The Thoresby Society

Jan. 7. Die Dom. Mr. Paley preached from Psalrn cxxxii. 3, 4, 5, earnestly pressing the erecting of another church for the numerous inhabitants of this populous town, the rather because Providence had, upon the ungenerous failure of a pretended benefactor, raised up one of eminent piety and munificence, with whom it would be a glory to be joined in any undertaking. Showing, I. that the building of a temple to the Lord is an act of homage which even Nature directs, and good men have in all ages encouraged. 2. That the want of another temple in this place is evident from the incapacity of the present churches to contain the inhabitants. 3. That it ought to be with a glory and beauty in some measure answerable to that immense majesty who is to inhabit it. Afternoon, Mr. Day preached the anniversary charity sermon, and pressed the case of the poor orphans so effectually, that the collections amounted to 39£ 13s. 10 1/2d.

15. Transcribing Dr. Brooke's anniversary sermon till eleven ; and after, till four, read the two (Latin) speeches relating to the Danish mission, and rejoice in the propagation of the gospel amongst the poor Indians.

17. Read till church-time. After, showing museum to parson Robinson and his nephew Scott, the designed minister of the church to be erected.* Spent the evening with the two brother Scotts.

18. Read and wrote till eleven ; and after, till near three, when showing the curiosities to three schoolmasters, with whom at the Saxon's.

24. Delivering Mr. Buck's Prospect of Leeds ; was pleased to find parson Robinson (under his present indisposition) in so comfortable a frame; he told me (even with tears in his eyes) that he blessed God, who as he had given him a good estate, so also which he now found the comfort of, a heart to do good with it.

Memorandum ; the Leeds men that were freemen of York, returned with green boughs, &c. and the whole town expressed all possible joy by ringing, &c. that Sir W. Milner was elected Member of Parliament, by a majority of some hundreds.

April 2. Morning, read Daubuz, &c.; then at Joseph Shepherd's till noon; read; then abroad about various occasions; at Mr. Totty's with his bride, &c.

5. All day, except when at church, answering parson Smith's long letter (a sheet and half close writ) de re nummaria, about the Consular denarii.

7. Morning, had son and daughter to dinner; then a third time to assist the poor Saxon saddler, upon whom is a demand of 4£. 2s. for a debt of 5s. 6d.

8. Die Dom. Morning, Mr. Exley preached from Prov. xi. 18. shewing that the pleasures of sin are only so to a corrupt imagination ; 2d, the certainty of the reward of righteousness, and the greatness compared to crowns, kingdoms, everlasting light, &c. . during the playing of the organ, I finished the perusal of a rare piece, the Lamentation of a Sinner, writ by Queen Katherine Parr, the last wife of King Henry VIII., not only an orthodox but excellent book for that age, recommended by Cecil, Lord Burleigh ; afternoon, Mr. Day preached from 1 Thess. iv. 1. I afterwards catechised; heard them the Psalms, and distributed ten of the Lord Wharton's Bibles, &c.

9. Morning, read; then at the bailiff's to make an end of the poor Saxon's troublesome affair; I promised to see them paid 30s., which makes above 4£. for a debt of 5s. 6d.

10. Morning, read till eleven ; after, had Mr. Smith's company to view the Roman Consular denarii for his uncle; after, walked to Mr. Pendle-bury's about disposing of my part of the chapel, which he highly resented, called it persecution, and reflected unworthily upon the founders, which I could not bear, that they should be at so great a charge for an ungrateful generation, many of whom are vastly rich, yet affirm, (as Mr. Ibbetson did to Mr. Hall, who has bought Mrs. H.'s part) that he will rather spend 500£. in law than give 10£. or 10£. to purchase a part. Mr. P 's passion moved my mind, but I restrained myself, and the worst I said was that his expressions were very indiscreet and ungrateful.

14. Morning, read ; writ to Sir W. H. ; all day perusing the Baronetage (at my friend, Mr. Collins', the author's request, to make corrections and additions) except usual attendance at church.

15. Read and writ till eleven; and afternoon, about Baronets for Mr. Collins, till evening.

20. This day in like manner, till the London carrier brought me Mr. Stevens' New Monasticon.

24. Read Henry, &c.; writ till eleven ; afternoon, to wait on Sir William Milner, then to visit Mr. Totty and his bride, &c. till evening.

