Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

varre.

was his fate, like that of many other men of rare talents and endowments, to receive no rewards adequate to his merits and services. Through the whole of his life he had to struggle with the evils of poverty, to the disgrace of many among the great who affected highly to value him, and who were made acquainted with his necessities, but had neither the spirit nor virtue to afford him any assistance. He died in 1555, according to some writers, with his spirits broken by his distresses and disappointments, leaving a wife and six children encumbered with his debts, and destitute of all means of support. Their situation, however, seems to have awakened some degree of shame in the patrons of Finæus, for the cruel neglect shewn towards him, and provision was made for their decent maintenance. The death of Finaus called forth the pens of the most distinguished writers among his contemporaries, whose eulogies and epitaphs were collected in a volume, entitled, "Funebre Symbolum Aliquot Doctorum Virorum, Viro Doctissimo Orontio Finæo." The whole of his works were published together, in three volumes folio, which bear the dates of 1532, 1542, and 1556. Bayle. Moreri. Nouv. Dict. Hist.-M.

which were most congenial to his taste and inclination. In these sciences he had no instructor; and at that time the study of them was fallen into much disrepute and contempt. But notwithstanding these discouraging circumstances, his attachment to them led him to despise the false taste of the age, and to surmount all the difficulties which presented themselves to him; so that by the force of his own genius, and a sedulous application, he made very considerable progress in them. He first attracted notice in the year 1519, by publishing an edi tion of "John Martin Siliceus's Arithmetic," much more correct than in its original form; and afterwards, in 1523, by giving to the public a revised and improved edition of the " Margareta Philosophica," containing the principles of rational and moral philosophy. These works appeared while he was yet in the college of NaAfterwards, he for some time read private lectures in the mathematics, and then became a public teacher of them in the college of Gervais. So high was the reputation which he acquired in this character, that when Francis I., who had founded a new college at Paris, was desirous of filling the professorships with men of the first-rate abilities, Finæus was recommended to him as the fittest person to teach the mathematics in that institution. To this employment he devoted himself with the utmost zeal and activity, and nobly supported the credit of his profession, both by his success in instructing numerous scholars, and his various works on almost every mathematical subject. He is said to have boasted, that he had found out the method of squaring the circle; which only serves to shew that, though possessed of very extraordinary talents, he was not exempt from mistakes and self-deception. Like most of the mathematicians of that period, he made pretensions to the art of judicial astrology; and he appears at one time to have suffered a long and severe imprisonment, for undertaking to announce predictions that were disagreeable to the court of France. In addition to his other qualifications, Finæus possessed a mechanical genius, by which he was led to invent and construct different instruments and pieces of mechanism, which added not a little to his fame for ingenuity. Among others, mention is made of a clock invented by him in the year 1553, and described in the Amsterdam Journal for March 29, 1694, which affords striking evidence of his wonderful skill in mechanics. But, notwithstanding his genius, his assiduity, his high reputation, and the esteem in which he was held by an infinite number of persons, it

VOL. IV.

FIRENZUOLA, AGNOLO, an Italian poet, born at Florence in 1493, was the son of Bastiano de' Giovannini (or Nannini), a person who occupied some distinguished posts. He studied at Sienna and Perugia, in which latter place he contracted an intimacy with the famous Peter Aretin, whom he accompanied to Rome. He was brought up to the law, and for some time exercised the profession of an advocate, which he quitted in order to enter the congregation of monks of Vallombrosa. Religion appears to have had little part in this change, but rather the expectation of an abbacy, of which he acquired that of Spoleti, and of St. Prassede in Rome. His life was by no means strict, and much of it passed in a bad state of health. He died at Rome, probably, about the year 1545. The writings of Firenzuola in general rank among the lighter products of Italian literature. They have been several times printed, and were collected in three volumes at Florence, in 1763. These are partly in prose, partly in verse; and consist of novels, amorous discourses, a piece against the new letters introduced into the Italian by Trissino, discourses of animals, two comedies, a translation of the Golden Ass of Apuleius, adapted to himself and the circumstances of his time; verses, some humorous and burlesque, some grave and serious: in all of which he shews himself an elegant

