Page:The Works of John Locke - 1823 - vol 01.djvu/37

Rh to the new coinage of silver, and other topics. With the earl of Pembroke, then lord keeper of the privy seal, he was for some time accustomed to hold weekly conferences; and when the air of London began to affect his lungs, he sometimes went to the earl of Peterborough's seat, near Fulham, where he always met with the most friendly reception. He was afterwards, however, obliged to quit London entirely, at least during the winter season, and to remove to some place at a greater distance. He had frequently paid visits to sir Francis Masham, at Oates in Essex, about twenty miles from London, where lie found that the air agreed admirably well with his constitution, and where he also enjoyed the most delightful society. We may imagine, therefore, that he was persuaded, without much difficulty, to accept of an offer which sir Francis made to give him apartments in his house, where he might settle during the remainder of his life. Here he was received upon his own terms, that he might have his entire liberty, and look upon himself as at his own house; and here he chiefly pursued his future studies, being seldom absent, because the air of London grew more and more troublesome to him.

In 1692, Mr. Locke published A third Letter for Toleration, to the Author of the third Letter concerning Toleration, 8vo.; which being replied to about twelve years afterwards, by his old antagonist, Jonas Proast, he began A fourth Letter, which was left at his death in an unfinished state, and published among his posthumous pieces. In 1693, he published his Thoughts concerning Education, 8vo. which he greatly improved in subsequent editions. In 1695, king William, who knew how to appreciate his abilities for serving the public, appointed him one of the commissioners of trade and plantations; which obliged him to reside more in London than he had done for some time past. In the same year he published his excellent treatise, entitled, The Reasonableness of Christianity, as delivered in the Scriptures, 8vo., which was written, it is said, in order to promote the scheme which king William had so much at heart, of a comprehension with the dissenters. This book having been attacked, in the following year, by Dr. Edwards, in his Socinianism unmasked, and in a manner that was rude and scurrilous; Mr. Locke published, in the same year, a first, and a second Vindication of the Reasonableness of Christianity, &c. 8vo.; in which he defended his work with such strength of argument, that, if his adversary had been an ingenuous one, he might have justly expected from him a public acknowledgment of his error. Mr. Locke's defence against Dr. Edwards was also ably maintained by a