25. Read as usually; then writ to Mr. R. Gale, and both sons at Bugden, till at prayers; afternoon, proceeding in History of Baronets till evening.

26. Morning, read and writ till past ten, when visited by an ingenious young gentleman, Mr. Edm. Calamy, E.F.N. & P.,* who came again after dinner, to look particularly into the books ; afterwards visited parson Robinson and cousin Aldburgh, till evening.

28. Was all day writing additions to History of Baronets, for my friend, Mr. Collins, the author, except when at church and a little abroad, to serve Mr. Buck, the artist.

29. Die Dom. Morning, read former Diary of a life of sin and trouble. Mr. Paley preached from Mark xxii. " Many are called, but few chosen :" who are the called and who the chosen ? all to whom the gospel is preached are the former, and such as walk worthy of it, the latter; afternoon, Mr. Day preached from Gen. xvii. 1; after, I catechised till evening prayers ; read an excellent sermon of the duty of obedience to governors, the gift of the pious mother of the learned author, Dr. Richard Ibbetson, whose nativity is one of the chief glories of this town.

30. Morning, read Henry and Daubuz ; then abroad about Mr. Buck's business, till eleven; after dinner at cousin Wilson's ; then at church ; the vicar preached very well at the funeral of cousin Robert Sympson, of whom he gave a very large, yet deserved character, for patience under tedious sickness, from 1 Thess. iv. 13 ; showing the piteous case of such as being ignorant of the resurrection, had no hope in death, having no prospect save of following their forefathers into a state of oblivion: 2d, what ground of comfort there is in a lively hope of a glorious resurrection of our deceased friends.

May 5. Read and writ till eleven; at church ; finished the perusal of the Contents and Index of Mr. Locke's Essay concerning Human Understanding ; learned and curious, as the author, with whom I dined at the Earl of Pembroke's, but some passages to be cautiously admitted, as where he says that revelation is not so sure as our reason or senses; and the famous Bishop Stillingfleet, who was learned and ingenious, as well as pious, taxes him with some odd notions, if not heterodox, about the resurrection ; after evening prayers, read Vines and Henry.

8. Read as usually, till eleven; after, at Bank (whence, this afternoon, was buried old Robert Martindale's wife, said to be 106 years of age, but I believe, wanted two or three years of 100, being only twenty years old when she came to Leeds, which was in the Plague year;) stayed with daughter till evening prayers.

9. Read as usually; wrote to the Bishop of Lincoln ; afternoon, read and wrote, save a little at parson Barnard's, with Astrea's poems.

10. Read and wrote all day, save when at prayers, which is of necessary use every moment; this afternoon one Guerdon, as he was working, died in a moment, of an impostume: a woman present told me an odd passage of a man that died (seemingly) at the Pot Ovens, near Wakefield, and was accordingly wound up in a sheet; but in the night, when the wakers were singing psalms by the corpse, he revived, &c.; she knew the man very well. After evening prayers, rambled to cousin Wilson's to inquire about the new church, which the committee this afternoon resolved should be within Bore-lane-end, and agreed with widow Sleigh for 175£. for the Kid-stack-garth to erect it in, and to be at the charge of an act of Parliament, to confirm the title.

15. Morning, read as usual; then designed to walk to my Lady Betty Hastings'; abroad till near eleven ; had Mr. Lucas's company in my walk to Ledston-Hall, where I was kindly received by my Lady Betty, and all the good family ; I retired so sadly fatigued, that I could not sleep for two or three hours, for pain in my feet and weariness.

16. Morning, walked about the gardens with my friend Lucas, till family prayers ; then my Lady showed me what alterations were made, and what farther designed there, till parson Benson came to perform the public offices of the church before dinner, when we had also his brother parson Barnard, with whom, after the evening service, till about five ; then walked with my Lady to the statuary's till supper-time ; after which, Mr. Hole as usually, read Mr. Birket's Exposition before family prayer ; then with my Lady and her sisters till about nine, retired.

17. Morning, had my friend's company in my walk to Brotherton, where I found brother Rayner and family better than I expected; after dinner visited Mrs. Daubuz, and went to the church to transcribe her learned husband's epitaph ; in return, visited the two brother clergymen, at the new and very neat vicarage-house, at Ledsham, built, as also a new charity-school, the last year, by this incomparable Lady Betty Hastings, with whom (after the return of the Lady Frances Bland) I could not avoid taking a pretty long tour amongst the shady trees, in the new terrace walks, where were the statues; that was fatigued, but revived with the good and pious order of the family, which was ravishing also to my friend Lucas, but I was detained so long by my Lady's condescension and kindness, that I was fatigued.

