life for he also was a person of a comely countenance wherein there was such a mixture of sweetness and severity as did very much encourage those that were good and terrifie those that were proud and negligent 43. My intention is not to Hatter his memory and therefore when I go about to compare him with Ancient holy Fathers of the Church I must profess my meaning to be not to make a parallel but only to shew in some few instances how near he attained to their perfection I cannot say as St. Hierome of Hilarion that he laid upon a Mat spread on the ground till his dying day nor that he never put on new cloathes till the old ones were worn to pieces but I may truly say he lay'd upon a straw-bed when he was past S. Hilarions age who lived but about 80. years and he seldome wore a new garment but he gave the old one away And as for the Character given to St. Hierome himself by the Author of his life it will well agree with this Reverend Bishop that he laid hard because he would sleep no more then only to satisfie the necessity of Nature that his cloathes were but course and ordinary and that in his old age I may truly say when he had out-lived St. Hierom many years he remitted nothing of his pains and industry in his studies nor of his alacrity in his prayers insomuch that it was a wonder to see a body that had sustained so much fasting and labour to be so full of vigour and fortitude 44. When I compare him with S. Hierom in point of Age and Vigor I cannot pass by what the same Father hath left recorded of Paulus Concordiensis a person of 100 years old after whose example God and nature had much fitted this Reverend Bishop For his sight was good considering his great years He could walk very well his hearing was quick his voice was clear his body solid and full of moysture the whiteness of his head and ruddiness of his face could hardly be imagined to be in one and the same person I verily believe no Physician in the world would have judged him to be of above half the Age he was if he had only considered the plumpness of his flesh and smoothness of his skin without looking upon the whiteness of his hair 45. I think he hath hardly left his equall behind him of any Bishop in the world for multitude of years either as a Man or as a Bishop And if we look over all Histories we shall not find many precedents if we take them both together Simon the second Bishop of Jerusalem lived I grant till 120 But he fell far short of the years of this reverend person as he was Bishop on the other side St. Athanasius Patriarch of Alexandria and St. Wilfrid Archbishop of York exceeded him the one two years the other one as Bishops but they fell far short of his age as a Man I cannot call to mind any that exceeded him in both except St. Remigius Archbishop of Rhemes whose case I think is singular as being made Bishop in the 22. year of his age and so continuing till the ninety sixth 46. But it was not the Age of this Reverend Bishop that was so remarkable as his vigour and indefatigable industry in his old age wherein he was a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Iron-side another Hercules as Laertius speaks of Cleanthes It was a Miracle that Moses should continue the vigour of his sight and natural force till he was 120 years old and would be thought little less then a Miracle that any of half his age should now enjoy them and yet this Reverend Bishop found very little defect in any of his Senses except only a little in his sight till death deprived him of them all What Suidas sayes of Servilius the Consul and the Father of Ausonius the Poet of himself was very applicable to this Reverend Bishop when he was older then either of them Nonaginta annos baculo sine Corpore toto Exegit cunctis integer officiis 47. It is possible I might say probable that the smalness of his stature might give him some advantages above other men in this particular for the lesser the Body is the more easie it is to be actuated by the spirits And then if he had lived before Archidamus the King of Sparta this Example might have preserved that King from the Mulct which the Ephori imposed upon him for marrying a little Wife utpote non Reges sed Regulos daturus For however some in those ancient times might dote upon Bulk more then Virtue as appears by the great Statue of little Lactius the Poet at Rome in Aede Camaenarum yet it is sure enough there have not been more famous men then some of no great stature as the instance of King Pipin in the French History and King Edgar in our own will make manifest It is often seen that he that is Staturae exiguae is animi excelsi so it was with Asinaeus the Captain of the Jewes as well as with these two famous Kings and so was it likewise with this Reverend Bishop Insomuch as Cicero's jest may very fitly be applyed to him if we consider his Body and Soul apart which he made upon his Brother Quintus when he saw so great a picture and yet but half way neither drawn for so little a man Major est dimidius quam totus His inward and invisible part was greater then any would have thought the whole person to have been 48. But I have given so large an account already of his inward and invisible part in the two foregoing Chapters in relation both to his Life and Doctrine that I may now be excused if I sum up both of them in that Character which Venerable Bede gives of his predecessor St. Cuthbert that as he discharged the duty of a good Bishop both in his daily prayers for the people committed to his charge and his wholsome exhortations to them So he taught them nothing by his words whereof he did not give them a good example in his actions 49. And this excellent Method of teaching by his Deeds as well as his Words was no new thing in him but a constant habit of Virtue of very long continuance For it was so remarkable in him as to be publickly taken notice of in a Sermon preached at St. Pauls Cross 50. years agoe and since printed wherein we have these words The learned and venerable Dean of Winchester for that was then his Title of whose Knowledge and Charity I have had so much experience that whether he be Melior or Doctior a better Man or a more learned Divine I cannot easily resolve only I can resolve with Seneca that of these two commendations O virum Doctum and O virum bonum the later doth excel the first 50. This being a Truth so
