A Century of Sermons, Life
AN ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE and DEATH OF THE AUTHOR.
THE Son of Sirach, a renowned Preacher in his Generation, has given us counſel to commend Famous Men, and our Fathers of whom we are begotten; Eccluſ. 44.1.and in the cloſe of his excellent Book has preſented us with a large Catalogue of them, together with an Encomium of their Actions, whoſe remembrance (ſayes he) is ſweet as Honey in all Mouths, and pleaſant as Muſick at a Banquet of Wine.
St. Paul has directly imitated the Son of Sirach, and enumerated many antient Heroes, not without a due Commemoration; and farther given us a Precept, To remember our Governors, or Guides in the Chriſtian Faith,Heb. 13.7. holy Biſhops and Martyrs after their death, as appears plainly by the following words, whoſe faith follow, conſidering the end of their Converſation.
Accordingly in the Primitive times the Biſhops of Rome took care that the lives and actions of all holy Men and Martyrs eſpecially ſhould be recorded; For this purpoſe publick Notaries were appointed by S. Clement, ſay ſome, though Platina firſt aſcribes their inſtitution to Anterus; In vita.whoſe Records were far more large than the preſent Roman Martyrology, or that of Bede and Ʋſuardus, or the Menologue of the Greeks, which for the moſt part contain only the Names and Deaths of the Martyrs; but thoſe were a Narrative of their whole Lives and Doctrines, and Speeches at large, their foreign, famous Acts and Sufferings for the Chriſtian Faith; which were alſo read ſometimes in their Religious Aſſemblies for the encouragement of others,S. Auſt. de Civ. Dei. l. 22. c. 8. & alibi. and are ſaid to have converted many to the Chriſtian Faith. But theſe long ſince periſhed through the malice and cruelty of Diocleſian, in thoſe fires which conſumed their Bodies and their Books together.
Afterwards, when Chriſtian Religion reflouriſhed, the Chriſtian Church reſumed theſe Studies again. St, Ambroſe did right to the memory of Theodoſius, Paulinus of St. Ambroſe, Nazianzen to Athanaſius, St. Hierom to Nepotian, Poſſidonius to St. Auſtin, Amphilochius to St. Baſil, St. Hierom and Gennadius wrot of all Eccleſiaſtical Writers and illuſtrious men in the Chriſtian Church from the beginning of it to their own times. And after all theſe, there wanted not Martyrologers and Writers of Lives, but ſuch as perhaps we had better have wanted than enjoyed their Writings; inſomuch that a great Lieutenant under the Papal Standard durſt affirm,M. Canus lo. Com. l. 11. that the Stories of the Heathen Captains and Philoſophers were more excellently written then of Chriſts own Apoſtles and Martyrs: For thoſe were done ſo notably, that they were like to live for ever, whereas the lives of many Saints in the Chriſtian Church were ſo corruptly and ſhamefully penn'd, that they could no way advantage the Reader; ſo that at this day we have two things to bewail, not only that we have loſt the true reports of the Primitive Chriſtians, but likewiſe that the lives of the Saints we have remaining, have not been written by Saints and true men, but by liars, who have ſtufft their faſtidious Writings with ſo many prodigious Tales, as are more apt to beget infidelity than faith, and all honeſt and judicious men are aſhamed and grieved to read them.
For my own part I intend not in this tumultuary haſte to write an abſolute Life of the Author, or recollect all his Actions praiſe-worthy, but only for ſatisfaction of ſome importunate friends, to repreſent quaedam foreign, ſome few Memoirs and Paſſages of his Life, which I have received from his Lordſhips moſt intimate acquaintance, and for the moſt part from his own reports.Virg. Ecl. S. Bern. in vita S. Malachiae. Tecum etenim longos memini conſumere Soles! and in them am reſolved to ſacrifice to Truth, and not to Affection; to the glory of God, and not to humane fame: to write nothing falſe or fictitious, nor things true in an hyperbolical and flaunting manner, as in a Panegyrick; but only a Breviary of his moſt active and induſtrious life, where the truth ſhall be recited without falſe Idea's and repreſentations, and his Lordſhip made to appear what really he was, both in his Divine vertues, and humane paſſions.
And though I am likely to do all this with very ſmall Acumen and judgment, yet I hope with true zeal, and ſincere affection to the glory of God, and honour of the Church of England. The Members of which Church have been reputed of all others the ſlackeſt to celebrate their own Worthies, partly I conceive from the humility and modeſty of their Principles and Education, partly from the great multitude of incomparable Scholars therein to be commemorated, that ſuch labours would be almoſt infinite. For which reaſon the Dypticks of the Ancient Church were likewiſe laid aſide, when Religion was ſetled, and Chriſtians grew numerous. But yet if the Divines of the Church of England lived elſewhere we may well conjecture what Books the World ſhould have had of their learning and piety: For who ſees not the many Volumes of Lives daily publiſhed by others, wherein ample Commendations are given to idleneſs, popularity, and very ordinary deſervings; After an impartial reading thereof, I cannot but think that our Own Church has far better Subjects and matter to write upon, if we that ſurvive wanted not ability or affection to maintain our own Cauſe, and publiſh the Merits of our departed Worthies to the World.
Rom. 10.19.Therefore out of Emulation partly, and ſhame from a fooliſh Nation, as St. Paul ſays, but much more out of a profound ſenſe of the Duty I owe to the Memory of this renowned Prelate, and moſt of all out of hope of ſtimulating poſterity to the imitation of the vertues of better times, I have taken care to give the World this Account of our Author, and not to permit his Books to be buried (as it were) in the Grave with his Body, mortal and immortal to deſcend together into the ſame Land of oblivion.
Though it be no real Prerogative, but an accidental and contingent thing, How we are born after the fleſh, yet it is commendable to ſearch into the Beginning and Cauſes of ſuch things as we would throughly know, and therefore the Extract and Parentage of learned and great men is uſually enquired after in the firſt place.
John Hacket was born in the Pariſh of St. Martins in the Strand, near Exeter Houſe, upon September 1. Anno Domini 1592. in the happy Reign of Queen Elizabeth, of honeſt and virtuous Parents, and of good reputation in that place, his Father being then a Senior Burgeſs of Weſtminſter, and afterwards belonging to the Robes of Prince Henry; deſcended from an antient Family in Scotland, which reteins the Name to this day. His Father and Mother were both true Proteſtants, great lovers of the Church of England, conſtant repairers to the Divine Prayers and Service thereof, and would often bewail to their young Son after the coming in of their Countrymen with King James, the ſeed of Fanaticiſm then laid in the ſcandalous neglect of the Publick Liturgy, which all the Queens time was exceedingly frequented, the people then reſorting as devoutly to Prayers as they would afterwards to hear any famous Preacher about the Town; And his aged Parents often obſerved to him, that Religion towards God, juſtice and love amongſt Neighbours gradually declined with the diſuſe of our Publick Prayer.
