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in the boufe of God as friends. By which means they improved this friendship to fuch a degree of holy amity, as bordered upon heaven; a friendship fo facred, that when it ended in this world, it began in that next, where it fhall have no end.

And, though this world cannot give any degree of pleasure equal to fuch a friendship; yet obedience to parents, and a defire to know the affairs, manners, laws, and learning of other nations, that they might thereby become the more ferviceable unto their own, made them put off their gowns, and leave the college, and Mr. Hooker to his ftudies, in which he was daily more affiduous, ftill enriching his quiet and capacious foul with the precious learning of the philosophers, cafuifts, and schoolmen; and with them the foundation and reafon of all laws, both facred and civil; and indeed with fuch other learning as lay moft remote from the track of common ftudies. And as he was diligent in these, so he seemed restless in fearching the scope and intention of God's spirit revealed to mankind in the facred

Scripture:

Scripture: for the understanding of which, he feemed to be affifted by the same spirit with which they were written; he that regardeth truth in the inward parts, making him to understand wisdom fecretly. And the good man would often say, that "God abhors confufion as contrary "to his nature;" and as often say, "That "the Scripture was not writ to beget

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difputations, and pride, and oppofition "to government; but charity and humi"lity, moderation, obedience to autho

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rity, and peace to mankind;" of which virtues, he would as often fay, no man did ever repent himself on his deathbed. And that this was really his judgment, did appear in his future writings, and in all the actions of his life. Nor was this excellent man a stranger to the more light and airy parts of learning, as mufic and poetry; all which he had digefted, and made ufeful; and of all which the reader will have a fáir testimony in what will follow.

In the year 1579, the Chancellor of the University was given to understand,

that

that the public Hebrew Lecture was not read according to the ftatutes; nor could be, by reason of a diftemper, that had then feized the brain of Mr. Kingfmill, who was to read it; so that it lay long unread, to the great detriment of those that were ftudious of that language. Therefore the Chancellor writ to his Vice-Chancellor, and the Univerfity, that he had heard fuch commendations of the excellent knowledge of Mr. Richard Hooker in that tongue, that he defired he might be procured to read it: and he did, and continued to do fo till he left Oxford.

Within three months after his undertaking this Lecture, (namely in October 1579,) he was with Dr. Reynolds and others expelled his college; and this letter, tranfcribed from Dr. Reynolds's own hand, may give fome account of it.

TO SIR FRANCIS KNOLLES.

"I am forry, Right Honourable, that "I am enforced to make unto you fuch 66 a fuit, which I cannot move, but I "must complain of the unrighteous deal

VOL. I.

S

"ing

was, December 24, 1573, admitted to be one of the twenty scholars of the foundation; being elected and fo admitted as born in Devon or Hampshire; out of which counties a certain number are to be elected in vacancies by the Founder's ftatutes. And now as he was much encouraged; fo now he was perfectly incorporated into this beloved college, which was then noted for an eminent library, ftrict ftudents, and remarkable scholars. And indeed it may glory, that it had Cardinal Poole, but more that it had Bishop Jewel, Dr. John Reynolds, and Dr. Thomas Jackson, of that foundation. The first famous for his learned "Apology "for the Church of England," and his "Defence of it against Harding." The - fecond, for the learned and wife manage of a public dispute with John Hart, of the Romish perfuafion, about the head and faith of the Church, and after printed by confent of both parties. And the third, for his most excellent "Expofition of the "Creed," and other treatises; all fuch as have given greatest fatisfaction to men of

the

the greatest learning. Nor was Dr. Jackfon more note-worthy for his learning, than for his ftrict and pious life, teftified by his abundant love, and meeknefs, and charity to all men.

And in the year 1576, February 23, Mr. Hooker's grace was given him for Inceptor of Arts; Dr. Herbert Weftphaling, a man of note for learning, being then ViceChancellor and the Act following he was completed Mafter, which was anno 1577, his patron, Dr. Cole, being ViceChancellor that year, and his dear friend, Henry Savil of Merton College, being then one of the Proctors. It was that Henry Savil, that was after Sir Henry Savil, Warden of Merton College, and Provoft of Eton; he which founded in Oxford two famous lectures, and endowed them with liberal maintenance.

It was that Sir Henry Savil, that translated and enlightened the "Hiftory of "Cornelius Tacitus," with a moft excellent comment; and enriched the world by his laborious and chargeable collecting the fcattered pieces of St. Chryfoftom,

and

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