Q

and cultivated writer, but sometimes more free than became his character. He also undertook a version of Horace's Art of Poetry, but it has never been published. Moreri. Tiraboschi.-A. FIRMICUS MATERNUS, JULIUS, an ecclesiastical writer who flourished about the middle of the fourth century. Since there is no mention made of him by any ancient authors, the opinions which modern writers have formed concerning his country, his profession, and his character, are at the best only conjectural. Some suppose him to have been a person of consular dignity, from the letters V. C. being added to his name in the manuscripts of his writings; but others, with greater probability, consider those letters to signify vir clarissimus, and not vir consularis. Some imagine him to have been a bishop; and Baronius is of opinion that he was the same person with Julius, who is said to have been bishop of Milan, and to have presided in a synod at Rome in the year 337. The evidence, however, for the existence of such a bishop, and such a synod, is very uncertain, Fabricius speaks of him as a Sicilian by birth; who practised for some time as an advocate in the Forum, and in his old age became a convert from heathenism to christianity. The latter opinion is strongly countenanced by some expressions in his writings, which are referred to both by Fabricius and Cave. Firmicus was the author of a treatise. "De Errore Profanarum Religionum," which he addressed to the emperors Constantius and Constans. With respect to the date of this work, it can only be affirmed with certainty, that it must have been written some time between the year 340, when the younger Constantine was dead, and the year. 350, in which Constans was killed by Magnentius. It is a learned, able, and well-written performance, and powerfully contrasts the reasonableness and excellence of the christian system with the absurd and immoral tenets of the gentile creed. But the author's zeal for christianity is not unmixed with a spirit of intolerance, which is incompatible with the genius of that faith for which he pleads. For, not satisfied with demonstrating by argument the superior excellence of his religion, he calls upon the civil power to propagate it by force, and by severe edicts to crush and overwhelm the abettors of error. This work was first published separately at Strasburg, 1562, octavo, afterwards at Heidelberg, 1559, octavo, and at Paris in 1575, 1589, and 1610, octavo. In the year 1603 it was printed at Basil by Frobenius, together with Minutius Felix, in a quarto volume, and illustrated with the notes of the learned Wowerius; which edition was followed

in impressions at Amsterdam in 1645, at Leyden in 1652, and again at the same place in 1609, with corrections and additional illustrations by J. F. Gronovius. In 1666 it was published at Paris, at the end of Cyprian's works, in folio, revised by Philip Priorius; and it is inserted in the fourth volume of the "Bibliotheca Patrum." To the same author the majority of critics concur in attributing a mathematical, or rather astrological, treatise, entitled "Astronomicorum, seu de Mathesi, Lib. VIII.” This work, which treats of the power and influence of the stars, according to the doctrine of the Egyptians and Babylonians, contains a curious mixture of mathematical science with the reveries and absurdities of judicial astrology. From many of the principles which pervade it, and the speculations which it includes, Baronius and others have been led to entertain the opinion, that it could not be the production of so good and pious a Christian as our Firmicus, but must be ascribed to another person of the same name. But may we not suppose, with Cave, that it was written by him before he became a convert to christianity? Baronius, indeed, contends, that it was not written till about the year 355; which date, being some years later than that of the treatise "De Errore," is quite irreconcileable with such a supposition. Labbæus, on the contrary, affirms that in his chronicle he has clearly proyed it to have been written between the years 334 and 337; and Fabricius. appears disposed to assign to it the same date. The question, however, is involved in considerable obscurity, and after all is not of sufficient moment to engage much serious attention. This work was first published at Venice, 1497, folio, from a copy brought by Pescennius Niger from Constantinople. It was published by Aldus, 1499, folio, in the same volume with Manilius Aratus, &c.; at Basil, in 1533, folio, and, at subsequent periods, together with Manilius, the astronomical pieces of Ptolemy, &c. Fabricii Bibl. Lat. vol. II. lib. iii. cap. 8. Cave's Hist. Lit. vol. I. sub sæc. Arian. ́ Mo-. reri.-M.

