ISAAC BARROW
FAMOUS AS A PREACHER. It is almost incredible that in fortyseven years a man could have gathered so much knowledge. Scholar, mathematician, man of science, preacher, controversialist, Isaac Barrow gained enough credit in every one of these departments to make the reputation of an ordinary man; while his blameless, unselfish, Christian life would be worth studying if he had gained no intellectual reputation at all. Tutor to Sir Isaac Newton, he was Considered by mathematicians as second only to his pupil, and his credit was enhanced by the fact that it was he who first recognised and helped to develop the extraordinary talents of Newton.
As a controversialist his great “Treatise on the Pope’s’Supremacy" would be enough to immortalise any man. He did not live to publish it, but on his deathbed gave Tillotson permission to do so. regretting with characteristic modesty that he had not had time to make it less imperfect.
Scholarlikc, he was negligent of his dress and personal appearance. Once, when he preached for Dr. Wilkins at St. Lawrence, Jewry, the congregation were so disgusted with his uncouth exterior that all but a few left the church. Ho would never sit for his portrait, though his friends contrived to have him sketched while he talked. A very early riser, he would take a walk every morning before daybreak. Clever at repartee, he was most famous as a preacher, his sermons now ranking among the finest specimens of that are. Free from extravagance and bad taste, they held no affectation, and were appreciated for their manliness of tone. The length of time he spent preaching was well known, his famous Spital sermon taking three and a-half hours, though not given in full. Born in 1630, he lived a short and busy life.
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Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 April 1941, Page 3
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297ISAAC BARROW Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 April 1941, Page 3
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