I cannot but hope that what I have yet to say in the person of this dead Prelate will have so much influence upon you all especially of the Laity as not to return without some fruit I confess I have done with my own Sermon it is more then time I should but I have still another to preach to you from this Reverend Bishop and in this I can easily presume upon your patience though I have almost wearied it already When I call this a Sermon which now I am to deliver I speak not without my warrant For when St. Gregory preached his Forty Sermons upon the Gospels he penned them all but read no more of them himself then eighteen by reason of some bodily infirmities the rest were read by his sub-Deacon or Notarie and yet all of them were then received and ever since esteemed and reputed as St. Gregories Sermons and in this sense it is that I call that which now remaineth the Bishop of DURESMES Sermon though I read it to you It is indeed the most solemn and elaborate Sermon he ever made being a profession or Declaration of his Faith with some wholsome instructions and directions to all good Christians within the Church of England though it be more particularly directed to those within his own Diocess By the time you have heard it you will finde it to be a rich supply for many things which otherwise I could not have omitted to speak concerning him It is a thing he did with much deliberation and not without some consultation with some of his Reverend Brethren and others as to the form and manner of it and when it was fitted exactly according to his own thoughts and desire he solemnly published signed and sealed it in the presence of five witnesses and annexed it as a Codicil to his Will and afterward when the shrinking of his small estate compelled him to alter his will to what it is now at his death he declared this to be a part of it which before was only a Codicil in the presence of other witnesses so that upon second thoughts it was not only owned by him but also ratified and confirmed more solemnly then before It followeth in these words 1. IN the first ages of the Church it was a very excellent custome that whensoever any was Consecrated Bishop of any Patriarchal or chief see he should by an Encyclical Epistle give an account of his Faith to his Brethren of the same order and dignity for the better strengthening of that Catholick Communion which the Bishops and Churches then had and still should preserve among themselves And this by the way was an homage as well payed as received by the Bishops of Rome in those times which is a sufficient evidence of a Coordination but could never have consisted with their now challenged Monarchy in the Church 2. And though the reason be different the design is no less necessary in this last and worst age of the Church for all Bishops whomsoever to leave some Testimony of their Faith to the world when it shall please God to take them out of it that so neither their Names may be traduced after their death nor any weak Brother misled by fathering any false opinions upon them whereof they were no way guilty 3. And this I think will be as necessary for me to perform as any other of my order in some respects though not so necessary in some other which is the cause both why I leave this short account of my self to the world and why it is no larger 4. For though I have sufficiently declared my self to the world both by my life and labours to be a true Orthodox and sincere Christian and Protestant according to the Doctrine and Discipline of the Primitive Church professed also and practised in the Church of England seeing I have been a writer above fifty years and have passed through all the orders of the Church Deacon Priest and Bishop and have been Rector of three Churches Prebendary in one Dean of two and Bishop of three Diocesses successively yet I cannot think my self secure from the malignancy of false and virulent tongues and pens after my Death more then I have been in my life and the rather because I have sustained the heavy Office of a Bishop so many years in the Church which some perverse people make criminal in it self and have by my writings discharged a good Conscience in asserting the truth against the opposites on both sides for which the Father of Lies will not be wanting to stir up enemies against me 5. I do therefore here solemnly profess in the presence of Almighty God that by his grace preventing and assisting me I have alwayes lived and purpose to die in the true Catholick Faith wherein I was Baptized firmly believing all the Canonical Scripture of the old and New Testament and fully assenting to every Article of all those three Creeds commonly called the Apostles Creed the Nicen or Constantinopolitan Creed and the Athanasian Creed which in the ancient Church were accounted the Adequate Rules of Faith and have accordingly been received as such by the Church of England 6. As for Counsels that are free and general consisting of competent persons lawfully summoned and proceeding according to the word of God Such as were the foure first viz those of Nice