ävi MEMOIRS OF DR. WATTS. years together greatlydistressedwith insomnia,or continued wakefulness. Very often be could obtain no sleep for several nights successively except suchas was forced by medical preparations; and not unfrequently even opiates lost their virtue, and only served to aggravate his malady. It is wonderful how, with such a weak frame and so many shocks rapidlysucceeding each other, he was able to maintain such equanimity of temper, and vigour of intellect: The state of his mind through all the decays of nature, his humble confi- dence and his joy gave the decisive stampof reality to his hopes and exem- plified the sublime attainments of which we are capable in this vale of imper- fection and sorrow. His superiority to the pressures of sickness, and his tri- umphant assurance of the love of God are beautifully expressed in his own devout soliloquy which he entitlesThoughts and Meditations in a long nick. liess, 1712,-1713. Yet, gracious God, amidst these storms of nature, Thine eyes behold asweet and sacred calm Reign through the realmsof conscience. All within Liespeaceful, all compos'd. 'Tis wondrous grace Keeps off thy terrors from this humble bosom. Though stain'd with sins and follies, yet serene In penitential peace, and cheerful hope, Sprinkled and guarded with atoningblood. Thyvital smiles, amidst this desolation, Like heav'nly sun-beams hid behind the clouds, Break outin happymoments, with bright radiance Cleaving the gloom, the fair celestial light Softens and gilds the horrors of the storm, And richest cordials to the heart conveys. O glorioussolace of immense distress, A conscience and a God ! A friend at home, Andbetter friendonhigh ! This is my rock Of firm support, my shieldof sure defence Against infernal arrows. Rise, my soul, Put on thy courage. Here's the living spring, Of joysdivinely 'sweet and ever new. A peaceful conscience, anda smilingheav'n. The two universities of Edinburghand Aberdeen in the year 1728 seve- rally conferredon him unsolicited and without his knowledge, the degree of doctor in divinity. This academical honour was never better bestowedor received with less vanity ; andhappywould it havebeen forsuch seminarieshad titles of this sort never been disgraced by any thing mercenary in their source or by ignorance or superciliousness in their subjects. In this case the honour wasreciprocal, so far as a diploma may be allowed to bear anyproportion to poignancyof genius, highly cultivated understanding, the richest talentsof the bead, added to the most amiable virtues of the heart. Although a non -conformist from principles and uniformly such inprac- tice, he held a friendly correspondence with some of the first characters in the established church. Among thesewereSeeker, archbishopof Canterbury, Gibson, bishop of London; Hort, archbishop of Tusm, and many others
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=