Without this, no external advantages relating to myself will make me happy and yet I have no prospect of being serviceable in the work of the ministry, having preached many years without being favored with the approbation and choice of any one congregation." Dr. Kippis remarks, that, it reflects no honor upon the dissenters, that a man of such merit should so long have been neglected. But it must be observed, that in elections which are dependent upon the whole body of a congregation, a regard will be paid, not only to internal abilities, but to external qualifications. It is not probable, that Mr. Lardner, even in his best days, was possessed of a good elocution; and his simple mode of composition was not calculated to strike the multitude; nor had rational preaching then made a very extensive progress among the dissenters.”

Two years after the death of lady Treby, Mr. Lardner mèt with another calamity, which greatly affected him; this was the decease of his former pupil, Brindly Treby, esq. a gentleman for whom our author had the highest affection and esteem. Indeed, he felt so deeply the loss of his friend, that he imputed to it, in part, the increase of a deafness which had been coming upon him for some time before. In the beginning of the year 1724, he writes as follows: "Mr. Cornish preached; but I was not able to hear any thing he said, nor so much as the sound of his voice. I am indeed at present so deaf, that when I sit in the pulpit, and the congregation is singing, I can hardly tell whether they are singing or not."

+

Previously to this account of himself, and at least as early as 1723, Mr. Lardner was engaged, in conjunction with a number of ministers, in carrying on a course of lectures, on a Tuesday evening, at the Old Jewry."

In 1727. Mr. Lardner published in two volumes, Svo. the first part of "The Credibility of the Gospel History; or, The Facts occasionally mentioned in the New Testament, confirmed by Passages of ancient Authors, who were contemporary with our Saviour, or his Apostles, or lived near their time." An appendix was subjoined concerning the time of Herod's death.

Dr. Kippis observes, that it is scarcely necessary to say how well this work was received by the learned world. Not only was it highly approved by the protestant dissenters, with whom the

author was more immediately connected, but by the clergy in general of the established church; and its reputation-gradually extended into foreign countries. It is indeed a valuable performance, and hath rendered the most essential service to the cause of christianity. Whoever peruses this work, (and to him that does not. peruse, it will be to his own loss), will find it replete with admirable instruction, sound learning, and just and candid criticism. It was not long before a second edition was called for, and a third was published in 1741.”

In the beginning of February, 1728, the course of Mr. Lardner's studies was interrupted, and his life threatened, by the attacks of a violent fever, which proved of long continuance. For some time, his recovery was despaired of by his relations and friends; but he was relieved, and at length happily restored to health, by the divine blessing; on the prescriptions of Dr. (afterwards sir Edward) Hulse, who was called in to consult with the other physicians. Mr. Lardner's own remark upon this occasion was as follows: "I think God put into my mind to send for Dr. Hulse, for from that time forwards I mended." His pious sentiments after his recovery, are thus expressed: I thankfully acknowledge the great goodness of God, who raised me up again, and desire that this great mercy may be had in perpeal remembrance by me. May I serve him the remainder of my ti in this world with involiable integrity, unshaken in my steadfastness, by all the snares of a vain uncertain world."

nce

With all Mr. Lardner's merit, he was forty-five years of age before he obtained a settlement among the dissenters. On the 24th of August, 1729, he happened to preach for the rev. Dr. William Harris, at Crouched Fryers; and the consequence of it was, that he was unexpectedly invited by the congregation to be assis tant to their minister. After mature deliberation, he accepted the offer; which, as he declared in his letter of acceptance, was peculiarly agreeable to him, because it alloted him a part of service in the work of the gospel, with their honored pastor, for whom he had entertained, from his early youth, a high regard and esteem. On the 14th of September, he entered upon his new charge; and the subject of his first sermon was taken from 2 Cor. v. 20.

VOL. IV.

In 1713, Mr. Lardner published the first volume of the second part of his "Credibility of the Gospel History; or, the Principal Facts of the New Testament confirmed, by passages from an cient authors, who were contemporary with our Saviour, or his Apostles, or lived near their time." It was Mr. Lardner's original intention, not to publish a part of the evidence for the prin cipal facts of the New Testament, until the whole work was com pleted. But he was diverted from this purpose by the importunities of his friends. He could have wished however, to have exhibited at once, the whole evidence of the two first centuries of christianity; but he thought it expedient to break off sooner, that he might not render the volume of an inconvenient size. Our author took this opportunity of expressing his gratitude for the favor able reception which had been given to the former part of his work. Besides its being universally well received at home, it was so muchr approved abroad, that it was translated by two learned foreigners; by Mr. Cornelius Westerbean, of Utrecht, into Low Dutch; and by Mr. J. Christopher Wolff, of Hamburgh, into Latin. "I cannot but esteem it," says Mr. Lardner, " as an uncommon happiness, that my thoughts have been so justly represented, by persons well known in the republic of letters for compositions of their own.