In our Biſhops opinion Parentage alone added little to any man, no more than if we ſhould commend the Stock of a Tree when we cannot commend the Fruit, Mirari in trunco quod in fructu non teneas, St. Hier.who held that the glory of our Forefathers reflected upon us, was but Color intentionalis, like the ſparkling colour of wine upon fair Linnen, or as the Sea-green and Purple in the Rainbow, which are not real colours, but meer ſhadows and reflections: And that never was Pedegree ſo well ſet out as that of Noah: Theſe are the Generations of Noah, Noah was a juſt man, &c. Gen. 6 9.And in like manner our Bleſſed Saviour commends his Forerunner John Baptiſt, not ſo much for his Honourable Deſcent,Luke 1.16, 17. Matth. 11.11, 12. and Miraculous Conception, as for his pious and laborious Miniſtry, in turning many to Righteouſneſs. This was agreeable to our Biſhop's mind, in compariſon whereof he little valued all other Titles of Honour
But in his diſcourſe he would often give God thanks for the place he was born in, viz. that he was born an Engliſhman, and eſpecially in the City of London. He was indeed a great lover of his own Nation, little England (as he would term it) the ſweeteſt ſpot of all the Earth, and ſay that the City of London was foreign the very England of England, Ʋrbs Ʋrbium, and wiſh the Country were a little more ſprinkled with her Flour; for in his Travels he had diſcerned in places remote a Northern rigour and churliſhneſs among our Villagers, wanting that Southern ſleekneſs that was uſually found in Cities and great Towns, the Metropolis eſpecially.Ʋſhers Ann. p. 54. John 7.52. Anacharſis. And though there is no place but has in ſome Age been enlightned with ſome famous Luminary; The Prophet Jonas was born in Galilee, out of which ſaid the Phariſees, there ariſes no Prophet. Yet withal it was obſerved, in Scythia there was never born but one Philoſopher, but in Athens all were ſuch: So in all parts of England there have been learned men born, but in London innumerable; and therefore once in a pleaſant diſcourſe between Him and a learned Friend, who were reckoning up the Country, where many Scholars were born, and could not preſently tell what Countryman Mr. L. was, the Biſhop merrily ſaid, As the Rabbins believed when ever any great Prophet was named in Scripture, and the place of his Birth not named, that it was in Jeruſalem; ſo he would take it for granted, by the like parity of reaſon, ſince Mr. L's Country was unknown, he muſt needs be born in London.
Yet in his judgment it was but a ſmall luſtre likewiſe, that the Place where any Man was Teem'd could caſt upon him, but he ought rather to give Luſtre to it; for Places did not conciliate Honour to Men, but Men to Places; and that little Hippo was more ennobled by great St. Auſtin, than great St. Auſtin by little Hippo. And therefore he never rejoyced ſo much for the City or Country wherein he was born, as for the Churches ſake wherein he was baptized and born again; which of all others to his dying day he moſt loved and admired; and accordingly he would often render hearty thanks to God that his Birth and Breeding was in a Reformed Church, and of all others the moſt prudent and exact according to the Doctrine of holy Scripture, and the Primitive Pattern; that would neither continue in the Fulſom Superſtitions of the Roman Church, nor in Reforming be born down with the violent Torrent as ſome others were.
But from theſe leſſer Circumſtances of his Birth, let us therefore proceed to thoſe of his Education and Breeding, which are far greater, and do eſpecially make the difference between one man and another; For whereas all by Nature are born alike of the ſame corrupt Materials, Education only (like the Hand or Wheel of the Potter) makes us to differ, and become Veſſels of Honour or Diſhonour. Our Birth from the Womb is not as the Dew of the Morning, fair and pleaſant, but tainted like the unwholſom vapours of the Night, with the ſtench of iniquity, whereby all Youth has a great inclination to Vice and ſinful pleaſure, and conſequently that Age is generally the moſt riotous and carnal part of our life; but in him it hapned quite otherwiſe, for by the Providence of his pious Parents, and vigilance of a ſtrict School-maſter, he was well principled and ſtrictly diſciplined betimes.
His wiſe Parents were extreme careful of him, for he was foreign, the only Son and Staff of both their Ages, in whom all their hopes were repoſed.Virg. Aen. 1. Omnis in Aſcanio chari ſtat cura parentis; and having received him in their old Age from God, they were reſolved in his early youth to devote him to God again; and therefore never ſuffered him to loſe any time, but being very ſmall and young, entered him into the Kings School at Weſtminſter; where from his tender years he acquired an habit of riſing betimes, and conſtant ſtudy; All the day long he was attended with the eye of a diligent Maſter, and at night ſufficiently taſqued when he went home, and never permitted to know what idleneſs or vanity was by his own leiſure or experience.
His Maſter obſerving his great propenſity to learning, would often foretel that there would be nothing inſuperable to his good parts, and great diligence withal, and that with thoſe two wings (foreign,In vità. as John, Patriarch of Conſtantinople ſaid of Damaſcen) the young Eaglet would in time ſoar very high.
Of this School he would ſpeak with the greateſt reſpect poſſible, that it was Muſarum Domicilium, virtutis Officina, nobile Doctrinae & Pietatis foreign, the moſt famous Nurſery of Learning and learned men who did excel in all Vocations, Judg. 12. Eccl 6.3.more fruitful than Ibſan that had thirty Sons and thirty Daughters, or then Solomons happy Parent, who lived to beget an hundred Children; being of opinion that more learned Scholars had been bred at Weſtminſter School ſince the Foundation thereof, than in any other Seminary of Learning in England or elſewhere; that one School furniſhing two entire Colledges of great ſize in Cambridg and Oxon, beſides whom it does ſend to other places by way of Superfetation.
A perpetual gratitude he bore to Mr. Ireland his School-maſter, and would bewail, that generally throughout England no better Stipends were allowed to that Profeſſion, than which none was more neceſſary in a Commonwealth, and yet in moſt places it was ſo ſlightly provided for, that it was undertaken out of neceſſity, and only as a ſtep to other Preferment.
