LOWTH
534
LOYOLA
edit, 1842, 8vo). This elegant and beautifid version of the evangelical ])rophet, of which learned men in ever\' part of Europe have been unanimous in their eidogiums, and' which is alone sufficient to transmit his name to posterity, aimed " not only to give an exact and faithful representation of the words and sense of the prophet by adhering closely to the letter of the text, and treading as nearly as may be in his footsteps, but, moreover, to imitate the air and manner of the author, to express the form and fashion of the composition, and to give the English reader some notion of the peculiar tiu-n and cast of the original." In the elaborate and valuable Prelim- inary Dissertation where bishop Lowtli states this, he enters more minutely than in his former production into the form and construction of the poetical compositions of the O. T., lavs down principles of criticism for the improvement of all subsequent translations, and frankly alludes to De Rossi's view of Hebrew poetry, which is similar to his own. See Rossi. This masterly work soon obtained a European fame, and was not only rap- idly reprinted in England, but was translated into Ger- man by professor Koppe, who added some valuable notes to it (Gtitting. 1779-81, 4 vols. 8vo). It must not, how- ever, be presumed that the work did not meet also with opposition, so far as the views of the author coidd lead to diflerence in opinion ; and we incline with Dr. G. B. Cheever to the belief that Lowth's " only fault as a sa- cred critic was a degree of what archbishop Seeker de- nominated the • rabies emendandi,' or rage for textual and conjectural emendations. The prevalence of this spirit in his -(vork on Isaiah was the only obstacle that prevented its attaining the name and rank, as classic in sacred literature, which has been accorded to the Lectures on the Sacred Poetry of the Hebrews" (North A mer. Rev. xxxi, 376 ; comp. here Home, Bibl. Bib. 1839, 287). On the death of archbishop Cornwallis, the pri- macy was offered to Dr. Lowth, a dignity which he de- clined on account of his advanced age and family afflic- tions. In 1768 he lost his eldest daughter, and in 1783 his second daughter suddenly expired whOe presiding at the tea-table; his eldest son was also suddenly cut off in the prime of life. Bishop Lowth himself died Nov. 3, 1787. The other and minor writings of bishop Lowth, consisting of (1) Tracts, belonging to his contro- versy with bishop Warburton (q. v.), to which a trifling difference of opinion on the book of Job gave rise: — (2) Life of William of Wi/ckluun (1758) : — (3) Short Litro- duction to English Grammar (1762). The Set-mons and other Remains of Bishop Lowth were published with an Introducto7-y Memoir by the Rev. Peter HaH, A.Til. (Lon- don, 1834, 8vo). See Alemoirs of the Life and Writings of the late Bp. Lowth (Lond. and Getting. 1787, 8vo) ; Blachcood's Magazine, xxix, 765, 902 ; Gentl. Magazine, Ivii, Iviii, etc. ; Kitto, Journal of Sac. Lit. i, 94, 295 ; v, 373 ; xvii, 138 ; Engl. Cyclop, s. v. ; Darling, Eccles. Biog. ii, 1873; Hook, Eccles. Biog. s. v.; and especially Alli- bonc, iJict. of Brit, and A m. A uth. vol. ii, s. v.
Lowth, Simon, D.D., an English non-juring di- vine, was born in Northamptonshire about 1630. In 1679 we find him vicar of St. Cosmus, a position of which he was deprived in 1688. He died in 1720. Dr. Simon Lowth published HiMorical Collections concerning Ch. Affairs (Lond. 1(;96, 4to), besides several theological treatises (1072-1704). See AlYihonc, Diet, of By-it. and Amer. A uthojs, vol. ii, s. v.
Lowth, "William, D.D., a distinguished English divine, father of hishop Robert Lowth, was born in Lon- don Scjit. 11, 1661. lie was educated at Merchant Tay- lors' Scliool, whence he was elected to a scholarship at St. John's College, Oxford, in 1075, when not j'et 14 years old; became M.A. in 1683, and B.I). ii\ 1688. His Vindication of the J>ivine Authority of the Old and New Test. (Lond. 1692 ; 3d edit, wuth two sermons, 1821 , 12mo), in answer to Lc Clerc's attacks on the inspiration of Scripture, brought him jiromincntly into notice ; and the first to favor him was bishop Mew, of Winchester, who
had been president of St. John's College, and well knew Lowth's great attainments. He made him his chap- lain, and presented him with a prebendal stall in his cathedral at Winchester in 1696, and with the living of Buriton and Petersfield in 1699. Dr. Lowth died May 17, 1732. Though less celebrated as a writer than his son Robert, he is generally acknowledged to have been the profounder scholar, and might, and no doubt would, have attained to as great distinction in the Church as his son had he lived as much in the public eye, and, instead of serving others in the preparation of their works, gone directly before the people himself. So great, indeed, was his modesty, that, in an estimate of his scholar- ship, we can be just only after a careful inquiry of the amount and extent of the assistance he furnished to the works of his contemporaries, upon whom Dr. Lowth, having carefully read and annotated almost every Greek and Latin author, whether profane or ecclesiastical, es- pecially the latter, dispensed his stores -with a most liberal hand. The edition of Clemens Alexandrinus, by Dr. (afterwards archbishop) Potter; that of Josephus, by Hudson; the Ecclesiastical Historians, by Reading (Cambridge) ; the Bibliotheca Biblica, were all enriched with ^-aluable notes from his pen. Bishop Chandler, of Durham, during the preparation of his L)efence of Christianity from the prophecies of the Old Testament, against the discourse of the '' Grounds and Reasons of the Christian Religion," and in his vindication of the "Defence" in answer to The Scheme of literal Prophecy considered, held a constant correspondence with him, and consulted him upon many difficulties that occur- red in the course of that work. Many other English scholars were also indebted to Dr. William Lowth's la- bors for important aid. But the most valuable part of his character was that whicli least appeared in the eyes of the world. His piety, diligence, hospitality, and beneficence rendered his life highlj^ exemplary, and greatly enforced his public exhortations. Besides the Vindication already mentioned above. Dr. Lowth wrote Directions for the profitable Reading of the Holy Scriptures, etc. (1708, 12mo ; 7th edit. Lond. 1799,12mo), an excellent little work, -which has gone through many editions; and last, but chiefl3%^4 Cominentary on the pro- phetical Books of the Old Testament, originally published in separate portions (1714-1725), and afterwards collect- ed in a folio volume as a continuation of bishop Patrick's commentaPi-, and generally accompanying the comment- ary collected severally from Patrick, Wliitljy. Arnald, and Lowman (best editions of the whole commentary, Lond. 1822, 6 vols, royal 4to ; Philad. 1860, 4 vols. imp. 8vo). " Lowth," says Orme (Bibl. Bib.), '■ is one of the most judicious commentators on the prophets. He nev- er prophesies himself, adheres strictly to the meaning of the inspired writer, and is yet generally evangelical in his inteqiretations. Tliere is not much appearance of criticism ; but the original text and other critical aids were doubtless closely studied by the respectable author. It is often quoted by Scott, and .... is pronounced by bishop Coutson the best commentary in the English language." See Life of Dr. William Lowth, by his son, Biog. Brit. ; Churchman's Magazine, 1809 (]\Iarch and April), 781 sq. ; Jones, Ch7-istian Biog. s. v.; Darling, Cyclop. Bibl. ii, 1875 ; Hook, Eccles. Biog. vii, 75 ; AUi- bone. Diet. nfBrit. and A mer. A uthors, vol. ii, s. v. ; Kit- to, Cyclop, of Bibl. Lit. vol. ii, s. v.