Among the divines, not of his own church, with whom Dr. Parr in his later years associated and occasionally corresponded, was the late Rev. Abraham Rees, D.D. F.R.S., minister of the dissenting chapel in Jewin-street, London. He is known to the public as the author of four volumes of excellent sermons; and, still more, as the editor of the new “London Cyclopedia.” For several years he usually passed five or six weeks, in the summer, at Leamington near Warwick, which, from an insignificant village, has lately risen to the consequence of one of the largest and most fashionable watering-places in the kingdom; and from his dignified person, his cheerful temper, his easy and obliging manners, and his entertaining and instructive conversation, he was always the centre of attraction in every company in which he appeared.
But the circumstance which rendered these annual visits peculiarly
agreeable to him, was the opportunity they afforded of enjoying much pleasing
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A vehement debate, in which they once engaged, occurs at this moment to the
writer’s recollection. He had entertained at dinner, Dr.
Parr, Dr. Rees, Dr. Lindsay, the Reverends Timothy and David Davis, and a large party of friends,
at Leam; and, in the course of much interesting and animated conversation, some theological
questions were started; and, amongst others, the Arian notion of the person of Christ, to
which Dr. Rees was zealously attached; and which, with a sort of
public challenge, he stood forth to defend. Somewhat to
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The late Dr. James Lindsay, whose
name has just been mentioned, was an extraordinary man; surpassed by few in all the best
and noblest qualities, which constitute intellectual and moral greatness. For many years,
he was the pastor of the Scots’ church, in Monkwell-street, London; and was the
immediate successor of the celebrated Dr. Fordyce.
It was in the summer of 1814 that he accompanied Dr.
Rees in his visit to Leamington; and the opportunity was gladly embraced by
Dr. Parr of cultivating a more intimate
acquaintance with one, whom he had long known, and had as long admired and loved. Their
intercourse was frequent, and mutually agreeable. Dr. Lindsay
possessed great powers of conversation; and it was plea-
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During the period of his stay at Leamington, Dr. Lindsay once conducted the morning-service of the High-street chapel, Warwick, on which occasion Dr. Parr had declared his intention of being present; nor did he think it any degradation to appear in the full dress of a clergyman, though within walls not consecrated by episcopalian authority. The sermon, delivered by Dr. Lindsay, was an interesting and instructive discourse, since published, “On the character of the beloved disciple;” and both in it, and in the prayers which were put up, some expressions were introduced, respectful to the great divine then present, and to the church of which he was a minister. At the close of it, Dr. Parr declared that he had seldom attended any religious service with a higher degree of satisfaction; and, alluding particularly to the discourse, he said to a friend, on leaving the chapel, “this is true Christianity.”
It is well known that, through life, he was in the habit of going occasionally to places of worship protected,—as he used to say, “most wisely and most justly protected”—though not established, by state authority. His feelings on this subject were exactly those expressed in the following passage from the pen of a liberal divine, some time ago deceased:1—“I know not how it is, but I confess, though a clergyman of the establishment, I see no evil in joining, for public worship, or social inter-
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So in-wrought were these sentiments into the mind of Dr. Parr, that no ridicule or reproach could produce upon
them the least effect. Some years ago, after attending morning-service at one of the
chapels in Manchester, he happened to dine in company with a zealous Church-of-England man,
who immediately began to question him tauntingly on the subject. “Well!
Dr. Parr,” said he, “where have you been
this morning?”—“To Cross-street chapel,” was the answer.
“What! to a dissenting chapel!” exclaimed he
scornfully;—“how strange!” Then, after a moment’s pause,
resuming in the same tone—“And pray, Dr. Parr,”
said he, “where will you go next?”—“Sir, do you ask,”
replied Dr. Parr, speaking slowly and solemnly, “where I
shall go next?—Why, sir, if I remember, and practically regard what I have
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There were few of the more distinguished dissenting divines, of whom Dr. Parr had not been, at one time or other, a hearer; and to the respective merits of each he was always eager to render the meed of his sincere and generous praise. He has several times heard the celebrated Mr. Hall preach; and, on one of these occasions, being asked by a friend whether he had been pleased—“Pleased,” replied he, “Sir, I have been enraptured!”—To another friend, who had observed, that of all the eminent preachers among the various classes of dissenters, Mr. Hall might claim the first place:—“Yes, sir,” said Dr. Parr, “and you might have added, within the pale of the church too.”
