THE LIFE OF RICHARD BENTLEY, D.D. MASTER OF TRINITY COLLEGE, AND REGIUS PROFESSOR OF DIVINITY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE: WITH AN ACCOUNT OF HIS WRITINGS, AND ANECDOTES OF MANY DISTINGUISHED CHARACTERS DURING THE PERIOD IN WHICH HE FLOURISHED. BY JAMES HENRY MONK, D.D. LORD BISHOP OF GLOUCESTER. SECOND EDITION, REVISED & CORRECTED. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON: PRINTED FOR J. G. & F. RIVINGTON, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD, AND WATERLOO PLACE, PALL MALL; MDCCCXXXIII. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE AND RIGHT REVEREND CHARLES-JAMES, LORD BISHOP OF LONDON. MY LORD, THERE are several reasons which induce me to take the liberty of prefixing your name to this publication. In the first place, there is no one to whom an account of the life and writings of a distinguished scholar can be inscribed with more propriety than to your Lordship, who have obtained the same rank in literature at the present day as was enjoyed during his life-time by Dr. Bentley. And if, in the perusal of the following Memoirs, any reader should remark, that great learning is not always accompanied by the graces of personal character, the mention of your Lordship's name will remind him that the defect cannot be attributed to the nature of such studies, and that similar excellence in classical pursuits may be made subservient to religious knowledge and the cultivation of all moral and Christian virtues. Again, it is natural that every scholar should express joy at seeing your Lord ship's well-merited elevation to the high station which your learning adorns; and still more, that a churchman should declare his satisfaction at so important a diocese being filled by a Prelate, whose zeal, piety, and virtues peculiarly qualify him for its important functions; while they, who have had the happiness of observing all the steps of your progress from a curacy to the See of London, and witnessing your exemplary discharge of the duties of each successive station, must feel uncommon delight at seeing their anticipations of your future distinction fulfilled in your Lordship's exaltation to a post in which you possess such extensive means of encouraging similar conduct in others, by the influence of precept and example. Lastly, I cannot forbear seizing the opportunity now afforded me of publicly mentioning the great and constant friendship with which your Lordship has honoured me for more than twenty years, and which I shall always consider as one of the most gratifying distinctions of my life. I have the honour to be, with every sentiment of respect and attachment, MY LORD, Your very faithful and affectionate servant, J. H. MONK. |