Constantinople Ephesus and Chalcedon I do reverence them as the Supream Tribunals of the Church of Christ upon earth for judging of Heresies and composing differences in the Church And as I utterly condemn all Heresies that have been condemned by any of them so I heartily wish that all the present differences in the Church of God might be determined by such a free general Counsel as any of those foure were already mentioned 7. The composers of those ancient differences in the Church were Bishops as it cannot be denied concerning which order I profess to believe that â—t was instituted by the Apostles who were infallibly inspired by the Holy Ghost and approved by Christ in the Revelation of St. John and consequently to be of Divine institution as I have made it evident by a little Treatise already printed and could still further manifest it by some papers not yet committed to the Press And I had never sustained the burthen of that Office above 40 years in the Church if this had not been alwayes my judgment concerning Bishops I pray God restore them again to those poor afflicted parts of his Church where either the Office or the Exercise of it is wanting 8. That the Bishop of Rome hath any more power over Bishops then other Primates and Patriarcks have in their several Sees respectively is a thing which I have often and largely disproved in my writings All that the Ancient Church did allow him was a priority of order but no supreamacie of Monarchical power And I heartily wish that this and all other differences now on foot between us and
voluminous as no Bookseller durst adventure the charge of Printing it especially in such a dismal age of the Church as hath been of late wherein those that desired to read such Books had not money to buy them being sequestred and stripped of all their estates and those that succeed in their Benefices have generally no affections to such studies being led in this as in most other things by their own interest which directs them only to such studies as may qualifie them for the Pulpit This is a sad truth which the Adversaries know well enough to be so have not a little contributed unto it and I hope this will satisfie every moderate and indifferent man that it was the infelicity not the negligence of this learned and laborious Author that he should thus be necessitated to dye in debt to his Adversaries 17. It was some years after before his next work came forth and well might be so considering how large and laborious it was And yet it was re-printed with Additions in the year 1635. This Book he dedicated to all learned men especially of the two Universities Cambridge and Oxford and entituled 12. Of the INSTITUTION of the SACRAMENT c. by some called the MASSE c. Lond. 1635. fol. 18. But before this second Edition saw the light there were some strictures written upon the former by a Romish Author under the name of an English Baron which occasioned this Author to write another little Book which he dedicated to the Lord Ar. Baron intituled 13. A DISCHARGE of five Imputations of MIS-ALLEGATIONS Lond. 1633. 8o. 19. The next Book he wrote was not against any particular adversary but yet upon a particular subject which he thought was too generally mistaken at lest if not abused He dedicated it as his Book of the Masse to both the Universities and other learned men intituling it 14. ANTIDOTUM adversus Ecclesiae Romanae de MERITO EX CONDIGNO venenum Cantabrig 1637. 4o. 20. But here steps in a particular Adversary and that a person of eminent note and learning if by C. R. we are to understand the Bishop of Chalcedon And though his Book contained not much when it appeared it had been or might have been very long in contriving being written against the first Book that ever this Author published the former volume of his Catholick Apologie which he had printed above as he saith 32. but I believe it is the mistake of the Amanuensis or Printer for two and forty years before viz. in the year 1605. This Book occasioned a brief Velitation from this Author in defense of his former work for he thought it deserved no more which he dedicated to all Scholars of the English Seminaries beyond Sea and intituled 15. REPLICA five Refutatio Confutationis C. R. c. Lond. 1638. 4o. 21. Having thus wiped off this great Adversary he betook himself to a review of his Book concerning the Masse which he altered so far both for Matter and Method as well as Language as it may justly challenge a peculiar place among his works It was dedicated to King Charles the first and intituled 16. DE EUCHARISTIA Controversiae Decisio Cantabrig 1640. 4o. 22. But before this came forth he had an occasion to Preach before the King at Newcastle May 5. 1639. which he performed so well that he was commanded to print his Sermon The Text was Rom. 13.1 17. Let every soul be subject c. Lond. 1639. 4o. 23. About two years after he was sollicited to preach at the Spittle in London April 26. 18. A Sermon on the Resurrection Lond. 1641. 8o. 24. The next year after viz. Jun. 19. 1642. upon the like sollicitation he preached at St. Pauls that excellent Sermon upon I Cor. 11.16 But if any man seem to be contentious c. since printed and entituled 19. The presentment of a SCHISMATICK Lond. 1642. 4o. 29. His next Book that was printed came forth both without his name to it and knowledge of it thought not without his full consent to it ex post facto and that testified in an Authentick manner in the Codicil annexed to his Will It was written in defense of Episcopal government and sent to the late Reverend and learned Primate of Ireland who committed it to the Press with some other excellent collections of his own upon the same subject the title of it is 20. CONFESSIONS and PROOFS of Protestant Divines c. Oxford 1644. 