theological works I am only enough acquainted to admire the meeknefs of his oppofition, and the mildness of his cenfures. It was not only in his book but in his mind that orthodoxy was united with charity.

Of his philofophical pieces, his Logick has been received into the univerfities, and therefore wants no private recommendation: if he owes part of it to Le Clerc, it must be confidered that no man who undertakes merely to methodife or illuftrate a fyftem, pretends to be its author.

In his metaphyfical difquifitions, it was obferved by the late learned Mr. Dyer, that he confounded the idea of Space with that of empty space, and did

not confider that though space might be without matter, yet matter, being extended, could not be without space.

Few books have been perused by me with greater pleasure than his Improvement of the Mind, of which the radical principles may indeed be found in Locke's Conduct of the Understanding, but they are fo expanded and ramified by Watts, as to confer upon him the merit of a work in the highest degree useful and pleafing. Whoever has the care of inftructing others, may be charged with deficience in his duty if this book is not recommended.

I have mentioned his treatifes of Theology as diftinct from his other productions; but the truth is, that what

ever he took in hand was, by his inceffant folicitude for fouls, converted to Theology. As piety predominated in his mind, it is diffufed over his works: under his direction it may be truly said, Theologia Philofophia ancillatur, philofophy is fubfervient to evangelical inftruction; it is difficult to read a a page without learning, or at leaft wifhing, to be better. The attention is caught by indirect inftruction, and he that fat down. only to reafon is on a fudden compelled

to pray.

It was therefore with great propriety that, in 1728,, he received from Edinburgh and Aberdeen an unfolicited diploma, by which he became a Doctor of Divinity. Academical honours would

have more value, if they were always bestowed with equal judgement.

He continued many years to ftudy and to preach, and to do good by his inftruction and example; till at last the infirmities of age difabled him from the more laborious part of his minifterial functions, and, being no longer capable of publick duty, he offered to remit the falary appendant to it; but his congregation would not accept the refigna

tion.

By degrees his weakness increased, and at last confined him to his chamber and his bed; where he was worn gradually away without pain, till he expired Nov. 25, 1748, in the seventy-fifth year of his age.

Few

Few men have left behind fuch purity of character, or fuch monuments of laborious piety. He has provided inftruction for all ages, from those who are lifping their first leffons, to the enlightened readers of Malbranche and Locke; he has left neither corporeal nor spiritual nature unexamined; he has taught the art of reafoning, and the fcience of the stars.

His character, therefore, must be formed from the multiplicity and diverfity of his attainments rather than from any fingle performance; for it would not be fafe to claim for him the highest rank in any fingle denomination of literary dignity; yet perhaps there was nothing in which he would not have excelled,