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Tolleshunt-Knight's, Essex, and late Fellow of Baliol-College; Oxford. Lond. 1767. 8. pp. 40. Dr. Parr, in the Bibl. Parr. 585, characterises this as an excellent" Sermon. 2. The Establishment of the Church of England defended upon the Principles of Religious Liberty: A Sermon, preached at the Triennial Visitation of the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of London, held at Chelmsford, May 22, 1770. By Nath: Forster, M. A. Rector of All-Saints, Colchester, and Tolleshunt-Knight's, Essex. Published by the Desire of his Lord

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even by Mr. Bryant, who, in deciding the controversy, defended the passage as it stands. Bishop Warburton's opinion of it was still more favourable, as appears by his testimony to the author's abilities, candour, and address,' in his Julian p. 93, and by a part of a Letter of his to Dr. Forster, dated Oct. 15, 1749. in which, after having noticed some judicious observations of Dr. Forster, made on his Julian in MS., Warburton says :— I have often wished for a hand capable of collecting all the fragments remaining of Porphyry, Celsus, Hierocles, and Julian, and giving them to us with a just, critical, and theolo'gical comment, as a Defy to Infidelity. It is certain we want something more than what their ancient answerers have given us. This would be a very noble work. I know of none, that has all the talents fit for it but yourself. What an opening will this give to all the treasures of sacred and profane antiquity! And what an opportunity would this be of esta'blishing a great character! The author of the Dissertation on 'the Passage of Josephus, (which I think the best piece of ' criticism of this age,) would shine here. Think of it: you 'cannot do a more useful thing to religion or your own character. Controversies of the times are things, that presently ' vanish. This will be always of the same importance.'" 6. Biblia Hebraica, sine Punctis, Oxon. 1750. 2 vols. 4to. 7. Remarks on the Rev. Dr. Stebbing's Dissertation on the Power of States to deny Civil Protection to the Marriages

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ship and the Clergy. Lond. 1770. 4to. pp. 22. Dr. Parr in the Bibl. Parr. 630, applies the same epithet of "excellent" to this Sermon.

3. Grace without Enthusiasm: A Sermon, preached at the Parish-church of All-Saints in Colchester, Essex, on Trinity-Sunday, 1781, by Nath. Forster, D. D. Rector of the said Parish, and Chaplain to the Countess Dowager of

of Minors, etc. Lond. 1755. 8vo. pp. 45. The article is anonymous, but my copy contains these words in MS.: “ By Dr. Forster, Chaplain to Archbishop Herring, etc." I made enquiry about this tract, and received the following communication from my worthy and valuable friend, the Rev. Thos. Crompton of Cranworth in the County of Norfolk, to whom the literary public are indebted for a very interesting volume of Letters from the Late Lord Chedworth to the Rev. T. C., written in the Period from Jan. 1780, to May 1795, and published in quarto, within the present year:- "April 26, 1828. With regard to your question about the Remarks on Dr. Stebbing's work, I have only to say that I have the pamphlet with precisely the same MS. note, By Dr. Nath. Forster,' written by myself, undoubtedly on what I believed to be good authority, though I have no sort of recollection on what authority it is asserted. You are, I believe, aware that Dr. Forster, the editor of Plato etc., (Mrs. Crompton's uncle,) and Dr. Forster of Colchester, (her father's cousin,) had both the name of Nathaniel. 1 have no doubt, however, that the Remarks in question were written by the former of these gentlemen, if by either, as he was certainly Chaplain to Archbishop Herring." Chalmers in the Biogr. Dict. and Dr. Watt in the Bibl. Brit. also assign the tract to Dr. Nath. Forster. Dr. James Forster, it may be added, had a controversy with Dr. Stebbing: the pamphlets respecting it are enumerated by Dr. Watt, and also in the Bibliotheca Parriana p. 609, where Dr. Parr thus speaks of a volume of tracts:

VOL. II.

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Northington. Published by Request. Colchester, 1781. 8vo. pp. 21. *

4. Evil providentially Good: A Sermon, preached at the Parish-Church of All-Saints in Colchester, Essex, on Wednesday, Febr. 21, 1781. being a Day appointed for a General Fast. By Nath. Forster, D. D. Rector of the said Parish, and Chaplain to the Countess Dowager of Northington. Colchester, 1781. 4to. pp. 17.

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"This is a valuable collection, as it contains the famous controversy between Stebbing and his victorious opponent, Forster." E. H. B.]