FIRMILIAN, an eminent christian prelate> in the third century, if we may credit Gregory of Nyssa, was descended from an honourable family in Cappadocia. About the year 233, if not sooner, he was ordained bishop of Cæsarea, in that country, and was universally held in such high estimation for his learning and excellent character, that his opinion and advice carried much weight in all the ecclesiastical matters. that were agitated during his time. He was present at the council of Iconium, held in 235; at the council of Antioch, in 252, convened on

the subject of Novatian's schism; and he presided at the council held at the same place in the year 264 or 265, to examine into the opinions of Paul of Samosata. He was also invited to the council which was held at Antioch in the year 270, by which Paul was condemned and deposed; but died at Tarsus, on his journey thither, towards the latter end of the year 269, at a very advanced age. Firmilian was united in strict friendship with Origen, whom he invited into his own country, and to whom he paid several visits at Cæsarea in Palestine, for the sake of improving by his instructions in divine knowledge. He likewise took the part of St. Cyprian in the dispute about baptising heretics that returned to the catholic church, and wrote on that subject a long letter to St. Cyprian, in which he exposed, with much severity, the inhumanity, pride, and insolence of Stephen bishop of Rome. It was written in the year 256, and is still extant among the letters of St. Cyprian, but in a Latin translation from the original Greek, which, on account of the resemblance which it bears to the style of that father, is generally supposed to have been made by him, St. Basil makes a general mention of writings which Firmilian left behind him, with out informing us expressly what they were. He was a man zealously attached to what appeared to him to be the cause of truth; but at the same time of great prudence and moderation, and unwilling that others who differed from him should be molested for their opinions. To his interference it is attributed that harsh measures were not finally determined upon against Paul of Samosata, at the council of Antioch in which he presided; and if he had lived to attend the council of 270, he might probably have proved successful in preventing the decree of his deposition from passing, which he rightly judged would be the means of bringing a reproach upon the christian church. Though Firmilian seems not to have distinguished himself greatly as an author, yet his merits caused him to be highly esteemed by his contemporaries, and entitle his memory to be held in respect by posterity. Theodoret gives him the character of "an illustrious person, equally master of divine and human knowledge." It is a striking proof of his worth, that both Eusebius and Jerome have particularly insisted upon his respect for Origen, as a weighty testimony to the extraordinary merit of that great man. Cave's Hist. Lit. vol. I. sub. sac. Novat. Moreri. Lard. Cred. pt. II. vol. III. b. i. ch. 39.-M.

FIRMIN, THOMAS, an English tradesman,

who for his uncommon virtues, and active unwearied benevolence, deserves to have the particulars of his life recorded, as a just tribute of respect to his eminent worth, and as affording an admirable pattern for the imitation of posterity. He was born at Ipswich in Suffolk, in the year 1632. His parents, who were respectable for their probity and piety, educated him in calvinistic principles; and when he was of a proper age bound him as an apprentice to a tradesman in London. In this situation he was remarkable for his diligence and activity, as well as for his amiable obliging manners. With his master, who was an Arminian, he usually attended the sermons of the famous Mr. John Goodwin, by which he was induced to become a convert from calvinism to the principles of Arminius and the Remonstrants. When the time of his apprenticeship was expired, he entered into business on his own account, with the small capital of only one hundred pounds; which in the year 1660 was increased by a portion of five hundred pounds that he received with a citizen's daughter whom he married. By his great industry and skill, however, he soon became a considerable tradesman; and as his commercial reputation increased, he became more eminently known for his goodness of heart, his solicitude to promote the happiness of others, and his kind exertions for alleviating the distresses of the poor and unfortunate. From his first engaging in business, it was his custom to obtain an acquaintance with as many persons eminent for worth and integrity as he could, foreigners or English, particularly with the clergy; and from these connections he was enabled to derive essential assistance in furthering the benevolent and useful designs for which be became afterwards so eminent. Among others, he became acquainted with Mr. John Biddle, who confirmed him in his arminian tenets, and also made him a proselyte to the opinions which he held respecting the unity of God, and the nature of the Holy Spirit. Towards that persecuted character he shewed the kindest and most hospitable attention, until he was sent prisoner by Cromwell to the isles of Scilly; and was afterwards instrumental in procuring for him the pension which the protector allowed him during his confinement, Mr. Firmin was also intimate with Dr. Whichcote, Dr. Worthington, Dr. Tillotson, and Dr. Wilkins While Dr. Tillotson preached the Tuesday's lecture at St. Lawrence's church, which was much frequented by the most eminent clergy in .town, and by many persons of quality and distinction whenever his oflice. of dean obliged

