David Carnegie Andrew Agnew

“ I exercised the ministerial functions two years or thereabouts in London among the French refugees, until I was named Treasurer and Prebendary of Salisbury by the bishop of the diocese. I have endeavoured to edify the faithful by my ministry, my works, and my example. I bequeath to my eldest son, Peter Allix, my manuscripts, to make such use thereof as I have mentioned to him. I have always wished the welfare of this nation, and of the Church of England, and I have sought for the opportunities of contributing thereto. ”

“ As nothing is so ordinary amongst us as the reading of Psalms, I thought fit to help them to a better understanding of that divine book. I could have given abundance of notes to clear many places which are dark in the translation, but I think I have given light enough by a short preface, and by the arguments which are prefixed to every psalm, if the readers are willing to consult diligently the places which I have remitted them to, and to consider them attentively. ”

“ We reproach justly the Papists for reading their prayers in the Latin tongue, which is unknown to the common people, and hindreth them from receiving any benefit from their public worship. And it were to be wished that our common people could understand well what they read in English, that they may not fall under the same reproach. ”

“ He continued his application to the last, and died at London, 21st February 1717, in the seventy-sixth year of his age, leaving behind him the reputation of a man equally assiduous in the right discharge of all the offices of public and private life, and every way as amiable lor his virtues and social qualities, as venerable for his uprightness and integrity, and famous for his various and profound learning.”
His will was dated 18th February 1717, and proved on the 27th by his widow, Mrs. Margaret Allix ”

“ From a letter written by Seignelay from Versailles (9th February 1686) , it appears that some of his family remained in France:— “The family of the minister Allix, who is in London, have become sincere converts here in Paris." The writer proceeds to say to the Envoy Bonrepaus,” If you could get at that minister, and prevail upon him to return to France with the intention of being converted, you need not hesitate to offer him a pension of 3000 or 4000 livres ”

“ Such were favourite speculations of the French refugees. A correspondent of Ralph Thoresby wrote from Petty France, Westminster, August 17, 1715, (signed J. C.) :—
“The setting aside of the French king’s Will as to the most essential parts of it, and that before he was quite cold, shews that the commands of the most imperious and domineering person in the world cannot extend his sic volo et jubeo one moment after the breath is out of his body; that a living dog is better than a dead lion. ”

“ Claude appeared to promote the translation of his son, who was the pasteur of Clermont, to one of the pastorates of Charenton; but owing to some informality the translation was refused, and Claude went home. The Synod sat for nearly three weeks, and there was both a forenoon and an afternoon sermon every day; very many of these sermons were preached by Allix. Unfortunately a Roman Catholic nobleman was always present as a Royal Commissioner or spy. During a sermon upon morality, Allix remarked upon the morals of the Roman Catholic people, and went on to use vehement invectives. ”

“ Basil the Great, they would have found a satisfactory answer . . . . all the public prayers were directed to the Father by the intercession of the Son in the Holy Spirit.” “I am sure the divines and ministers who were there and then present little thought that I had therein given any occasion for such a charge as Mr. Whiston has now, at the distance of twelve or thirteen years, publicly brought against me.” “I thought him a studious man, and had a respect for him as such; and he will do me the justice to acknowledge that I always spoke my mind to him very freely and sincerely ”

“ He followed his father’s profession, and his first employment was to be one of the Protestant ministers of Rouen. The Protestants of that city required several pastors to minister in the only temple allowed them by the government, which was situated in the village of Grande-Quevilly, and was capable of holding seven or eight thousand persons. In 1670 he was translated to Paris, where the congregation had to submit to the same policy as their brethren of Rouen, their temple being at the village of Charenton ”

“ He certainly in several of his books styles himself a “Divine of the Church of England.” As such he co-operated with the leading established clergy in the composition of the learned tracts against Popery, which were originally intended to counteract the pamphlets by Romish divines issued by King James’s printers, but which are still read and admired. Allix contributed three brief and weighty discourses to the series, the first licensed on 1st April, the second on 31st May, and the third on 15th August, all in the year 1688. — (1st) “A discourse concerning the merit of Good Works;” ”

“ He seems to have thoroughly identified himself with the Anglican clergy, and to have discontinued all stated ministrations among the refugees. The University of Cambridge at the commencement, in 1690, conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Divinity; and he was incorporated as a D.D. at Oxford in 1692. These volumes on the Waldenses and Albigenses are so well known through modern editions that I need hardly say that, in opposition to Bossuct, Dr. Allix vindicates those primitive Christians with great erudition and spirit. ”

“ Allix’s intercourse with English society, and also his remarkable command of the English language, which he had acquired by careful study. I have before me a pamphlet entitled, “Remarks upon some places of Mr. Whiston’s books, either printed or in manuscript. By P. Allix, D.D. The Second Edition, to which is adjoined, an answer to Mr. Whiston’s Reply. London, 1711.”
“He pretends,” says Allix, “I have transgressed the rules of humanity and Christian friendship in publishing my remarks at a time when his writings were before the Convocation. ”

“ I exhort my wife and my children to live in the fear of God, and to keep up the good union and understanding wherein they have lived till now, which is the sure and only way to bring down the blessing of heaven. This is my last will, &c, &c.
“P. Allix.” Witnesses — Sam. Woodcok; J. Le Clerc De Virly; R. De Boyville.
With regard to his children, his will gives their number as five; two must have been born after 1688, one of whom probably was Gilbert Allix (perhaps named after Bishop Burnet) , a London merchant, who married on 10th September 1723, in the French Church of St. ”