from a heart glowing with ardour in the sacred cause of heaven, and tremblingly alive to the best interests of his fellow men-a fine vein of wit-considerable erudition-a ready elocutionall resting on the basis of an irreproachably holy life and conversation. But the breath of popular applause did not, as it too often does, inflate him with pride. Deep humility led him to lay all the honours he received at the feet of his Master, Jesus Christ. Amidst almost unbounded popularity, to find so much humility, how amiable, but how rare!

His distinguished talents and piety procured him the valuable living of St. Dunstan's in the West, of which he was made Vicar. Placed in so conspicuous a situation, in the centre of the Metropolis, he found full scope for his abilities, and every thing to call forth all the energies of his great mind; here he continued to shine as a star of the first magnitude, till the act of uniformity obliged him to resign his living, and all prospect of preferment in the established church.

Dr. Bates was among those ministers who took an active part in the restoration of Charles II. and was soon afterwards made one of his Majesty's chaplains in ordinary. The Deanery of Coventry and Litchfield was subsequently offered him, which from scru

ples of conscience, he refused. So high did his character stand, that it is said, he might have had any Bishopric in the kingdom, would he have conformed to all the canons, rites and ceremonies of the establishment; but inviolably faithful to the principles he had embraced, he withstood temptations which would have borne down a man of principles less inflexible.

At the celebrated Savoy conference, Dr. Bates was a conspicuous character. This conference consisted of an equal number of bishops and their assistants; and presbyterian ministers; constituted commissioners by his Majesty's declaration of October twenty-fifth, sixteen hundred and sixty. Their object was "To review the book of common prayer, comparing it with the most ancient and purest liturgies; and to take into their serious and grave considerations the several directions and rules, forms of prayer, and things in the said book of common prayer contained, and to advise and consult upon the same, and the several objections and exceptions, which shall now be raised against the same; and if occasion be to make such reasonable and necessary alterations, corrections and amendments, as shall be agreed upon to be needful and expedient for giving satisfaction to tender consciences, and the restoring and continuance of peace and unity in the churches under his Majesty's government and direction."They met at the Bishop of London's lodgings in the Savoy, hence it was called the Savoy conference. The result of the conference is too well known, to make it necessary to state it in this place.

When three of the commissioners, on each side were chosen from the rest to enter into some particular points of dispute-Dr. Bates, Mr. Baxter, and Dr. Jacomb, were chosen on the part of the Presbyterians; and Dr. Pearson, Dr. Gunning, and Dr. Sparrow (all afterwards made Bishops) on the part of the establishment. At one of these disputes Bishop Morley was present, and behaved very inde