know it is the manner of those that have been of the kings counsell, or be judges of the realm, to have their beards cut shorte and notted. And once I thought to have gone to my death, notted, as I was wont to wear it. But now I have changed my opinion; for my beard shall fare as my head, though the one be dearer to me than the other." Vel. ii. pp. 130-132. It is not easy to imagine a more tience, and love of God; and tell them what a happy and blessed thing it was, for the love of God, to suffer the losse of goods, imprisonment, losse of lands, and life also. And he would further say unto them, that upou his faith, if he might perceave, that his wife and children would encourage him to die for a good cause, it should so much comfort him, that for verie joy thereof it would make him merrilie to runne to death. And to have them the better prepared against troubles, pleasing picture than is drawn of he would show what was possible, though his private and domestic conduct. How few are to be found, even in this enlightened age, who could bear comparison with him? "It was his custome to rise every daie verie earlie; and on his knees, after he had commended himself to God, he said his Matfins, the Seven Psalmes, the Litanie with the Suffrages, often the Dirige, and the Graduall Palmes, and certaine other devout prayers, both in Latyn and Englishe, of his owne making. Besides, be selected certaine Psalmes out of the Psalter, and made himselfe a prettie little volume; and to reade all, or most parte thereof, everie morning he seldome omitted. After all this, every day, frast and ferie, he heard masse with reve rence and devotion; and before the end, for to receive the benediction of the priest, he would in noe case departe, though the king had sent for him, once, twice, and thrice. He was wont to say he would come to the king presentlie, after I have done my dutie and devoire both to his and my Maister, the King of kings.'" Vol. ii. p. 81. Now let us a little consider his demeaBoar towards his wife, children, and familie, which was so well ordered, that rather it might seem a religious monasterie of regulars, than a mansion house of a lay-man. And some perhaps will thinke it rather a wittie invention what it should be, than a historie what in truth it was. For everie bodie there had his time and taske so sett, either in readtag spirituall books, prayers or other vertuous exercises, that you would think it Mary and Martha's house, fitt to give entertainment to their Creator. There was no strife, no debate, no wanton or unseemlie talke. Idlesess the bane of youth was quite excluded, To labour and to be vertuous was their onlie care. His servants he would in no case suf. fer to be idle; for he would say 'large food and rest bring diseases both to bodie and mande. Vol. ii. pp. 133, 134. "He conversed with his children in most loving manner. He would talk with them of the joyes of heaven, and the pains of hell; the lives of the holy martyrs, of their pa not like to fall unto him. If his wife, or auie of his children were sike or diseased, he would say unto them, We may not look at our pleasures to go to heaven in featherbeds, and with full bellies; it is not the way; for our Saviour himself went thither with great paine and tribulation; and the crosse was the path wherein he walked, leaving us an example to followe his stepps. The servant is not to look to be in better case than his Master. Be of good comfort, and be patient; for this sickness is sent you of God to purchase you heaven.' He would tell them the means to attain to this vertue, or to that; and to flie or shunn this vice, or some other; and as speculatively, so practicallie taught them to embrace vertue, and speciallie humilitie." Vol. ii. pp. 135, 136. "Towards his father he gave many proofes of his natural affection and lowlie minde. Whensoever he passed through Westminster Hall to his place in the Chancerie by the Court of the King's Bench, if his father who sat there as judge, had been set downe ere he came, he would goe to him, and reverently kneeling downe in sight of all aske him bles sing. In his death-bed he often came to visite him, and gave him most comfortable words, and procured all helpes both for bodie and soule, that in such cases be requisite. After his departure out of this world, with sighes and teares taikinge him about the necke he kissed and imbraced him, and commending his soul into the hands of his Creator caused many good prayers to be said for his soules ease." Vol. ii. pp. 89, 90. "There was nothing in the world that more pleased and comforted him, than when he had done some good deed to other inen; of whom some he relieved with his money, some by his authoritie, some by his good worde, some with his good counsail. Never was there anie man that sought relief and help at his