During his illness, his mind was ftrongly impreffed with a fenfe of divine things, which became permanent and influential : hence at his recovery, he formed the grand project of spreading the gofpel in the Eaft. In 1693, he fet out for Ruffia, and a few years afterwards, vifited Smyrna, Conftantinople, Jerufalem, Cairo, Alexandria, &c. He returned in 1700; and after making every poffible inquiry, into the ftate of religious knowledge in the Eaft, and attentively confidering the beft methods of improving it, he gave his ideas on these subjects to the fociety for promoting chriftian knowledge.

The deplorable state of christianity in the countries, through which he travelled, induced him in 1703, to publifh the New Teftament, in vulgar Greek, and to make a charitable prefent of it to the Greek church. He frequently expreffed his earneft wishes, that the proteftant powers in Europe would fettle a college at Jerufalem, and in fome degree imitate the ardent zeal of the Roman catholics, who spare no expense nor labour, to convert others to their religion. He defired also, that fuch men as were defigned to live in that college, might be acquainted with the vulgar Greek, Arabic, and Turkish languages; and might, by univerfal love and charity, be qualified to fpread genuine christianity; " for many," faid he, " propagate their own particular fyftems; and take this to be the gofpel of Chrift."

During the remainder of this excellent man's life, both his time and property, were liberally devoted to pious and charitable purposes. He died Jan. 25, 1710, aged fifty four.

He published several works on religious fubjects, partic

ularly, "Confiderations on the Intereft of the Church Univerfal," "A proposal, for promoting the cause of Religion, in the Churches of the Levant," and "Reflections on the prefent state of the Chriftian Church."

Biographical Dictionary, Vol. X.—Experimental Religion, Vol. II.

ROBERT NELSON, Esq.

ROBERT NELSON, Efq. a learned and pious English gengleman, was born at London 1656. His father dying when he was but two years old, he was committed to the care of his mother, and her brother, who was appointed his guardian. He was firft fent to St. Paul's fchool in London ; but the principal part of his education was under a private tutor at his mother's house, from whence he was removed to Trinity College, in Cambridge, and admitted a fellow commoner.

In 1680, he was chofen a fellow of the Royal Society. The fame year, he fet out on his travels; when he arriv ed at Rome he formed an acquaintance with lady Theophila Lucy, a woman of fine fenfe and understanding, whom he married after his return to England, in 1682.

Mr. Nelfon was treated with the greatest distinction in all the foreign courts which he vifited; nor was he less efteemed in England, his acquaintance being generally among fuch, as were most remarkable for piety and learning.

He engaged with energy and zeal, in every public fcheme for the honour and intereft, as well as for the fpreading of the faith, and promoting the practice of true

H

christianity, both at home and abroad, feveral propofals for building, repairing, and endowing charity schools, particularly. At his death, he left his whole eftate to pious and charitable uses.

Mr. Nelfon's conduct was exemplary in every fituation in life. His zeal to promote the cause of religion, induced him to publish many books of a pious tendency, par ticularly his "Companion for the feftivals and fafts of the church of England." "The Whole Duty of a Chriftian." "Life of Bishop Bull." "An Addrefs to perfons of Quality and Eftate." ernment," &c.

"Letter on Church Gov

In the introduction to his companion for fasts and feftivals, it is obferved, that "whoever reads this book, will find it no fmall addition to the pleasure and advantage he fhall derive from it, to confider that it is the work of a fine gentleman, and one who never entered into holy orders, because this will fhew what injustice thofe do the christian religion, who reprefent it as a morofe, narrow fpirited inftitution, fit only to be practifed by hermits and reclufes.

"Mr. Nelfon's external qualifications of a comely perfon, a genteel deportment, and a handfome fortune were fo far from being inconfiftent with that genuine fpirit of piety, which he always exhibited, that they were no small ornaments to it. These endowments feemed to make his virtue more amiable and captivating; whilst his virtue made those endowments, which by themselves are unworthy to be esteemed, appear as real accomplishments."

In his laft illness, Mr. Nelson profeffed a firm affiance in the mercies of God through Jefus Chrift, and a full

affurance of hope in the divine promifcs, by which he was enabled to die in peace and comfort. He refigned his life, in 1714, aged fifty nine, and was interred in Lamb's Conduit Fields, where a monument is erected to his memory.

Biographical Dictionary, Vol. II.-Experimental Religion, Vol. II.

DR. PHILIP HECQUET.

PHILIP HECQUET, a French phyfician of fingular merit and skill, was born at Abbeville, in 1661, and practifed first in that city, then at Port Royal, and lastly at Paris. He was attached to the most fimple mode of life; and so truly devout, that it is faid, he never prefcribed in doubtful cafes, without having a previous recourse to prayer. In 1728, he retired to a convent of Carmelites in Paris, where he continued acceffible only to the poor, to whom he was a friend, a comforter, and a father. He died at the age of seventy fix.

This illuftrious phyfician published many profeffional works of much estimation. His life has been written at large by M. le Fevre de St. Mare, and is no lefs edifying 'to chriftians than inftructive to medical ftudents; and clearly evinces his veneration for revealed religion.

Biographical Dictionary, Vol. VIII.

CHARLES ROLLIN.

CHARLES ROLLIN, a Frenchman famous for his eloquence and fill in the Belles Lettres, was born at Paris,

Jan. 30th, 1661. He early difcovered a peculiar turn for literature, and his natural genius had all the advantages of a liberal education. He diftinguished himself at the univerfity by his abilities and application, and eafily obtained the first rank among his fellow ftudents. He ftudied rhetoric in the college of Pleffis, under Mr. Herfan, who took him for his affiftant in 1683, and in 1687, gave up the chair to him. The fucceeding year Herfan, with the king's approbation, refigned the profefforship of eloquence, in the royal college, to his beloved pupil Rollin. No man ever exercised the functions of this office with greater applaufe. He often made Latin orations to celebrate the memorable events of the times, and frequently accompanied them with poems, which were univerfally read and admired.

In 1694, he was chofen rector of the univerfity, and continued in that office two years, which was then confidered as a great mark of distinction. He made many very ufeful regulations in the univerfity; and particularly revived the study of the Greek language, which was then much neglected. A large number of perfons who did honour to the church, the state, and the army, were educated under his direction.

After Rollin was removed from this office, he applied himself affiduously to ftudy; and being fo happy as to enjoy retirement, books, and a decent competence, he found leifure to compofe his treatise “ upon the manner of ftudying and teaching the Belles Lettres." This work was published in two volumes, in 1726, and two more in 1728, 8vo. This performance has been juftly applauded, for the spirit of piety, which appears to have animated the author.