< talk but with both their hats on, or both off at the same time; and to this may be added, that though he was • not purblind, yet he was short, or weak-sighted; and where he fixt his eyes at the beginning of his sermon, there they continued till it was ended; and the reader has a liberty to believe that his modesty and dim-sight were some of the reasons why he trusted Mrs Churchman to choose a wife for him.

Mr Hooker here gave a holy valediction to all the allurements of earth; possessing his soul in a virtuous quietness, which he maintained by constant study, prayers, and meditations His use was to preach once every Sunday, and he or his curate to catechise after the ⚫ second lesson in the evening prayer: His sermons were • neither long nor earnest, but uttered with a grave zeal, and an humble voice: His eyes always fixt on one place, to prevent his imagination from wandering; insomuch, that he seemed to study as he spake; the design of his < sermons (as indeed of all his discourses) was to shew • reasons for what he spake: And with these reasons such a kind of rhetoric, as did rather convince and persuade, than frighten men. Studying not so much for matter, (which he never wanted) as for apt itlustration, to in• form, and reach his unlearned hearers by familiar examples, and then make them better by convincing applications; never labouring by hard words, and then by • needless distinctions and subdistinctions to amuse his hearers, and get glory to himself: But glory only to God. Which intention he would often say, «discernable in a preacher, as an artificial from a natural beauty."

66 was as

He never failed on the Sunday before every Emberweek, to give notice of it to his parishioners, persuading them both to fast, and then to double their devo◄tions, for a learned and pious clergy, but especially for the last; saying often, That the life of a pious clergyman was visible rhetoric, and so convincing, that the most godless men (though they would not deny << themselves the enjoyment of their present lusts) did yet secretly wish themselves like those of the strictest lives." And to what he persuaded others, he added his own example of fasting and prayer; and did usually every Ember week, take from the parish clerk the key of the church door; into which place he retired every day, • and locked himself up for many hours; and did the like most Fridays, and other days of fasting.

‹ And

And as he was watchful and charitable to the sick, so he was as diligent to prevent law-suits; still urging his parishioners and neighbours, to bear with each others • infirmities, and live in love, because (as St John says) He that lives in love, lives in God, for God is love.

And

to maintain this holy fire of love constantly burning, his advice was to watch and pray, and always keep. themselves in a disposition to receive the communion, and then to receive it often; for it was both a confirm-. ing, and a strengthening of their graces. This was his advice; and at his entrance or departure out of any house, he would usually speak to the whole family, and bless them by name; insomuch, that as he seemed in his youth to be taught of God, so he seemed in this place to teach his precepts, as Enoch did by his walking with him, in all holiness and humility; making each day a step towards a blessed eternity. And though in this weak and declining age of the world, such examples are become barren, and almost incredible; yet let his memory be blest with this true recordation, because he that praises Richard Hooker, praises God, who hath given such gifts to men; and let this humble and af<fectio nate relation of him, become such a pattern as may invite posterity to imitate his virtues."

Mr Walton goes on to inform us, that In the year 1600, and the forty sixth year of his age, he fell into a long and sharp sickness, occasioned by a cold taken in his passage betwixt London and Gravesend, from the malignity of which he never recovered; for, till his death, he was not free from thoughtful days, and restless nights; but a submission to God's will, who makes the sick man's bed easy, by giving rest to his soul, made his very languishment very comfortable: And yet all this time he was solicitous in his study, and said often to Dr Saravia, (who saw him daily, and was the chief comfort of his life), "That he did not beg a long life "of God for any other reason, but to live to finish his "three remaining books of POLITY; and then, Lord, let thy servant depart in peace; which was his usual expr Ssion. And God heard his prayers, though he denied he benefit of them as completed by himself; and it is thought he hastened his own death, by hastening to give life to his books. But this is certain, that the nearer he was to his death, the more he grew in humility, in holy thoughts. and resolutions.

• Abcut

About a month before his death, this good man, that never knew, or at least, never considered the pleasures of the palate, became first to lose his appetite, and then to have an averseness to all food; insomuch, that he ‹ seemed to live some intermitted weeks by the smell of meat only; and yet still studied and writ. And now

every thing about him seemed to tell him, that his years <were past away as a shadow, bidding him prepare to follow the generation of his fathers, for the day of his dissolution drew near; for which his soul appeared to thirst.

In this time of his sickness, and not many days before. his death, his house was robbed; of which, he having notice, his question was, "Are my books and written papers safe?" and being answered, that they were. His <reply was, "Then it matters not; for no other loss can

trouble me."

