d spirits, as appears by his latest writings, in which there not only all the erudition, but all the quickness and vivaty that appeared in his earliest pieces. Those who knew m found the same pleasure in his conversation, that the arned will always find in his productions; for, with a progious share of learning, he had a wonderful liveliness of mper, and expressed himself on the driest subjects with so uch sprightliness, and in a manner so out of the common ad, that it was impossible to flag or lose one's attention, what was the subject of his discourse. He was consulted the greatest men of his age, on the deepest and most incate parts of learning, and was acknowledged for a genius the first order by those whom the world have esteemed, t only the most capable but the most unbiassed critics. was not any single branch of literature, or a few related to ich other, that could occupy his thoughts, but the whole rele of sciences which fall under the cognizance of a geneil scholar, and sound divine. All these he had not only ated but digested, as appears by his excellence in different, nd almost opposite studies. His sermons shew him to have een an admirable orator, and at the same time a profound cholar. The several ancient authors he published testify is skill in criticism, and his perfect acquaintance with anquity. His treatises on ecclesiastical history discover a rodigious fund of reading, an exact comprehension of his ubject, and his sincere zeal for the Protestant religion. He aboured also to serve it by the tracts he rescued from dust indoblivion, to shew (as they effectually did that the charge of novelty, on which the Papists insisted so loudly, was not arely unreasonable, but at the same time groundless. His horough acquaintance with Hebrew and Rabinnical learning, ruth of the matter, and what then passed between us: but I thought it a little importance, that though Mr. Whiston came afterwards to visit in company with some friends of his, I did not think it necessary to at any notice of it, after the explanation I had given his friends, and shach in all probability came to his ears; especially, since I could not lave done it, without blaming him for his incivility, in making his own be of what I had said, by changing the state of the question, and supsing a part of my answer: An incivility so much the greater, because drete ried them to St. Basil's Book, "De Spiritu Sancto," for an account tay sentiments about the question they proposed. I have had several portunities of conversing with Mr. Whiston, and I am satisfied he never ed upon me, as one who inclined in the least to his opinions. I thought studious man, and had a respect for him as such; and he will do the justice to acknowledge, that I always spoke my mind to him very yard sincerely; but that I never approved of the liberties he took, ich indeed were more than could be well borne with."

enemics, respecting his Christian name. His answer to Dr Goodman and Dr. Stillingfeet, much increased his genera reputation. The latter indeed answered him with con tempt; at which his old tutor at Cambridge expressed hi displeasure, saying, that his pupil, while at college, was re puted to have the better abilities. His conduct in the reig of King James occasioned him much censure: but who i wise at all times? And yet his concern for a beloved son his only child, who was spared to him by the king's pardon may be allowed to plead for him in excuse of some high flights in an address, which could not be supposed of an material consequence. Yet none more rejoiced in the Re volution, or were more hearty in King William's interest than Mr. Alsop; who set himself to improve to the utmost the liberty legally granted, endeavouring with all his migh to promote truth, peace, and holiness. He preached once on the Lord's day, had a Thursday lecture, and was one o the six lecturers at Pinners Hall; and he was not withou success, but many heartily blessed God for him. He diee at Westminster, May 8, 1703. His funeral sermon wa preached by Mr. Slater. Anthony Wood summoned all the ill-nature he was master of in censuring Mr. Alsop's wit declaring him, "no way qualified for any performance wherein any thing of wit was requisite, either by the na tural bent of his own genius, or by any acquired improve ments." Of the justice of this censure, let those judg who are acquainted with his writings; particularly his An swer to Dr. Sherlock." who had affected to treat the mos sacred things of religion in a jocular way. Mr. Alsop s sharply turned the edge upon him, that this celebrated au thor never cared to reply, nor was he ever fond of that wa of writing afterwards. And Dr. South, who was as famo for his wit and droilery as any one of the age, and a mo bitter enemy of Dissenters, acknowledges that Mr. Als obtained a complete victory. He was succeeded by Dr. C Jamy, in whose ordination he had been concerned; which the Dr. gives the following account: "I was ver strictly examined by him before my ordination ; which time I made and defended a Latin Thesis, upon th question, which he gave me, "An Christus Officio Sace dotali fungatur in Calis tantum?" He (for argument-sak opposed me with all the vigour, smartness, and fluency a young man. This was in the year 1694, when Mr. Je Bennet, Mr. Thomas Reynolds, Mr. Jos. Hill, Mr. Ebe Bradshaw, Mr. Joshua Bayes, Mr. King of Rumford, we

ordained with me, in Little St. Helens. The other person who assisted in the solemnity were, Dr. Annesley, Mr. Stretton, Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Daniel Williams, Mr. Mat. Sylvester, and Mr. Thomas Kentish. This was the first public ordination among the Dissenters in the city after the Act of Uniformity."

Mr. Alsop was author of, 1. Antisozzo; in vindication of some great Truths opposed by Mr. William Sherlock." 8vo. 1675. -2. Melius Inquirendum: in answer to Dr. Goodman's Conpassionate Enquiry." 8vo. 1679.-3. "The Mischief of Impositions, in answer to Dr. Stillingfleet's Mischief of Separation." 1680.-4. "Duty and Interest united in Prayer and Praise for Kings," &c. A Thanksgiving Sermon, preached Sept. 8, 1695.-5. "Practical Godliness the Ornament of Religion." 8vo. 1696.-6. God in the Mount; a Sermon upon the Wonderful Deliverance of his Majesty from Assassination, and the Nation from Invasion. Preached at Westminster on the Fast Day, Dec. 19, 1701, from Gen. xviii. 32." 4to.-7" A Sermon to the Societies for the Reformation of Manners."-8. "A Faithful Rebuke to a False Report; with Reference to the Differences among the United Ministers in London." 8vo.-9." On the Distance we ought to keep in following the strange Fashions in Apparel, which come up in the Days wherein we live." A Sermou, printed in the Continuation of the Morning Exercise. 4to.-10. "The Fulness of God, which every true Christian ought to pray and strive to be filled with, &c." A Sermon, printed in the fourth volume of the Morning Exercises. He was likewise author of "The Life of Daniel Cawdry," who was ejected from the rectory of Great Billing in Northamptonshire.

