BURNET

BURNET, THOMAS, a distinguished writer, was born at Croft in Yorkshire about the year 1635, but is supposed to have been descended of a Scottish family. His early education he received at the free-school of Northallerton, in the same county, under Thomas Smelt, who used to propose him as an example to the rest of his scholars. On the 26th of June 1651, he was admitted a pensioner of Clare Hall at Cambridge, under the tuition of Tillotson, who continued to remember him with kindness; but in the year 1654, he removed to Christ's College, on the election of Dr. Cudworth to the mastership, and there he obtained a fellowship in the year 1657. In 1661 he became senior proctor of the university. He was successively domestic tutor to Charles duke of Bolton, and to James earl of Ossory, afterwards duke of Ormonde, grandson to the first duke; and by the interest of the latter nobleman he was chosen master of the Charter-house in 1685. Among the electors, some of the bishops opposed him on account of his wearing a lay-habit; but the duke was satisfied that he possessed the more essential qualifications of a life and conversation suitable to his clerical character. After this appointment, he took the degree of D.D. In his capacity of master, he made a noble stand against the admission of a papist named Andrew Popham, as a pensioner of the house; on the 26th of December 1686, the king addressed to the governors a letter dispensing with the statutes; but the opposition of the master being vigorously supported by other governors, James deemed it prudent to desist from this illegal attempt.

Dr. Burnet had already published his Telluris Theoria sacra. Lond. 1681, 4to. This work attracted an unusual share of the public attention, and he was afterwards encouraged to exhibit it in an English dress. His Sacred Theory of the Earth was printed in folio, the first part in 1684, and the conclusion in 1689. Addison commended the author in a Latin ode. His fanciful theory was however attacked by Dr. Keill, Mr. Whiston, and Mr. Warren, to all of whom he returned an answer. He had now acquired a high reputation as a man of talents; and after the revolution, he was introduced at court by Archbishop Tillotson, whom he succeeded as clerk of the closet to King William.⁴ He seemed already to be on the direct road to much higher preferment, when he suddenly marred his own prospects by the publication of a learned and ingenious work, entitled Archæologia Philosophica: sive Doctrina antiqua de Rerum Originibus. Lond. 1692, 4to. The mode in which he discussed the history of the fall of man, excited a great clamour against him; and the king was obliged to remove him from his office at court. Of this book an English translation was executed by Mr. Foxton. Lond. 1729, 8vo. Dr. Burnet next published

Burnet. "Remarks upon an Essay concerning Human Understanding, in a Letter addressed to the Author." Lond. 1697, 4to. "Second Remarks, &c. being a Vindication of the first Remarks against the Answer of Mr Locke, at the end of his Reply to the Lord Bishop of Worcester." Lond. 1697, 4to. "Third Remarks," &c. Lond. 1699, 4to. These remarks were answered by Catherine Trotter, afterwards Mrs Cockburn, in her "Defence of Mr Locke's Essay," written when she was twenty-three years of age, and printed at London in 1702. He died at the Charter-house on the 27th of September 1715, at a very advanced age. Two of his works were published several years after his death. De Fide et Officiis Christianorum Liber posthumus. Lond. 1722, 4to. De Statu Mortuorum et Resurgentium Tractatus. Lond. 1723, 4to. Of the first of these works, there are several other editions, one of which was published by Dr Teller of Berlin. Halle Magdeburg. 1786, 8vo. The second has likewise been more than once reprinted; and two English translations were published by Matthias Earbery and John Dennis. The author was evidently a man of genius and learning; but his fancy being sometimes more vigorous than his judgment, he is not on all occasions a very safe guide. In this work he maintains the doctrine of the middle state, the Millennium, and the limited duration of future punishment. Muratori, an Italian writer of great eminence, published copious invadversions upon it, under the subsequent title: "De Paradiso Regnique Cælestis Gloria, non expectata Corporum Resurrectione, Justis a Deo conlata; adversus Thomæ Burneti Britannii Librum de Statu Mortuorum." Veronæ, 1738, 4to. The name of Burnet appears in the following publication, but his only contribution consists of a few pages translated from his treatise on the faith and duties of Christians: "The Judgment of Dr Thomas Burnet, late Master of the Charter-House, concerning the Doctrine of the Trinity; and the Judgment of Dr Samuel Clarke, late Rector of St James's, concerning 1. the Satisfaction, 2. the Merits, 3. the Mediation and Intercession of Christ, 4. the ordinary Influence and Assistance of the Holy Spirit, 5. the two Sacraments. With a preface concerning Mr Lock, Sir Isaac Newton, and Mr Wollaston." Lond. 1732, 8vo. (x.)