Divine Inspiration will readily grant that in two or three Lines I destroy your Hypothesis viz. That there is no other Difference or Distinction betwixt the Father Son and Holy Ghost than there is betwixt Infinite Goodness Wisdom and Power It is most agreeable to the Holy Scriptures to say That Infinite Goodness is Infinite Wisdom and Power and that Infinite Wisdom is Infinite Goodness and Power and that Infinite Power is Infinite Goodness and Wisdom But it is most contrary to the Holy Scriptures to say That the Father is the Son and the Holy Ghost and that the Son is the Father and the Holy Ghost and that the Holy Ghost is the Father and the Son Your ridiculing the Heavenly Senniments of St. Augustin concerning the Divine Beauty is such an Abomination that I cannot recite it without an Horresco Referens as a Preface to the Recitation of such a Blasphemous Harangue P. 4. Let us seriously consider How could Epicurus more Graphically describe his Idle Voluptuous Deity than by comparing him to a Beautiful Lady pleasing her self with the Image of her fair Face reflected in a bright smooth Glass or How could he give a better Account of his regardlesness of the World than by saying his Life his Glory and his Pleasure are all his Interest and and these are determined to one another Now I pray thee Reader what is all this to thee or me but a Discouragement from hoping any good from such a God and consequently from paying him any Love or Service Be the Lady never so perfect in Beauty her Glass never so exactly clear her Delight in it never so ravishing what is this to the well-ordering of her Family but an hindrance A Noble Eloquent and Judicious Writer in his Advice to a Daughter telleth her That her Servants will more value her House-keeper than her Ladyship if they find she takes no care of them And some will say It is not so unreasonable to Worship the Sun who is the World 's great Benefactor as that Sun ' s Creator if he leaves them without farther regard to their happiness Now I pray thee Reader What is all this to thee or me Is it nothing to me that my God is the Infinity of True Beauty that He is all that I can desire all that deserves my Love The Divine Beauty implies the Glory of infinite Goodness Wisdom and Power and is all this nothing to me It implies the Glory of the Justice of the Divine Vengeance on Impenitent Sinners as they are Impenitent and the Glory of Infinite Mercy towards Sinners that repent or such who tho they do not truly repent have not so hardened their hearts but that they are capable of Repentance And is all this nothing to me Is it nothing to me that the Divine Beauty being Infinite is in all Things and Events Sin only excepted so that whilst I sincerely believe in IESUS all the Objects of my Thoughts are Matter of Joy and Satisfaction unto me The King of Terrors ceases to be terrible and becomes a most useful Subject to those that obey the Royal Law of Liberty and so become Kings and More than Conquerors over all their Enemies This Happiness they attain unto by a true Sense or Practical Knowledge of the Divine Beauty the Infinity of Light and Love And is all this nothing to me Certainly the Divine Beauty is All Things to me One Glympse of it is enough to quench all such burning desires which torment the Souls of Covetous Ambitious and Voluptuous Men. This Beauty do I see in the Image of the Invisible God the Brightness of the Glory of the Father of Lights and the Express Image of his Person Your kind Reflexion upon the Mahometans p. 19. puts me in mind of that most Remarkable Passage in a Learned Book Entituled A Discourse of Natural and Reveal'd Religion Chap. 26. Before 〈◊〉 take my leave of Mahomet it will not be amiss to Advertise my Reader if he be a Christian of the Danger both he and all other Christian are in of being reduc'd under the Slavery of this Mortal and Common Enemy so that how prosperous soever the Christian Arms are or have been we are still in greater danger than ever of being ruin'd by the Legions of these Infidels not those of their Spahi's or Ianizaries but by those of another Order far more mischievous forasmuch as they fight under our Colours and pretend to be of our Party such Enemies are ever look'd upon as the most dangerous for they are rarely discovered till they have given the Mortal Blow Now these are the Socinians which tho exploded the World above a Thousand Years ago under the Appellation of Arians are in these our days risen again from the Grave and like Spectrums appear every where in the dark P. 29. You say That St. Gregory Nazianzen in his 35th Oration maketh the Unity no other than pâ—cifical wherein he agreeth with his great Friend St. Basil as appeareth by the Letter sent him expresly upon this Subject by that great Father Have you any Fear of God or Shame of the