ALTING, HENRY, professor of divinity at Heidelberg and Groningen, was born at Embden, Feb. 17, 1583, of a very ancient and honourable family. His father, Menso Alting, was pastor of Embden; and his mother, Mary Biscof, was an excellent person. He was sent early to school, and after having gone through his classical studies and a course of philosophy at Groningen, went into Germany in 1602. He remained three years at Herborn, in which time he made such proficiency under the famous Piscator, Matthius Martinius, and William Zepperus, that he was allowed to teach philosophy and divinity. When he was preparing to set out on his travels to Switzerland and France, he was chosen preceptor to the three young counts of Nassau, Solmes, and Issenberg, who studied at the once Protestant university of Sedan with the electoral prince palatine: he took upon him this charge in the beginning of September, 1605. The elec VOL. I.-No. 3.

toral

toral prince left Sedan, with the three young noblemen in 1606, and Alting accompanied them to Heidelberg, where he continued to instruct his noble pupils. He was al so admitted to read some lectures in geography and history to the electoral prince till 1608, when he was appointed his preceptor. The prince's exercises, corrected by Alting, are preserved in the Vatican library, and shewn to travellers, as we are informed by Emmius the author of Alting's life; who adds, that "they are as much worth seeing as most of the reliques commonly shewn to the curious." In this capacity, Alting accompanied him to Sedan, and instructed him so carefully, that the prince, upon his return to Heidelberg in 1610, being examined on all points of religion, before the duke of Deux Ponts, administrator of the electorate, and several other persons of distinction, answered very judiciously, and in Latin. Alting was one of the persons appointed to attend the young elector into England in 1612; where he became acquainted with George Abbot archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. King bishop of London, and Dr. Hackwell preceptor to the prince of Wales, and had also the honour of conversing with James I. The marriage between the elector and the princess of England being solemnized at London in February, 1613, Alting left England, and arrived at Heidelberg on the first of April. In August following he was appointed professor of the common-places of divinity; and as he could not preside in the disputes, without being a doctor of divinity, he took that degree in November, with the usual ceremonies. In 1616, he had a troublesome office conferred upon him, which was the direction of the "Collegium Sapientiæ" of Heidelberg. In 1618, he was offered the second professorship of divinity vacant by the death of Coppenius, which he refused, but obtained it for Scultetus. He greatly distinguished himself for his learning at the synod of Dort, when he was sent there with two other depu ties of the palatinate. It was at this time, that the university of Leyden had the power of conferring the degree of doctor restored to them, which they had suffered to be extinguished. John Polyander, professor in Leyden, was first created licentiate in divinity by Alting, and afterwards doctor by Scultetus; by which means he became invested with the power of conferring the degree of doctor upon his colleagues. Alting entertained great expectations upon his return to Heidelberg, the elector palatine having gained a crown by the troubles of Bohemia; but this successful beginning was soon followed by a dreadful change; count Tilli

took

took Heidelberg by storm, in September, 1622, and allowed his soldiers to commit all manner of devastations. Alting had a miraculous escape; for being met by a soldier, he was stopped by him in this manner; "I have killed with these hands ten men to-day; and doctor Alting should make the eleventh, if I could find him: Who are you?" Doctor Alting answered, "that he was schoolmaster at the Collegium Sapientiæ." The soldier did not understand this, and so let him escape. He retired to his family, which he had removed some time before to Heilbron, and met them at Schorndoff, but he was allowed to stay there only a few months. He went with his family to Embden, in 1623, and from thence to wait upon the king of Bohemia at the Hague, who retained him to instruct his eldest son, and would not allow him to accept of the church of Embden, the parish of which solicited him to be their minister; nor of the professorship of divinity, which the university of Franeker offered him, upon the death of Sibrant Lubbert. This prince however gave him leave, the year following, to accept of a professorship of divinity at Groningen, which he entered upon June 16, 1627, and kept it till his death. He did indeed intend, in 1633, to quit Groningen for Leyden, but it was upon condition, that the states of Groningen gave their consent, which they refused to do. It is certain likewise that he listened to the proposals which prince Lewis Philip offered him in 1634, of going to re-establish the university of Heidelberg, and the churches of the palatinate; he went as far as Francfort, amidst a thousand dangers, but the battle of Norlingen, gained by the Imperialists, having rendered this undertaking abortive, he was obliged to return through many bye roads to Groningen; and it does not appear that he had afterwards any thesights of removing to any other place. The latter years of his life proved very painful, being afflicted with grief and bodily distempers. He was so affected with the death of his eldest daughter in 1639, that he fell into a deep melancholy, which threw him into a quartan ague: of this he was cured with great difficulty, but not perfectly, for the remains of it turned to a dangerous lethargy in 1641. The physicians had scarcely removed this distemper by their utmost skill and art, when meeting with a fresh domestic afflictiou, it threw him into a worse state of health than ever; he lost his wife in 1643, and never after recovered from his melancholy. From this time till the day of his death, his infirmities continued to increase. In his last sickness, the excellent Dr. Maresius visiting

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