18. Morning, returned with Mr. Lucas, my dear friend, who supported me over the stiles, and where any difficulty occurred, as upon the Moor, when surprised with a mighty thunder-shower ; but we got well home, and without damage from the rain, though most severely wet.

19. Morning, read; wrote a little till eleven ; after} called at the vicar's to deliver my Lady's message to him ; afternoon, showing curiosities to Mr. Lucas's brother, come from the remote parts of Lancashire, with whom after at the Saxon's, and then at cousin Wilson's, with my Lady's respects to him, that missed evening prayers.

20. Die Dom. Read Henry and old Diary ; the Vicar from 2 Peter i. 4. had a discourse preparatory for confirmation, (by the Archbishop, next month, at Tadcaster,) exhorting such as were come to years of discretion, and not yet been partakers of the Sacrament, to consider the vows and promises made in baptism, and to come to him, that upon examination he might with a safe conscience recommend them to his Grace, &c.; afternoon, Mr. Gates preached from Matt. ii. 8, concerning the nature of the duty of prayer; the conditions to acceptable prayer, are a pure heart, faith, and humility ; afterwards I catechised till evening prayers,

22. Read and wrote till eleven ; after abroad, inquisitive after the astonishing effects of the thunder-shower last Friday, in the vicinage of Halifax, where it took down part of Ripponden Chapel, bore down two mills, and several houses and bridges, about twenty persons said to be drowned ; corpses washed out of graves, &c.

23. Read Daubuz, &c ; wrote to my Lady Betty Hastings, till eleven ; afternoon, at the funeral of Mrs. Robinson, widow, who died in the ninety-second year of her age : she was one of the four that died the last half-year, whose ages amounted to 400 years.

29. Morning, Dr. Brook preached the Anniversary Sermon from Psalm Ixxvii. 74,—let us, to our utmost, promote a national reformation, the way to which is, every person to reform one.

31. Finished the perusal of Lord Cobham's trial, a curiosity, printed beyond sea at the beginning of the Reformation ; wrote to Mr. Smith, of Melsonby ; afternoon, upon Manor business, till evening.

June 3. Die Dom. Read Vines and Henry. The Vicar proceeded from Peter ii. 1, 4, to the third head, what is required in order to Confirmation. He particularly inveighed against plays, which reproof was the more necessary, because we have had in town a company of players six or eight weeks, which has seduced many, and got abundance of silver. Afternoon, walked to Holbeck, where Mr. Paley preached from " It is God gives the increase." I afterwards called with the Vicar at Alderman Milner's, to visit his son Cotton, from Staffordshire.

4. Read Daubuz and Henry ; wrote till eleven, after fretting at a letter from Mr. Pendlebury, full of acrimony.

13. Read Henry ; visited by Mr. Cavendish Ne-vile, to borrow the Statutes of New College, Oxon ; then sent for by cousin Lister, who bought my twelfth part of the chapel for 12/. ; after, had Mr. Mangay, from Oxford, and others, to see curiosities, till past six, that I was sadly wearied.

17. Die Dom. Read ; walked with my dear to Batley Church, where Mr. Rhodes preached well, (though in his surplice,) but used more ceremony than at Leeds ; returned to Morley, pretty well wearied with a five miles' walk, (though a little diverted by some Roman notices cross the Street-lane to Adwalton, Atherton.) Afternoon, Mr. Aired preached very well; and I after read pretty much in Brooks's Mute Christian.

22. Read and wrote till past ten ; then ray dear walked with me to the prayers at Hunslet Chapel. Afternoon, about the affairs of the Meeting-house, wherein abominably used.

23. In library till eleven; after sadly fatigued in various walks, about ditto concerns ; at length cousin Stubbs, half distracted, owned to Alderman Cookson and me, that she had sold to them at Mill-hill what I had bought and paid for, and have it under hand and seal thirty years ago.