In this School he firſt became known to the incomparable Biſhop Andrews, who, being then Dean of Weſtminſter, in the neceſſary abſence of the Maſter, would ſometimes come into the School and teach the Boys. There that learned and pious Biſhop firſt took notice of this young Scholar for his great diligence, modeſty, pregnancy of parts, ſtrong inclination to learning and vertue, which he afterwards conſtantly cheriſhed both at School and Ʋniverſity to his death: On the other ſide our young Scholar ever rever'd this great Perſon in loco Parentum, often retired to him for advice in his ſtudies, and ever honour'd him as St. Cyprian did Tertullian, Tanquam Magiſtrum.
To tell how well he paſſed the Circuit of that School I need ſay no more but what his Maſter Ireland ſaid, at parting, to him and George Herbert, who went from thence to Trinity Colledge in Cambridge by election together, That he expected to have credit by them two at the Ʋniverſity, or would never hope for it afterwards by any while he lived; and added withal, that he need give them no counſel to follow their Books, but rather to ſtudy moderately, and uſe exerciſe; their parts being ſo good, that if they were careful not to impair their health with too much ſtudy, they would not fail to arrive to the top of learning in any Art or Science.
The courteſie of his Election he ever would acknowledge to Doctor Nevil the moſt Magnificent Maſter of Trinity Colledge, and Dean of Canterbury, to whom when his Father (though unacquainted) preſumed to addreſs in behalf of his Son, he preſently bid him ſpare further ſpeaking to any one, for that Boy ſhould go to Cambridge, or he would carry him upon his own back. So he was removed to Trinity Colledge, Anno 1608. the day before Doctor Playfers Funeral, where he firſt ſaw and heard the moſt Eloquent Mr. Williams, then Fellow of St. Johns, afterwards Lord Keeper, who made the Funeral Oration for him in St. Maries the ſecond day he wore a Purple Gown.
Oftentimes would our good Biſhop, like Plato, give great thanks to God that he was not bred among rude and barbarous people, but among civil and learned Athenians; that he was not diſpoſed of to ſome Monkiſh Society, or ignorant Cloyſter, but to the Greece of Greece it ſelf, the moſt learned and Royal Society of Trinity Colledge, which in that and all other Ages ſince the Foundation equalled any other Colledge in Europe for plenty of incomparable Divines, Philoſophers, and Orators: He would often make mention of his learned Tutor, Dr. Simſon, that wrote the Church Hiſtory, Dr. Cumber a great Critick, Dr. Richardſon Regius Profeſſor, Dr. Nevil very ſplendid and ſumptuous Governor; the great Hebrician and Chronologer Mr. Lively, one of the Tranſlators of the Bible, the famous and moſt memorable Dr. Whitgift, ſometime Maſter, afterwards Archbiſhop of Canterbury, and aſſert it was almoſt impoſſible for any man to continue ignorant under the advantage of ſo great Examples, and influence of ſuch incomparable Inſtructers.
Here our young Scholar was quickly taken notice of by the Seniors for his many ſingular parts of Wit, Memory, skill in Philoſophy, ſubtilty in diſputation, excellent knowledge in the Greek and Latin Tongues eſpecially, great ſobriety of Life, integrity of Manners, conſtant diligence at his Book, no day nor hour paſſing without turning over ſome Hiſtorian, Oratour, or Poet, ſo that his Tutor was forced rather to reſtrain than to incite him to his ſtudy, and would adviſe him every morning to walk ſo many turns; yet he would confeſs ſometimes he felt the ſleepy humour upon himſelf; but then his conſtant rule was, when ever he found himſelf doubtful, whether to ſtudy or loyter, in that indiſpoſition to chuſe the better part.
The firſt proofs he gave of his ability in Logick, Philoſophy, and Oratory, were ſo much above the common ſort, that his Preferment was ſoon preſaged in that Society, which he obtained by his own merits, without the interceſſion of Friends to hoiſt or heave him up. He was choſen Fellow of the Colledge as ſoon as he became capable by virtue of his firſt degree, and afterwards grew into that Credit, that he had many Pupils, and of many of the beſt Families of Gentry in England.
One Month in the long Vacation, retiring with his Pupil, afterwards Lord Byron, into Nottingham-ſhire for freſh air, there, in abſence from all Books, and having no other more ſerious ſtudies, he made Loyola, which needs no other Commendation than to remember that it was twice acted before King James, and what an ingenious Pen ſays in a Prologue,
You muſt not here expect to day
Leander, Labyrinth, or Loyola.
After his return to the Colledge from this Diverſion, he began to ſet himſelf wholly to the ſtudy of Divinity, being egregiouſly skilled in the preparatory learning of Logick, Phyſick, Metaphyſicks, and Ethicks, with which he had moſt largely informed his mind, and adorned his ſoul; and then as Diers having dipt their Silks in colours of leſs value do afterwards give them the laſt Tincture of Crimſon in grain: So our young Scholar having given his mind a large dip of Secular Arts and Sciences became more fit for Divine Speculations; therefore though but a very young man, his firſt Sermons at St. Maries and at the Vicarage of Trumpington (which he held with his Fellowſhip) were ſo ſingular and like himſelf, that (as the learned Biſhop Creighton told me) the eyes of the whole Ʋniverſity were caſt upon him as a Star that would be as bright as any in the Conſtellation beſide.
He received his holy Orders by the hands of John King, Biſhop of London, in December, Anno 1618. This good Biſhop had a ſingular affection and kindneſs for him, which he expreſſed upon all occaſions; once by accident his Lordſhip paſſed through St. Pauls Cathedral, where old Mr. Hacket was walking (as the cuſtom then was) his Gentleman who attended him, whiſpered to his Lordſhip, that the goodly old man, who was walking there, was young Mr. Hackets Father of Trinity Colledge in Cambridge. The Biſhop thereupon beckoned him to come to him, and gave him joy of his hopeful Son at Trinity Colledge, and bid him when he wrote commend him likewiſe to him, and let him know in due time he would be a means to bring them two together again. So the matchleſs Andrews, that great Rewarder of all learning and worth, would oftentimes ſend him Commendations, and Counſel, and Money to buy Books, ſometimes ten Pieces at a time. But above all others he was taken notice of by that Renowned Prelate John Williams, Dean of Weſtminſter, and Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England, Anno 1621. a Prelate of incomparable learning and knowledge, not only in Divinity and the Tongues, but in all Laws, Civil, Canon, and Common, who preſently, upon his receiving the Seal, ſent for Mr. Hacket of Trinity Colledge, and admitted him to be his Chaplain, whom of all his Chaplains he ever moſt loved and eſteemed. And on the other ſide our Biſhop would to his laſt breath acknowledg the Biſhop of Lincoln to be the moſt happy Inſtrument of Divine Providence that made him known to the world, and to his death bore a moſt grateful memory to his great deſerts and dignity, notwithſtanding all his eclipſes and ſlanders caſt upon him.