4o. 26. I come now to the last Book he lived to publish the subject whereof was his Meditations upon Gods providence a very fit study for his declining years in these sad times during his solitude and retirement being a thing both comfortable to himself and profitable to others the title of it is 21. EZEKIELS WHEELS c. Lond. 1653. 8o. 26. Having been thus large I wish I could not say tedious in a bare narrative of what Books he hath left in Print I shall not wrong either the Author or Reader so far as to continue this discourse any longer upon my weak commendations of them My only advice shall be in the words of my great Master COME and SEE 27. And yet beside these already Printed there are a considerable number in Manuscript some in my custody which I found by him at his Death and some that I hear of in the hands of others all of them once intended for the Press whereof some have lost their first perfection by the carelesness and negligence of some that should have kept them others want his last hand and eye to perfect them and others only a seasonable time to publish them And he might and would have left many more considering how vigorous his parts were even in his extream old Age if the iniquity of the Times had not deprived him of most of his Notes and Papers 28. There were in his own hands at his Death and they are still in mine Anciently Written M. S. 1. Tractatus DE EXTERNO JVDICE INFALLIBILI ad Doctores Pontificios inprimis vero ad Sacerdotes Wisbicenses 2. Tractatus DE JUSTIFICATIONE Two Copies but both imperfect 3. Some Papers written upon the Controversie between Bishop MONTAGVE and the GAGGER Imperfect 4. A Latine Edition of his Book called the GRAND IMPOSTVRE Imperfect 5. Another Edition of both the parts of his Book called APOLOGIA CATHOLICA 29. Books lately Written M. S. 6. The above mentioned ANSWER to I. S. his ANTIMORTONUS Imperfect 7. The above mentioned Treatise concerning EPISCOPACY revised and enlarged 8. A Treatise concerning PRAYER in an VNKNOWN TONGUE 9. A Defence of INFANTS BAPTISM against Mr. Tombes and others 10. Several SERMONS 30. But I must be so just to the Reader as to give him this Advertisement concerning these two last Books First that his Sermons are not yet perused so that I know not yet whether any of them will be thought fit for the Press And secondly that he himself had laid aside his thoughts of
the Church of Rome might be decided by the doctrine and practice of the Church for the first five hundred years after Christ for that hath been my design in all my writings 9. If I had not believed upon sufficient evidence that the succession of Bishops in the Church of England had been legally derived from the Apostles I had never entred into that high calling much less continued in it thus long And therefore I must here expresly vindicate my self from a most notorious untruth which is cast upon me by a late Romish writer That I should publickly in the House of Peers the beginning of the last Parliament assent to that abominable fiction which some Romanists have devised concerning the Consecrating Matthew Parker at the Nags-head Tavern to be Arch-Bishop of Canterbury for I do here solemnly profess I have alwayes believed that Fable to proceed from the Father of lyes as the publick Records still extant do evidently testifie Nor do I remember that ever I heard it mentioned in that or any other Parliament that ever I sate in 10. As for our Brethren the Protestants of forraign reformed Churches the most learned and judicious of themselves have bewailed their miserie for want of Bishops And therefore God forbid I should be so uncharitable as to censure them for No-Churches for that which is their Infelicity not their fault But as for our perverse Protestants at home I cannot say the same of them seeing they impiously reject that which the other piously desire And therefore I cannot flatter those in this Church who have received their Ordination only from meer Presbyters so far as to think them lawfully Ordained S. Hierom himself reserved to the Bishop the power of Ordination 11. Seeing therefore I have been as I hear so far misunderstood by some among us as to be thought to approve of their Ordination by meer Presbyters because I once said it might be vallid in case of Necessity I do here profess my meaning to be That I never thought there was any such Necessity in the Church of England as to warrant it where blessed be God for it there be so many Bishops still surviving And therefore I desier them not to mistake my meaning in that saying 12. Wheresoever there is a formed Church there must of necssity be some set form of Gods worship Otherwise it will quickly fall in peices as wofull experience hath taught us And of all formes of Gods worship in the whole Church of Christ none in my judgement did ever exceed the Leiturgy of the Church of England both for decency edification and devotion in all the severall offices of it If the Assemblers themselves that first laid it aside could have found any faults in it their modesty was not so great if we may judge of it by their other actions as to have concealed them from the world 13. Having thus far prevented the uncharitableness of others against my self I do here from my heart protest my unfained charity to all the world and more particularly both towards those Papists and perverse protestants whom I have so much endeavovred to undeceive both by my Sermons conferences and writings It was only their errors whereat I was offended I have alwayes loved and pittied their persons and prayed and laboured for the right informing of their minds and the eternall salvation of their soules 14. But