*[In p. 11, Dr. Forster writes thus:-"I shall be excused, in throwing out here an idea or two, to be pursued by the philosophical reader. As we are not conscious of the influence of God's spirit upon our minds, such divine agency is perfectly consistent with our own moral or free agency. No objection, therefore, to this doctrine can be drawn from that quarter. In the case of the Apostles, where the divine inspiration and interposition were direct and perceptible, free agency was necessarily at an end: as far, I mean, as such interposition was direct and perceptible. Take no thought,' saith our Saviour, 'how or what ye shall speak; for it shall be given you in that same hour, what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father, which speaketh in you.' (Matth. 10, 19.) The supernatural gifts and powers, imparted to the first Christians, did not, therefore, neither could they, convey any moral goodness to the heart of those, who possessed them. They were not the proper subjects of moral reward. And they are accordingly represented by the Apostles themselves, as liable to great abuse. Every moral or free agent, as far as we have any conception of such agency, is, and must be, determined by motives, and by motives only. Here, then, is a wide field for the divine agency and interposition, without the least infringe

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5. A Discourse on the Utility of Sunday Schools, being the Substance of two Sermons, preached in the Parish-Church of All-Saints, Colchester, on Sunday, the 25th of June, the Day on which the Schools for that Town were opened, and on Sunday, the 9th of July, 1786. By Nath. Forster, D.D. Rector of the said Parish, and Chaplain to the Countess Dowager of Northington. Published for the Benefit of the

ment of human liberty. The Almighty, having the absolute controul of all nature, must have the absolute direction of every motive in nature; that is, of every thing, that can possibly influence or affect the human mind. The manner of the divine agency, with respect to God, the invisible agent, is, in all instances, quite beyond our comprehension. Each particular and successive act of his whole providential government may be the necessary result of one great, original plan, established by him, before the foundation of the world; and, in this view, executed as soon as formed, Or, they may be so many distinct and continual exertions of his power, at the very time. As such they must ever appear to our conceptions, from their distinct and successive effects."

I have already remarked that the spirit of philosophical investigation, and the freedom of conversation, in which Dr. Forster indulged, might very naturally lead Mr. Bentham to form the conclusion, however mistaken, which he has stated in the Memoir of Mr. Lind. A very intelligent friend of Dr. F. favoured me with the following remarks: "Dec. 28, 1827.— "Forster's philosophy, if you are to call it by that name, was that mankind are influenced by motives, which is what every body will allow; but some, and perhaps Mr. Bentham, might suppose that this influence is to be considered as irresistible, which would lead to atheism, and overthrow the doctrine of a future judgment; for no man can be accountable for what he cannot but do. But, independently of revelation, reason is given us to control and balance motives." E. H. B.]

said Charity. Colchester, 1786. 8vo. pp. 33.* Dr. Parr, in the Bibl. Parr. 634, speaks of this as an excellent Discourse by the learned Dr. N. F."

6. An Enquiry into the Cause of the present High Price of Provisions: containing Essays on Riches, Luxury, Taxes, Corn-Exportation and Importation, Ingrossing, Inclosures, Bread, Cattle, and Horses. Non la Mesure des Choses, mais la Mesure de ma Vue.' MONTAIGNE. London, 1767. Price 3s.

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7. Answer to Sir John Dalrymple's Pamphlet upon the Exportation of Wool. Colchester, 1782. 8vo. Price 1s.

8. An Answer to The Question Stated:' with a P.S. to Junius. Price 1s. 6d.

9. A Letter to Junius. Price 6d.

10. A Defence of the Proceedings of the House of Commons in the Middlesex-Election, etc. Price 2s. 6d.

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11. A Letter to the Author of An Essay on the MiddlesexElection.' Price 1s.

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*[In p. 20, there is a mention of Dr. Parr's Sermon on the subject of education : — "The summary explanations, which follow the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, in our Catechism, are of quite another sort. Nothing can be more simple and clear, and at the same time more full and comprehensive, than these explanations. Including every thing, that is important or necessary, whether to belief or practice, without anything either superfluous or trifling. The ' account there given of our duty to God and our neighbour is 'adapted to all ranks, and to all ages. The young should be 'encouraged to learn it with the most serious attention; and 'happy is it for the man of hoary hairs, if he continues to read 'it with growing conviction, growing delight, and growing improvement.' See Dr. Parr's admirable Discourse on Education." E. H. B.]

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