When Mr. Hacket was now a great Tutor, and the very Darling of the Colledge, generally beloved, and ſo contented, as like to have long there continued, my Lord Keeper would have him to his Service, ſaying withal, As his Majeſty King James had been blamed by many for making ſo young a Keeper: ſo he expected to be Cenſured for chuſing ſo young a Chaplain; but his Lordſhip knew his abilities very well, and would truſt no body with the choice of his Servants but himſelf.
Two years he ſpent in the Keepers Service before his time was come to Commence Batchelor in Divinity, but then begg'd leave to go down to Cambridge to keep the Publick Act, Anno 1623. upon the two following queſtions: Judicio Romanae Eccleſiae in Sanctis canonizandis non eſt ſtandum. Vota Monaſticae perfectionis (quae dicuntur) ſunt illicita.
The former queſtion was given very ſeaſonably; for the year before, Anno 1622. Pope Gregory XV. had Canonized Ignatius Loyola the Father of the Jeſuits, Franciſcus Xavier the Indian Apoſtle, Philip Nereus the General of the Jeſuits, and Madam Tereſia a Spaniſh Virtuoſa, who had built twenty five Monaſteries for men, and ſeventeen for women.
He caſt his Poſition into three parts: 1. Becauſe the holy Scripture ſaith, The memory of the Juſt ſhall be bleſſed, that all Canonization of Saints is not to be accounted ſuperſtitious, but by Canonization he meant only a publick teſtimony of the Chriſtian Church, of any eximious Members ſanctity and glory after death. 2. That this teſtimony ought to be given by General or Provincial Councils at leaſt of their own Members. 3. By no means to be left to the breaſt of the Roman Pontiff, and Colledge of Cardinals. 1. Becauſe they eſpecially attended to falſe qualifications, which they made undoubted ſigns of Saintſhip, which were not ſuch. 2. Conſequently had already Canonized unworthy perſons, not beatified in Heaven, but rather damned in Hell. 3. For perverſe and impious ends, which they ever thought to eſtabliſh by their Canonization. In all theſe reſpects the Pope of Rome (who is their Virtual Church,) was apparently a moſt partial and unmeet Judg, very apt to be impoſed upon himſelf, and likewiſe to impoſe upon others.
After his return to the Keepers ſervice he preferr'd him to the Court to be Chaplain to King James, before whom he preached ſeveral times, to the great good liking of that moſt learned King, and once upon the Gowries Conſpiracy, for which a Thanksgiving was continued all that Kings Reign upon Auguſt 5. and though ſome people have denied the Treaſon, yet our good Biſhop was aſſured that the moſt Religious Biſhop Andrews once fell down upon his knees before King James, and beſought his Majeſty to ſpare his cuſtomary pains upon that day, that he might not mock God unleſs the thing were true: the King replied, Thoſe people were much too blame who would never believe a Treaſon unleſs their Prince were actually murdered; but did aſſure him in the Faith of a Chriſtian, and upon the Word of a King, their Treaſonable attempt againſt him was too true.
Anno 24. he was prefer'd by the Lord Keeper to be Parſon of St. Andrews Holbourn. About 12 at night the Keeper ſent to ſpeak with him; when he came, his Lordſhip told him, he was not then watching for his own ſtudy, but for his; The Living of St. Andrews Holbourn was fallen, and in the Kings diſpoſal, by reaſon of the minority of Thomas Earl of Southampton, to which upon the mediation of the Biſhop he was preſented the next morning by King James.
The ſame year his Lordſhip procured for him the Parſonage of Cheam in Surrey, fallen likewiſe into the Kings gift by the promotion of Dr. Senhouſe to the Biſhoprick of Carliſle; the Keeper telling him, that he intended him Holbourn for wealth and Cheam for health; theſe two Livings being within a ſmall diſtance, of ten miles, he held till the Troubles came, and though he was a great lover of Reſidence, and would ſay Non-reſidence was never to be excuſed, but when utility to the Church, or neceſſity to the Perſon for his real health or fitting State required it: Yet he would often diſpute the neceſſity of a Country Living for a London Miniſter to retire to in hot Summer time, out of the Sepulchral air of a Churchyard, where moſt of them are houſed in the City, and found for his own part that by Whitſuntide he did rus anhelare, and unleſs he took freſh air in the Vacation, he was ſtopt in his Lungs and could not ſpeak clear after Michaelmas: But upon one of theſe he was conſtantly reſident, making as few excurſions for pleaſure or recreation, as any man living, ſcarce ever abſent from both, nor long from either; in ſo much that his friend Dr. Holdſworth ſaid, Dr. Hacket reſided more upon two Livings, than any Puritan (that ever he knew) did upon one; who uſually made more idle Sallies and goſſiping Viſits from their Charge to Markets and Fairs, and of late to attend Committees, and ſuch Secular Employments, than they whom they ejected for non-Reſidents, did in their attendance at Court or elſewhere.
Our Biſhop would declare, that naturally he was diſaffected to live either in City or Court, yet it pleaſed God, againſt his diſpoſition to bring him into both, who valued rural retirement and repoſe at his Study above all the Riches and Dignities of the World, and would often therefore recite thoſe words, Come my Beloved let us retire into the Villages, &c. Cant 7.11.and that unleſs it were for the ſervice of God, all the world ſhould not hire him to live among Butchers, and Bakers, and Brewers, Tradesmen of all ſorts in the narrow Streets of London, where he could not ſee the Sun but in ſome few days all Summer: Yet this he willingly yielded to, a great part of the year for the ſake of others, knowing with St. Hierom, Sancta ſimplicitas ſolùm ſibi prodeſt; Country retirement was good only for himſelf, but his Place at Holbourn rendred him beneficial to others, and therefore would compare the Contemplative life, ſpent in Prayer, Study, and Meditation, to Rachel, who was very beautiful, but almoſt barren; on the other ſide, an active and laborious one, ſpent in daily converſation, and holy Miniſtrations to Mankind, to Leah, who was more fruitful, though leſs pleaſing and fair; and to encourage Divines to this, obſerv'd that no leſs than three of four Evangeliſts had taken it for their principal Task to record our Saviours Travels and Miracles, going up and down from one City to another, onelyonly St. John took the other Subject to recount to us eſpecially our Saviour's Meditations and Prayers; and therefore he little valued that commendation of many Popiſh Saints, for leaving the company of Mankind, and retiring into Deſerts, where they could ſcarce have opportunity at any time to exerciſe Piety or Charity, which was in his opinion to forſake the Plow, and caſt off Chriſt's Yoke, and embrace idleneſs, if not pleaſure.