Of one of the most admired of Mr. Hall’s published discourses, that “on Modern Infidelity,” Dr. Parr thus speaks:—“In common with all men of letters, I read with exquisite delight Mr. Hall’s sermon, lately published. As compositions, his former works are replete with excellence; but this last approaches to perfection, μετα του σεμνου την χάριν εχει.” Mr. Hall himself, Dr. Parr thus highly panegyrises:—“I will give my general opinion of him,” says he, “in words which were employed to describe a prelate, whose writings are,
1 Dr. Parr was once present in a dissenting chapel, seated near the pulpit, when the officiating minister was one of inferior merit, which gave occasion to the following jeu-d’esprit:—
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Among the dissenting clergy, whom Dr. Parr received into the number of his personal friends, was the Rev. Charles Berry, of Leicester; of whom he often spoke in high terms, as uniting strong powers of mind with a good share of solid and useful learning, and a keen sense of moral purity and propriety with the affections of a benevolent heart, and the attractions of unassuming and amiable temper and manners. In two long letters, with which the writer has been obligingly furnished, the plan of a classical education is traced, by Dr. Parr, in bold outline, intended for the use of Mr. Berry, in which, among other expressions of friendly regard, the following occur:—“Remembering that you, my dear sir, are endowed with good sense, and with more than usual capacity for good taste, I shall give you some advice upon the questions you proposed to me, about the education of your children. I shall endeavour to
1 Spital Sermon, Notes, p. 63. |
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There was another dissenting divine, who resided in his own neighbourhood, long since deceased, for whom Dr. Parr professed high regard, and with whom he always gladly associated. He had, like Dr. Parr, an extensive knowledge of books; and, like him, too, possessed a large and well-chosen library; which he purchased with the careful savings of a very scanty income;1 and in which he found the chief occupation and enjoyment of his life. It happened, in his later years, that pecuniary difficulties compelled him to think of selling, at least, some considerable portion of his books; when Dr. Parr, being informed of these difficulties, summoned the present writer to a conference, in order to devise, if possible, the means of relief. He began with protesting, as a point which he had previously and decidedly fixed, that not a single volume of that library should, with his consent, be sold. He then desired to know what sum would meet the necessity of the case; and, being told about 200l., after the pause of a moment, he recommended a subscription; declaring, that what could not be raised of that sum elsewhere, should be advanced by himself, and by some of his own friends, to whom he would immediately apply. “Never,” said he, speaking with ardour, “shall our friend have to mourn the loss of his books. No, No! he shall not be deprived, in his old age,
1 “Bromley’s Remarks on the Grand Tour of France and Italy.—This book was once in the possession of the Rev. Mr. Emans, a studious dissenting minister of Coventry; who, with a small income, contrived to buy many good books. S. P.”—Bibl. Parr: p. 702. |
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The person here referred to, was the Rev.
Peter Emans, of Coventry; and as the much-respected friend of Dr. Parr, and his own, the writer hopes to be pardoned, if
he indulge, for a moment, in the recollection of a very amiable and estimable man. A
vigorous understanding, assiduously cultivated; a judgment truly, almost severely correct;
learning, various, extensive, and accurate; piety, rational, unostentatious, and deep-felt;
benevolence, which breathed its fervid spirit in warm affection to his friends, in feeling
compassion to the distressed, in generous regards to all his fellow-creatures around him,
and even in humane consideration for the sensitive creatures below him:—these were the
predominating qualities, accompanied with the exactest attention to the little proprieties
and kind offices of social life, and recommended by the charms of gay, cheerful, even
playful temper, and of obliging unassuming manners, which combined to form in him a
character of no common excellence and dignity. As a Christian, his faith was the effect of
sincere conviction, the fruit of long, learned, and anxious investigation; and whilst his
views of Christian doctrine were different, in many important respects, from those of the
prevailing creed; yet he was never forward to question the opinions, or to oppose the
prejudices of others. As a preacher, his sermons were well arranged and well digested,
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In the younger part of life, Mr.
