George Horne was born (November 1, 1730) at Otham, near Maidstone, in Kent. At the age of 13, he was sent to school at Maidstone; and at 15, entered University College, Oxford. He graduated B.A. in 1749, was afterwards elected a fellow of Magdalen College, graduated M.A. in 1752, became B.D. in 1759, and D.D. in 1764, and in 1768 was appointed principal of Magdalen. Pious, of thoughtful disposition; contented in mind, and devoted to learning; Dr. Horne resided year after year in his college, happy in his family circle, and devoting himself, chiefly, to the study of Hebrew and sacred literature, and engaging in Biblical works, especially the preparation of his “Commentary on the Book of Psalms,” which he had commenced in 1758. It appeared in two volumes, in 1776, and has been frequently reprinted. Its value is thought, by some, to be lessened, through the influence the author allowed to be exercised over him, in its preparation, by those erroneous philological and philosophical principles of Hutchinson, which have long since been exploded. In the year of the publication of this work, he was appointed Vice-Chancellor of his University; in 1781, Dean of Canterbury; and, in 1791, Bishop of Norwich. But he did not long enjoy his episcopal honour. He died January 17, 1792, in his sixty-second year.
Personal
Bishop Horne, whose literary feelings were of the most delicate and lively kind, has beautifully recorded them in his progress through a favourite and lengthened work—his “Commentary on the Psalms.” He alludes to himself in the third person; yet who but the self-painter could have caught those delicious emotions which are so evanescent in the deep occupation of pleasant studies?
Like many earnest men of the day, Horne fell under the imputation of methodism. He adopted the views of John Hutchinson (1674–1737), and wrote his defence, although he disagreed with his fanciful interpretations of Hebrew etymology. Hutchinsonianism had some points in common with methodism, notably its intense appreciation of holy scripture, and its insistence upon spiritual religion. But Horne was distinctly what would now be called a high churchman, and he publicly protested from the university pulpit against those who took their theology from the Tabernacle and the Foundry (Whitefield’s and Wesley’s headquarters) instead of from the great divines of the church. Nevertheless, apart from his position as a Hutchinsonian, Horne personally showed a sympathy with the methodists. He strongly disapproved of the expulsion of the six methodist students from St. Edmund Hall, Oxford. He would not have John Wesley, “an ordained minister of the Church of England,” forbidden to preach in his diocese, and John Wesley thoroughly appreciated Horne’s action.
Commentary on the Psalms, 1771
A delightful amplification of the music of Zion, wherein every phrase is spiritualized, every prophetic and recondite meaning pointed out.
It is a truly evangelical and most valuable work, generally commended and admired for the vein of spirituality and devotion which runs through it, as well as for the elegant taste displayed in the illustration of difficult passages. The author’s design is to illustrate the historical sense of the Psalms as they relate to King David and the people of Israel; and to point out their application to the Messiah, to the Church, and to individuals as members of the Church.
His “Commentary on the Psalms” is his capital performance, and the one by which he will be known so long as piety and elegant learning are loved in England. It is altogether a beautiful work. The preface is a masterpiece of composition and good sense. The exposition implies more learning and research than it displays; and the views of Christian doctrine contained in it are generally very correct. Perhaps he carries his applications to the Messiah and his Church occasionally rather far; but this is less hurtful than the opposite extreme, which has more generally been adopted.
General
Mr. Warburton has seen a thing against the Newtonian philosophy in favour of Hutchinson by one Horne, of Oxford, and thinks it would be a good employment for some Cambridge Soph to answer it.
This writer seems to have had as much devotion and regard for the grand principles of Christianity as command respect; but few evangelical preachers, notwithstanding, would like to take him for a pattern.
Bishop Horne’s views of preaching, not always (alas! such is our common infirmity!) fully illustrated by his own sermons, are instructive…. His sermons are polished, and have many beautiful and excellent thoughts; but they are wanting in the full declaration of justification by faith, and therefore meet not adequately the distresses of an awakened conscience…. His sermons are devotional and elegant. He and others of his school have brought some important truths before men who would not have listened to those writing more in the spirit of the Reformers.
George Horne was very soon described as “without exception the best preacher in England,” a judgment which his sermons which remain to us go far to justify. By these and his other writings, especially his devotional work on the Psalms, Horne may be regarded as the founder of the Scriptural school, which towards the end of the century received so great a development…. The praise of attempting to overthrow this lifeless and unedifying treatment of Scripture is due to Horne, and the great success which his truly Christian writings obtained, was of the highest service to the cause of religion.
