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her Catechism. 'The which,' saith he, though by a strange fanatic humour it be slighted, and by self-conceited persons derided, yet contains all things, both of faith and fact, necessary to salvation, being rightly, clearly, and fully understood.' For this end he hath paraphrased the same: which how much in vogue and esteem throughout the nation, the many editions thereof do fully demonstrate.

"He would often tell his

on by the spirit of giddiness, of faction, and of rebellion.'

"He was evermore for what was practical, much more for that, than what was controversial in Divinity: he seemed rather to decline than encourage and countenance disputes; as if thereby he dreaded greater differences: which often falls out, that more strifes are engendered and multiplied by hotly and stiffly arguing it, than are quelled thereby.

"He was very strict and re

hearers of such that have itch-gular in his life and conversa

ing ears, who through the desire of much hearing, upon the pretence of going on to perfection, were apt to run off the very foundation. Alike to this, is that of a late Reverend Prelate (Bishop Nicolson) who thus expresseth himself, ' Ever since Sermonising hath justled out the necessary instruction of Catechising, the people have been possessed with strange errors in religion, and hurried

"For this I may, and do refer all such that require further satisfaction, and more particular information herein, to a brief discourse of his, entituled, The Irregularity of a Private Prayer in a Public Congregation. In a Letter to a Friend, Anno Dom. 1674. And since then reprinted and enlarged. However, he thought it prudence to conceal

tion, no less observant of the Church's Orders and Constitutions: he would not admit of private prayer in public, of no other there than what the Church enjoined to be used, as prescribed and established by authority". And pray! with what face can men pretend to be of the Church, and guides to the people, when they will not be ruled nor regulated thereby, acting as she enjoins?

his name, for that custom had so much prevailed to the contrary. See also PULPIT CONCEPTIONS, POPULAR DECEPTIONS. There is more of this in the Preacher's Guard and Guide, alias Rex Theologus, wherein is ranked the use of long prayers of our own conceiving before Sermon, among the innovations these later times have made.

"As for his hospitality, and | function consisted much in making provision for the poor as his shame did in studying to enrich himself. Wherefore his principal care for this was, to lay up his treasure in Heaven by a faithful dispensation (as a careful steward) of that which God had given him upon earth.

acts of charity, they have been deservedly much famed: he gave much alms, and daily administered to the necessitous, to such that were in prison and distress: he clothed the naked, and provided bread for the hungry, contributed much towards the settling of a stock of bread and clothes for the poor for ever. His charity was diffusive, for not only his own, but other parishes were warmed by its bountiful influence. He hath made such provision for the indigent, that the children which are yet unborn may gratefully commemorate him.

He was much conversant in watching, fasting, and praying, as well as alms-deeds, with him they inseparably accompanied each other. He shewed himself in all things a pattern of good works, the mirror of holiness, the sampler of Christian piety. His zeal was such in providing for the sick and needy, as to deny himself those things that were convenient for him, that he might be better able to supply the wants of the necessitous. He had learned that the glory of one of his high and holy

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"He was very spare and slender of body; and it was thought he impaired its strength very much by his frequent fasting and abstinence. However he would not endure to be told thereof; for upon any such a suggestion, he was ready to reply, That he did eat and drink too much; and that many, if not most, of men (using the proverb) did dig their graves with their teeth. Upon this account, for that he was so much devoted to austerity of life, and was so strict an observer of the holy time of Lent, and other stated Fasts of the Church; for this and the like, the ignorance of some, and that, and ill-will in others, would needs have him tainted with Popery.

"He often forsook his warm bed in the cold season of the night, that he might betake

* Ignominia Sacerdotis est, propriis studere, &c.

less?) some secret and invisible monitor still at hand to

himself to his devotions; so that he spent the time in watching, weeping, and pray-instigate him thereunto, he

ing, when others were at their repose, and sleeping. He esteemed time most precious, reckoning of that as lost, more than what was necessary for rest and refreshment to the body, that was not employed in prayer, study, Christian visits, and such like; insomuch, that that very character which was given to St. Hierom by the Author of his Life, may very well be bestowed on this reverend person' :-That he would indulge sleep no more (scarce that) than only to satisfy the necessity of nature; that he remitted nothing of pains and industry for reading or study; nor of his alacrity in prayer: so that it was a wonder to see a body, that had sustained so much by labour, vigilance, and fasting, to continue so full of vigour and activeness. Moreover, as if he had (what can we imagine

y Somnus non ad delicias, sed ad naturæ capitur necessitatem: Canis jam totus asperaus, nibil ex studiorum assiduitate remittit-Mirum erat in corpore jejuniis et ætate consumpto, tantum spiritûs, tantum vigere fortitudinis.