yet my common charity to them must not supersede my more particular love and obligation which I have to those truly humble and meek soules in the Church of England and more especially in my own Diocess of Duresme who still stand firm upon the foundation of a sound faith and continue obedient to the doctrine of Gods word and discipline of his Church without wavering either to the right hand or to the left 15. And my earnest exhortation to them is that they would still continue their former affections notwithstanding all temptations to the contrary both to the doctrin disciplin government and form of worship of this poor afflicted Church Which if I did not believe to be the securest way for the salvation of their soules I had not ventured my own upon the same bottom 16. This is the onely Legacy I now can and the best I ever could leave them beside my prayers Wherein I commend them all to the blessing of almighty God and to the glory of his saving grace in Christ Jesus I have appointed two Copies of this my Legacy or Declaration to be written The one whereof I do hereby order to be annexed as a Codicill to my will and the other to be delivered into the hand of my beloved Chaplain Mr. John Barwick to be published in print after my death Both of which I have signed sealed published and declared this 15. day of Aprill in the year of our Lord 1658. In the presence of Tho Duresme Thomas Saunders Iunior John Barwick Cler. Joseph Draper Cler. R. Gray Evan Davies And now you have had His Sermon as well as mine and may see by it he hath not ended his fight though he hath ended his life For by this he hath set a guard upon his memory after his body is in the grave I might in this thing fitly compare him to Abel before the flood who being dead yet speaketh Or to Samson under the Law Who slew more at his death then in his life but only that I have made choyce of St. Paul for the pattern now under the Gospell It is the Gospell rule not to kill but to save With St. Paul to build up the Church of lively stones the soules of men and not with Sampson to pull down the house upon our selves and others To this it was that St. Paul engaged in all his fights both in what he did and what he suffered and in this it was that he was looked upon as a pattern and presedent by this reverend Bishop How many thousand soules the Apostle hath gained even since his death is known only to God And so is it also how many may still be brought in by this crowning act of this deceased Bishop They have each done his part in their severall rank and degree according to the proportion of their abilities And God in mercy will I hope supply the rest both to them and us They have severally fought a good fight they have finished their course they have kept the faith and henceforth is laid up for each of them a crown of righteousness and so there will be for us also if we follow their good example For it is no peculiar reward to them or any other in particular The Lord the rigteous judge 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will give or render it not only to them but as it followes in my Text to all those that love his appearing To him therefore with the Father and the Holy Ghost three persons and one God let us render as is due all glory honor prayse power thankesgiving and
Master of St. Johns College being then Vicechancellor and Mr. Raven of Kings College and Mr. Gent of Corpus Christi College Proctours he took the Degree of Doctour in Divinity with much applause of those that heard him perform his Acts and exercises and great approbation of both the professors in Divinity Dr. John Overall that profound Scholler and Dr. Thomas Playfer that accute disputant and accurate preacher who were both of them very competent Judges of mens abilities And there began that intimate acquaintance he had with the said Dr. Overall afterwards Dean of St. Paules Bishop of Leichfeild and Coventry and lastly of Norwich which continued between them till it was dissolved by death 23. About the same time he was sworn Chaplain in Ordinary to King James and by him presented to the Deanary of Glocester the same year 1606. And while he was Dean there the Lord Ever above mentioned then Lord President of Wales assumed him for one of his Majesties Counsell for the Marches 24. In his first journey to Glocester he went by Oxford at the Act-time and was there incorporated and admitted to the same degree he had in Cambridge At which time he fell into acquaintance with that reverend person and famous preacher Dr. John King then Dean of Christ-Church and afterwards Bishop of London which afterward grew so intimate that the said Bishop made choyce of him to performe the last offices to him both at his Death and Buriall 25. The same occasion gave him also the oppertunity of being acquainted with Dr. Raynolds president of Corpus Christi College Dr. Ayrey provost of Queens College and many other eminent persons in that University And among others with Daniel Featley afterwards Dr. in Divinity who that year proceeded Master of Arts and performed his exercises with such applause as made Dr. Morton carry a great friendship towards him ever after which was answered with a proportionable reverence on the other side which he publickly testified in the Epistle before a Book which he dedicated to him when he was Bishop of Duresme And the like respect hath been shewed to him by other learned men And in particular by the late reverend Bishop of Norwich who dedicated to him that little but most excellent Book called PAX TERRIS 26. He continued not full three years Dean of Glocester till King James removed him to the Deanary of Winchester viz. in the year 1609. Where he succeeded Dr. George