The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1804-12-28 00:00:00

The tininiing Biographical Sketch is extracted from a raierat t
Sermon, on the Death of the km.. Dr. John Blair Linn ; dn-
Ilve-ed heiore the fr,t Presbyterian Congregation an Mt*. -
delphii. By the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blair.
•-•••
It would be pleasing, especially as custom has
rinetioned the practice, to present you with a full
and correct detail of his life and character; but. I
am sensible, that neither the time remaining, nor
the abilities of the preacher, are sufficient to do that
justice to his estimable memory which both yet and
the world have a right to demand. At some fu-
ture day, it is presumed, we shall be favoured with
an account more circumstantial and adequate than
at present can be Afforded ; such, however, as from
my own knowledge, and from information au-
thentic, I have been able to collect, you will be
pleased, in the mean time, with candour to accept.
The Rev. Dr Jchn Blair Linn was a native of
the state of Pennsylvania, and born in Shippens-
burg, Cumberland county, in the year 1777. He was
the elder son of the Rev. Dr. William Lino, WhO
was formerly settled, for several years, in this state ;
but who afterwards removed to New York, on a call
from the Dutch Reformed Church in that city. His
mother was a daughter of the Rev. John flair, who
was eminent in his day, as a judicious, zealous, and •
successful Minister of the Gospel.
He received the principal part of his education in
New York, and took his first degree in Columbia
College, when he was but eighteen years of age ;
after he had graduated, he engaged in the study of
the law, under the direhiion of the late deservedly
celebrated General Hamilton. The study of the
law, however, was never agreeable to him ; ant?
his religious impressions, which, at a 113UCt ^ariier
period, commenced, at this time returning in force,
he became, at length, determinately hc:it on ptepar-
ing for the service of the c'inrch. And to this ser- '
vice he was, not only by inclination, impelled, but.
from his knowledge of himself, he was persuaded
that his talents were more peculiarly adapted.—
Under this view, having obtained the consent of his
father, and of General Hamilton, be retired into
the country, and prosecuted his studies under the
Rev. Dr. itornaytie, one of the Professors of The.
ology, in the Reformed Ditch Chureh. And it may
not here be amiss to mention, that his motives for
leaving New York at this time (as, on an interest-
ing occasion I once heard him declare) were wholly
of a religious nature.—lt was in order that, as much
as possible lie might abstract himself from the world,
and, with the least interruption possible, prcpase
himselt fie the solemn employment in view.
Ile was licensed to preach the gospel by the eas-
sis of Albany, in the summer of the year 1798 ;
having little more than completed the :Ist year of
hit age. Arid soon, indeed, it appeared, that he
had not misaoplied his talents. In a !tort time after,
he received two very respeshable and urgent calls far
settlement—the one from this church, and the (Aber
from the Presbyterian church in Elizabeth Town,
in the state of New Jersey. After much serious
deliberation. he decided in favour of the
turner; and he thus decided under many fears (on
account at his youth and inexperience) of stepping
at once into a department so conspicuous, and
which required au assemblage of chaalifications so
various a•id so high. Beside, that lie was not a little
apprehensive of suffering too much in the compari-
son, which would unavoidably take place, between
him and his learned and venerable colleague, the
Rev. D. Ev.ing. He was ordained by the Presley-
tery of Philadelphia, on the 13th of June, 1799,
and installed by a Committee of the same, in this
church, on die 27th of the same month and year.
In the summer of the year 1802, n rien hn a jot r.
ney to New-York, he became suddenly and. mush
indisposed, in consequence of the intense impale. of
an ardent min. The effea of this debilitating MIA.
was of long continuance; and, in addition to this,
he was soon affiihed with a pain in the breast, and
an occasional spitting of blood. to obviate these
alarming complaints, he took a journey in the begin-
ning of the last summer to Boston; but unhappily
without the desired are& He seldom, indeed, after
his return, was able to officiate in public. He
preached, however, on the Sabbath before his death.
During this state of bodily weakness and frequent
dejection of miird, nothing •ffiiifted him more thee
the thought rf declining for any time, and especially
altogether, hh beloved ministerial functions. To
this (as with due deference to the will of his Heavenly
Master, he often declared), he preferred a sudden
dissolution.
On Thursday the 90th of August, on retiring at
the usual hour after eating, and conversing with
the family, though considerably depressed in spirit.
he suddenly perceived that some rupture had taken
place within—an abscess, with a blood-vessel, had
burst—a copious effusion succeeded—he was suffo-
cated—he died—and he died, in the last words he
was able to utter, commending his spirit, as good
Stephen of old, to that Saviour, in whose power
and merits he firmly believed. and whose divine
eharaeter and dignity, in a well known work, he had
so recently and ably defended.
His constitution,which was always delicate, seem-
ed, on the whole, to have gradually suffered, through
the ardour of his mind, in pursuit of knowkdge!
Rarely to be found arc the youth of his hie, whose
reading hath been so various and enemas. the
alu;ignt Pheth orators, wad historians, ware an fir-