Sæpe accidit, ut dum inter alios' versaretur, et cum illis Sermonem

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would frequently, and that instantly, depart the company, retire into secret, to pour forth his soul into pious and fervent ejaculations; when and where his zeal and transports have been such, that he hath been often overheard; which in charity we must conclude was not designedly, and out of vain affectation to be overheard, that he might be taken notice of; no, but we must impute the same to the mere raptures of devotion. That of Venerable Bede which he ascribed to his predecessor S. Cuthbert, is very applicable to this Reverend Pastor,―That he fulfilled his duty in daily prayers in behalf of the people committed to his charge, and he taught them nothing by his words, whereof he did not give them a good example by his deeds.

"He had David's Psalms ad unguem, making responses all

misceret, intus Deum se alloquentem sentiens, discederet in cubiculum ibi cor suum coram Domino effundens, &c. In Vit. Th. a Kempis.

a Commissam namque sibi plebem et orationibus protegebat assiduis, et admonissionibus, &c. Bed. Eccl. Hist. lib. iv. cap. 28.

by heart; evening and morn- | safely speak; for that it is ing, as the Church prescribes, impossible to humour the dead he attended public prayers: into danger, or in this case to and upon the more solemn melt ourselves away into flatdays of Fasting and Humilia-tery. tion, as upon Ash-Wednesday, "A good old man, like to Good-Friday, &c., after Divine this pious one, who is now Service had been celebrated in become our present subject, the Church; he would in his being much importuned to deprivate Chapel read prayers clare, what his studies and again, making then use of the contemplations for the most Psalms and Lessons, as ap- part were:-at last, breaking pointed by the Calendar in the bounds of modesty he made ordinary course for the day; this answerb,-That he for his when those that were proper part, was daily conversant in, and peculiar to that day had and much meditating upon the been read before. four last things, Death and Judgment, Heaven and Hell. These we may well presume possessed much the thoughts of the deceased, for that in writing he hath expatiated hereupon, and recommended the same to our serious meditations.

"Whenever the Absolution was pronounced, or the Benediction given, being upon his bended knees, he bared venerable grey hairs, and lowly bowed his head, as if he would have kissed the ground.

"Very often in private he hath been seen and heard to weep, and pray, and beat his breast; not only kneeling, but sometimes throwing himself flat upon the earth; lying prostrate on the ground, as if he had been licking up the dust; thus profoundly humbling himself, even to the lowSince he has already paid the last debt to nature, we may b Se quotidie

est.

"It were easy to multiply instances of this nature, for we have a very virtuous and copious subject; the whole narrative of his life would take up much, and justly challenges a far better and more able pen; but brevity necessitates me, that I be not tedious, to pass by many memorable passages. There is nothing of untruth, as versari, &c.

I conceive, that can deservedly | mitted to his care and trust, of

be charged upon me for what I have already said; I fear there is more of virtue and piety than hundreds will ever imitate or practise. However, let a man live or act never so well, there will be some Momus or other to carp, some prejudiced and disaffected to traduce and censure him, and never understand the worth, till they find the want of him; which great numbers will be sure to do, I mean the poor that he fed and clothed, who can be no feigning nor personating, but real mourners for his deatn.

66 Having led his life in an holy and chaste celibacy, being never wedded to any save God, and the people that were com

whose spiritual welfare he was very tender; and having spun out his days to the 76th year of his age, he seemed to be weary of the world, and to wait for his dissolution; wherein his God hath gratified him, having brought him to his fathers, and in a good old age delivered him from the miseries of this sinful world, it may be from much evil to come. Which God in mercy prevent, and of His infinite goodness grant, that among the sundry and manifold changes and chances of this mortal life, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.'”

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