Emans was known and received, with honourable distinction, in a wide circle,
in which were some men of the higher orders in society, and some of the greatest eminence
in literature. But during his later years, straitened circumstances, and an obscure
situation, though unattended with the slightest querulousness of temper, or with the
smallest degradation of exterior appearance or manner, threw a veil over the many
excellencies of his character, and prevented some from discerning, and others from duly
honouring them. He was born in London; and his education, which was begun at St.
Paul’s school, was completed at Mile End academy. After various settlements at
Dorking, Ipswich, Nottingham, and some other places, he finally fixed himself at Coventry.
Through his long life, he was never once laid on the bed of sickness; till, on a visit to a
friend at Dudley, he was suddenly seized with a painful disorder; and, within a few days,
expired, June 28, 1810, in the seventy-fourth year of his age, not leaving one surviving
relative, near or distant, to lament his loss; but
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Dr. Parr was one of those who considered dissent as a good rather than an evil; and who acknowledged, in the various classes of dissenters, instead of enemies, useful auxiliaries to the church. He often said, that the great cause of religion derived benefit from diversity of opinions, and opposition of views and interests in its professors; because, thus, attention is awakened, inquiry stimulated, and discussion promoted: of all which the general result must be favourable to truth and virtue. He thought that the church owed much obligation to dissenting divines, for their many able defences of the great common principles of Christianity; and that its thanks were even due for writings, which objected to what appeared to them erroneous or defective, in the national system of doctrine or discipline; because well-founded objection is sure, at last, to produce conviction, and conviction amendment and improvement. He felt an utter contempt for such little-minded men; great, though they might be, in other respects, as those, of whom Bishop Watson mentions one1—an eminent divine, too, in the church—who, on accidentally opening a book, written by a dissenter, immediately closed it, declaring that “he never read dissenting divinity.”3 Two or three times
1 Xenophon. 2 See the admirable preface to Bishop Watson’s Collection of Theological Tracts, p. xix. 3 It should seem that some Church of-England worthies |
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Impressed with these views, so far from wishing ill to dissenting societies, Dr. Parr always rejoiced to hear of their prosperity; and was even willing to assist in promoting it. “If dissent, and with it the spirit of generous rivalry, should ever be annihilated,” he was accustomed to say, “so much the worse for our church: for, in that case, its clergy and its members, amisso cui æmulari consueverant in segnitiam torporemque resoluti essent.” The wants of indigent ministers of other denominations, if
carry their proscription of dissenting writings beyond the science of theology. The writer once heard Dr. Rees tell, to the great amusement of Dr. Parr, a story of an Oxford divine, who had ordered the New Cyclopedia, at its first appearance, to be sent to him regularly; but who, after receiving ten or twelve numbers, made the woful discovery that the editor was not of the church; when, instantly he returned to his bookseller, to be disposed of as he could, all the numbers already purchased, with orders to send no more! 1 Preface to Warburtonian Tracts, p. 109. 2 Reply to Combe, p. 29. |
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He was much gratified by an invitation, which he received and accepted, to
dine with a number of dissenting ministers, at the library founded by the Rev. Dr. Williams in Red-Cross-street, London; and spoke
afterwards with great pleasure of
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Once being present at the high bailiff’s annual dinner in
Birmingham, it was mentioned to him
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The just and the generous principles, not of bare tolerance, but of esteem and affection towards the sincere and the worthy of all sects, which Dr. Parr hoped to maintain till death, it may almost be said, he avowed and maintained even after it. In his “Last Will,” he has recorded his assurances of kind and respectful regards to more than thirty individuals, not of his own church; and among them are the names of the following divines—Dr. Rees, Dr. Lindsay, Mr. Belsham, Mr. Hall, Mr. Cogan, Mr. Shepherd, and Mr. Corrie. To all these he has bequeathed mourning rings, as tokens of friendship; and—will the reader pardon the seeming or the real vanity of the writer in adding of himself—that he also was honoured with the same mark of friendly regard, accompanied, too, with expressions, gratifying, he confesses, in the highest degree, to his feelings—“Hoc juvat, et melli est, non mentiar!”1
