it is a valuable monument of literature; and exhibits, in a pleasing manner, the talents, the good sense, and the learning of John of Salisbury."

(10.) The last of the Scholastics of the first period, whom it is requisite to mention distinctly, was HALES, Abbot of Glocester, who was dignified with the highsounding title of "the irrefragable doctor." He also was one of the disciples of Abelard at Paris, and became celebrated for his skill in metaphysical theology. He wrote commentaries on the "Book of Sentences" of Peter Lombard, and on the "Metaphysics of Aristotle," much admired at the time for their reputed ingenuity and learning, but long since buried in oblivion.

SECTION IV.

SCHOLASTICS OF THE MIDDLE PERIOD.

237. THE second or middle period of the history of scholasticism may be considered as commencing with the thirteenth century, when a considerable number of the most renowned advocates of that system simultaneously laboured with incredible zeal and diligence for its advancement. To a few of these it will be requisite to advert in this place, whose celebrity, when living, and long after their death, attaches an importance to their name and memory, to which otherwise neither their learning nor talents could have entitled them.

(1.) ALBERT, surnamed the Great, (who has been already classed with the scientific philosophers of the middle ages, on account of his mechanical skill,) was chiefly indebted to his logical science and polemic zeal for his living and posthumous fame. He was born in Swabia, A. D. 1193; became a dominican friar when about thirty years of age; and was subsequently employed in teaching philosophy at the public schools of Cologne and Paris, or in writing ponderous volumes on abstract metaphysical speculations, till his death, which took place A.D. 1280. This indefatigable author wrote on an almost endless variety of subjects, as appears from his works, which were collected and published after his death in no less than twenty-one folio volumes, including treatises on theology, ethics, metaphysics, logic, natural philosophy, natural history, and the mathematics. He seems to have traversed the whole circle of theological, moral, intellectual, and physical science. If the value of Albert's writings could be estimated by their number or magnitude, he must be acknowledged to have been no ordinary contributor to the stores of general knowledge: but the history of the period under review goes far to prove that the estimate must be taken in an inverse ratio, and that in proportion as the writings were voluminous, they were trifling and useless. portion of the works of Albert, which alone can be regarded with interest in modern times, is that which relates to practical and experimental philosophy. From him arose the sect of the Albertines, frequently alluded to by the ecclesiastical historians of that age.

The

(2.) BONAVENTURE ranks high in scholastic fame, and was honoured with the title of "the seraphic doctor," on account of the ardour of his devotion to the Virgin Mary. He was born in Tuscany, A.D. 1221;--studied theology and logic under Hales ;-graduated at Paris;-and became Franciscan friar at the same time with his renowned contemporary, Thomas Aquinas. He was created Cardinal by Pope Gregory; and died while attending the second general council of Lyons, A. D. 1279. The most remarkable of his productions was, “A Dissertation on the application of the Arts to Theology, "which affords," says Enfield, "a curious specimen of the manner in which the mystical divines of that age transferred the Scholastic philosophy to theology."

(3.) But the chief glory of the Scholastic age was the illustrious THOMAS AQUINAS, to whom his contemporaries and idolaters, with one consent, awarded the title of "the angelical doctor." This prodigy of learning, as he was generally considered, was born of a noble family at Aquino, in Italy, A. D. 1224, educated first in the monastery of Mount Cassino, then at Naples, and finally at Paris, under Albert the Great. He subsequently became theological lecturer of Cologne, Paris, and Rome. So extravagant were the encomia passed upon him by his ignorant and superstitious devotees, that some supposed him to have inherited the soul of Augustine, others of Aristotle, and some even of St. Peter himself. With a slender knowledge of the Greek and Arabic tongues, he contrived to pass for a prodigy of learning in a dark age; and by dexterously blend

ing the Peripatetic and Eclectic systems of philosophy with the reasoning of the Greek and Latin fathers, he gained the reputation of a profound theologian. His most celebrated writings, are, "The Sum of Theology," in which a great variety of trifling and absurd questions in metaphysical theology are most gravely and learnedly discussed; his “ Commentary on P. Lombard's Book of Sentences;" and "Annotations on the Analytics, Metaphysics, and Ethics of Aristotle.” Speculative philosophy was the only element in which Aquinas could breathe; but all physical science was either despised by him as useless, or denounced as the result of necromancy and witchcraft. This phænomenon suddenly disappeared in the midst of its glory, and whilst all Europe was gazing with an admiration little short of idolatry upon the splendour of its intellectual course. This celebrated Scholastic theologian died in the fiftieth year of his age, while on his way to the council of Lyons, which was held A. p. 1279.

(4.) Contemporary with Bonaventure and Aquinas, who belonged to the Italian and French schools of philosophy, were two of the English school, who, if not equal in fame, were far superior in general and useful knowledge. These were Grostèste, (or Greathead,) Bishop of Lincoln, and Roger Bacon, the father of English philosophy. Though both of these are usually classed with the Scholastics, their science and erudition may justly entitle them to a more venerable station in the republic of letters. Having before alluded particularly to Friar BACON, it is now unnecessary to say more respecting him,

than that much of his attention was given, and many of his posthumous works relate, to intellectual as well as physical science, though the latter was his favourite study. He applied himself diligently to the acquisition of the Greek and Hebrew languages, then very imperfectly known even to the best scholars. He prepared, in the retirement of his monastic cell, erudite works on history, jurisprudence, dialectic and metaphysical theology, as well as on mathematical and physical subjects. The literary history of Grostèste is less known, though he occupies a distinguished place in the ecclesiastical history of our country. His celebrity is partly founded on the strenuous opposition made by him to the encroachments of the Roman pontiff, and partly on the testimony of Roger Bacon to his genius and learning, who, though usually parsimonious of praise, and much more inclined to censure than to eulogise his contemporaries, classes him with "Aristotle and Solomon," and describes him as 66 the only learned man of his age." Some of his works were mathematical, others critical; but the greater portion consists of philosophical and theological tracts. It may be particularly mentioned to the honour of this pious and learned prelate, that while the seraphic and angelic doctors were laboriously employed in writing commentaries on Peter Lombard, or Augustine, Grostèste was employed in scriptural researches, and in diligent study of the Hebrew and Greek original texts, that he might be the better enabled to comprehend and interpret the sacred writings. Grostèste, like his celebrated coun