World who have the Impudence to publish so Notorious a Lye These are St. Gregory Nazianzen's Words in his 38th Oration and there is nothing in his 35th but what is fully agreeable to them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This is the first Verse of one of his Hymns 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That Unity cannot be Specifical or under any Genus which is above all being Absolutely Infinite There is not one Word in any one of St. Basil's Epistle to St. Gregory Nazianzen that might give any Man an Occasion to conceit That he thought the Unity no other then Specifical Blush and be confounded at the reading of these Words of that Holy Father wherein he expresses his Sense of the Divine Unity De Spiritu Sancto Cap. 18. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Where the Unity is Specifical there are Actually or Potentially more than one of the same Kind I shall now give you some of my Reflections upon the Conclusion of your Sophistical Essay Some I hope say you will find satisfaction in the very Doctrine as now stated Those that cannot fully grant their Assent and Consent to the Doctrine for its own sake may find some Ease if not full Cure of their Scruples when they Conform to our Establish'd Worship for Peace sake The former indeed is the best Fruit but the later is not contemptible If I obtain either of them I have already a sufficient Reward Yet I hope for a greater from that Lord whom I have thus endeavoured to serve and who hath said Blessed are the Peace-makers Here you plainly discover your Develish Design to bring the Socinians into the Communion of the Church of England and consequently to Corrupt and Destroy Her I grant That an Unlawful Petition in the Public Prayers is no sufficient Cause for any Man to separate himself from such a Religious Assembly which otherwise he should he obliged
the World 's proud Head He wants not a Companion Whom GOD the surest Guide doth lead SIR SINCE I receiv'd yours I have been so unexpectedly busy that I have not had the opportunity before now to write an Answer And I am even now upon a Journy and something streighten'd in-time but so much I must take as to signifie to you how sensible I am of your Affection to my self tho I have had no occasion to oblige you but that which is the main to congratulate you for that Grace of God which he has shew'd you in bringing you into so lively a sense of the best things There is nothing better than what you drive at in both your Greek and English Poetry Love or Charity joyned with Humility is the most heavenly Disposition that the Soul of Man is capable of and the second as it will ballast the first well and prevent all the danger of over-much Rapturousness so it will direct the efficacy thereof to all useful services towards Mankind and especially such as are incumbent upon any Duty of Place or Calling Peter lovest thou me feed my Sheep c. Which makes me conceive that Flock happy that have for their Pastor so excellent a Soul so invigorated with that which must needs stir up all men to do their utmost for the Salvation of others and to serve them in whatever good they can I am abruptly taken off by company and have only time enough to tell you That it is thought that one Mr. Hallywell once Fellow of our Colledge is the Author of Deus Justificatus This is all for the present but that I am Your Affectionate Friend and Servant Hen. More SIR I receiv'd yours a week or two ago tho I have had no time till now to signifie so much to you The last time I wrote to you I wrote also to Mr. D. but I have heard nothing since from him I wish he be well I superscrib'd my Letter as heretofore It 's pretty you should light on a Tetrastick in Greg. Nazianzen so like my 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which upon receiving your Translation of my 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without Translating that I one morning turn'd into English thus as near as I could Nor whence nor who I am poor wretch know I Nor O the blindness whither I shall go But in the crooked Claws of Grief I lye And live I think thus tugged to and fro Waking and Dreams all one O Father I own T is rare we Mortals live i' th Clouds like Thee Lyes Toyes or some hid Fate us fix or move All else being dark what 's Life I only see Your Youthful Poetical Fire you see transfuses a little warmth into my old Blood Your Translation both Latin and English is very well and indeed your divine Solitude is Excellent These Expressions as they are the Emanations and transient Effluxes of a living Fountain in a man are both the effects and evidence of that divine happiness the Soul is capable of even in this Life I am something solicitous that I hear nothing from Mr. D. that he should not be well When you write to him I pray you