life of man is to be esteemed by its usefulness and serviceableness in the world.” This Mr. Lamb is commemorated in Wilford’s ‘Memorials,’ p. 705.
Hence, in spite of his infirmity, the blind prebendary was a diligent clergyman and a prolific writer, chiefly in divinity of a devotional and didactic character. Most of his books were written after his loss of sight. He had a quaint and forcible style—too prolix, perhaps, and of a pulpit flavour; but very readable. His works were highly esteemed in his day, though now almost unknown. His work on ‘Happiness,’ in two volumes, 8vo., was highly praised by Doddridge, and went through ten editions between 1685 and 1760. Steele, in the Guardian, No. 63, quotes a long passage from his ‘Practical Christianity,’ with commendatory remarks. He was a favourite with Wesley and the early Methodists. Bishop Jebb appreciated his works. In his ‘Letters’ (No. 217) to A. Knox (‘Correspondence of John Jebb,’ vol. ii. p. 588), Jebb says, “Lucas is a writer to whom specially applies the saying of old Hesiod: πλειον ημισν παντος.” A. Knox, in the following letter, commends the bishop’s design of revising and reprinting Lucas, and thinks it wonderful that he should have been forgotten. John Dunton, the bookseller, celebrates our blind prebendary in that strange poetical mixture of sense and folly, ‘The Character of Eminent Conformists,’ published in 1710. He bids the clergy
Who preach like Angels and like them adore.
Lastly, Dean Stanhope recommends him to a “young relation who had entered into holy orders” (Nichols’s ‘Literary Anecdotes,’ iv. 169), along with Scott and Sherlock.
The following I believe to be a complete list of this industrious blind author’s writings:—
1. Practical Christianity: an Account of the Holiness which the Gospel Requires. 8vo. London, 1685.—Five editions were issued between the above date and 1700. From the third edition a French translation was made and published at Amsterdam, ‘La Morale de l’Evangile,’ in 1698. The English work was also reprinted by Hatchards so late as 1838.
2. An Inquiry after Happiness. 2 vols. 8vo. 1685.—Went through twelve editions between 1685 and 1818.
3. The Plain Man’s Guide to Heaven, for the Country-man, the Tradesman, and Labourers. 12mo. 1692.
4. The Duty of Apprentices and Servants: their Preparation and Choice of a Service, &c. 12mo. 1710.
5. Christian Thoughts for Every Day of the Month. 12mo. London, 1700.—From No. 1. A copy of this as a separate book is not in the British Museum Library, but there is a French edition, printed at Delft in 1722.
6. The five volumes of ‘Sermons’ already noticed.
In addition, Anthony à Wood assigns to Lucas the Latin translation of ‘The Whole Duty of Man,’ entitled, ‘Officium Hominis cum Stylo, tum Methodo Luculentissima Expositum; opus cujusvis, ac præcipuè Indoctissimi Lectoris, captui Accomodatum.’ It has a preface by Dr. Hammond, and is usually attributed to that eminent churchman.
Lucas died in 1715, and, according to Chalmers, was buried in “the Southern Cross of the Abbey,” in a grave which afterwards received the remains of his wife Anne, who died in 1727, but “without any stone or monument.” An inscription, however, existed in 1823, when Neale’s ‘Westminster Abbey’ was published: “Here lieth the body of Richard Lucas, D.D., Prebendary of this Church, who died ye 29th of June, A.D. 1715, in the 67th year of his age.” His will was proved by his son Richard in 1715.
It would be foreign to the pages of ‘N. & Q.’ to characterize the writings of Lucas in relation to doctrinal opinions. Suffice it to say that they breathe that spirit of devout, but modest and chastened piety which has always marked the best divines of the Church of England; and they go far to prove that the eighteenth century was not altogether so devoid of sound learning and religious fervour as it is often described to be.
I may, perhaps, be allowed to add that in my judgment the liberal, but devout school of divines represented by Lucas, Tillotson, and others of that date helped largely to save the Church of England—fortunately or otherwise—from Puritanism on the one hand and Unitarianism on the other.
J. Maskell.
P.S.—I find that Lucas was read by W. S. Landor, who considers the philanthropic Frenchman, Baron de Gerando, indebted to Lucas on ‘Happiness.’ See Emerson’s ‘English Traits,’ chap. i.; and for De Gerando, ‘L’Essai sur la Vie et ses Travaux,’ par Mademoiselle Morel, 8vo., Paris, 1846.
JOHN LILBURNE: A BIBLIOGRAPHY.
(Continued from p. 123.)
Englands lamentable slaverie, proceeding from Arbitarie Will……by Lievten. Coll. John Lilburn. [No title. Date at the end] October 1645. B.M., S.K.
Copie of a letter written by John Lilburne……to Mr. William Prinne, Esq. upon the coming ovt of his last booke, intituled Truth triumphing over Falshood, Antiquity over Novelty, in which he laies doun five Propositions, which he desires to discusse with……Prinne. [No title-page. Dated at the end] London this 7, Jan. 1645. B.M., Bodl., G.L., S.K.
True relation of the material passages of Lieut. Col. John Lilburnes sufferings, as they were……proved before the……House of Peers……13……Feb. 1645. [No title-page. Dated at end] 1645. B.M., G.L.. S.K.—There is another edition, a copy of which is in the B.M. dated 1646.
To the chosen and betrusted knights, citizens and burgesses……The……petition of Elizabeth Lilburne 1646. [A single folio sheet. There is another edition in quarto dated] 1647. B.M.—Elizabeth Lilburne was the wife of John.
The humble petition of Elizabeth Lilburne [that her husband may have the benefit of the law……]. 1646. B.M.