Abbot then consecrated Bishop of Leichfeild and Coventry and afterward translated to the Arch-Bishoprick of Canterbury And while he was Dean there Dr. Thomas Bilson then Bishop of Winchester conferred on him the Rectory of Alesford 27. At Winchester he fell into an intimate acquaintance with that pious and learned man Dr. Arthur Lake then Master of St. Cross afterward Bishop of Bath and Welles as also with Dr. John Harmar warden of Winchester College and other learned men whose friendship he very much valued And at the same time also Sibrandus Lubbertus professour of Divinity in the University of Franeker in West Freisland wrot his answer to the 99. errours of Conradus Vorstius which he dedicated to him by the title of Dean of Winchester 28. In the year 1610. being the seaventh year of King James was held a Parliament And at the same time as the manner is a Convocation of the Clergy of the province of Canterbury at St. Paules Church in London where with generall applause he preached the Sermon ad clerum upon St. Mat. 5 13. Vos estis sal terrae And should have been the prolocutour to the lower house of Convocation but that in modesty he declined it and the rather to make way for a friend of his whom he rather desired might have that office 29. Upon these and the like publick imployments was he constrained to be much in London about this time And when any business brought him thither he was importuned by his worthy friend Dr. Overall above mentioned Dean of St. Paules to take his lodging in the Deanary house And this gave him the oppertunity of a very early acquaintance with that very learned and judicious Scholar Monsieur Isaac Casaubon who being then newly come out of France was likewise as his great merits required very freely and hospitably entertained and lodged there by the said Dean 30. And this love thus begun between these two learned persons was never intermited in their lives nor obliterated by death as appeares by the Monument set up in the Abbey Church of St. Peters at Westminster for Monsieur Casaubon he being buried their at the charge of this reverend Bishop The inscription whereof was composed by that excellent Poet and Scholar Dr. Thomas Goad Rector of Hadley in Suffolk 31. Upon the like occasions and about the same time he had the opportunity of entering into a very good acquaintance with severall other eminent forraign Scholars and Divines As namely Abraham Scultetus professour of divinity in the University of Heidlebergh and Aulicus Concionator to his Highness Frederick Prince Electour palatine John Diodati professour of divinity at Geneva a very learned and judicious Divine Peter du Molin the famous preacher at Charington and severall others whose worth is very well known by their learned works in Print 32. His continuance in the Deanary of Winchester was not so long as he desired and yet when he was to be removed from it and to be consecrated Bishop of Chester there was a rub cast in his way by a certain great person Not out of any favour or respct to him but the quite contrary It was by one that had reason to know the revenues of that Church so well as to think he might be believed upon his word when he said in some passion to the King that Dr. Morton had spoiled one of the best Deanaries in England 33. And this blow had been received as a precious balme if it had not broke the head of his reputation and of the truth together because he was really as unwilling to take the heavy office of a Bishop upon him as the other was loath he should enjoy the honour But however as the case stood it concerned the Dean to vindicate his good name from that foull and unjust aspersion And therefore acquainting his brethren of the Chapter with it they were very forward to give and he not backward to receive a Testimoniall from them under their hands and sealls that he had been one of the best Deans that ever had been at Winchester in their times and yet some of them were very antient men and had long enjoyed their prebends in that Church 34. On the other side there wanted not some potent persons in the Court who pressed hard upon the King to have him Consecrated Bishop only in favour of his successors in that Deanary Which made him bemoan himself in a Letter to an intimate friend wherein he complained of an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as he called it
man can expect any thing considerable in the Will of a person deceased who made his own hand his Executors while he lived This Reverend Bishop in this particular was much of the temper of his great kinsman the Cardinal and Arch-Bishop of Canterbury above mentioned who chose rather to inrich his kindred and servants in his life-time then at his death or rather of William Warham who succeeded him not long after both in his Metropolitical See and Chancellourship of England of whom I well remember I have read though I have forgot where that lying upon his death-bed he called for his steward to let him know what money he had and understanding from him it was but thirty pounds he thanked God for it and said his time was then come for he never desired to die richer 111. It is true indeed this Reverend Bishop had somewhat more money by him at his death according to the number of pounds though less according to the value and proportion of money now to what it was then But to be sure he dyed far poorer in Estate for his debts were either none or desperate which is all one and his goods were either plundered or sold not excepting his Books in his life-time Of that small remnant which his professed enemies and seeming friends and urgent necessities had left him he gave 40. l. to the one of his servants that attended him at his death having abundantly