nication of his notions to his friends, they became so fixed in his memory, that he was afterward able readily to deliver them in a well-formed discourse, and was wont, as often as he had occasion to express himself in public, (especially in those college-exercises which they call common-places) to make use of the forementioned discourses, which, with a little labour, he could put into an apt form. Some of which are those excellent Diatriba, which, with the rest of his works, are published for the common benefit of the church; which, though but few in comparison of that great store wherewith so rich a magazine was furnished, yet even in those few, he hath discovered more rare pieces of recondite learning, than are to be found in some vast volumes of many much admired authors.

Concerning which Diatribe, this is fit to be advertised, that though there are in some of them several things of a strain that transcends the capacities of common readers; yet it would be a great mistake, for that reason, to suspect this worthy person as guilty of ostentation or affectedness. For as they were academical exercises, and not fitted for a vulgar audience, so he himself was of all knowing men the greatest hater of that vanity. He always disapproved the unnecessary quotations of authors, and the use of foreign languages and terms of art, in popular sermons; and, in expressing his dislike of such practices, would sometimes say," that they savoured of as "much inconsiderateness, as if shoemakers should bring "shoes to be drawn on with their lasts in them:" Judging it a scarce pardonable folly for men, going about the instruction of the ignorant, to propound things in such terms as themselves understood not, till they had spent many years at the school or university; and which, how significant soever in themselves, and to the learned, yet were but as so many stumbling blocks to common auditors, or at best but as stiles, which though some might probably leap over, yet they interrupted the progress of their attention.

Nay, to give this excellent person his just right, he was so far from the vanity of ostentation, that it is hard to say, whether he was more eminent for his rare know ledge, or for his singular humility and modesty in valuing his own abilities; insomuch, as he could not, without trouble, hear of that great opinion and esteem which some (deservedly enough) had conceived of his great learning: He owning only some diligence, freedom from prejudice

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prejudice and studium partium, as his best abilities; as himself hath excellently expressed in a letter of his to his friend Mr. Hartlib. To which may be added, that having received some notices of the great value which some learned men both at home, and in a foreign university, put upon his apocalyptic labours, he made only this modest return to a friend, who, perhaps, thought he might highly please him with that news, "that he saw no great cause, for all that, why he should think "much better of himself; adding withal, that he had "frequently observed it to be the hap of many a book, "that had little or no worth in it, to find applause in the "world, when, in the mean while, a well-deserving book "is scarce taken notice of." So far was this good man from all proud self-reflections, from glorying in his wisdom and strength of parts, or in any performance of his own.

To omit many other instances of his humility, (for his life was full of them) we shall add the little desire which he had to academical honours, or to great preferments and worldly advantages. For the former, this may not unfitly be here remembered, that he was studiously regardless of academical degrees, as being unwilling to make any great noise and report in the world: And, but that he was overpowered to do it by the then master of the college, he had never so far proceeded as to have been bachelor in divinity, which he became in the year 1618. A master of arts he was, and a great master too, before he was called; but more than so to be, he affected not. An argument, that that grace was eminent in him, wherein others most commonly are too short and defective. And for the latter, how far he was from any ambitious and eager pursuing the advantages and great things of this world, appeared by his refusing an offer made him by his uncle, and another by the then bishop of Ely (which we intimated before); so likewise by his modest denial of the provostship of Trinity college near Dublin in Ireland, to which he was elected upon the recommendation of another great prelate, Usher, then Archbishop of Armagh, and by his unwillingness the second time to accept of it, when he was in danger to be put into that preferment. The height of his ambition was, only to have had some small donative sine cura made additional to his fellowship, or to have been placed in some collegiate church or rural college: Some such place of quiet retirement from the noise and tumults of the world, with a competency moderated

moderated by Agur's wish, (neither poverty nor riches) was the top and utmost of his desires. And yet, when he spake thus, he would add, "not that he should be "restless, or discontented, till he could obtain some "such thing; but to shew what kind of life he did "affect, and in how low an orb of this world's prefer"ments he would have been content to be placed." This sense of his mind is clearly expressed by himself in a letter of his to a worthy friend, (written upon occasion of certain ungrounded conjectures made by some, upon his being by the then Archbishop of Canterbury admitted into the number of his chaplains) in which he affirms, "That he lived, till the best of his time was spent, in "tranquillity and retirement: And now, that there is

but a little left, should I (saith he) be so unwise "(suppose there were nothing less) as to enter now into 86 a tumultuous life, where I should not have time to "think my own thoughts, and must of necessity displease others or myself? Those who think so, know "not my disposition in this kind to be as averse, as some perhaps would be ambitious."

