1585; and afterwards translated into Latin by Henry Pary, bishop of Gloucester, and printed by command of archbishop Bancroft, in 1610. 4. De Romana Ecclesia Idololatria, in 1596. An Apology for his Thesis, in 1602. 6. Since his death, certain Epistles between him, Dr Gager, and Albericus Gentius, concerning Stage Plays. 7. A Treatise of Divorce, and marrying again in case of Adultery. 8. A Censure of the Apocrypha in two tomes, containing two hundred and fifty of his Lectures in the divinity Schools. 9. Epistles and Orations, in Latin, published by A. Jackson. 10. His Lectures upon Obadiah, with a Thanksgiving Sermon for the Queen's deliverance from a dangerous Treason, published by Hinde.

Those in manuscript are: 1. A Commentary upon Aristotle's Three Books of Rhetoric, in Latin. 2. The materials and first draught of six books, De Idololatria Romanæ Ecclesia. 3. Sermons upon Haggai, preached in Oxford. 4. His learned Answer to Sanders De Schismate Anglicano, in defence of the Reformation, the Regal Supremacy, and the book of Ordination of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons. 5. A Defence of the English Liturgy against Robert Browne, the Separatist. 6. A Treatise of the Beginning and Progress of Popish Errors, shewing, that for the first three hundred years after Christ, bishops ruled their own dioceses without subjection to the pope. 7. A Treatise of Daniel's Weeks, against Hugh Broughton, dedicated to Archbishop Whitgift."

CAR

BLI

THOMAS HOLLAND, D. D.

LEARNING, with grace, is a happy advantage both to the church, and to the souls of the possessors: But learning, without grace, becomes too often the instrument of error and mischief, and, instead of leading men to GOD, only involves them, under the shew of ingenuity, in the deeper destruction. Human knowledge, at the best, is but a specious kind of ignorance; and, while it pretends to extend the mental capacity, too often swells it with a windy pride, which not only leaves no room for better things, but commonly raises a thousand prejudices against them. On the contrary, the knowledge which cometh from

GOD,

GOD, at once exalts the soul and humbles it; enables it to set a due value upon all earthly attainments, and puts it upon the keenest pursuit after those which are di

vine.

The truth of these reflections was exemplified in the life of this excellent man. He thought all knowledge proportionably estimable, as it led him to GOD, and might be employed for him. This is the true end of our being: And nothing can deserve the name of wisdom, which does not lead us to it.

He was born in Shropshire, in the year 1539, and received his academical tuition at Exeter-College, Oxford, in which university he took his degrees with much applause. In process of time, he commenced doctor in divinity, was chosen master of Exeter College, and, upon account of his excellent learning, was appointed Regius professor, or doctor of the chair, in succession to the learned Dr Humfreys. In this station, he distinguished himself so much by every kind of desirable attainment, divine or human, that he was esteemed and admired, not only in our seminaries of learning at home, but also by the universities abroad. Like the eloquent Apollos, he was mighty in the scriptures; and like the learned apostle, faithful in explaining them. His example followed his doctrines; and he lived himself what he preached to others. He was a zealous advocate for the Reformed religion; and was so possessed with aversion in himself, and with fear for others, concerning the superstition and idolatry from which the nation had lately emerged, that, whenever he set out upon a journey from his college, he constantly called the society together, and commended them to the love of GOD, and to the abhorrence of popery. This was the more needful, as the Papists had many secret favourers, at that time, in both our universities.

He continued in this respectable office for twenty years, with great reputation and usefulness. And as he approached nearer and nearer to his journey's end, he spent more and more time in meditation and prayer. In his declining years, sickness and infirmities increased upon him: And these served to increase his ardour for his heavenly habitation. He loved and he longed for GOD, for the presence of GOD, and for the full enjoyment of him. His soul was framed for heaven, and could find no rest till it came there. All the comforts he found on earth, resulted from heaven, or related to it. His end (as might be expected) was peace. When he found his dissolu

3

dissolution approaching, and his departure at hand; he often sighed and prayed" Come; O come, Lord "Jesus, thou morning star! Come, Lord Jesus; I desire "to be dissolved, and to be with thee !"

His request was granted; and he departed to his Master in the year 1612, after having sojourned here seventy-three years.

RICHARD FIEL D.