provided for the other in his life and ten pounds to the poor of the Parish where he dyed and his Chalice with a Patin for the cover both double guilt to the noble Baronet in whose family he dyed for the use of his Chappel lately built The rest deducting some small Remembrances he ordered for his Burial which though not much above one hundred pounds was so well husbanded though I say it as to have a small remnant for a Monument at his own charge which though of necessity it must be far below his worth yet will it be such a one as will sute better with his great modesty then one much more sumptuous at the cost of another and will tell posterity he dyed a Confessour in a good cause and bad times to the great reproach of a wicked and ungrateful generation though the year he dyed in should not be written upon it 112. I cannot here omit to mention again the chief Legacy of his Will that which he designed for the common good of all pious and sober Christians living in the Communion of the Church of England but bequeathed as his pastoral charge required more particularly to those of his own Diocess of Duresme And this was paid in part by his Executor in the conclusion of his Funeral Sermon and will be more fully discharged now that both that and this are made publick in print and therefore I refer the Reader to that place for it 113. Having thus carefully disposed of all outward things in order to his long journey seaven moneths and of some of them seventeen before he took it we may reasonably presume he did the like much more carefully and timely in relation to those things which concerned his Spiritual and Eternal welfare For beside the principles of Christianity he had also his great Calling Learning and Years to mind him of his great account at a little distance And he had studied the point so well as it became a very familiar saying with him for many years together before his death that he had Vitam in patientia but mortem in desiderio till at last God was pleased to Crown his desires with what he had patiently waited for so long a time The knife that cut the thred of his long life beside old age which is an incurable disease was an infirmity with which he had wresled for a long time though it had much exercised his patience and impaired his strength It was an Hernia or Rupture which at last falling down more violently then ordinary became so painful to him as he could not endure to have it reduced Hereupon he was cast upon his death-bed for a moneth wanting three dayes during which time God did wonderfully supply him with a great measure of patience and other Christian virtues requisite for his condition in that extremity as I have elsewhere manifested and shall not here repeat till at last God was graciously pleased to grant him his last and infinitely happiest Translation from the vale of misery to a Throne of glory this he obtained the 22. day of September 1659. in the 95. year of his Age being the 44. of his Episcopal Consecration and 28. of his Translation to the See of Duresme 114. Upon the eight day after his death being the Feast of St. Michael the Arch-Angel his Body was solemnly interred according to the Order of the Church of England in the Chancel of the Parish Church of St. Peter at Easton-Manduit where he dyed And though his Estate was so small as could not well consist with any solemn Invitation to his Funeral yet had he so great respect from the Neighbouring people of all ranks and qualities for all he had been so short a time among them that some of the Nobility many of the Gentry and most of the Clergy did freely and voluntarily give their attendance at his Funeral solemnity the chief of them carrying up the skirts of the Pall and the rest in due rank and order accompanying his Body to the grave where now it resteth in Peace till a glorious and happy Resurrection shall once more Translate it to life everlasting Animam quidem Christus Scripta possidet Ecclesia CHAP. II. A Catalogue of the Books written by this Learned Bishop 1. HE led his life in a holy and chaste Celibate being never married to any beside God and the Church which he had committed to his care and trust so that what is usually added to the History of other mens lives concerning their Children may and must be spared in this seeing he never had any but such as were spiritual whom he begat to God in the Gospel of Christ 2. And yet if we look upon the Issue of his brain those learned works he hath left to the world we shall find him more fruitful in them then his Parents were in the issue of their Body though that was very remarkable They had indeed nineteen Children he left above twenty several volumes in Print and several others that wanted only his last hand and some not so much but only the obstetrication of the Press to bring them into the world It is true indeed that many of his Fathers issue have multiplied into a numerous posterity and so had His also but only for this paradox that their strength caused their Imbecillity for if his Books had been less unanswerable they had produced Replies and Duplies before this time considering how long it is since most of them were published as will appear by this ensuing
