AUTHOR OF THE TREATISE. XXXIII "I shall not, within the narrow limits ofapreface, so much as attempt the character of him, of whom either not a little, or nothing at all, ought to be said." He adds, that " he was exemplary in all manner of conversation, coming as near as is possible for human frailty to do to the perfect idea of St James' `perfect man ;' so that in these excellent discourses of his he has only transcribed his own practice." Mr Hill makes the same remark, observing that " his sermons were the counterpart of his actions, the true picture of himself." In his habits, fully as much as in his acquirements, Dr Barrow was the genuine scholar. Dr Pope, who knew him best, tells us, " He was of a healthy constitution, used no exercise nor physic, be- sides smoking tobacco, in which he was not sparing, saying it was an instar omnium, or panpharmicon [a cure for all diseases.] He was unmercifully cruel to a lean carcass, not allowing it sufficient meat or sleep. During the winter months, and some part of the rest, he rose always before it was light, being never without a tinder- box and other proper utensils for that purpose. I have frequently known him, after his first sleep, rise, light, and, after burning out his candle, return to bed before day. I say, I have known him do this; I report it not from hearsay but experience, having been his bed- fellowwhilst he lived with the Bishop of Salisbury." The following reminiscences by the same author are equally characteristic of the student: "Hewas careless of his clothes to a fault. I remember he once made me a visit, and I perceiving his band sat very- awkwardly, asked him, What makes your band sit so? ' I have,' said he, no buttons upon my collar.' Come, said I, put on my night-gown; here's a tailor at hand, who will presently set all right. With much ado I prevailed with him; the buttons were supplied, the gown made clean, the hands and face washed, and the clothes and hat brushed; in a word, at his departure he did not seem the same man who came in just before." In connection with this, Dr Pope gives us a long story of a sermon preached by Dr Barrow in London, when " at the time appointed he came, with an aspect pale, and meagre, and un- promising, slovenly and carelessly dressed, his collar unbuttoned, his hair uncombed, &c. Immediately all the congregation was in an uproar, as if the church were falling, and they scampering to save their lives, each shifting for himself with great precipitation." Among the few that remained to hear the sermon was the famous Richard Baxter, on learning whose high opinion of the ungainly-looking preacher, the congregation, ashamed oftheir hasty retreat, would have had him to preach again, which he would on no account consent to do. The next trait rivals in simplicity Parson Adams himself:"We VOL I. C
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=