THIS eminent divine, of the church of England, was born of a reputable family at Hempstead, in Hertfordshire, on the fifteenth of October, 1561; and at sixteen years of age, admitted of Magdalen-College in the university of Oxford: But after taking his first degree removed to Magdalen-Hall. He continued seven years in this situation, distinguished as a great divine, a great preacher, and an acute disputant: And then in 1594, being bachelor of divinity, was chosen reader in that faculty to the honourable society of Lincoln's-inn in London. He gave so much satisfaction here, that one of the members of the house became his patron, and gave him the living of Burrowclere, in Hampshire. Soon afterwards he had the offer of St Andrews in Holborn, London, a living of greater value, and more in the way to preferment; but he chose to continue where he was, liking a reserved life, where he might, says Mr Wood, serve GOD and follow his studies. In 1598, being then doctor of divinity, he was made chaplain to Q. Elizabeth; nd about that time commenced a friendship with the famous Mr Richard Hooker, whom he much resembled in his great learning and humility. Upon the accession of K. James, he was made chaplain in ordinary to him; and, by his majesty's own appointment, was sent for to Hampton-Court.

In the year 1604, he became canon of Windsor; and the same year, when the king was to be entertained at Oxford with all sorts of scholastic exercises, he was sent for out of the country to bear a part in the divinity-acts. In the year 1609, he became dean of Gloucester; and the year after published a second edition, augmented with a fifth book, and an appendix, of his Four Books of the

Church.

Church. This famous work is dedicated to Sir George Villiers, afterwards duke of Buckingham; and confirmed all men in the high notions they had conceived of his great parts and deep learning. He was esteemed a perfect oracle in his way; and divines of even the first order scarce ever went to him, without loading themselves with questions. When K. James heard him preach the first time, he said, This is a FIELD for God to dwell in :' An expression like that of Thomas Fuller, who citing something out of his books upon the church, styleth him, that learned divine, whose memory smelleth like a FIELD which the Lord hath blessed.' The Reader will remember, that this was the age of punning. Even books and sermons were too often loaded with witticisms and quibbles of this kind. The king had once an intention to send him into Germany, with a view of composing the differences between the Lutherans and Calvinists; but something put him off.

His majesty however retained the same good opinion of him to the last, and designed him for a bishopric. Salisbury was first fixed on, but the solicitation of great personages carrying that elsewhere, the king was resolved to bestow Oxford upon him; and Sir George Villiers, inaletter dated July 11, 1616, told him, that if he was minded to take that see upon him, he should repair to the court, kiss the king's hand, and hold his benefices in commendam with it. GOD, however, was pleased, says Mr Wood, to prefer him to a better place; for on the twenty-first of November following he died, aged fifty-five years.

He was esteemed, says the same author, a principal <maintainer of Protestancy, a powerful preacher, a profound schoolman, an exact disputant, and so admirably well-knowing in the controversies between the Protestants and Papists, that few, or none, went beyond him. • He had a great memory; and any book he read he was able to carry away the substance of. He was one that • much laboured to heal the breaches of Christendom, and was ready to embrace truth, wheresoever he found it. His desire, his prayers, his endeavours were for peace, to make up the breaches of the church, not to widen differences, but to compose them. He was a good and • faithful pastor, and his care reached unto all churches. He was a loving husband, a tender father, a good master and neighbour, and willing to do good to all, &c.' A very great and amiable character!

His WORKS. His Books upon the Church were reprinted at Oxford in 1628, folio. Besides these, he published a Sermon, preached before the king at Whitehall, upon Jude ver. 3. in 1604; and a little before his death he had almost composed a book entitled, A View of the Controversies in Religion, which in these last Times have caused the lamentable Divisions of the Christian World. But this book, not being finished, was never published, though a preface was written to it by its Author. Perhaps, he would have been thanked by few, if he had lived to publish it. There are not too many Christians, who live above the rage and the cause of a party; which last has sometimes appeared of more consequence to some professors of religion, than the cause of religion itself. The profane world, glad of the occasion, throw the scandal upon piety; not perceiving, that the want of piety is the real source of all the evil.

ROBERT

ABBOT,

BISHOP OF SALISBURY.

ROBERT ABBOT was elder brother to the ex

cellent archbishop George Abbot (whose life will follow in course), and born at Guildford, in Surry, in the year 1560. He was brought up with his brother under the same schoolmaster; till being sufficiently qualified for the university, he was sent to Baliol-College, in Oxford, in 1575. He took his master of arts degree in 1582; became a noted preacher there, also a constant lecturer at St Martin's church, in the Quadrivium, and sometimes at Abingdon, in Berkshire. His preferment was remarkably owing to his merit, particularly in preaching; notwithstanding the distinction which some have affected to make, between the talents and tempers of these two brothers; that George was the more plausible preacher, Robert the greater scholar; George the abler statesman, Robert the deeper divine: Gravity did frown in George, and smile in Robert; such the qualities of this Robert evidently were; that upon the first sermon he preached at Worcester, he was made lecturer in that city, and soon after rector of

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