tell him That I writ to him the last time I wrote to you and send me word of his Health I am Yours Affectionately Hen. More C. C. C. Feb. 12. Greg. Naz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quis priùs ipse fui quis sum quis eroque nec ipse Novi nec sophiae me quoque laude prior Sed vagor huc illuc caligine tectus opaca Nil horum quae mens nostra requir it habens 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Unde huc adveni vel quò Miser ipse recedam Vel quis sim diris tenebris mens obsita nescit Huc illuc Agitant vario fata horrida motu In vivis remanens vix possim cernere vitam Somnio sic Vigilans O Iupeter O Pater Euge Sunt etiam Nebulae nobis Habitacula Nugas Falsiloquos homines inania nomina rerum Haec solum in Vitâ memini vidisse misellâ I know not whence I came nor what I am O wretched blindness nor to what I tend But scratch't and torn with Sorrow Pain and Shame I seem to live a thousand woes me rend My waking thoughts are Dreams O Father Iove How brave is this ev'n we live in the clouds Lyes Fancies Cheats their strength in us do prove But all good things the Night of Error shrouds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luminis Aeterni Radius de Culmine Coeli Elapsus Coelum quanta haec sunt gaudia Spiro Flammigeris Alis rapidè me tollit in Altum Sanctus amor verâque animus Bonitate potitur Vanida diffugiunt cum tristi Somnia Nocte Et circumvolvit nos lux super Aethera fulgens Alma Fides Sapiens Fortis Divina Voluptas Vita est sed reliquis Quantum est in rebus inane NOX tenebrae nubila Confusa mundi turbida LUX intrat albescit Polus CHRISTUS venit discedite Prudentius Hymn Mat. Beam of eternal Light from Heav'n I came And O the pleasure unto Heaven I go Now Love infolds me in its Tow'ring Flame I truly live my thoughts with joy o're-flow Farewell to Night and Dreams Th' eternal Sun Doth us surround true uncreated Light Faith Wisdom Joy and Strength our Race to run Is Life but all things else are Death and Night DIVINE SOLITUDE 1. BLest Solitude in thee I found The only way to cure the Wound Of my perplexed Heart Here I escap'd the Worlds loud Noise That drowns our Blessed Saviours Voice And makes him to depart 2. Whilst thus retir'd I do attend Toth ' Words of my Eternal FRIEND How my Heart leaps for Ioy Love and Rejoyce says he but know There 's no such thing as Ioy below The Pleasures there destroy 3. If thou wilt Creatures love be sure Thou keep thy heart in me secure Know that I 'm ALL IN ALL. Then whatsoe're those Creatures prove Thou never shall repent thy Love Thy Hopes shall never fall 4. Thou shalt still have thy Hearts desire And sit down by th' ETERNAL FIRE When e're thy Heart grows cold But when I see a Friends deep Grief I 'm griev'd methinks beyond Relief This Grief no Words unfold 5. If thy griev'd Friend will love says He In dark Affliction he shall see The nearest way to Bliss But if he mind the Worlds fond Toys And take the Sport of
Apes for Joys He 's not thine thou' rt not his 6. And thus we talk my LORD and I So do I live above the Skye Though here I move and breath And when this Vapours gone I shall Enjoy to 'th full my ALL IN ALL Not Die but conquer Death SIR SInce my last to you I have receiv'd four Letters and a Book from you The other next to this mentions the Divine Dialogues and takes occasion from those plain Hymns at the end of the Dialogues to fly aloft into an higher strain of Poetry I wish that Book may have so good effect as your Muse Prognosticates Your kind Letter dated in December again mentions the Divine Dialogues and does more confidently challenge me for the Author of them than the former And indeed I am so generally suspected that I am fain to let it be so I am glad they have so much gratified you in the reading the three first Dialogues are more universally accepted but the two last bear too much upon Prophecies which are not according to the gust and mode of this present Age. Whereas notwithstanding they that complain of the uncertainty and obscurity of that Subject are too ordinarily drawn to give assent to such things as have not any thing near the like coherence or evidence But every Creature will go in its own Tract Your Reflections upon Humility and Rapture are very useful and judicious And he that improves his sincerity to the utmost will find his way through all without a Monitor I am glad you are so well satisfied with the Discourse of the grounds of Faith I must confess it seems to my self firm and solid I suppose you receiv'd mine wherein I gave you an account of the Author of Deus Iustificatus No more for the present but that I am Dear SIR Your Affectionate Friend to serve you Hen. More SIR I Receiv'd yours of Ian. 9. a pretty while ago but had not leasure to return Answer till now in such cases it is most rational to rest in the