He next engaged in a more amicable and pleasant con troversy with the celebrated Leibnitz, on the abstruse metaphysical doctrines of philosophical liberty and ne cessity. These were points which he had deeply stu died, and in the discussion of which he always excelled ; but his excellence never shone more conspicuous than on this occasion, when he was pressed by the strength of so powerful an adversary. His papers en these subjects were inscribed to the Princess of Wales, afterwards Queen Caroline, through whose hands they had all pass ed, and who was the witness and judge of every step of the controversy. Ile again exposed himself (in 17 18) i to theological animadversion, and became involved n an unpleasant controversy respecting apostolical and primi tive doxologies, by introducing sonic alterations into the doxologies of the singing psalms, NS IIiCll had been reprint ed that year ror the use of his church. The alterations consisted in ascribing glory to God through Christ, in stead or ascribing equal honours to each of the three per sons in the Trinity. The bishop of London published, on this occasion, a pastoral letter to the clergy of his diocese, to warn them against innovations, and to forbid them to use the new doxologies. \Vhiston espoused the cause of his friend Dr Clarke, whose conduct in this affair he accounts one of the most Christian attempts towards somewhat of reformation, on the primitive foot, that he ever ventured upon. He adds, however, that the bishop of London, in the way of modern authority, was quite too hard for Dr Clarke, in the way of primitive Christianity. About this time he was presented, by Mr Lechmere, chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, to the mastership of \Vigstan hospital—a favour which was much enhanced by the handsome manner in which it was conferred. In 1724 lie published seventeen sermons on different occasions, eleven of which had never been print ed. On the death of Sir Isaac Newton (1727), he was offered the mastership of the mint ; but as that was a pre ferment entirely secular, lie, with a becoming respect for the dignity of his clerical character, thought proper to decline it. He sheaved his gratitude and affection for his deceased friend, by publishing, in the Philosophical Transactions (No. 401,) an able vindication of the New tonian theory on the velocity and force of bodies in motion, in a letter addressed to Mr Benjamin Hoadly. The last great work which he lived to publish was his celebrated edition of the twelve first books of the Iliad of Homer, which made its appearance in the beginning of the year 1729. The value of this work, which comprehended an elegant Latin translation, with a number of admirable notes and illustrations, has been fully recognized and ap preciated by the learned in every country, and one whom Clarke himself had characterised, as Criticos unus omnes longe longeque antecellens, honoured it with the concise but high encomium, that it was supra omnem invidiam. The twelve last books were published in 1732 by his son, who assures us that Dr Clarke had himself finished his annotations on the three first of them, and part of the fourth.
While thus actively and usefully employed, in the full maturity of his intellectual powers, he was seized by a pleuritic affection on the 11th of May 1729, after he had gone to preach before the judges at Sergeants Inn. On the afternoon of that day, the pain abated : His physicians pronounced him out of danger, and his friends were con gratulating themselves on the removal of their alarm, when, to their inexpressible surprise and sorrow, the pain shifted from his side to his head, on the Saturday follow ing, (the 17th May,) and terminated that very evening his valuable life. After his death, an " Exposition of
the Church Catechism," comprising the substance of a course of lectures which he had delivered in the church of St James's, and which he had carefr ly revised for the press, was published under the inspection of his brother, who likewise gave to the world a collection of his sermons in ten volumes.
In the bright constellation of genius which adorned what has been called the Augustan age of Britain, no single star, if we except the incomparable Newton, shone with more distinguished lustre than the subject of this memoir. Favoured by nature with uncommon powers of mind, he improved them by almost constant exercise, and enriched them with every thing valuable in literature and science. The knowledge to which ordinary men at• tam by slow and toilsome steps, lie gained as if by intui tion; and became eminent in all those great departments of learning, to excel in one of which is accounted no mean praise. As a profound and acute metaphysician, he has rarely been equalled ; as a philologist, he has not been excelled ; and he who, at the age of 17, could clearly comprehend and duly value the new revelation of the Newtonian philosophy, while yet struggling through the mists of prejudice, must be allowed to have possess ed a kindred genius with its immortal discoverer. His chief attention, however, was directed to theology ; the sublime doctrines of which became the favourite themes of his penetrating and comprehensive mind, and to the study of which he brought all the aids which human learning can impart. Few men, accordingly, have done more essential service to religion. With regard to his opinions on some difficult points, there will of course be a diversity of sentiment ; but no Christian can withhold from him the tribute of admiration and of gratitude for his powerful defence of natural and revealed religion against their most formidable adversaries, and his singu lar ability and success in forcing these enemies from the strong holds in which they confided most,and in employing their artillery to their own discomfiture. It has been well observed by one of his biographers, that, " from his first Discourse on the Being of God, to his Letter to Leib nitz on Liberty and Necessity, his writings remain, and will for ever remain, before the world, a lasting monu ment of a genius which could throw in light where dark ness used to reign, and force good sense and plain words into what was almost the privileged place of obscurity and unintelligible sounds." His sermons are addressed, not to the passions, but to the understanding ; and on eve ry subject which lie treats, his sentiments are so impor tant and judicious, his expressions so nervous and clear, and his mode of explaining the Scripture phraseology so peculiarly happy, as to carry irresistible conviction. llis character was as amiable and respectable as his ta lents were superior and commanding. " His piety was manly and unaffected; his charity and benevolence ex tensive as the whole rational creation ; and the ruling principle of his heart and practice a love of the religi ous and civil liberties of mankind." In contemplating the life of such a man, we feel a kind of pride in reflec ting what the human mind can do, what human nature can be. How few, alas ! can enjoy this elevating reflec tion without a secret pang of self condemnation for the neglect of their own powers, and the imperfection of their character ! See .Biographia Britannica; Homily's Account of the Life, Writings, and Character of Dr Clarke, prefixed to his works; Whiston's Historical Me moirs of the Life of Dr S. Clarke. ( k )