withstanding, he civilly refused, as valuing the liberty of his studies above any hopes of preferment, and esteeming that freedom which he enjoyed in his cell (as he used cheerfully to term it) as the haven of all his wishes.

And indeed, these thoughts had possessed him betimes. For, when he was a school-boy, being sent by his uncle, Mr. Richard Mede, a merchant, who being at that time without children, offered to adopt him for his son, if he would live with him, he accepted not the proffer, but shewed early, that no worldly amusement was sufficient to entice him from his studies. He chose the more solitary way of knowledge, rather than the so much beaten and frequented way of wealth; and made as much haste in his study to become a more than ordinary knowing and learned man, as others abroad in the world do to be rich even to abundance.

Wherefore, divine providence being favourable to his design, that he might have a fair opportunity to perfect his own accomplishments, and be the better enabled to promote the good of others, and eminently approve himself the servant of Christ, he was chosen fellow of Christ's college; and to the service of Christ, his gracious Master, he seriously devoted his best studies and endeavours. The fellowship, into which he was elected, was that of King Edward's foundation, and therein he was successor to Mr. Hugh Broughton, and Mr. Dillingham, both of them famous for Hebrew learning. This place was supernumerary to the institution of the foundress, the lady Margaret: A society of divines she intended it, and, by a master and twelve fellows, alluded to Christ and his college of apostles. Which conceit (as some thought) was intentionally spoiled by the addition of that supernumerary fellowship, but however, gave occasion of an ill-placed jest against Mr. Mede at his election; one opposite to his admission venting this piece of wit, without either civility or judgment, We are twelve of the foundation, and there (said he, pointing to Mr. Mede) sits the odd fellow.' Which conceit could have no true sense as touching the quality and character of Mr. Mede, unless by odd, had been meant singular, and that for piety and learning; which eminencies could not make him less eligible, according to the statute.

It is very little to the credit of his college, that such a man should need all the patronage of bishop Andrews to ensure his election: And it is a melancholy proof of the narrow intolerant spirit of arminianism (that cousin

german

german of popery) which began about that time to appear at court and college, that it could reject so pious and profound a scholar as Mr. Mede, only because it was supposed," he looked too much towards Geneva ;" or, in other words, was too rigid a church of England man, in maintaining the most important doctrines of her articles and homilies.

Being thus chosen fellow of the college, he was not long after made reader of the Greek lecture of Sir Walter Mildmay's foundation, and held it all his life-time: Which rendered that tongue, as also several others, very familiar to him. For his constant reading Homer, did not only make him perfect in that author, but he being a diligent collator of the Greek with the Hebrew, Chaldee, and Syriac, acquainted himself familiarly with the idioms of all those languages at once. He had, besides, made a collection of such Greek, Latin and English words, as he had observed to have a near sense and like sound with the Hebrew. By which means, as he made the language more familiar to him, so he consulted the pleasure and advantage of his friends; being from this store furnished with what might render his converse more acceptable to them, in whose contentment he had a true satisfaction.

He

preserved his knowledge in academical learning, by the private lectures which he read to his pupils, to whom he was an able and faithful guide. For, being a fellow of a college, he esteemed it a part of his duty to further the education of young scholars, which made him undertake the careful charge of a tutor: And this he managed with great prudence, and equal diligence. After he had, by daily lectures, well grounded his pupils in humanity, logic, and philosophy, and by frequent converse understood to what particular studies their parts might be most profitably applied, he gave them his advice accordingly: And when they were able to go alone, he chose rather to set every one his daily task, than constantly to confine himself and them to precise hours for lectures. In the evening, they all came to his chamber to satisfy him, that they had performed the task he had set them. The first question, which he used to propound to every one in his order, was, Quid dubitas? What doubts have you met with in your studies to day? (For he supposed, that to doubt nothing, and to understand nothing, were much alike.) Their doubts being propounded, he resolved their quæres, and so set them upon clear ground,

to

to proceed more distinctly. And then, having by prayer, commended them and their studies to God's protection and blessing, he dismissed them to their lodgings. Thus carefully did he discharge the trust of a tutor; though he well knew, and was used to say, "That the office of "training up young scholars in the university, proved "oftentimes but a thankless business." In short, he was not for a soft and easy, self-pleasing, course of life; but was most willing to spend himself in a laborious endeavouring the best improvement (not of himself only, but) of others, those especially committed to his care.