publickly avowed so many years agoe will both acquit what I have here said from all suspicion of flattery and excuse my not engaging any further upon this subject And therefore all I shall now add to what I have said shall be one instance which will above all other demonstrate that he was Vir bonus and that is the Crown of Martyrdom which he came so near to attain unto that some even in the first and best ages of the Church have had their Memories celebrated as Martyrs ever since for doing no more then what he did 51. In the daies of Valerian the Emperour as the Martyrologie tels us out of unquestionable History there was a very great and infectious Plague and yet notwithstanding several both Priests Deacons and many others did most willingly lay down their lives that they might be assisting to those that were infected with this contagious disease And for this reason are continually commemorated as Martyrs upon the 28. day of February 52. Though St. Cyprian had not attained the honour of a particular Martyrdome his heroical Charity in this particular for his example was eminent in this action would have honour'd him with that title and however it hath and ever will superadd a peculiar lustre to his Crown of Martyrdome It is none of the least causes why Cardinal Borromeus was honoured with the title of S. Charles of Milan that in the years 1566 and 1567. when the Plague was so hot among the people committed to his charge he frequently discharged the duty of their Pastor in visiting them with the hazard of his life And then sure it will much more redound to the immortal honour as well as happiness of this Reverend Bishop that he did the like upon the like occasion not so much out of Duty as Charity to those that were not of his peculiar charge but only his Countreymen and fellow Citizens whereof I have already given the Reader a sufficient account 53. And now nothing remains but to summ up all I have said concerning this Reverend Bishop in this short Elogie He was a Saint in his Life a Doctor in in his works a Confessor in his sufferings and a Martyr in this his last mentioned Heroical Charity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as was said of S. Athanasius a holy and irreprehensible Martyr and this Martyrdome undertaken in the full vigour and strength of his age and not when Age or Infirmities had made his life a burthen to him but so long before his Death as may equal the ordinary space of another mans life Insomuch as we may conclude that absolutely of him which Cassianus speaks only with a Penè concerning S. Athanasius Prius indeptus est MARTYRIS meritum quam CONFESSORIS caperet dignitatem In MEMORIA SACRA Heic vivit usque usque vivat Exiguum etiam illud quod Mortale fuit Viri Pietate Literis Hospitalitate Eleemosynis Celeberrimi Reverendi in Christo Patris ac Domini THOMAE DUNELMENSIS Episcopi Eoque nomine PALATINI COMITIS Clarâ MORTONORUM familiâ oriundi Quem RICHARDO peperit ELIZABETHA LEEDALE Sexto de Novendecim puerperio EBORACI in Lucem Editum Quem Collegium S. JOHANNIS Evangelistae In Academia CANTABRIGIENSI perquam nobile Alumnum fovit instructissimum Socium ambivit Selectissimum Benefactorem sensit Munificentissimum Ornamentum perpetuo celebrabit singulare Quem Ecclesia MARSTONIENSIS ALESFORDIENSIS STOPFORDIENSIS Rectorem Sedulum EBORACENSIS Canonicum Pium GLOCESTRIENSIS WINTONIENSIS Decanum Providum CESTRIENSIS LEICHF COVENTR DUNELMENSIS Praesulem Vigilantem Habuere Qui Post plurimos pro Sanctâ Ecclesiâ Christi Catholicâ Exantlatos labores Elucubrata Volumina Toleratas afflictiones Diuturnâ heu nimium Ecclesiae procellâ Hinc inde jactatus Huc demum appulsus Bonis exutus omnibus Bonâ praeterquam famâ Conscientiâ Tandem etiam Corpore Senex Caelebs Heic requiescit in Domino Felicem praestolans Resurrectionem Quam suo demum tempore bonus dabit Deus AMEN Nullo non dignus elogio Eò verò dignior quod nullo se dignum aestimaverit Obiit Crastino S. MATTHAEI Sepultus Festo S. MICHAELIS Anno Salutis 1659. Aetatis 95. Episcopatus 44. THE END Apoc. 12.7 Verse 6. Verse 4. Verse 3. Verse 2. 1 Cor. 9.25 Jam. 1.12 Apoc. 2.10 1 Pet. 5.4 Alex. ab Alexandr Genial dier l. 5. c. 8. Nam palaestrâ pugnis cursu lucta certabatur S. Luk. 13.24 Heb. 12.1 verse 23. c. 2 Tim. 2.5 S. Chrysost Hom. 9. in 2 Tim. cap. 4. 1 Tim. 1.15 Ephes 3.8 1 Cor. 15.9 1 King 20.11 1 Cor. 15.26 vers 1 2. Vers 3 4. Vers 5. Vers 6. 2 Tim. 1.4 St. Aug. de peccat mer. remiss lib 2. c. 16. Vid. D. Ham. in loc Baron Tom. 1. ad An. 59. num 13 14 15. (a) Grotius in loc St. Aug. ubi supra (b) Pontius Diâ—c in vit S. Cyprian (c) Vid. Baron Tom. 5. ad An. 407. num 9. (d) Mr. Fox Act. Mon. (e) Life of Bp. Jewel in his works (f) Vid. Corn. a Lap. in loc Paulinus in vit ejus S. Aug. lib. 2. de peccator mer. remiss cap. 16. 2 Cor. 11.28 Col. 1.28 29. 1 Cor. 15.10 Ephes 6.12 1 Cor 9. ult 2 Cor. 7.5 Act. 9.16 2 Cor. 11.25 Gal. 5.11 Phil. 3.8 Col. 1.24 Heb. 2.10 S. Mat. 10.24 Rom. 8.17 2 Cor. 4.17 1 Thess 2.11 S. Chrys ubi supra Ephes 6.16 Phil. 1.17 1 Tim. 6.12 Gal. 6.12 S. Jude ver 3. 1 Cor. 15.32 Acts 14.19 1 Cor. 9. ult 2 Tim. 2.5 Phil. 4.17 Acts 21.13 Phil. 2.16 Heb. 12.1 1 Cor. 9.26 Chap. 5.7 Chap. 2.2 Psal 119.32 Psal 147.15 Isa 52.7 Rom. 10.15 Ubi supra Psal 19.5 Rom. 15.19 Verse 10. Verse 4. St. Aug. de Gra. lib. arbit cap. 7. Primas Cor. a lap Calvin in loc Acts 24.14 Acts 17.18 Acts 24.1 2. Acts 23.12 Acts 14.19 19.28 Acts 13.10 16.22 Acts 25.23 2 Cor. 11.32 1 Cor. 11.1 (a) S. Hieron in Psal 44. pro patribus tuis nati sunt tibi filii Fuerunt O Ecclesia Apostoli patres tui Nunc autem quia illi mundo recesserunt habes pro his Episcopos filios c. (b) Idem ep 54. ad Marcel Apud nos Apostolorum locum Episcopi tenent c. (c) Idem Ep. 1. ad Helidor Non est facile stare loco Pauli tenere gradum Petri c. (d) 2 Reg. 1.2 (e) 1 Sam. 28.8 (f) Dan. 3.12 (g) Jud. 8.33 Job 7.1 Ephes 6.12 Jud. 15.4 Printed at Oxford 1644. Psal 39.6 Psal 90.10 Sueton. Xiphilin in Vespas Tit. 2.12 S. Mat. 6.32 Wisd 4.13 1 Sam. 12.3 Psal 37.6 2 Tim. 2.3 1 Cor. 9. ult Apoc. 12.10 1 S. Pet. 3.17 2.19 S. Mat. 5.10 Col. 1.24 Phil. 3.8 S. Mat. 13.5 S. Luke 8.15 Verse 6. Verse 5. Verse 3. Isa 37.4 Psal 25.5 Psal 51.18 Isa 13.21 Psal 69.36 Numb 16.5 Psal 122.7 Psal 132.9 Verse 1 2. St. Luke 16.27