28. Read; then wrote (transcribing an Act of Parliament) for the Bishop (of Lincoln) till eleven ; after, informed from the lawyer, of the joint contrivance of the party, minister, and people, to cheat me out of my money for the meeting-house ; then my dear walked with me to Woodhouse, where I consulted Alderman Milner; then wrote a little till evening prayers.

July 8. Die Dom. The Vicar preached from 1 Thess. v. 17, " Pray without ceasing," showing the necessity of this duty to dependant creatures, that even the heathen in the darkest ages were convinced thereof. Afternoon, Mr. Day* preached from 1 Cor. xv. 84.

11. After prayers, finished the perusal of Mr. pointer's account of the Stunsfield Roman Pavement ; ingenious, but too smart upon Mr. Hearne.

24. Ended E. G.'s notes upon Drummond's Po-lemo-Middinio, and King James the Fifth's Christ Kirk on the Green ; the notes are very accurate and learned, and supposed to be by the Bishop of Lincoln, when young. (Oxon, 1691.)

27 and 28. In library most of both days, save usual attendance at church; read Dr. Nettleton's account of inoculating the small-pox, for which he is famous.

29. Die Dom. The Vicar preached from 1 Thess. " Pray," &c. Afternoon, Mr. Day preached from John xiv. 15, 16, concerning the Doctrine of the Trinity, which some explode. At evening prayers, during the organ-time, finished the perusal of Mr. C. Mather's sermon of the Power and Malice of the Devils, and discourse of Witchcraft, wherein the father of lies uttered an awful truth, through the mouth of a possessed man. " If God would give me leave, I would find enough in the best of you to make you all mine," (p. 109): in the examples are some good cautions against using charms, and several well-attested relations of witchcraft and possession in New England ; though a passage in p. 24 had, I think, better have been omitted, and was in itself an unwarrantable experiment.

31. Forenoon, as usually; after, with those from W. and N. about Mrs. Ray's concerns; and after, showing the museum to Mr. Totty and relations till evening prayers, and after with them till ten.

August 1. Morning, read Daubuz and Henry; then wrote to sons, with 2,01. bill, advising to moderation, that others' intemperate zeal may not drive us to extremes. Mr. P. preached the anniversary sermon, and was sharp (as he ought) against anti-monarchical principles, but very tender of giving the least offence to Non-jurors. After, to visit cousin Aid. and cousin S. after evening prayers.

3. Read and wrote till eleven; concluded Sir James Ware's Antiquities and History of Ireland, with his Commentary of the Prelates and Writers ; is a useful book, but full of errata in the press, &c.

10. Read and wrote till eleven; after at Parson Robinson's, to learn what he has bequeathed to pious uses, which is considerable; see the particulars elsewhere ; after which, visited by some Londoners, to see the curiosities, with whom at a tenant's full late.

14. Read and wrote till eleven ; after, had visitants to see museum till evening; after, sent for by Sir Roger Beckwith, about Norman and English coins.

23. Read; then writing about business till eleven ; afternoon, wjth the Vicar, to see the foundation of the new church in Boor-lane, and then showing the museum to a native of Norway; after, to visit cousin Aldburgh.

24. Received letters from Cambridge, that rejoiced my heart, for my son Richard's performances, &c.

27. Morning, read; then with workmen till near four, when, after an anthem sung by the charity children at the parish church, the Mayor and Aldermen, with the clergy and gentry, went in procession to the Burro\v-lane, where Parson Robinson laid the first stone of the new church, (and three guineas under it for the workmen ;) there was great rejoicing, and if the loud huzza seemed carnal to some, there was, I question not, much spiritual rejoicing in others ; I stayed till past nine.

Sept. 6. Consulting manuscripts, &c. in a case wherein lawyer Wilson desired my assistance relating to Guisely living.

10. Read Daubuz, &c. till past two ; had Parson Barnard and two of his quondam scholars, Mr. Mangy and cousin T. Whitaker, in library, till near evening prayers.

12. Read and wrote till eleven ; dined at cousin Cookson's, with cousin Idle, of London, with whom and Vicar at the charity-school and new church till evening ; at supper with them at cousin Wilson's.

14. Afternoon, transcribing notes from Chancellor Pearson's manuscript till evening.

17. Morning, read Daubuz, and transcribed from Dr. Pearson's manuscript till eleven ; and afternoon, till four, to wait of the Lord Irwin, at cousin Wilson's.

