Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 02.djvu/276

Austin informs us that the Rev. John Sergeant assured him that it was the production of Austin, who was his particular friend, and formerly his contemporary at St. John's College, Cambridge. Dodd and Butler are of the same opinion. In this work Austin, assuming the disguise of an independent, shows that catholics did not really hold the odious doctrines vulgarly attributed to them, and makes an energetic appeal to the independents to extend to the adherents of the persecuted church such rights and privileges as were granted to other religious bodies. A violent reply to this plea for toleration was published in a book called 'Legenda Lignea,' by D. Y., 1652. 2. 'Reflexions upon the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance; or, The Christian Moderator, the fourth part. By a Catholick gentleman, an obedient son of the Church, and loyal subject of His Majesty,' 1661. 3. 'Devotions. First part, In the Antient Way of Offices. With Psalms, Hymns, and Pray'rs; for every day in the Week, and every Holiday in the Year,' second edition, corrected and augmented, Rouen, 1672, 8vo. This was a posthumous edition brought out by Sergeant, who remarks that Austin composed these 'Devotions,' which 'were long used by divers private friends, and transcripts of them so multiply'd, that they were already become half publick, ere he thought fit to let them be printed.' Sergeant adds that 'less then a year had vended the whole first impression;' but when or where the first edition was published is unknown. There was an edition at Paris in 1675, and a third volume of the work was written, but never published. Dodd mentions that the prayers were added to the work by Austin's friend, Mr. Keightley, 'which some have been pleased to quarrel with, upon a pretence that they favour'd Mr. Blackloe's opinion concerning the middle state of souls. A handsomely printed edition of the 'Devotions' was published at Edinburgh in 1789. In the preface it is stated that 'the "Devotions" were at first published in two volumes. The second, from what cause we know not, is now almost neglected. It consisted of the four gospels reduced to the form of lessons; besides which a third volume remains in manuscript.' Numerous editions of the 'Devotions' were published by the celebrated Dr. Hicks for the use of his protestant congregation, and consequently the book was commonly known among protestants as 'Hicks's Devotions.' 4. 'The Four Gospels in One,' in short chapters, with a verse and prayer at the end of each; mentioned by Butler, who gives no date nor imprint. This doubtless formed the second volume of the first edition of the 'Devotions.' A 'protestantized ' version of it was published under the title of 'The Harmony of the Holy Gospels, digested into one History, according to the order of time, done originally by the author of the Devotions by way of Offices, publish'd by Dr, Hicks. Reformed and Improved by James Bonnel,' London, 1705. 5. 'A Letter from a Cavalier in Yorkshire to a Friend.' 6. 'A Punctual Answer to Dr. John Tillotson's Book, called the Rule of Faith;' an unfinished work, only six sheets being printed. 7. Several anonymous pamphlets against the Assembly of Divines at Westminster.

[MS. Addit. 5862 f. 9 b; Dodd's Church Hist. iii. 256; Wood's Athen. Oxon. ed. Bliss, iii. 149, 150, 1226, 1227; Mr. George Bullen, in Biog. Dict. Soc. D. U. K.; Life of Austin prefixed to his Devotions, Edinb. 1789; Butler's Hist. Memoirs of the English Catholics, 3rd ed. iv. 459.]

 AUSTIN, JOHN (1717–1784), an Irish Jesuit, was born in Dublin 12 April 1717, and entered the Society of Jesus in Champagne 27 Nov. 1735. After completing the higher studies, he was employed in teaching humanities for several years, and he held the office of prefect of the Irish College at Poitiers. In 1750 he returned to Dublin, where he obtained renown as a preacher. He was professed of the four vows 2 Feb. 1754. Topham Bowden, an English protestant, in his 'Tour through Ireland' (1791), remarks 'that Austin was a very remarkable character, of extraordinary learning and piety; he was a great preacher, and injured his health by his exertions in the pulpit.' Father Austin died in Dublin 29 Sept. 1784, and was buried in St. Kevin's churchyard. The inscription over his grave describes him as 'pius, doctus, indefessus operarius, apostolicis confectus laboribus. Divites admonuit, pauperes sublevavit, juventutem erudivit, orphanis loco parentis fuit, de omni hominum genere præclarè meruit, omnibus omnia factus ut omnes Christo lucrifaceret.' His portrait, painted by Petrie, and engraved by Brocas, was published in 1792.

[Hogan's Chronological Cat. of the Irish Province S. J. 73; Oliver's Collectanea S. J. 232; Evans's Cat. of Engraved Portraits, i. 13.]

 AUSTIN, JOHN (fl. 1820), a Scotch inventor, was a native of Craigton. He published at Glasgow, in or about 1800, a system of 'Stenography which may be learned in an hour,' on a single folio engraved sheet, price 2s. 6d. A note at the end announces the publication of a complete system by the same author, price one guinea, but this does not appear to have been brought out. He was also the author of an elaborate work