determination of Providence and to keep a mans Affections free from all things and knit them only to that ONE whose due they are That what a mans Arm is to his Body that his whole Soul and all the Powers thereof may be to the Sovereign Good inseparably united thereto by a kind of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Arm is to the Body that not enduring to be disjoyned from the Body will let its hold go from any thing rather than endure that Peril and Pain So whatever we lay hold on by our Affections in the things of this World we are ever to be free in that grasp and not let them grow to the Object but be in a readiness to let go and keep our own liberty entire for the only service of the Sovereign Good And in good earnest to endeavour to die to all things of this world and the allurements thereof and to seek our satisfaction in that One that is above all and affords more pleasure than all the things of this world But if a man be not fully Master of his Body and Complexion it is impossible but it will shew him many a slim Trick For so far forth as we are subject to the suggestions of the Body we are captivated in Fate and Ignorance and must be exposed to the Impostures and Mockeries of this vain World and fall so far short of the desirable liberty of the Sons of God Wherefore discreet Devotion and accurate and continued Temperance is necessary to all such as have a desire to avoid these Snares I am glad the Divine Dialogues prov'd so seasonable and serviceable to you It was a pretty Curiosity betwixt you and Mr. Baxter but I think you would do best not to trouble your mind with such Notions as though true are not necessary But I on the other side much wonder at those that are so loath to admit that the administration of Gods Providence is according to what is best unless they choose rather to reproach God than acknowledge their Ignorance in the Excellencies of his Providence but measure things according to the shallowness and narrowness of our own Light or Thoughts You intimate some Exceptions of men against the Prophetick part of the Dialogues which I wonder not at many having neither a Spirit nor competent patience to consider such things but if you think good in your next to send me their most considerable Objections and from what sort of men they are it will not be unacceptable That you are so much concerned in the Doctrine of the Power to become holy c. I am glad to hear it from you Belief is but the first step and if men will not so much as embrace that nothing will succeed According to thy Faith so be it unto thee saith our Saviour It is the Hypocrisy of the World that they are loath to have the blame lay'd at their own doors that they are not so good as they should be But they that have this Belief with Sincerity it is a great Cordial unto them and will assuredly carry them very effectually to perfect Holiness in the fear of God In which Noble pursuit I wish you and all Men good Success and abruptly take leave and rest Your Affectionate Friend to serve you Hen. More SIR THis is only to inform you that I have since my last to you receiv'd your two Books one for Dr. Cudworth and the other for my self The Doctor will find time he says to return you his thanks himself as I do for mine which I read over with a good relish I have also receiv'd your last Letter and am glad that you feel your self with that satisfaction setled in your own Element Your Resolutition of managing your Province there is sober christian and laudable and you will find every day more and more the comfort of it That God would be pleased to confirm you and prosper you in so good a way is the hearty desire of Dear SIR Your Affectionate Friend to serve you Hen. More C. C. C. Iune 7. 1681. SIR I Suppose yours of August 16. was the last you wrote to me which therefore being above two months ago and you hearing nothing from me all this time you may easily surmise your Letter miscarried or that it is a miscarriage in me that I have been so long silent But I have been so hurried from one thing to another that I knew not how the time went and scarce believ'd this to be your last Letter when I sought it ought amongst many others by reason of the oldness of the Date But having perus'd it again I found it was the Letter I had not yet answer'd And it will not be easie to make an answer proportionable to the kindness and seriousness thereof That you find so much satisfaction and pleasure in the reading my Writings is no ungrateful News to me it being the only end so far as I know of writing them to