him to be at Canterbury, or other avocations called him into the country, he generally left it to Mr. Firmin to provide a substitute for him; who, from his very general acquaintance with the most learned and noted divines who either resided in or visited London, was easily able to fulfil his commission, in a manner which gave satisfaction to the very respectable auditory. By the intercourse which he thus maintained with the clergy, and the confidence placed in his judgment to recommend men of abilities and worth to situations for which they were adapted, he was enabled to serve the interests of many promising young preachers and scholars, who were candidates for lectureships, schools, cures, or rectories. In the year 1664 Mr. Firmin, who was then a widower, married a second wife, with whom he had a considerable fortune. By the fire of London, in 1666, his house was destroyed; but his noble spirit and generous way of trading were now so well known, that by the increase of his business he soon repaired the loss which he suffered by that event, and might have amassed a very large property, if his heart had not prompted him to devote a great proportion of his gains to benevolent and humane purposes. Observing the number of poor children and others, who for want of employment were not only useless but burthensome to the community, in the year 1676 he erected large premises, in which he established a linen manufacture, and found constant work for many hundreds who were either acquainted with the different branches of that business, or willing to be instructed in them. And though the returns arising from their labour were by no means equal to the great expences necessarily incurred, yet from his own funds, and the assistance of well-disposed persons, he was enabled to sustain the loss, and also to give occasional sums of money, more. than their earnings, and to distribute fuel and clothing among his poor manufacturers in severe weather. In the year 1678 he published, in quarto, "Some Proposals for the employing of the Poor, especially in and about the City of London, and for the Prevention of Begging, a Practice so dishonourable to the Nation, and to the Christian Religion; in a Letter to a Friend." In this piece he describes the progress and good effects of his institution, and delivers a number of valuable observations relative to the most proper means of providing for the necessities of the poor, which discover equal good sense and humanity, and deserve the attention of all the lovers of national economy. At one time he was led by his desire of extending still farther

The

the benefit of his exertions for the relief of the distressed, to set up also a woollen manufacture; but after a trial of two years, the great advance in the price of wool, and the considerable losses which arose from the inexpertness of the people employed, obliged him to relinquish that project. One of the useful measures which he adopted was the erection of a large warehouse near the banks of the river Thames, in which corn and coals were deposited, to be sold in dear seasons at a moderate price, which was never to exceed the prime cost, excepting when any part of them was damaged by keeping. Mr. Firmin likewise signalised his humanity, and good policy, by the zeal and activity which he displayed in liberating poor debtors from prison, and in providing for the more comfortable subsistence of others whom he was unable to redeem. In performing these truly philanthrophic services, he carefully examined the prisoners concerning the usage which they met with from their keepers, and sometimes prosecuted jailers for extorting unlawful fees, or other unjust and oppressive practices. number of persons imprisoned for small debts, whose discharge he was the means of procuring, was very great; and on behalf of prisoners for large sums, he zealously promoted the passing of acts of grace by the legislature. And so highly was his character respected in both houses of parliament, that his interest was very powerful with the members. The extensiveness of his benefactions requiring much greater funds than his own private fortune could afford, he exerted his influence with the rich and opulent among his acquaintance, from whom he received large donations, and to whom he delivered exact accounts of the manner in which their money was distributed; and he was particularly careful that it should not be bestowed on improper or undeserving objects. Frequently he was generous to clergymen or others who were straitened in their circumstances, but who had too much delicacy to make their necessities publicly known, or to ask for pecuniary relief. Mr. Firmin was one of the governors of St. Thomas's hospital, in Southwark, and extremely active in his endeavours to render it as beneficial as possible; and during the last twenty years of his life, he was also a governor of Christ-church hospital, in London, of which he proved himself a great benefactor and constant superintendant. When, in the years 1681 and 1682, great numbers of French Protestants fled into England to escape the persecutions of Lewis XIV., Mr. Firmin hastened to provide for the relief of those sufferers

