Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/73

 DELAN.Y. 69 doxy;” and several sermons. He now arrived at a very great age, almost fourscore, and his mind and body being necessarily enfeebled, it would have, perhaps, been ad visable for the sake of his future fame, if he followed the maxim, “solve senescentem equum,” and no longer ap peared as an author. However, in 1763, after a lapse of thirty years, he published the third and last volume of his “Revelation examined with Candour,” in which occurred instances more numerous than in the former volumes, of the prevalence of imagination over judgment. In his preface he indulged in much peevishness against reviewers; but it is seldom that an author benefits himself by remarks of that kind. The feelings of the reader are apt to favour the critics and suspect that their judgment has been just ; and unless in particular gross mistakes, where they may clearly be confuted, silence respecting them is the best policy. The last works of the Doctor were, a sermon in 1766, against transubstantiation, and a volume containing eighteen discourses, in the same year. He closed his long life at Bath, in May 1768, in the eighty third year of his age. Enough has been said in the course of his life to render it unnecessary to enter farther into his literary character. His works in defence of divine revelation have been superseded by other writings, without their defects, and embracing their good qualities, and many additional original arguments and illustrations. His life of Dean Swift is an interesting work; and h i s valuable practical sermons ought t o preserve his name from oblivion. Hap pily, we are able t o say o f him, that h e practised a s well a s preached, and taught mankind b y the force o f example a s well a s b y precept. His income for the last twenty years o f his life, was about 3000l. per annum; yet h e left little behind him besides books, plate, and furniture, a s h e took pleasure i n spending h i s ample income from his preferments and his private fortune, i n the relief o f distress, rewarding merit, and hospitable entertainments; and i n s o doing, displayed