hands, that went not from him cheerful. For he was, as a man may say, the publique patroue of the poore, and thought he had procured himself a great benefit or treasure, as often as he could by his coun sail or other wise, pleasure and case the mind of anie man in anie difficult matter, either ghostlie or bodilie; or if he could pacifie any that were at variance and debate. He would before he was Chancellour goe by obscure places and lanes, and give his almes verie liberallie, not by the pennie or half pennie, but sometymes five, ten, twenty, thirty, forty shillings, according to everie ones necessitie. He often invited his poore neighbours to his table, and would be merrie and pleasant with them. But those that were riche and of wealthe seldom were invited. In Chelsey he hired a house for lame, poore and old men, and kept them at bed and at borde, at his owne cost and charges." Vol. ii. p. 85. We shall conclude our extracts with a short account of some of his writings. "But the booke that carrieth the prize above all his other workes for eloquence, invention, and matter, is his Utopia; which he wrote about the thirty third yeare of his age. In it he painteth the patterne and platforme of a most perfect commonweale, making it to be one of the new found lands. The invention was so wittiely contrived, that they thought there had been such a countrie indeed; and of their fervent zeale wished that some divines might be sent thither to instruct them in the faith of Christ. This booke for the excellencie of it, is translated into the French, Flemish, and Italian tongues, with a good grace; but into English absurdly and lamely. After this he made another book, but in another kinde, against Luther. Of this we spake before. The matter was grave and substantial; the manner fit for the author of such filth as Luther. in his book to the king shewed himself." Vol. ii. p. 116. "After all this, being prisoner in the Tower he wrote three bookes of Comfort in Tribulation, a booke not inferior to any of the rest. There is nothing in it but religion and piety; it is full of ghostlie and leavenlie counsaile. It is a work rather of an angel than of a man; for he was destitute of all bookes and human helps when he wrote it; ho was close prisoner, and had neither inke nor pen for the most part, but onlie a cole. Although his penn was blunt and dull, and but a blacke cole, yet he had another cole that inflamed his heart, such as toucht and purified the lips of Esay; and by the help of this sacred cole, that counsaile, which he gave to others in his bookes he practised himself in patient suffering the losse of his landes, goods, and life too, for the defence of justice." Vol. ii. p. 117. Were the life of Sir Thomas More to be written by a Protestant, there The was neces of human nature! that one of the best and wisest men of his age should have thus furthered the views of the worst; and that the name of More is to be registered in the same catalogue with such firebrands as Langland and Stokesley! It must not, however, be forgotten, that the errors of More were, in some degree, the errors of the age. In those days it was deemed a meritorious act, by whatever means, to extirpate heresy. The principles of popery continued to act after the supremacy of the pope was annulled; and nearly through the whole of this bloody and tyrannical reign, uniformity of opinion was considered as an object worthy of any sacrifice. If the burning of Servetus was approved by the gentle Melancthon, we can not refuse to More that portion of exculpation which arises from the general feelings and manners of the times. His faults were those of the Roman Catholic religion and of a bigoted age: his virtues were his own: and it were well if those, who in a more enlightened period justly condemn the errors of this great man, would imitate his many excellencies; and propose for their own example his faithful discharge of the social duties, his regard for the glory of God, his equanimity under sufferngs, and his tranquillity in death. The copious extracts, which have now been presented, will enable our readers to decide for themselves on the nature and the merits of the work before us; and will supply the place of the recommendation which we wish to give. It would afford us pleasure to follow Dr. Wordsworth through the whole of bis selection; and especially to trace the progress of the reformed religion during those dark and turbulent periods, which consigned so many martyrs to the flames, and cemented the towers of the church of England by the blood of her saints, But we must be content with refer ring to the work itself. The gratification which we have ourselves denved from the perusal, leaves us nothing to wish, but that the selection had been more copious; and if the opportunities which Dr. Wordsworth enjoys