Dr. Lindsay, whose name is thus enrolled among the friends of Dr. Parr, died four years before him. In an assembly of divines of the three denominations of dissenters, convened at the library in Red-Cross-street, for the purpose of considering Mr. Brougham’s proposed plan of national education, Dr. Lindsay had delivered his sentiments on that important subject, and had just resumed his seat—when, falling suddenly into the arms of those
1 Horace. |
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Soon after this lamented event—speaking to the writer, in a tone of deep-felt grief—“Ah!” said Dr. Parr, “our friend Lindsay is gone!”—“Oh! he was a noble creature!—We shall long remember him—long mourn his loss.” On a subsequent occasion, he expressed his opinion nearly in the terms, and quite to the effect, that follows:—“He had fine talents: he had a good store of ancient learning; and of modern literature his knowledge was various, extended, and well digested.—Then, as to his moral qualities, there, we can scarcely say too much—he was pure in heart; social in temper; benevolent in spirit; most upright in conduct. Some would say there was a sternness about his integrity; and a vehemence, almost passionate, in urging the right, and opposing the wrong, as it appeared to him, in sentiment or action. But, in reality, there was all the sweetness, as well as all the fairness, of candour. In debate, if he was sometimes warm, he was never overbearing: if there was pressing earnestness, there was no discourtesy in his manner. As a patriot and a philanthropist, the love of his country and of his kind was in him a glowing passion, as well as a steady principle. As a Christian and a preacher, religion was in him a subject of ardent feeling, as well as of honest profession; and, though destitute of the graces of elocution, yet he possessed, in no inferior degree, all the eloquence, which sincere conviction, vivid conceptions, strong emotions, and great command of language can supply.”
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Adverting to his “Discourses,” of which a volume had been recently published, Dr. Parr affirmed that “in all the first and best qualities of sermons, there were few in the English language that could be placed above them.” For clear arrangement, for cogent reasoning, for just and striking observation, for purity and energy of moral sentiment, for fervour of devotional and benevolent feeling, and for all the charms of a style, chaste, terse, flowing and elegant, sometimes tenderly pathetic, and sometimes rising towards the impressively solemn and sublime—these sermons, he said, almost touch the point of perfection. In his own copy they are characterized as “eloquent and philosophical;” and in the same copy is inserted the following inscription:—“Presented to Dr. Parr in testimony of profound respect for distinguished talents, uniformly employed under the guidance of an upright mind, and the impulses of a kind and benevolent heart, in promoting the great cause of truth and freedom—from the author.”1
During his occasional visits at Manchester, Dr. Parr was always delighted to renew his friendly intercourse with the late Rev. W. Hawkes, for more than thirty years minister of the chapel in Morely-street, erected with a particular view to the benefit of his services, by a number of respectable persons, who had long known, and who greatly appreciated his talents as a preacher, and his merits as a man. Though he was one of those men of superior claims, but diffident of themselves,
1 Bibl. Parr. p. 68. |
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It was [about the year 1820, that Dr. Rees discontinued his annual visits to Leamington; a circumstance which seems to have given occasion to the following letter, or, at least, to some of the expressions contained in it. The reader will be struck with that part, in which Dr. Parr acknowledges the pleasure and the benefit, which both himself and his parishioners had derived, from the use of Dr. Rees’s published sermons, in his own church-services at Hatton.
“Dear and excellent Dr. Rees,—The sympathies of friendship are rather invigorated, than enfeebled in my mind, by old age. I shall always reflect with pleasure and with pride, that I had
1 P. 64. |
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