a

for conscience sake, and on that occasion, as well as after the revocation of the edict of Nantes in 1685, many thousand pounds were entrusted to his management on account of the refugees. In the year 1689, when vast crowds of the Irish nation, of all ranks, fled to England from the persecutions and proscriptions of king James II., another opportunity offered for the display of Mr. Firmin's active and indefatigable benevolence. He was particularly assiduous in promoting briefs and subscriptions for their relief, and had the pleasure to see them produce more than fifty-six thousand pounds, to the distribution of which he attended with such diligence, faithfulness, and impartiality, that the archbishop of Tuam and seven other Irish bishops united in sending him a letter, in which they expressed their grateful sense of his kindness and exertions on behalf of their countrymen. Mr. Firmin was zealous friend to the civil and religious privileges of his countrymen. If any man was unjustly or illegally oppressed, he was ready to defend him as far as he was able; and those who suffered for standing up for the rights of Englishmen, were sure of his friendship and assistance. By the distribution of publications written in defence of public freedom, he endeavoured to arouse the people to a just opposition to the tyrannical measures of king James II., and, as far as his situation would permit, was a zealous promoter of the Revolution. After that event had taken place, he affordedevidence that his benevolence was not cramped by the spirit of party, in the activity which he shewed in collecting money for the relief of many of the Nonjurors, who were reduced to great distress, until he was induced to remit in his exertions, by the remonstrances of some of his acquaintance of high rank, who assured him that the steps which he took were illegal, being calculated for the support of the enemies of government. So generally known was the excellence of Mr. Firmin's character, that it at tracted the notice of queen Mary, who express ed her concern when she heard that he was not orthodox in his opinions, and earnestly pressed archbishop Tillotson to endeavour to rectify his creed. His grace assured her majesty that he had often attempted that task, but that Mr. Firmin had been too early, and too deeply imbued with socinian tenets, to admit of contrary impressions. When some time afterwards the arch bi hop published some Sermons on the subjects of the Divinity of our Saviour and the doctrine of the Satisfaction, he sent one of the first copies from the press to Mr. Firmin; who

caused a treatise to be drawn up, chiefly in answer to them, entitled, "Considerations on the Explications and Defences of the Doctrine of the Trinity," which he presented himself to the archbishop. The good prelate, when he had read it, only answered, "My lord of Sarum," meaning Dr. Burnet, "shall humble your writers;" still retaining, however, his usual kindness for Mr. Firmin. Among others who assisted our philanthropist in promoting his benevolent designs, was Dr. Henry Compton, bishop of London, who always expressed a high sense of his great worth. It should not be omitted, that the annual collections for the poor which are made in London about Christmas, under the authority of what is called the King's Letters, were set on foot by Mr. Firmin, and that the mode of distributing the money arising from these collections, together with the royal bounty, was for many years conducted under his advice and direction.' He likewise bound out a great number of boys to different trades at his own expence, and contributed afterwards to the establishment of them in business, if they served out their apprenticeships with fidelity and diligence. But it would be endless to enter into a particular enumeration of the variety of methods in which he exerted his generosity and beneficence. This excellent man died in 1697, in the sixty-sixth year of his age. The best eulogium on his character is the record of the transactions of his life. In perusing a narrative of what he did, the reader will easily be able to form a judgment of what he was. We shall only add, that he possessed uncommon quickness of perception, was inquisitive and ingenious, and had a great thirst for knowledge, though he had not the advantages of a liberal education, nor the opportunity, on account of his numerous avocations, of applying himself to any regular course of studies. He was naturally of a warm temper, and incapable of dissembling his sentiments; but his consciousness of his own integrity occasioned him to be very little disturbed, if envious or ill-designing people threw out reflections to his disadvantage. His piety was rational and fervent; and his life a continued display of the virtues inculcated by Christianity. Life of Firmin, written by one of his most intimate Acquaintance. Cornish's Life of Firmin. British Biog.-M,

FIROUZABADI, IBRAHIM ABOU ISHAK, sometimes also surnamed SHIRAZI, a Persian doctor, of high repute for his knowledge of Mussulman law, who flourished in the eleventh century of the christian æra.

« EdellinenJatka »