At Holbourn he generally reſided till the end of Trinity Term, and preached in perſon upon all the great Feaſts of the Church, and all Sundays in Term, when the Judges and Lawyers were in Town, without admitting any ſupply, and then commonly retired in the long Vacation for health and privacy till Michaelmas Term. Sometimes indeed he would ſteal out of Town for one Month in the Spring, which he believed no man did ſo much Epicurize as himſelf; who ever found a moſt luſcious ſweetneſs in the Month of April, and nothing elſe ſo pleaſant in this life, as with a Book in his hand to walk and view the fields and flowers, and to obſerve every bloſſom how it grew in that delicious ſeaſon of the year.
In the laſt year of King James he was named by the King himſelf to attend an Embaſſador into Germany, at which he was very glad, being moſt deſirous to travel and be acquainted with learned men abroad, ſaying, onelyonly low ſouls loved to dwell always at home, but more knowing and Divine (like the Heavens above) delighted in buſineſs and motion; yet upon ſecond thoughts he was diſſwaded from the Journey; for having wrot Loyola, he was told, he would never be able to go ſafe though in an Embaſſadors Train.
To the Memory of King James no man living bore greater reſpect than our Biſhop did for his great wiſdom, learning, pacifick diſpoſition, and affection to the Church, to which he thought he might be ſtiled a Benefactor equal to Conſtantine the Great: His Life he long intended to write, and to that purpoſe the Keeper confer'd upon him Mr. Camden's Manuſcript Notes of that Kings Reign, till his own death, Anno 1623. and his dear Friend and fellow Servant, Mr. John St. Amand communicated to him many choice Letters and Secrets of State of his own collection, who in like manner deſigned the ſame thing, to whom the Biſhop recommended the perfecting thereof: But the melancholy Ruſt of the Civil War had ſo eaten into that Gentlemans ſoul, that it had quite unfitted him, and the Biſhop alſo having loſt many of his Books and Papers upon his Sequeſtration at Holbourn, was made uncapable to proceed farther in it.
And now having ſpent ſome time in his Country-ſolitarineſs at Cheam, where he had no company but his Books (though formerly he never meant to have entred into a married ſtate) he caſt his affection upon a religious and virtuous Gentlewoman, whom he made his Wife. With this ſecret he had never acquainted his Maſter the Keeper, and therefore doubted how he would take it; but upon his Lordſhips firſt hearing thereof by another hand, he inſtantly took Coach and made him a Viſit, and enjoyn'd him onelyonly, as ever he had deſerv'd well of him, to requite it unto Her; by her God bleſſed him with ſeveral hopeful Children; but ſhe died Anno 1637. and after ſome years he was married a ſecond time to a moſt ſelect, wiſe, and religious woman by whom likewiſe he had a ſecond Poſterity, and by both lived to ſee 32 Children and Grandchildren before his death.
Anno 1628. He commenced Doctor of Divinity, when he preached the Morning Sermon upon Herod's not giving glory to God, Acts 12.23.and being ſtruck by an Angel, and eaten up of worms; and performed all other Exerciſes to the admiration of Dr. Collins and all other Profeſſors, who diſmiſt him to London again with an I Decus I Noſtrum! At his return to Holbourn his Fame increaſed exceedingly, where by indefatigable Study, conſtant Preaching, exemplary Converſation, and wiſe Government he reduced that great Pariſh to a more perfect Conformity than ever they were in before. His Church was not only crowded at Sermons, but well attended upon all occaſions of weekly Prayer, and Sacraments celebrated Monthly, beſides other times, at which, eſpecially upon the Churches Feſtivals, not only the whole Body of the Church, but the Galleries would alſo be full of Communicants; and all things were done in decoro ſanctitatis, in the beauty of holineſs; few or none would break the publick Order and decent Cuſtoms of his Church, but the whole Congregation generally roſe and ſate, fell down or kneel'd, and were uncovered together. He liked Ceremony no where ſo well as in Gods Houſe, as little as you would in your own, (was his phraſe) but could by no means endure to ſee in this Complemental Age, men ruder with God than with Men, bow lowly and often to one another, but never kneel to God: He thought Superſtition a leſs ſin than Irreverence and Profaneneſs, and held the want of Reverence in Religious Aſſemblies amongſt the greateſt ſins of England, and would prove it from many Hiſtories, that a careleſs and profane diſcharge of Gods Worſhip was a moſt ſure Prognoſtick of Gods anger, and that Peoples ruin.
When a Stranger Preached for him upon a Sunday, he would often read the Prayers himſelf, and with that reverence and devotion that was very moving to all his Auditors. And upon Wedneſdays and Fridays he would frequently do the like, and thereby engaged many to reſort better to them, always aſſuring them, God would ſooneſt hear our Prayers in the Communion of Saints. Sometimes, when he had occaſion to go into the City, and ſaw ſlender Congregations at Prayer, he would much wonder at his Countrymen, that had ſo little love to holy Prayer; but when he heard of any that would not go to Church to Prayer, unleſs it were accompanied with a Sermon, he would nor ſcruple to ſay, he ſcarce thought them Chriſtians; and never deemed any Divine to be really famous and ſucceſsful in his Preaching, who could not prevail with his People to come frequently to Sacraments and Prayers.
He was a great lover of Pſalmody, and above all a great admirer of Davids Pſalms, ſo full of Divine Praiſes, and of all Religious Myſteries, great helps to Contemplation, apt to beget a Divine Charity, being a perfect ſupply for all our wants, joyful to Angels, grievous to Devils, filling the heart with ſpiritual delights, and a kind of repreſentation of the Celeſtial felicity; That he conſtantly call'd upon his People to be preſent at them, and at all parts of the Churches Prayers; remembring them, that after our Bleſſed Saviour had caſt our the Sheep and Oxen, yet he ſtill called His Houſe the Houſe of Prayer, to ſhew that though thoſe Sacrifices were at an end, yet this ſhould never end; and therefore the Apoſtles themſelves after his death reſorted to the Temple at the Hours of Prayer.Acts. 3.
