13 December
Samuel Johnson, Moralist, 1784

Born in 1709, Samuel Johnson ascribed his conversion as a young man to reading William Law's Serious Call and he became a high churchman, regular and sincere in his religious beliefs. He scandalized some by his tolerance of Roman Catholics, whilst at the same time his dislike of Presbyterianism and non-conformity was patent. He was well-known as an author, a lexicographer and a conversationalist. He died on this day in 1784 and was buried a week later in Westminster Abbey.

Note: This Samuel Johnson is not to be confused with the American preacher of the same name, who wrote the hymn 'City of God, how broad and far.'


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