permitted to walk in the fear of the Lord, and in the consolations of the Holy Ghost.

Mrs. Hall has been very ill, occasioned in a good measure by the shock she has received, but is better. She is looking forward with considerable anxiety to her confinement, which she expects in less than three months. She is so extremely weak and delicate, that I have very painful apprehensions respecting the issue. My wish and endeavour is to leave her, myself, and my dear children in the hands of God. But how difficult it is to do so! Let me once more entreat an interest in your prayers.

SECTION II.

STRIKING EXAMPLES OF HUMILITY, MEEKNESS,
MODESTY, CANDOUR, &c.

LETTER XLI.

RICHARD HOOKER to ARCHBISHOP WHITGIFT.
Love of retirement.

MY LORD,

When I lost the freedom of my cell, which was my college, yet I found some degree of it in my quiet country parsonage. But I am weary of the noise and oppositions of this place; and indeed God and nature did not intend me for contentions,

but for study and quietness. And, my lord, my particular contests here with Mr. Travers, have proved the more unpleasant to me, because I believe him to be a good man, and that belief hath occasioned me to examine mine own conscience concerning his opinions. And to satisfy that, I have consulted the holy Scriptures, and other laws both human and divine, whether the conscience of him, and others of his judgment, ought to be so far complied with by us, as to alter our frame of church government, our manner of God's worship, our praising and praying to him, and our established ceremonies, as often as their tender consciences shall require us. And, in this examination, I have not only satisfied myself, but have begun a treatise, in which I intend the satisfaction of others, by a demonstration of the reasonableness of our laws of ecclesiastical polity. But, my lord, I shall never be able to finish what I have begun, unless I be removed into some quiet parsonage, where I may see God's blessings spring out of my mother earth, and eat my own bread in peace and privacy: a place where I may without disturbance meditate my approaching mortality, and that great account which all flesh must give at the last day to the God of all spirits.

VOL. I.

G

LETTER XLII.

ARCHBISHOP USHER (when only nineteen years of age) to MR. FITZSYMONDS, a Jesuit, with whom he had held a public disputation.

I was not purposed, Mr. Fitzsymonds, to write unto you, before you had first written to me, concerning some chief points of your religion, (as at our last meeting you promised,) but seeing you have deferred the same, (for reasons best known to yourself,) I thought it not amiss to enquire further of your mind, concerning the continuation of the conference begun betwixt us. And to this I am the rather moved, because I am credibly informed of certain reports, which I could hardly be persuaded should proceed from him, who in my presence pretended so great love and affection unto me. If I am a boy (as it hath pleased you very contemptuously to name me) I give thanks to the Lord, that my carriage toward you hath been such, as could minister unto you no just occasion to "despise my youth;" your spear belike is in your own conceit " a weaver's beam," and your abilities such, that you desire to encounter with the stoutest champion in the host of Israel, and therefore (like the Philistine) you contemn me as being a boy; yet this I would fain have you know, that I neither came then, nor now do come unto you in any confidence of any learning that is in me, (in which respect, notwithstanding, I

thank God "I am what I am,") but I come in the name of the Lord of hosts, whose companies you have reproached, being certainly persuaded, that even "out of the mouth of babes and sucklings" he was able to show forth his own praises; for the further manifestation whereof, I do again earnestly request you, that (setting aside all vain comparisons of persons) we may go plainly forward, in examining the matters that rest in controversy between us; otherwise I hope you will not be displeased, if, as for your part you have begun, so I also for my own part may be bold, for the clearing of myself, and the truth which I profess, freely to make known what hath already passed concerning this matter. Thus entreating you in a few lines, to make known unto me your purpose in this behalf, I end, praying the Lord, that both this and all other enterprises that we take in hand, may be so ordered, as may most make for the advancement of his own glory, and the kingdom of his Son, Jesus Christ.

Tuus ad aras usque!

JAMES USHER.

LETTER XLIII.

DEAN TILLOTSON to LADY RUSSELL. A somewhat unusual source of trouble-the offer of an archbishopric.

London, Sept. 19, 1689.

I received both your letters, and before the latter

came to my hands, I gave your ladyship some kind of answer to the first as the time would let me, for the post staid for it. But having now a little more leisure, you will, I hope, give me leave to trouble you with a longer letter.

I was not at Hampton Court last Sunday, being almost tired out with ten weeks' attendance, so that I have had no opportunity to try further in the business I wrote of in my last, but hope to bring it to some issue the next opportunity I can get to speak with the king. I am sorry to see in Mr. Johnson so broad a mixture of human frailty, with so considerable virtues. But when I look into myself, I must think it pretty well, when any man's infirmities are in any measure overbalanced by his better qualities. This good man I am speaking of, has at some times not used me over well, for which I do not only forgive him, when I consider for whose sake he did it, but do heartily love him.

But now begins my trouble. After I had kissed the king's hand for the deanery of St. Paul's, I gave his majesty my most humble thanks, and told him that now he had set me at ease for the remainder of my life. He replied, "No such matter, I assure you ;" and spoke plainly about a great place, which I dread to think of, and said, "It was necessary for his service, and he must charge it upon my conscience." Just as he had said this he was called to supper, and I had only time to say, that when his majesty was at leisure,