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This inward sense of his soul (which was his most deliberate choice) did not arise from any melancholy, or sour discontent upon some great disappointment, (for he, that had no great ambitions, could have no great disappointments) nor did it spring out of a fond and over-dear affection to privacy, or from an unfitness for business, and converse with the world (the property of some who are styled mere scholars): For his colleagues, and others, who had the happiness to be acquainted with him, knew him to be a person of singular prudence, and admirable abilities, both for giving pertinent directions and advice in any important case as a friend, and for managing of college affairs as a fellow, and for discharge of his particular trust as tutor. He was wont, indeed, to call his study his cell; but not as if he meant (according to the lazy and useless monastic way of life) to immure and shut up himself there from converse with others. He was far from affecting such an unprofitable, inactive solitude: For none was more free and open for converse, especially with ingenuous and inquiring scholars. Let who would repair to him, provided they were not captious and impertinent, he would give them their fill of discourse, and enlarge to ample satisfaction; yea, he would farther take the pains, if so much were desired, to give his full

mind in writing; even himself would do it without the help of an amanuensis.

There is one thing more to this purpose, which here offers itself to be considered, that though our Author loved a retired studious life, yet his thoughts were not shut up within his cell; but his soul covered the whole earth; (to borrow that expression of Siracides concerning Solomon) his heart was as large and wide as the universe. He so lived, and was affected, as became a citizen of the world: More especially, as became a Christian and a member of the catholic church, his thoughts and cares were particularly concerned in the affairs of Christendom. And accordingly, for the gaining of foreign intelligence (besides his letters from some knowing friends, with whom he kept correspondence) he was not unwilling to expend yearly something out of his small incomes: And when he sent to such as were at charge to furnish him (weekly for the most part) with intelligence, he used in his letters to them to call it his tribute (that was his word, implying his ingenuity, and withal his respect; not wages, or any the like word of a mercenary or servile signification): And to one of them, he was pleased once pleasantly to say, "I am neither dean nor bishop; but thus much I am "willing to set apart, to know how the world goes: "Adding, that if it were with him, as it is with some, "(whose incomes were greater, and who wanted neither "riches nor honour, but a good heart, and the power to "do good with them in the world) he should do a great "deal more than he did ;" as numbering the affairs of Christendom amongst his best concernments, and the gaining a more particular acquaintance therewith (by helping to maintain correspondencies among learned and wise men in distant countries) amongst the best uses he could make of that estate which God had given him.

But that which added no small lustre to our Author's character, was, his prudent moderation in the declaration or defence of his private opinions. He was never forward in any company to catch at hints of discourse, or to take any other occasion to reveal his particular judgment: So far was he from the temper of those men, who being puffed up (it may be) with a small knowledge, account it nothing to know, unless others know that they do; who must talk or burst, not so much for benefit to others, as to disperse and publish their own praise. He knew there was a time to speak, and a time to keep

silence;

silence; and he knew how to do both.

There is that

keepeth silence, (saith Siracides) knowing his time: So did he. It was a frequent proverbial saying of our Author's," he that cannot hold his tongue, can hold "nothing" and he practised accordingly. Not that he was a niggard of his notions, or backward to impart to others, what himself knew (for he was most communicative, both of his notes and notions), but he prudently considered the character of the persons then in presence, and the temper of the times: Nor did he neglect to follow that other maxim of the son of Sirach, in a more improved sense, Shew not forth wisdom out ⚫ of time.' He was always more modest and sober than to prostitute his thoughts to unworthy persons; which were to cast pearls before swine: But if any were seriously desirous to be informed, and seemed out of no ill design to ask his opinion, to such he was not unwilling to communicate his inward sentiments privately. Otherwise, our Author was well content, and satisfied without even these private communications, not caring to impart any of his peculiar notions, but (as he would say) "where he found some appetite;" nor would he offer them, and try whether they had a stomach, but they themselves must discover it; much less would he go about (as he said) to cram them. So far was he from being obtrusive unto any, that even some of familiar acquaintance with him (he professed) knew as little of his notions, as any stranger whatsoever.

Nor did his modesty and good temper less appear in the defence of his private opinions: For he would not be offended with others who were not of his mind, nor eagerly contend with those who differed from him, having resolved never to abandon Love, in the prosecution of Truth. "I never found myself prone to

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change my hearty affections to any one for mere "difference in opinion," was a worthy return of his to one, who opposed him with more heat than needed. And therefore, only as occasion required, having fairly propounded his judgment, and the reasons of it, he ingenuously left every man to judge for himself, without expressing the least ambitious zeal to win others to his opinion. To this purpose, he expressed himself to a tenacious person he had once to deal with, one that would be always replying, having found out some shift or other that must go for an answer; "It is sufficient (said he) "for a man to propound his opinion with the strongest

evidence