The testimonies prodejced and considered in the first volume of the second part of the "Credibility," were those of St. Barnabas,, St. Clement, Hermas, St. Ignatius, St. Polycarp, Papias, Justin Martyr, Dionysius of Corinth, Tatian, Hegesippus, Melito, St. Irenæus, and Athenagoras. Our author has also treated on a frag. ment called, "St. Clements Second Epistle, the relation of St. Polycarp's Martyrdom, the Evengelists in the reign of Trajan, the Epistle to Diagnetus, and the Epistle of the churches of Vi enne and Lyons.

In the introduction, he hath given an admirable summary of the history of the New Testament.

In 1735, he published the second volume of the second part of the "Credibility of the Gospel History." The subjects of this volume were, Miltiades, Theophilus of Antioch, Pantænus, St. Clement of Alexandria, Polycrates, Heraclitus, and several other, writers near the end of the second century; Hermias, Serapion,

Tertullian, a number of authors who required only to be shortly mentioned, and certain suppositious writings of the second century, such as the Acts of Paul and Thecla, the Sibylline Oracles, the Testaments of the twelve Patriarchs, the Recognitions, the Clementine Homilies, and the Clementine Epitome. Among these different articles, those which relate to St. Clement of Alexandria and Tertullian are peculiarly important, and the remarks on the apocryphal works are very curious and useful. The farther Mr. Lardner proceeded in his design, the more did he advance in esteem and reputation among learned men of all denominations. Even the adversaries to religion could not withhold their testimony to his merit. The noted Dr. Morgan, (afterwards the writer of the "Moral Philosopher," in which, revelation was attacked with the greatest virulence, and which hath received many noble and satisfactory answers), in a letter to our author, containing some objections to the first chapter of St. Luke's gospel, compliments him highly on bis integrity, impartiality, and candour,

In November, 1736, Mr. Lardner was attacked by another severe and dangerous fever. The effects of it were such, that he did not recover his health so far as to be able to preach, till late in the spring of 1737. In that year, he published his "Counsels of Prudence; for the use of young people; a discourse on the wisdom of the serpent, and the innocence of the dove: in which are recommended general rules of prudence; with particular directions relating to business, conversation, friendship, and usefulness." Dr. Kippis remarks, that "this discourse was generally and justly admired. Indeed, it contains most excellent advice to young persons: advice resulting from the union of wisdom, in tegrity, and knowledge of the world; and which if followed, would be the best foundation of happiness, both here and here. after." Dr. Secker, then bishop of Oxford, afterwards archbishop of Canterbury, was highly pleased with the "Counsels of Prudence." In a letter to our author, he expressed himself in the following terms: "I am also in your debt for those excellent "Counsels of Prudence," which you published some time ago, and would recommend it to you, to relieve yourself now and then from your great work, and oblige the world with some of these. little pieces. One would hope they might do a great deal of good

in it; and I am sure, there is great need of doing every thing that can be done to promote seriousness and mildness among men.??

In 1738, Mr. Lardner published the third volume of the second part of the "Credibility," and the fourth in the year 1740. The same year, his father died, with whose death he was greatly af. fected, though his father was in his 87th year at the time of his death. In 1743, he published the fifth volume of the second part of his "Credibility." This volume comprehended St. Cornelius and St. Lucius, bishops of Rome, Novatus, Dionysius, bishop of Rome, Commodion, Malchion, Anatolius, and three others, bishops of Loadicea, Theognostus, Theonas, bishop of Alexandria, Pierius, presbyter of the church of the same city, two Doritheuses, Victorinus, bishop Pettaw; Methodius bishop of Olympus, in Lycia; Lucian presbyter of Antioch; Hesychius, bishop in Egypt; Pamphilus, presbyter of Cæsaria; Phileas, bishop of Thumis, in Egypt; Philoromus, receiver-general at Alexandria; Peter, bishop of Alexandria and the Miletians. In an advertisement prefixed to the volume, our author expresses his apprehensions, that some persons might be ready to charge him with prolixity in the conduct of his undertaking. But he hath offered such reasons for the method he has pursued, as will satisfy every reflecting mind. Among other things, he observes, that the particular design of this work was to enable persons of ordinary capacities, who had not an opportunity of reading many authors, to judge for themselves, concerning the external evidence of the facts related in the New Testament. "I write," says he, " chiefly for gentlemen, and such others as are not possessed of large libraries; and therefore I produce passages of ancient authors at length, and oftentimes transcribes also the original words at the bottom of the page, that this evidence may at once appear in a clear and satifactory light."

In the same year, the world was indebted to Mr. Lardner for another valuable performance, the title of which was, "The Circumstances of the Jewish People, an Argument for the truth of the Christian Religion." It consists of three discourses on Romans xi. 11; in which the grand points insisted upon by our author, and maintained with great perspecuity and success, are that