uncharitable, yet self-denying and devout; some who join contempt of
the world with sordid avarice; and others, who preserve a great
degree of piety with ill-nature and ungoverned passions. Nor are
instances of this inconsistent mixture less frequent among bad men,
where we often with admiration see persons at once generous and
unjust, impious lovers of their country, and flagitious heroes,
good-natured sharpers, immoral men of honour, and libertines who
will sooner die than change their religion; and though it is true
that repugnant coalitions of so high a degree are found but in a
part of mankind, yet none of the whole mass, either good or bad, are
entirely exempted from some absurd mixture."

He about this time (August 22, 1716) became one of the elects of the
College of Physicians, and was soon after (October 1) chosen Censor.
He seems to have arrived late, whatever was the reason, at his
medical honours.

Having succeeded so well in his book on Creation, by which he
established the great principle of all religion, he thought his
undertaking imperfect, unless he likewise enforced the truth of
Revelation, and for that purpose added another poem on "Redemption."
He had likewise written before his "Creation" three books on the
Nature of Man.

The lovers of musical devotion have always wished for a more happy
metrical version than they have yet obtained of the Book of Psalms.
This wish the piety of Blackmore led him to gratify, and he produced
(1721) "A New Version of the Psalms of David fitted to the Tunes
used in Churches," which being recommended by the archbishops and
many bishops, obtained a license for its admission into public