BARRINGTON, JotiN SHUTE, first Viscount Barrington ; born 1678, died 1734 ; was the youngest son of Benjamin Shute, his mother being a daughter of Caryl, author of the Commentary on Job. He wrote and published various religious treatises, the principal of which was his Miscellanea Sacra, or a New Method of considering so much of the History of the Apostles as is contained in Scrip ture; au Abstract of their History; an Abstract of that Abstract, an four Critical Essays. Lond. 1725, 2 vols. 8vo. His lordship, in this work, treats on such subjects as the following :-the teaching and witness of the Spirit ; the super natural gifts bestowed on the first preachers ; the nature of the apostolic office ; the time when Paul and Barnabas became, and were known to be, apostles ; the apostolical decree, Acts xv. 23-3o, etc. Throughout the several essays regard is had to the various methods and instrumentalities by which Christianity was originally propagated, and the success resulting from these, the whole being intended to work out a demonstration of the divine origin and truth of the Christian religion. It may
be added, that while some very valuable informa tion is given on the various subjects discussed, the erudition displayed is by no means extensive, and the reasoning, though clear, by no means profound. What chiefly delights the student of the Miscellanea Sacra, is the author's candour and liberality. These are apparent on every page. The second and com plete edition of this work was published by his son Shute, Bishop of Durham, Lond. 1770, 3 vols. 8vo. Lord Barrington took an active part in all questions bearing on toleration, and wrote several anony mous pamphlets on subjects relating to dissenters, to whom, though he left them, he always remained friendly, and generally worshipped with them. As a friend and follower of Locke, such a course was to be expected from him. He was inclined to Arianism.-W. J. C.