public opinion; and I am not without a hope that this humble attempt to do justice to his memory, may cause him to be regarded as an eminent example of devoted piety and honest patriotism. There were some peculiarities in his writings, arising out of the tone and spirit of a very singular epoch, which it would not be fair to measure by the standard of our more advanced state of evangelical knowledge. His sallies, also, of wit and humour, were intended either to shew that religion was unjustly accused of moroseness, or to render errors ridiculous when impenetrable by the weapons of argument. No man was capable of a loftier tone of pious sentiment, or exhibited a deeper experience of the vital renovating truths of the gospel. The amenity and polish of his manners, the benignity of his heart, the uprightness of his intentions, were acknowledged even by his opponents, and he went to the grave equally respected and regretted by persons of every grade of life. The general features of his character have been often faithfully delineated; but a wrong colouring has been given them by writers who have regarded him through the medium of their own prejudices. I consider, therefore, that an impartial narrative of his active life, was wanted to fill a chasm in evangelical biography; and I flatter myself that they who read it, will not consider me as saying too much of Sir Richard Hill, when I assert that in all essential points of character, he was a model of a Christian gentleman and an upright Senator. Be the various opinions of his doctrinal views what they may, he must also be es CONTENTS. CONNEXION OF SIR RICHARD HILL WITH THE RELIGIOUS REVIVAL OF THE LAST CENTURY. HIS FAMILY AND BIRTH. HAWKSTONE. 12 MR. RICHARD HILL THE INSTRUMENT OF THE CONVERSION OF HIS 36 THE EARL OF DARTMOUTH. HIS CORRESPONDENCE WITH MR. RICH- ARD HILL. CORRESPONDENCE. NOTICES OF SEVERAL PIOUS MINISTERS. Ac- TIVE BENEVOLENCE OF MR. RICHARD HILL. CONTENTS. CHARGES AGAINST CERTAIN STUDENTS OF ST. EDMUND'S HALL, OX- FORD, WHO WERE EXPELLED. EXCELLENT letter of MR. RICHARD HILL. THEIR defence by HIM AND MR. WHITFIELD. DR. Now- ELL'S REPLY TO MR. HILL'S "PIETAS OXONIENSIS." FAULTS OF THE LATTER WORK. ARTICLES OF ACCUSATION BY MR. HIGSON. Dr. Dixon's Testimony to their Good Conduct Letter of Mr. Richard Hill to one of them |