24. Morning, read ; then wrote to the Bishop of Lincoln till eleven. Afternoon, to visit cousin Aldburgh ; in return, Mr. Sagar gave me an account of the apparition himself saw ; wrote a little till evening prayers

27. Read Daubuz, and finished the perusal of Dr. Johnston,* of Abbey Lands, 1687, wherein he would palliate matters ; with this is bound up a curiosity, Pope Innocent the Eleventh's decree for suppressing the office of the Immaculate Conception, and several indulgencies. After dinner at the Bank ; read and wrote, &c.

30. Die Dom. Read Whitby. Mr. Craister preached ingeniously from Eccles. vii. 16, " Be not righteous overmuch," against indiscretion : showing that many things in themselves good, may be bad in excess ; even mortification, if to the prejudice of health; a thousand penances may not mortify one sin. 1. Be not conceited of thy own merit; those that see so much of their own, can see none in others; commonly, those who pry most into other men's concerns are most remiss in their own ; measure not a man's state to God by what befalls him in this world. The reason assigned in the text is, lest thou destroy thyself. Afternoon, walked to Hunslet, where he preached from the parable of the sower, Matt. xiii. 4—8. which he explained very well.

Oct. 5. Read Whitby ; writing accounts of some remarkable apparitions in pursuance of the late Bishop of Gloucester's request, the whole day, save when at Church.

7. Die Dom. Read Dr. Whitby, and Vines of the Sacrament, a judicious treatise; the twenty-second chapter, with many other places, shows him absolutely against separation, because of the sins of others, in a mixed congregation it not being a local but a moral conjunction that defiles. Mr. Paley preached from 1 Cor. xi. 26. My dear now first received at the church. Afternoon, Mr. Day preached from Prov. xiii. 20, " A companion of fools shall be destroyed."

10. Read and wrote ; then at funeral of Cousin Tob. Isles; rest of day with Lords of Manor, it being the great Court day, till even.

18. Proceeding in ditto collection of apparitions, &c. except when at church.

23. Morning, read Whitby; then finished the perusal of my late friend, Mr. Daubuz's Comment on the Revelations, which is brimful of uncommon learning; explaining the mystical as well as literal sense, and giving the history of the Christian Church in the several periods. All day within, save usual walks to church.

Nov. 5. Morning, read Whitby : Mr. Day made a very ingenious nice discourse from Luke ix. 5, 6, 7, showing that Christianity is far from destroying men for religion's sake ; those most given to persecution are greatest enemies to godliness. Showing that the Church of England observes a due medium betwixt the Romanists on one hand, and the Separatists on the other; but, in the enumeration, trod gentliest upon the Non-jurors. Read a little ; then had a gentleman from York to see Collections. Evening, sent for per Mr. L,

11. Die Dom. Read Whitby : the Vicar preached from Acts x. 1. insisted much upon the honour and happiness of building a new church, and beautifying the old. (Memorandum. Now the communion-table and space were enlarged to the pillars, that it is said will cost SO/, though the former was esteemed decent.) Afternoon, Mr. Day, from 2 Tim. iii. 16, showed well that all scripture is profitable for doctrine, &c.; an unseasonable visit prevented noting the heads.

25. Die Dom. Morning ; the Vicar preached very well from Lev. xxiii. 3, showing that the dedication of the seventh day to the worship of God was appointed at the creation, and no doubt observed by the antediluvian patriarchs before the renewal of it at Horeb, and the institution of the Christian Sabbath is confirmed by the practice of the Apostles and of the Christian Church in all ages, and what is required to a due observation of the day. Read Charnock till evening prayers, when great disturbance, Mrs. Mangey being buried with torch-light.

Dec. 9.—Die Dom. Read as usually ; Dr. Brook preached from Luke iii. 4. Afternoon, at the funeral of my dear cousin Aldburgh ; the Vicar preached, from Isa. xxvi. 3, showing that the sense of his own unworthiness may discourage a pious soul, but he must stay himself upon the mercy of God, and manifest his sincerity by his constant obedience ; then gave a just character of her, but vastly short of her deserts, who to the advantages of a good family and religious education, added a most exemplary piety. This ingenious, pious, and charitable gentlewoman has left 10/. to the Charity-school.

14 and 15. Nothing remarkable at home, but a flood, wherein a child drowned and a soldier hardly escaped. Transcribed an indulgence for a wavering Romanist.