should enable him to add to the list, we have no doubt that the reception of these volumes will afford him sufficient encouragement. The extent of research, which we find in the notes, cannot fail to have supplied him with much valuable matter; and we part with him for the present, not without the hope of meeting him again in the same department of literature. In expressing our wish for a more copious selection, we would by no means be understood to insinuate that this publication is defective by the omission of any life of importance. The attentive reader will obtain from it some knowledge of ecclesiastical matters during the period which it comprises. Neither is there any danger of falling into material error from the partiality of a friendly biographer: where cases of this sort arise, the notes will serve to correct the text and to prevent misconception. Dr. Wordsworth has not confined himself to the worthies of the Establishment: yet we are much deceived, if any man can peruse these volumes, without feeling his heart warmed with attachment to our venerable church. In the darkest and most disastrous periods, she has been the great bulwark of religion; and to her, by the blessing of God, we are indebted, not merely for the knowledge. of divine truth which prevails in these lands, but, we had almost said, even for the existence of the protestant faith. Through much tribulation has she held her way. Kings, indeed, have been her nurs ing fathers, and queens her nursing mothers; but royalty itself could afford her no security against fanaticism and rebellion. Of many among her sons the world was not worthy: but neither did the world receive them. Like the confessors of old, they too were destitute, afflicted, tormented; compelled to wander in sadness upon a foreign shore, or to pour their hearts' blood in the cause of the land they loved, and of the very wretches who doomed them to the stake. The days of persecution are, we trust, gone by for ever; but even in tranquillity there is danger. It is not upon the church of England, merely as a national establishment, that we look with veneration; but considering her especially as the safeguard and depository of evangelical truth, we would earnestly contend for the purity of her doctrines and the authority of her creeds. Should the period ever arrive, when her articles are to be refined and subtilized into a mere system of ethics; when the plain and simple truths of the Gospel, as contained in her liturgy and her homilies, are to be distilled away; when opprobrious names are to stigmatise a conscientious adherence to her faith, let her friends be doubly on their guard. To the blessing of Heaven she owes her preservation, for her cause is the cause of Heaven but with what confidence can we anticipate protection, if we abandon our principles? The churches of Asia were once the delight of the Most High, and the praise of the earth; but they were unfaithful to their privileges, and experienced, in utter desolation, the reward of their folly. It was no argument in their favour, that, whilst they possessed a form of religion, the nations around them were immersed in superstition: neither will it be any argument for us, if we abandon the essential doctrines of the Gospel, that other countries are more deeply involved in guilt than ourselves. Where much has been given, much will be required: if the churches of Asia were rejected and disowned, by what right shall we expect, under similar circumstances, a milder doom? "Where all Of wrath obnoxious, God may choose his mark: LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL INTELLIGENCE, &c. &c. GREAT BRITAIN. In the press: The Asiatic Annual Register for 1808;-Disquisitions on the History of Medicine, by Dr. Millar of Glasgow;-A Narrative of all proceedings relative to the Researches at Herculaneum, by the Rev. Mr. Hayter; and, A new edition of the Sermons of Bishop Sandys, with a Life, and Notes by Dr. Whitaker. Preparing for publication: Detached Remarks, on a Refutation of Calvinism, by the Right Rev. George Toulmine, D. D. Lord Bishop of Lincoln, and Dean of St. Paul's;" by Thomas Scott, Rector of Aston Sandford, Bucks ;-Sixty-six Plates, containing exterior and interior Views of Westminster Abbey, to be published in numbers, and by subscription, by Mr. Ackerman; the designs by Messrs. Huett, Pugin, and Mackenzie;-A work on the mechanical ex ercises of Carpentery, Joinery, Bricklaying' Masonry, Turnery, &c., with Plates of the Tools used, by Mr. P. Nicholson;-A Report of the late Mr. Fox's Speeches in Parliament, from 1768 to 1806;-Sketches of Part of Spain, Majorca, Minorca, Sardinia, Sicily, and Malta, in 1809 and 1810, by Sir. J. Carr;-and, Illustrations of Gertrude of Wyoming, and of the Lady of the Lake, painted by Mr. Cooke. The greater part of the edition