About one day before his death, Dr Saravia, who knew the very secrets of his soul (for they were supposed to be confessors to each other) came to him, and after a conference of the benefit, and safety of the church's absolution, it was resolved the doctor should give him both that and the sacrament the day follow<ing. To which end the doctor came, and, after a short retirement and privacy, they returned to the company; and then the doctor gave him, and some of those friends that were with him, the blessed sacrament of the body and blood of our Lord. Which being performed, the doctor thought he saw a reverend gaity and joy in his face; but it lasted not long; for his bodily infirmities did return suddenly, and became more visible, insomuch, that the doctor apprehended death ready to seize him: Yet, after some amendment, left him at night, with a promise to return early the day following, which he did, and then found him better in appearance, deep in contemplation, and not inclinable to discourse; which gave the doctor occasion to require his present thoughts: To which he replied, "That he was meditating the number and nature of angels, and their blessed obedience and order, without which, peace "could not be in heaven; and oh! that it might be so on earth!" after which words, he said, "I have lived to "see, that this world is made up of perturbations; and I have been long preparing to leave it, and gathering comfort for the dreadful hour of making my account with God, which I now apprehend to be near: And

"though

though I have by his grace loved him in my youth, " and feared him in mine age, and laboured to have a "conscience void of offence to him, and to all men,

yet if thou, O Lord, be extreme to mark what I have "done amiss, who can abide it? And therefore, where "I have failed, Lord shew mercy to me; for I plead not my righteousness, but the forgiveness of my unrighte"ousness, for HIS merits who died to purchase a pardon "for penitent sinners. And since I owe thee a death; "Lord, let it not be terrible; and then take thine own "time, I submit to it: Let not mine, O Lord, but let thy "quill be done with which expression he fell into a dangerous slumber, dangerous as to his recovery; yet recover he did, but it was to speak only these few words, "Good doctor, God hath heard my daily petitions; for "I am at peace with all men, and he is at peace with "me; and from which blessed assurance I feel that in"ward joy, which this world can neither give nor take "from me." More he would have spoken, but his spirits failed him; and after a short conflict betwixt nature and death, a quiet sigh put a period to his last • breath, and so he fell asleep."

Thus departed this modest, humble, and candid man to the inheritance of the saints in light, where the most lowly are the most highly exalted. He appears, from what remains of him, rather to be considered as an Author than a Preacher; as one of the calm and retired, than of the active and popular. He seems not to have cared, so that he possessed grace, holiness, and knowledge, who enjoyed all the world beside; considering very justly, that these are treasures, and lead to treasures, which can never perish, but which shall enrich and chear the soul to all eternity.

In his will, which was dated October 26, 1600, he made his wife Joan sole executrix. By an inventory, his estate, which chiefly consisted in books, amounted to about one thousand pounds, which (says Walton), was much more than he thought himself worth, and which was not gotten by his care, much less by the good housewifery of his wife, but saved by his trusty servant Thomas Lane, who was wiser than his master in getting money for him, and more frugal than his mistress in keeping it.' This precious wife married again immediately after his decease, but she lived not long enough to report the difference of her second marriage, for which doubt.

less

less she would have found cause, if there had been but four months between Mr Hooker's and her death.

Whatever stress and value Mr Hooker himself might put upon his books of "Ecclesiastical Polity," he could not put a greater upon them, than almost every body else has done. They have been admired for the soundness of reasoning which runs through them, and the prodigious extent of learning they every where discover: And the Author has universally acquired from them the honourable titles of the JUDICIOUS' and the LEARNED.' When K. James I. came out of Scotland, and ascended the throne of England, he is said to have asked archbishop Whitgift, for his friend Mr Hooker, from whose books of "Eccle"siastical Polity" he had so much profited; and being informed by the archbishop, that he died a year before the queen, he expressed the greatest disappointment and the deepest concern. K. Charles I. it is well known, earnestly recommended the reading of Mr Hooker's books to his son; and they have ever since been held in the highest veneration and esteem, by all who have any regard to sound reasoning and good learning. An anecdote is preserved by the writer of his life, which shews, that Mr Hooker's fame was by no means confined to his own country, but travelled abroad; and so far and so loudly, that it reached even the ears of the pope himself. Cardinal Allen and Dr Stapleton, though both in Italy when his books were published, were yet so affected with the fame of them, that they contrived to have them sent for; and after reading them, are said to have told the pope, then Clement VIII. that though his holiness had not yet met

with an English book, as he was pleased to say, whose • writer deserved the name of an author, yet there now • appeared a wonder to them, and so they did not doubt it would appear to his holiness, if it was in Latin; which was, that a poor obscure English priest had writ four such books of Law and Church Polity, in so ma jestic a style, and with such clear demonstrations of " reason, that in all their readings they had not met with any thing that exceeded him.' This begetting in the pope a desire to know the contents, Dr Stapleton read to him the first book in Latin; upon which the pope said, There is no learning that this man hath not searched into; nothing is too hard for his understanding. This " man indeed deserves the name of an Author. His books will get reverence by age; for there is in them such

• seeds