Page:A new and general biographical dictionary; containing an historical and critical account of the lives and writings of the most eminent persons in every nation v1.djvu/248

 212 A M R Y. fortitude [B]. Dr. Amory had the felicity of having his ufefulnefs, and his capacity for public fervice, continued nearly to the laft. June i6th, 1774, he was feized with a fudden diforder which left him nearly in a ftate of infenfibility till his death, which happened on the 24th of that month, and in the 74th year of his age. He was interred in Bunhill Fields, on the fifth of July ; and his funeral was attended by a refpe&able number of minifters and gentlemen. The dif- courfe, on the occafion of his death, was preached in the Old Jewry, on the loth of the fame month, by the Rev. Dr. Roger Flexman of Rotherhithe, who had been connected with him in an intimate friendfliip for more than 40 years; which friendlhip, Dr. Flexman afTures us, had never once been interrupted bydiftafte, or darkened with a frown. Dr. Kipph. Dr. Amory's character was excellent in every view. It feems to have been formed upon that of his uncle, Mr. Grove, with whom he had been clofely connected from his infancy, and his connection with whom he confidered as the principal felicity of his life. His piety was equally rational and fervent. It was founded on the moft enlarged fenti- ments concerning the Divine Providence and Government ; and was, therefore, difplayed in a fpirit of cheerful devotion, love, and confidence. It was a principle that influenced his .whole behaviour; a principle which rendered him ftri&ly virtuous in every refpedt, and peculiarly amiable in all the re- lations of life. None could excel him as a hufband, a father, a matter, and a friend. He was diftinguifhed for his general benevolence and humanity; and as a companion he was re- markably pleafing and engaging. He abounded with a num- ber of fhort (lories, drawn from an extenfive knowledge of books and men, which, while they were entertaining, were calculated and defigned to convey inftru&ion. In fhort, taking him in the whole of his private character, he was allowed by his intimate acquaintance to have been one of the worthieft men they had ever known. In his public character, as a teacher of religion, Dr. Amory was greatly refpedtable. The devotional part of worfhip was [B] Dr. Amory had from his youth fcribe a great number of doftrinal ar- been averfe to every degree of imposition tides, he had not fubmitted to the doing upon the confeiences of 'men. He of it, and was determined never to do totally difapproved of fubfcriptions to . fo. Hence he was naturally felicitous human formulas. The requifition of that himielf and his brethren tfiould ob- them by the church of England was one tain a legal exemption from the penal* of the principal reafons of his feparating ties to which they were fubjeft for their from her. Though by the terms of the non-complunce. toleration ift, he was required to 1'ub- cond tided