"proud opinion, that they shall be faved "by the worthinefs of their deeds? al"though the only thing, that troubleth " and molesteth them, be a little too much "dejection, fomewhat too great a fear "arifing from an erroneous conceit, that "God will require a worthiness in them, "which they are grieved to find wanting "in themselves? although they be not "obftinate in this opinion? although "they be willing, and would be glad to "forfake it, if any one reason were "brought fufficient to difprove it? al"though the only cause why they do not "forfake it ere they die, be their igno"rance of that means by which it might "be difproved? although the cause why "the ignorance in this point is not re"moved, be the want of knowledge in "fuch as fhould be able, and are not to "remove it? Let me die (fays Mr. Hooker) "if it be ever proved, that fimply an "error doth exclude a Pope or Cardinal "in fuch a cafe utterly from hope of "life. Surely, I must confefs, that if it "be an error to think that God may be

❝merci

"merciful to fave men, even when they

66

err, my greateft comfort is my error: 66 were it not for the love I bear to this I would never wish to speak or to

66

error,

"live."

I was willing to take notice of these two points, as fuppofing them to be very material; and that, as they are thus contracted, they may prove useful to my reader; as alfo for that the answers be arguments of Mr. Hooker's great and clear reafon, and equal charity. Other exceptions were also made against him by Mr. Travers, as "That he prayed before, and not "after, his fermons; that in his prayers "he named Bifhops; that he kneeled, both "when he prayed, and when he received "the Sacrament; and (fays Mr. Hooker " in his defence) other exceptions fo like "these, as but to name, I fhould have "thought a greater fault than to commit "them."

And it is not unworthy the noting, that, in the manage of fo great a controverfy, a fharper reproof than this, and one like it, did never fall from the happy

pen

pen of this humble man. That like it was upon a like occafion of exceptions, to which his anfwer was, "Your next "argument confifts of railing and of rea"fons: to your railing I fay nothing; to "your reafons I fay what follows." And I am glad of this fair occafion to testify the dove-like temper of this meek, this matchless man. And doubtless, if Almighty God had bleft the diffenters from the ceremonies and difcipline of this Church, with a like measure of wifdom and humility, inftead of their pertinacious zeal, then obedience and truth had kiffed each other; then peace and piety had flourished in our nation, and this Church and State had been bleft like Jerufalem, that s at unity with itself: but this can never be expected, till God shall bless the common people of this nation with a belief, "That "Schifm is a fin, and they not fit to judge "what is Schifm;" and bless them alfo with a belief, "That there may be of"fences taken which are not given;" and, "That laws are not made for private men "to dispute, but to obey."

And

And this alfo may be worthy of noting, that these exceptions of Mr. Travers against Mr. Hooker proved to be felix error, for they were the cause of his tranfcribing those few of his fermons, which we now see printed with his books; and of his Anfwer to Mr. Travers's Supplication; and of his most learned and useful difcourfe of Juftification, of Faith, and Works; and by their transcription they fell into fuch hands as have preserved them from being loft, as too many of his other matchlefs writings were; and from these I have gathered many observations in this discourse of his life.

After the publication of his Answer to the Petition of Mr. Travers, Mr. Hooker grew daily into greater repute with the moft learned and wife of the nation: but it had a contrary effect in very many of the Temple, that were zealous for Mr. Travers, and for his Church-discipline ; infomuch, that though Mr. Travers left the place, yet the feeds of difcontent could not be rooted out of that fociety, by the great reason, and as great meekness, of this humble man: for though the

chief Benchers gave him much reverence and encouragement, yet he there met with many neglects and oppofitions by thofe of Mr. Travers's judgment; infomuch that it turned to his extreme grief; and, that he might unbeguile and win them, he defigned to write a deliberate, fober treatise of the Church's power to make canons for the use of ceremonies, and by law to impofe an obedience to them, as upon her children; and this he proposed to do in eight books of the Laws of Ecclefiaftical Polity; intending therein to fhew fuch arguments as fhould force an affent from all men, if reason, delivered in fweet language, and void of any provocation, were able to do it : and, that he might prevent all prejudice, he wrote before it a large preface or epistle to the Diffenting Brethren, wherein there were fuch bowels of love, and fuch a commixture of that love with reafon, as was never exceeded but in holy writ; and particularly by that of St. Paul to his dear brother and fellow-labourer Phile-' mon: than which none ever was more like this epiftle of Mr. Hooker's. So

that