He ever took great care to procure a grave and able Curate, a Maſter of Arts at leaſt, for the inſtruction of the younger ſort in the Church Catechiſm, Viſiting of the Sick, Burial of the Dead, Preaching of Funeral Sermons, Chriſtnings and Marriages: Theſe he generally left to the Curate for his Perquiſits and better encouragement; and would often complain, that in great Pariſhes there was not competent maintenance to keep many Curats under the Pariſh Prieſt, that might be able to live at the Altar, and better diſcharge all private and domeſtick duties of piety, ſorrowing that herein Popiſh Countries were better provided for, who had ten for one that wait at the Altar there more than we have among us; and therefore though he would much recommend daily viſiting of the Flock from houſe to houſe, yet found it was impoſſible for one Miniſter to perform the Publick and Private Duties both.
Private Baptiſms he would never countenance unleſs in Caſes of neceſſity, or ſome great convenience, as being expreſly contrary to the Conſtitutions of our Church, and greatly derogatory to the dignity of the Sacrament, to be diſpenſed in a Parlour or a Chamber, and not with that Solemnity that our initiation into Gods Church required,Brochman Caſ. Conſe. and therefore greatly commended the Lutherans, who baptized none at home but the ſick and the ſpurious.
Heylyn. Hiſt. of Reform. p. 40.Funeral Sermons, though he rarely preached himſelf, yet he defended them to be no Novelty brought in with the Reformation; for John Fiſher, Biſhop of Rocheſter, hath one in Print for Henry the Seventh; and in Edward the Sixth his time, an Herſe was ſet up in St. Pauls Church for King Francis the Firſt of France, and a Funeral Sermon likewiſe preached for him by Dr. Ridly Biſhop of Rocheſter.
While he lived in this Pariſh, he would give God thanks, he got a good Temporal Eſtate; Pariſhioners of all ſorts were very kind and free to him;Tit. 3.13. divers Lords and Gentlemen, ſeveral Judges and Lawyers of eminent quality, were his conſtant Auditors, whom he found like Zenas, honeſt Lawyers, conſcientious to God, and lovers of the Church of England, and very friendly and bountiful to their Miniſter. Sir Julius Caeſar never heard him preach but he would ſend him a broad Piece; and he did the like to others; and he would often ſend a Dean or a Biſhop a pair of Gloves, becauſe he would not hear Gods Word gratis. Judge Jones never went to the Bench at the beginning of a Term but he faſted and prayed the day before, and oftentimes got Dr. Hacket to come and pray with him: This ſtrict Judge condemned one for ſtealing a Common-Prayer Book out of his Church, whom he could not ſave, the Judge would by no means forgive him, becauſe of the ſacredneſs of the place, but accepted well of his Interceſſion, and ſaid he ſhould prevail in another matter; and when the Doctor ſaw he could not ſucceed, he thanked the Judge for his ſeverity.
Anno 1631 the Biſhop of Lincoln made him Archdeacon of Bedford, whither he ever after went once a year commonly the Week after Eaſter, and made the Clergy a Speech upon ſome Controverſial Head, ſeaſonable to thoſe Times, exhorting them to keep ſtrictly to the Orders of the Church, to all regular conformity to the Doctrine and Diſcipline by Law eſtabliſhed, without under or over doing, aſſerting in his opinion, that Puritaniſm lay on both ſides, whoſoever did more than the Church commanded, as well as leſs, were guilty of it. And that he only was a true Son of the Church, that broke not the boundals of it either way.
About this time of King Charles the Firſt's Reign it was juſtly ſaid, Stupor mundi Clerus Anglicanus; and whereas in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's Reformation Siquis's had been ſet up in St. Pauls; If any man could underſtand Greek, there was a Deanry for him, if Latine, a good Living; but in the long Reign of Queen Elizabeth and King James, the Clergy of the Reformed Church of England grew the moſt learned of the World, for by the reſtleſsnes of the Roman Prieſts they were trained up to Arms from their youth, and by the Wiſdom and Example of King James, had wrote ſo many learned Tractates, as had almoſt quite driven their Adverſaries out of the Pit, and forced them to yield the Field: So that now we were only unhappy in our own differences at home. But above all the Biſhop admired, that People ſhould complain in thoſe days for want of Preaching, wherein lived Brownrig, and Holdſworth, and Micklethwait, and both the Shutes, and infinite more, eſpecially Joſiah Shute, whom the Biſhop ever termed, Generalis Praedicatorum, in Alluſion to the General of the Jeſuits, or the Praepoſitus Dominicanorum; beſides many other incomparable Orators in and about the City of London.
In the firſt rank of whom our excellent Author may well be reckoned if we conſider his acute Wit, deep Judgment, flowing Elocution, ſingular Learning, and great Reading, whereby (as Porphiry complained of Origen) he made uſe of all Heathen Learning to adorn the Doctrine of Chriſtianity: Who was expert withal to handle both Teſtaments, Law and Goſpel, that ſometimes his Auditors would acknowledg he had (like St. Chryſoſtom) ſwarms of Bees ſitting upon his Lips, and that nothing but Honey and Milk lay under his Tongue: At other times he ſeemed (like St. Baſil) to be a ſtrong Hail ſhower, bearing down all before it, and, as was ſaid of Pericles, left a foreign, or wound upon the moſt obſtinate and inſenſible mind behind him. Yet as Joſeph Scaliger would ſay, He envied the learning of three men, Theodore Gaza, Angelus Politianus, In Opuſc.and Picus Mirandula, ſo the Biſhop would acknowledge he could never enough admire Ʋſhers profound skill in Antiquity, Overalls great knowledge in Divinity, nor imitate Brownrigs Preaching, when he would put forth his utmoſt powers.
But let any man peruſe this Courſe of excellent Sermons upon all our Saviour Chriſts great Works, and many more remarkable matters of Scripture, which were moſt of them his weekly Preaching, together with what I hope will hereafter follow, whole Chapters and Pſalms of Scripture expounded by continued Diſcourſes upon the Chain of the holy Text from firſt to laſt, after the cuſtom of the Homilies of St. John Chryſoſtom, and other ancient Fathers yet extant, and let him ſpeak impartially if this great Prelate be not for Learning, Piety, perſpicuity of Phraſe, and knowledge of Divine and Humane things almoſt equal with any of them.
Methinks when I read his accurate and divine Labours, and withal contemplate the religious and peaceable dayes wherein they were preached, in an Auditory equal to the greateſt of old, wherein God was ſerved with ſo much holy Order, I cannot reckon with my ſelf readily where, either by St. Auſtin at Hippo, St. John Chryſoſtom at Antioch, or Conſtantinople, or the famous St. Baſil at Neocaeſarea, any people were more happy in the labours of a Paſtor, or any Paſtor more beloved by the wiſeſt of his People. Whatſoever he preached to them once upon the Lords Day, he preached ſix times over again in his Pious Converſation upon the days of the Week following, and ever thought that frequent Preaching was but a ſorry commendation to any man, unleſs prepared with ſtudy and diligence before, to ſpeak as became the Oracles of God; and likewiſe attended with agreeable practiſe afterwards, to make that eaſie by example, which had been before only dictated in Doctrine.