He so entirely devoted himself to the study of all excellent knowledge, that he made even the time, which he spent in his recreation, serviceable to his design. He allowed himself little or no exercise but walking: And oftentimes, when he and others were walking in the fields, or in the college-garden, he would take occasion to speak of the beauty, signatures, useful virtues, and properties of the plants then in view. For he was a curious florist, an accurate herbalist, thoroughly versed in the book of nature; not unseen in any kind of ingenuous knowledge, such especially as were both for delight and use. chief delight which he took in company was to discourse with learned friends; particularly, for several years he set apart some of his hours to spend them in the conversation of his worthy friend Mr. William Chapple, (afterward provost of Trinity college near Dublin in Ireland, and bishop of Cork and Ross) who was justly esteemed a rich magazine of rational learning, and who again did as highly value the interest he had in Mr. Mede, and the singular advantage of his converse.

The

In his retirement to his private studies, he employed himself principally in a curious inquiry into the most abstruse parts of learning, and endeavoured for the knowledge of those things, which were more remote from the vulgar track.

Among other things, he spent no small pains (in his younger years) in sounding the depths of astrology, and much paper he blotted in calculating the nativities of his near relations and fellow-students. That which he thought himself to have found, by all his search, was only this," That the celestial luminaries, having an

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unquestionable influence upon all sublunary bodies, in "the like position of the heavens, may reasonably be "thought to have a similitude in their operation, and "thereby to cause a sympathy in things produced under

"like constellations, and an antipathy under different. "But this not extending farther than a natural inclina❝tion, and being in men alterable by custom, education, and infinite external impediments, he judged it not (without extreme vanity) to be presumed upon as "any infallible ground of prediction of future actions; especially in such things wherein men, acting out of "choice, run counter many times to their natural incli"nations."

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But, leaving the pursuit of astrology, he applied himself to the more useful study of history and antiquities, particularly to a curious inquiry into those mysterious sciences, which made the antient Chaldeans, Egyptians, and other nations so famous; tracing them, as far as he could have any light to guide him, in their oriental schemes and figurative expressions, as likewise in their hieroglyphics; not forgetting to inquire also into the oneirocritics of the antients. Which he did the rather, because of that affinity he conceived they might have with the language of the prophets, to the understanding of whom he shewed a most ardent desire. His humanity studies, and mathematical labours, were but initial things, which he made attendants to the mysteries of divinity: And though they were preparatives, as he could use them, yet they were but at a distance off, and more remote to his aim: for he had more work to do, before he could be master of his design. A well-furnished divine is compounded of more ingredients than one. For histories of all sorts, but those especially which concern the church of GoD, must be studied and well known: And therefore he made his way by the knowledge of all histories, general, national, antient and modern, sacred and secular. He was a curious and laborious searcher of antiquities relating to religion, Heathen, Jewish, Christian and Mahometan! The fruits of which studious diligence appear visibly in several of those excellent Treatises, which have passed the press.

To histories he added those necessary attendants, which, to the knowledge of the more difficult Scriptures, must never be wanting, viz. "An accurate understand"ing of the ichnography of the tabernacle and temple, "the order of the service of GOD therein performed, as also the city of Jerusalem, together with an exact topography of the Holy Land; besides other Jewish antiquities, Scripture-chronology, and the exact cal"culation of times, so far especially, as made for the

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"solving

"solving or clearing of those difficulties and obscure "passages that occur in the historical part of Scripture, "which the vulgar chronologers have perplexed, and "the best not fully freed from scruple." And how great his abilities were for the sacred chronology, may appear (to omit other proofs) from that clause in a letter of the learned Usher, then Archbishop of Armagh, to him; I have entered upon the determination of the controversies which concern the chronology of the sacred Scripture, wherein I shall in many places need your help.'

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By the fruit of these studies, particularly by his happy labours upon the Apocalypse and prophetical Scriptures, what honour our Author purchased abroad (besides what he gained at home) among men studious in this way, and therefore capable of judging, is evident by the many letters sent him from learned men in several parts, expressing their own and others high esteem of his writings: Insomuch, that those who have never seen him, gave him this high elogy, That for explaining of Scripturedifficulties, he was to be reckoned among the best in 'the world.' Which was agreeable to what the learned Mr. Alsop spake of him in his funeral commemoration before the university, That if he had been encouraged to write upon the more difficult places of holy writ, and that Gop, in mercy to the world, had been pleased tó lengthen out his days, assuredly he would have outgone any author then extant, and probably would have given light to some hard places of Scripture, which now remain in the dark, and unexplained till the last day of judgment.'

As these various and useful accomplishments made his company very desirable to scholars; so the goodness of his disposition made him equally communicative, and free to impart his knowledge to those who came to him, either out of the same university, or from abroad. To these he used to impart himself with that willingness, that it seemed questionable, who had the greater desire, they to hear, or he to communicate his studies to them: Which made a familiar friend of his once merrily say to one that, having been partaker of his discourse, gave him thanks, That he might spare his thanks; for that they were not so much beholden to him for delivering himself to them, as he was to them for hearing him. For this great advantage he made himself of the civility which he shewed to others, that, by the commu

nication,