it, cannot be avoided, if we hold an universal prescience in the Deity."-J. "Why, Sir, does not God every day see things going on without preventing them?"-B. "True, Sir; but if a thing be certainly foreseen, it must be fixed, and cannot happen otherwise; and if we apply this consideration to the human mind, there is no free" will, nor do I see how prayer can be of any avail." Dr. Johnson mentioned Dr. Clarke, and Bishop Bramhall on Liberty and Necessity, and bid Mr. B. read South's Sermons on Prayer, but avoided the question which has excruciated philosophers and divines, beyond any other. "I did not (says Mr. B.) press it further, when I perceived that he was displeased, and shrunk from any abridgement of an attribute usually ascribed to the Divinity, however irreconcilable in its full extent with the grand system of moral government. His supposed orthodoxy here cramped the vigorous powers of his understanding. He was confined by a chain which early imagination and long habit made him think massy and strong, but which, had he ventured to try, he could at once have snapt asunder." Mr. B. proceeded: "What do you think, Sir, of Purgatory, as believed by the Roman Catholics?" -J. "Why, Sir, it is a very harmless doctrine. : They are of opinion that the generality of mankind are neither so obstinately wicked as to de

serve everlasting punishment, nor so good as to merit being admitted into the society of blessed spirits; and therefore that God is graciously pleased to allow of a middle state, where they may be purified by certain degrees of suffering. You see, Sir, there is nothing unreasonable in this."-B." But then, Sir, their masses for the dead?"-J. "Why, Sir, if it be once established that there are souls in purgatory, it is as proper to pray for them, as for our brethren of mankind who are yet in this life.”—B. “The idolatry of the Mass?"-J. "Sir, there is no idolatry in the Mass. They believe God to be there, and they adore him.”—B. "The worship of Saints?"-J. "Sir, they do not worship Saints; they invoke them; they only ask their prayers. I am talking all this time of the doctrines of the Church of Rome. I grant you that in practice, Purgatory is made a lucrative imposition, and that the people do become idolatrous as they recommend themselves to the tutelary protection of particular saints. I think their giving the sacrament only in one kind is criminal, because it is contrary to the express institution of Christ, and I wonder how the Council of Trent admitted it.”—B. "Confession?"-J. "Why, I don't know but that is a good thing. The Scripture says, Confess your faults one to another;' and the priests confess as well as the laity. Then it must

be considered, that their absolution is only upon repentance, and often upon penance also. You think your sins may be forgiven without penance, upon repentance alone." I thus ventured to mention all the common objections against the Roman Catholic Church, that I might hear so great a man upon them. What he said is here accurately recorded. But it is not improbable that if one had taken the other side, he might have reasoned differently."

may

It must however be mentioned, that he had a respect for the old religion," as the mild Melancthon called that of the Roman Catholic Church, even while he was exerting himself for its reformation in some particulars. Sir William Scott tells, that he heard Johnson say, "A man who is converted from Protestantism to Popery, be sincere: he parts with nothing: he is only superadding to what he already had. But a convert from Popery to Protestantism, gives up so much of what he has held as sacred as any thing that he retains; there is so much laceration of mind in such a conversion, that it can hardly be sincere and lasting." The truth of this reflection may be confirmed by many and eminent instances, some of which will occur to most readers.

Again, talking of the Roman Catholic religion, and how little difference there was in essential matters between ours and it, Johnson said,

True, Sir: all denominations of Christians have really little difference in point of doctrine, though they may differ widely in external forms, There is a prodigious difference between the external form of one of our Presbyterian churches in Scotland, and a church in Italy; yet the doctrine taught is essentially the same."

The petition to Parliament for removing the subscription to the Thirty-nine Articles was mentioned. Johnson observed, "It was soon thrown out. Sir, they talk of not making boys at the University subscribe to what they do not understand: but they ought to consider, that our Universities were founded to bring up members for the Church of England, and we must not supply our enemies with arms from our arsenal. No, Sir, the meaning of subscribing is not that they fully understand all the articles, but that they will adhere to the Church of England. Now take it in this way, and suppose that they should only subscribe their adherence to the Church of England, there would be still the same difficulty; for still the young men would be subscribing to what they do not understand. For if you should ask them, what do you mean by the Church of England? Do you know in what it differs from the Presbyterian Church? from the Romish Church? from the Greek Church? from the Coptic Church? they could not tell you. So, Sir, it comes to the

same thing."-B. "But would it not be sufficient to subscribe the Bible?"-J. "Why, no, Sir; for all sects will subscribe the Bible, nay, the Mahometans will subscribe the Bible; for the Mahometans acknowledge Jesus Christ, as well as Moses; but maintain that God sent Mahomet as a still greater prophet than either."

Johnson's profound reverence for the Hierarchy made him expect from Bishops the highest degree of decorum; he was offended even at their going to taverns: "A bishop (said he) has nothing to do at a tippling house. It is not indeed immoral in him to go to a tavern; neither would it be immoral in him to whip a top in Grosvenorsquare; but if he did, I hope the boys would fall upon him, and apply the whip to him. There are gradations in conduct; there is morality, decency, propriety. None of these should be violated by a bishop. A bishop should not go to a house where he may meet a young fellow leading

out a wench."

He also disapproved of bishops going to routs, at least of their staying at them longer than their presence commanded respect. He mentioned a particular bishop. "Poh! (said Mrs. Thrale) the Bishop of is never minded at a rout."-BOSWELL. "When a bishop places himself in a situation where he has no distinct character, and is of no consequence, he degrades the