DR GEORGE, a learned dissenting minister, born at Great Salkeld, in Cumberland, in 1699. His love of learning was so successful, that, at 11 years of age, he was able to read the Greek Testament. He afterwards studied at Dr Dixon's academy at Whitehaven, from whence he removed to the university of Glasgow. In 1721, he was chosen pastor of a congregation of Dissenters at Abingdon in Berkshire; in 1729, he received a call from a society of dissenters in Southwark, with whom he continued 11 years; and in 1740, was chosen by the congregation of Crutched Friars, colleague to the learned and judicious Dr Lardner. From the time of his engaging in the ministry he proposed to himself the critical study of the Scriptures, particularly of the New Testament, as a principal part of his business. The first fruits of these studies which he presented to the public was, A Defence of the reasonableness of Prayer, with a Translation of a Discourse of Maximus Tyrius containing some popular Objections against Prayer, and an Answer to these. The light which Mr Locke had thrown on the obscurest parts of St Paul's epistles, by making him his own expositor, encouraged and determined Mr Benson to attempt to illustrate the remaining epistles in the same manner. In 1731, he published a Paraphrase and Notes on the Epistle to Philemon, as a specimen. This was well received, and the author encouraged to proceed in his design. With the epistle to Philemon was published "A short dissertation, to prove from the spirit and sentiments the apostle discovered in his epistles, that he was neither an enthusiast nor impostor; and consequently that the religion which he asserted he received immediately from heaven, and confirmed by a variety of miracles, is indeed divine." This argument hath since been improved and illustrated, with great delicacy and strength, in a review of the apostle's entire conduct and character by Lord Lyttelton. Mr Benson proceeded with great diligence and reputation to publish Paraphrases. phrases and Notes on the two Epistles to the Theflaloniens, the first and second to Timothy, and the Epistle to Titus; adding, Diffrations on several important Subjects, particularly on Inspiration. In the year 1735, our author published his History of the first Planting of Christianity, taken from the Acts of the Apostles, and their Epistles, in 2 vols 4to. In this work, besides illustrating throughout the history of the Acts and most of the epistles, by a view of the history of the times, the occasion of the several epistles, and the state of the churches to whom they were addressed, he established the truth of the Christian religion on a number of facts, the most public, important, and incontrovertible. He also wrote, The Reasonableness of the Christian Religion; The History of the Life of Jesus Christ; A Paraphrase and Notes on the seven Catholic Epistles; and several other works which procured him great reputation. One of the universities in Scotland sent him a diploma, with a doctor's degree; and many of high rank in the church of England, as Herring, Hoadley, Butler, Benson, Coneybeare, &c. showed him great marks of favour and regard. He pursued the same studies with great application and success till the time of his death, which happened in the year 1763, in the 64th year of his age.