While he Officiated here, I muſt not forget two things more, Firſt, his Charity to the Poor, of whom he held himſelf bound by his Calling to have an eſpecial care, and be no leſs than a continual Overſeer: Beſides his ſpiritual Alms and counſel upon all occaſions freely adminiſtred, he gave freely alſo out of his own Eſtate upon all Holy-days, and Prayer-days, and would often engage the Pariſh Officers ſo to diſtribute their Collections as might beſt bring the Poor to Prayers, to Catechiſing, and to reap other benefit to their ſoul at the ſame time that they received a Boon for the body.
In all publick meetings (which were many in that great Pariſh) this worthy man would never ſo much as eat and drink (as the cuſtom had been) upon the Pariſh Stock, but alwayes bore his own Expences, though he met upon the Pariſh Account, ſo that by his prudence and induſtry, and frugality for them, the Revenues of the poor were in his time very much increaſed above what they were formerly.
But his main concern for that place is yet behind, (Church and Poor commonly go together, and he had an equal care of both) the Church Edifice was faln into great decay; the Church-yard too ſmall to bury their Dead, and the Church it ſelf too little to contain the Living, ſo that a great deſire he had to build them a new Church from the ground, for which purpoſe he had obtained the promiſe of the Patron the moſt Religious and Noble Earl of Southampton, to confer all the Timber for the Roof, and very large Subſcriptions he had procured from the Nobility and Gentry, and from many other well-affected Pariſhioners for the finiſhing of the reſt; for theſe he had been ſoliciting from the time of his firſt coming; ſcarce any of quality dying, but according to ancient Piety, at his requeſt left a Legacy to that purpoſe, which was laid up in the Church Cheſt. The good Doctor often telling them, how mournful a ſight it was to him to ſee any place excel the Church in Beauty and Magnificence, and that it was not the Faſhion in the beſt times of Religion for any man to dwell better than God, and that the Fabrick of Churches ought not only to be ſuited to the bare Convention of people, but likewiſe to the riches and wealth of the Pariſh or Nation, from which God expected a ſuitable proportion to the ſetting forth of his glory. And therefore as much as King Solomons Temple exceeded Moſes's Tabernacle, ſo much did he conceive ought our Churches now adays to exceed the poverty and plainneſs of our Forefathers, and would often bewail to ſee the contrary, that our Forefathers were ſumptuous in Gods Houſe, and poor at home; but we, who are far richer, have built our own Houſes rich and new, while Gods Houſe lies waſte. To remedy this, he was not willing to permit that any rich mens bones ſhould lie ſumptuouſly buried in his Church who never beſtowed ſo much upon Gods Houſe in their life as the value of their Tomb amounted unto, ſaying, Such did not adorn, but trouble the Church.
By his perſwaſions many gave very liberally; in particular, I remember the pleaſantneſs of Sir Henry Martin, who at his firſt ſpeaking bade his man pay him Thirty Pounds; when he received it, becauſe he gave him humble thanks, he bade his man count him Five Pounds more for his humble thanks.
About Ann. 39. having many thouſands in ſtock and in ſubſcription, he went to my Lords Grace of Canterbury, to ask his Lordſhips leave, that what Workmen were willing might indifferently be entertained by him, without being thought prejudicial to the repair of St. Pauls; but our Troubles came on, and the Long Parliament ſeized the Money gathered for the repair of both Churches, to carry on their War both againſt King and Church. Thus was he defeated in his pious intention here, yet God made him happy in accompliſhing the like hereafter, as you ſhall hear elſewhere.
Long before (viz.) Anno 1625. being the great Plague Year, which happened at the beginning of the Reign of Charles I. upon complaint of the Common Council-men of his Pariſh, that they wanted room to bury their dead, he purchaſed for that end the new Church-yard in Shooe-Lane, and becauſe in that ſickly time it could not be Conſecrated, he obtained under the Biſhop of London's hand and Seal a leave Proviſional to read his Lordſhips indulgence Inſtrument only upon the ground, with promiſe of procuring Conſecration when the Plague ceaſed. At the ſame time with the conſent of the Biſhop, and his Veſtry in Holbourn, he compoſed a Table wherein were ſet the Rates of burial in Church or Churchyard, New or Old, and was able to prove, that the like was done in elder times, and therefore the Learned Author was deceived,Spelman. who thought all Church-yards were freely given for the uſe of the dead: And he found by experience unleſs you would allow Fees for Funeral Attendances, the Tythes would be too ſmall in great Pariſhes to find Officers, who muſt wait upon ſuch occaſions both day and night; Likewiſe unleſs you make diſtinction of Prices for burial, all people will be buried in one place, in the very Church, yea, and Chancel it ſelf, if it might be allowed: Nor in a Plague time can you get the Poor born to the Grave, but it will coſt dear; and he was of opinion, the Profits, got by the Rich, ought to pay for the Poor, and that there was no more Simony in a Divines payment for ſome hours attendance upon a Funeral, than in the Clerk's or Sexton's payment for ringing of Bells, or the Heralds for their Eſcucheons and other Inſignia funebria, now of late grown cuſtomary; yet moſt of theſe were at firſt mere Oblations and Free-will Offerings, though now due ſecundum legem Terrae.
But to come to the moſt afflicted part of his Life, and our never to be forgotten Calamities, in the late days of darkneſs and gloomineſs. He hath often proteſted, that a long time before, he foreſaw our troubles gathering in the Clouds of diſcontents, and would bewail, that Charles the Firſt, the moſt Religious and beſt of Princes met with ſo bad Parliaments, generally factious, diſcontented, and levened with Puritans: Whereas Queen Elizabeth ever had calm Parliaments, and that made her Reign glorious, although She aſſumed more Prerogative than either King James or King Charles; yet then no body cried, Stand to the Liberties of the People; but nothing deſtroyed Liberty more than the affectation of too much Liberty: Beſides, he obſerved it was the deſign of Parliaments to put that mild King upon Wars, and then refuſe to give him moderate ſupplies to ſerve his juſt neceſſities, unleſs he would part with his Court and his Church in exchange, whereby He was conſtrained to ſupply himſelf by way of Loan, which whoſoever paid, much more whoſoever of the Kings Divines perſwaded others to pay, incurred the fury of the oppoſite Party.
