regarded simply as pulpit compositions, are entitled to be ranked with the best published discourses which this generation has produced. "It has always seemed to us," says the London Beview, July, 1856, p. 563, " that the great popularity of Dr. Newton was verj' inade- quately explained by referring it to those rare physical characteristics, and to that sympathy and depth of feel- ing, which contribute mainly to the constitution of one of 'nature's orators,' and which were found pre-emi- nently in him. Such qualities may for a time give dis- tinction to those who are otherwise slenderly endowed, but their conjunction with intellectual powers of a high order is required to maintain permanent!}' a widespread influence and reputation. That Dr. Newton possessed, with other essential but inferior qualifications, great mental vigor, we find ample evidence in nearly every page of this volume ; and we are at no loss to compre- hend the causes which enabled him, for nearly half a century, to gather around him, wherever he went, lis- tening and admiring crowds, and which made him the greatest preacher among a body of ministers unequalled for the power and success of their ministry in any pe- riod of the Christian Church." See Jackson, Life of Dr. R. Newton (Lond. 1855, cr. 8vo ; 1856) ; Life, Labors, and Travels of Rev. R. Newton, D.D. (ibid. 1855, 12mo) ; Stevens, Hist. Methodism, iii, 168, 200, 461, 504; Meth. Quar. Rev. Jan. 1856, art. v ; London Quar. Rev. July, 1855, art. i ; Wesleyan Magazine, Oct. 1854, and May, 1855. (J.H.W.)
Newton, Thomas (1), a noted English divine and poet, was born near the middle of the 16th century, and flourished as rector of Little Ilford in Essex. He died in 1607. He is the author of a Notable Histm-y of the Saracens (Lond. 1575, 4to) ; published a number of prose and poetical works, and made translations from Seneca and other authors (1571-1604). He was one of the best Latin poets of his age. See Wood, A then. 0x071. ; Brydges's Phillips's Theat. Poet. ; Lysons's En- virons; Pulteney's Sketches; Brit. Bibliog. ; Watt's Bibl. Brit. s. v. ; AUibone, Diet. Brit, and A mer. A uth. s. V.
Newton, Thomas (2), D.D., an eminent English prelate, was born at Lichfield in 1704. He was edu- cated there and at Westminster School, and at Trinity College, Cambridge, of which he became fellow. He was for some years a city preacher and tutor in the Tyrconnel family, but in 1744 he was appointed rector of St. JIary-le-Bow, London, bj- his friend and patron, Pulteney, earl of Bath. Thomas Newton afterwards became successively lecturer at St. George's, Hanover Square; prebendary of Westminster in 1757; next dean of Salisbury and sub-almoner, and bishop of Bristol and canon residentiary of St. Paul's about 1761, and dean of St. Paul's in 1708. He died in 1782. "Bishop New- ton," says a contemporary, " was a prelate of not very remarkable powers, natural or acquired ; but personally he was without reproach, acceptable in the society of the great, and possessed of a certain amount of general and professional knowledge." The fourth edition of his Works (3 vols. 1782) is complete; that in 6 vols. 8vo (1787) is only complete with his Dissertations on the Prophecies ivhich have remarkably been fulfilled, etc. (10th ed. Lond. 1804, 2 vols. 8vo), which Bickersteth (Christian Student, p. 473) pronounces "a very valuable work ;" but which Orme (Bibl. Bib. s. v.) pronounces "seldom profound or original, though they contain oc- casionally some correct views of Scripture." Jennings, in Kitto {Cyclop. Bibl. Lit. iii, s. v.), says, "By a certain class, who lag behind their age, it is still read and ad- mired. It ma}', however, be occasionally consulted with advantage" — he might have added on all except Newton's interpretation of the Book of Revelation, where he is altogether astray and uncritical. The work ha?, been translated into Danish and German, and found circulation in several thousand copies. As a divine he belonged to the supernaturalistic school of his time, and
NEW YEAR
36
NEW YEAR
was more positive than Samuel Clarke (q. v.). Bishop Newton also wrote On the Aufilican Ritual {Tracts of the A m/lican Fathers) ; an A utobior/raphy, published by Alexander Chalmers in Lives of Dr. Edward Pocock, etc. (Lond. 1816, 2 vols. 8vo) ; and edited Milton's Po- etical Works, with notes from various authors. See J. B. Smith, D.D., .-In Analysis of Bishop Newton on. the Prophecies (Lond. 183G, 12mo) ; Darling, Cyclop. Bihliog. ii, 2188; and the references quoted in the body of this article. (J.II.W.)
NeTW Year, or Feast of Trumpets (ln3;i"in ll^St, n:rn irX"i, n>"nn DI*^), though not one of the three great festivals on which the male population appeared before the Lord in Jerusalem, is nevertheless one of the first among the principal holy days, and as such has been celebrated by the Israelites since the giving of the Law, and is observed to the present day.