of the late Rev. Richard Cecil's Works, now in the press, in 4 vols. 8vo. having been bespoke by his friends, but a limited part, if any of it, will remain for sale through the booksellers. Such persons, therefore, as may wish to benefit his family by taking copies, are requested to forward their names imme diately, if they have not already done it, to the Rev. Josiah Pratt, Doughty Street, London. The edition will appear in April or May, and the price will be raised on any copies which may then remain for sale. Early in the ensuing Lent will be pubWished, in 1 vol. 8vo., Meditations and Contemplations on the sufferings of Christ: by J. Rambach, D. D., late of the university of Gressen: a new, abridged, and corrected edition of the work, as first translated from the German, with a recommendatory preface, by the Rev. W. Richardson, of York. Mr. Walker, the editor of Dr. Rippon's Tane Book, will shortly publish a companion to that work, in a volume of the same size. It will consist of nearly sixty measures, adapted to Watt's, Rippon's, Huntingdon's, and other hymns, with set pieces figured for the organ, Scc.; forming an amusing and instructive collection for the lovers of sacred music. The following subjects are proposed for the Chancellor's prizes at Oxford for the ensuing year: viz.-for Latin verses, Herculaneum; for an English Essay, Funeral and Sepulchral Honours; for a Latin Essay, De, Stuli Ciceroniani, in diversa materie, varietate; and for Sir R. Newdigate's prize for English verse, The Parthenon. The subjects for Sir W. Browne's gold medals for the present year, at Cambridge, are; for the Greek ode, In Obitum illustrisime Principissa Amelia; for the Latin Ode, Proelium cum Gallis in Buzaci montibus cmmistum; for the Epigram, Horyny xaigion. ἡ λόγον ωφέλιμον. The Pantheon has been converted into an insitution for exhibiting the improvements ta the manufactures of the United Kingdom, and in the arts connected with them. It will exhibit all that Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, &c. &c. supply, and will preserve a register of every manufacturer in the United Kingdom. A large room is appropriated to subscribers, where newspapers of all kinds are taken. There is also a Lbrary, containing books of reference, &c. A vein of fine coal, of the kind called Kendal coal, has been found on the banks of the stream dividing Heathfield and Waldron parishes, in the county of Sussex. It extends about a quarter of a mile in length, and is from two to ten inches thick. The last accounts from the Colony of New South Wales, afford the following statatical information. There are in the coiday 6882 acres of wheat, 3400 acres of raize, 534 acres of barley, 93 acres of oats, 100 acres of peas and beans, 300 acres of potatoes, 13 acres of turnips, 550 acres of Archard and garden, 35 acres of flax, hemp, NEWFOUNDLAND. It is with peculiar pleasure we insert the following proclamation of Admiral Holloway, the governor of Newfoundland. "It having been represented to me, that various acts of violence and inhuman cruelties have been at different times committed upon the bodies of the Indians, the original inhabitants of this island, residing in the interior parts thereof, by some of the people employed as furriers, or otherwise, contrary to every principle of religion and humanity, and in direct violation of his Majesty's mild and beneficent instructions to me, respecting this poor defenceless tribe; I hereby issue this my proclamation, warning all persons whatsoever from being guilty of any act of cruelty violence, outrage, or robbery against them: and if any person shall be found, after this proclamation to act in violation of it, they will be punished to the utmost rigour of the law, the same as if it had been committed against myself, or any other of his Majesty's subjects. And all those who have any intercourse or trade with the said Indians, are hereby earnestly entreated to conduct themselves with peaceableness and mildness towards them; and use their utmost endeavours to live in kindness and friendship with them, that they may be conciliated, and induced to come among us as brethren, when the public, as well as themselves, will be benefited by their being brought to a state of civilization, social order, and to a blessed knowledge of the Christian faith. And I hereby offer a reward of Fifty Pounds to such person or persons, as shall be able to persuade any of the male tribe of native Indians to attend them to the town of St. John's, as also the expences attending their journey or passage, "Given under my hand, at Fort Townshend, St. John's, Newfoundland, 30th July, 1807." (Signed) "JOHN HOLLOWAY." NORTH AMERICA. On Tuesday, the 30th of January last, at two o'clock p.m. there was a fall of meteoric stones in Caswell county, New Connecticut. ? North |