Then were the Seeds of the future Sedition ſown, with an evil report brought upon Davids Government, that all the People might loath it, and after riſe up to pluck it down. Libels and licentious diſcourſes were ſcattered, ever portending future Mutinies, as hollow blaſts, and ſecret murmurings in the Air go before dangerous Tempeſts at Sea. Theſe things he diſcourſed, not onelyonly from his own obſervation, but from the prediction of many holy and learned men, and wondred that Cardinal Bellarmin, Mr. Hooker, and Mr. Mead after both ſhould all agree, that the Eſtabliſhment of the Church of England was not like to continue above ſeventy or eighty years, the Age of a Man; and he would tell how the late Biſhop of Chicheſter hath ſaid unto him, his Father foretold the ſame, and Biſhop Wren ſaid the ſame from Biſhop Andrews; but above all, Mr. John Shearman, Regiſter to my Lord of Canterbury, told him, that he heard Archbiſhop Abbot before his death, at a ſolemn Meeting before many friends, with many tears foretel the ſame; and it was our Biſhops opinion, that the Spirit of Propheſie was not quite dried up, but ſometimes pro hic & nunc God gave Mankind ſtill a knowledg of future Events.
In the Convocation of 1640, was compoſed a Book of Canons, which he well approved, always uſing to call Church Canons ſo many Buttreſſes to the Houſe of God, raiſed up without the walls, to ſupport the building within. Yet conſidering the ſwinge of the times, he once preſumed to requeſt my Lord of Canterbury not to proceed, but to indulge to the hardneſs of the peoples hearts; for he was well aſſured, if his Grace could make another Epiſtle to the Romans, the people then would not receive it, and therefore often wiſhed thoſe Books had never been made in England, Selden.nor the Liturgie ſent into Scotland, which he would often bewail in the words of his learned Friend, Liturgia infoeliciſſimè ad Scotiam miſſa, where the Secular Arm was too weak to protect the Loyal party in their Eccleſiaſtical obedience.
He accounted it no good Omen to have the Sun Eclipſed that very hour the Long Parliament began, in November Anno 1640, though not viſible here, ſave in the diſaſtrous effects: From the beginning thereof all things were managed with Uproars and Tumults: However ſome hope there was, that upon moderation ſhewn matters might be peaceably compoſed, whereupon the Houſe of Lords appointed a Committee out of their own Members, for ſetling peace in the Church, in March following; at the ſame time the Lords appointed a ſub-Committee to prepare matters for their Cognizance; the Biſhop of Lincoln had the Chair in both, and was authoriſed to call together divers Biſhops and other Divines to conſult for correction of what was amiſs, and to ſettle peace: of the ſub-Committee thoſe that appeared and conſulted together in Jeruſalem Chamber at Weſtminſter (ſome others were named) were theſe onelyonly, the Biſhop of Lincoln, Primat of Armach, Biſhop of Durham, Biſhop Hall then of Exeter, Dr. Ward, Dr. Prideaux, Dr. Twiſs, Dr. Sanderſon, Dr. Featly, Dr. Brownrig, Dr. Holdſworth, Dr. Hacket, Dr. Burgeſs, Mr. Marſhall, Mr. Calamy, Mr. Hill. Many things for ſix ſeveral Meetings were propounded, but in the midſt of May, while (in order to ſettlement) divers things were upon the Loom, the Bill call'd Root and Branch was brought into the Houſe of Commons, and that, like Atropos, cut off all the threds of this proceeding, to that the whole matter proved abortive and came to nothing.
After this appeared nothing but tumultuous Concourſes of raging people, ſeeking to manage all Affairs by the whirwind of their own ignorant clamours, and to remedy grievances without conſulting Religion or Juſtice. He much wondred that any men could think it poſſible, that the God of Order would ever mend any thing by their means, who (take them one by one) were moſt ignorant and illitterate, take them all together, were moſt bloudy and violent; and no man preached more boldly againſt the licentiouſneſs of thoſe times than he, challenging the Boutefeus to ſhew, wherever the Scripture gave countenance to Uproars and Rebellions? Julian the Apoſtate reading the Bible with a malicious intention to quarrel at it, ſaid, that Chriſtianity was a Doctrin of too much patience, but he could never find any place in it to object that it was a Doctrin of Rebellion. If the Adminiſtration of a Kingdom were out of frame, our Biſhop maintain'd it were better to leave the redreſs to God, than to a ſeditious Multitude, and that the way to continue purity of Religion was not by Rebellion, but by Martyrdom. To reſiſt lawful Powers by ſeditious Arms, and unlawful Authority, was not the Primitive and Apoſtolical Chriſtianity, but Popiſh Doctrin, not taught the firſt 300 years, but much about 1000 years after our Saviour's aſcenſion into Heaven, by the Pope of Rome, the very time the Spirit of God ſaid, Satan ſhould be let looſe, viz. by Gregory the VII. who firſt taught the Germans to rebel againſt the Emperor Henry the fourth: Yet this poiſon was now given the Engliſh People to drink out of the Papal Cup, while they pretended quite contrary. But our Biſhop ever aſſerted this was not the way to pull down Antichriſt, but Proteſtant Religion, and therefore he warn'd the Non-conforming Divines, with whom he lately treated, to have a care how they cried up a War, and became famous only in the Congregation (as Eroſtratus) by ſetting the Temple on fire.
To prevent that fatal Bill of Root and Branch, the Committee condeſcended to print the Liturgick Pſalms in King James's Tranſlation, to expunge all Apocryphal Leſſons, and alter ſome paſſages in the body of the Book of Common-Prayer, and certain other things, which divers of the Presbyterian Divines ſaid were ſatisfactory, ſave that the furious Party of them put the Commons upon the violent way: in particular old Mr. John White told many of the party, who ſtill preſſed at Conferences for further Abatement of Conformity, and the Laws eſtabliſhed; Time would come when they would wiſh they had been content with what was offered.
While this Committee was ſitting, the Houſe of Commons having now entred upon the debate of taking away the whole Government Eccleſiaſtical by Biſhops, Deans, and Chapters, together with all their Revenue, ſeveral Members of that Houſe being friends to the Hierarchy, mov'd that no mans Freehold might be taken away in Parliament, without hearing them firſt ſpeak for themſelves; whereupon the whole Committee impoſed the Task upon Dr. Hacket forthwith to depart to his own Houſe and Study, and meet them again to morrow morning prepared to ſpeak as the Advocate of the Church of England in the behalf of Deans and Chapters. The Speech it ſelf I found among his Papers, which in regard that it was never yet publiſhed at large, I have thought meet to add as follows.