Young you know that Greek saying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Whom God loves dies young See the Book of Wisdom Chap. 4. Vol. 10 11 c. The Vanity Wickedness and Miseries we are incident to in this Body of Flesh you cannot but think of But if you could by chearful persuasions of the happiness of the departing into the other World cause her to be pleas'd or desirous to leave this I know not but it may contribute her mind being thus chear'd to the bettering the state of her Body and help on a Recovery if she be at all recoverable But no doubt but whatever shall happen from the Providence of our gracious God will be for the best to whose Guidance and Assistance I commend you and rest Dear SIR Your Affectionate Friend to serve you Hen. More C. C. C. March 13th 1684. An Epitaph on the Truly Vertuous L. M. F. who dyed May 10th 1687. MAid Wife and Widow she did always shew Her Business was to give to all their due To God her Husband and her Children dear She gave her Soul her Love her constant Care Her Husbands Death of all her Children too And ev'ry thing that mortal Men can call Woe With Christian Patience she did undergo On Earth she met whatever could molest To fit her Soul for everlasting rest In Solitudinem Cui aliquot Mensibus assuevit priùsquam sibi innotuit Praestantissimum Virum Optimum amicorum H. M. è Vitâ discessisse Scilicet Humani Generis consortia vito Angelico ut valeam me Sociare Choro Arctiùs Amplector te nunc Coelestis Amice Nulla venit sine te Nox mihi nulla dies In Somno Visa est Species Morientes Amici Ah quanto Exardent Pectora Amore mea Me placidè aspiciens Flammantem hac voce repressit Irruat in Mentem Passio nulla Tuam POTERIS NEC MORTE REVELLI SIR YOurs of Feb. 29th I have receiv'd c. There is no pleasure comparable to the not being captivated by any external thing whatsoever but to reserve himself entire for the service of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Your Judgment touching the drinking of Wine is true and will stick with you the better since it is built upon experience Amongst your other Verses I more particularly like that Distich I do but think my Friends are Good but know My Love is good which I on them bestow That Faith and Belief in the Power of God to become holy c. it is the great Gift of God to you that you are to acknowledge with all Humility and Thankfulness for it is of main importance for the making a man good and it is a sign of a great measure of simplicity of Spirit that a man will own such a Doctrine for it is a sign he seeks no Excuses for the Evil he commits but openly lays the fault at his own door and exposes himself to the more severe and envious Censures of other men But here a man must be sure to attribute all to the Power of God and that not only rationally and verbally but feelingly and sincerely and to confirm the truth of his Profession by a most profound and exemplary Humility of mind and conversation Whether it be in the Power of all men to believe this so important Doctrine is a Question more uncertain but the Belief theréof being of that great importance for holiness of Life it is very ill done of any Man to oppose it I wrote to our Friend Mr. D. the last time I wrote to you and superscrib'd it according to his direction but I know not whether it carry'd my Letter to him if you know whether he has receiv'd it or no and would give your self the trouble of sending me word thereof in your next you would thereby oblige Your affectionate Friend and Servant Hen. More C. C. C. March 13th SIR YOur last Letter I have receiv'd but your former long one tho'I enquired after it at the Post-house yet I cannot recover it I am glad you and Mr. H. are so well satisfied with my Expositions I hope Mr. D. is well tho you have not heard from him of late Your chearful Paraphrase of my 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were enough to revive him You have Translated it very well saving your mistake in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by which I intended I truly Live in Answer to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If you be so long in Translating one after the other as I was in making of them it will be some years For I wrote 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when I was Undergraduate but my 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 after I was Master of Arts. My Enchiridion Ethicum with the Translation of the Greek has been out these two Months at least I am glad my pains are so well accepted as you intimate it is the only reward I am sensible of It is an excellent Text your Friend chose out of Ieremiah and very suitable to his purpose I am glad you have your Health so well and that you do so well bestow it Your associating or not associating in the Circumstances you name you must your self be judge of according as you find your self in a capacity to do good thereby and receive no harm A man must feel his way in such things I see nothing amiss in that Passage of your Divine Solitude There 's a good lively strain in both your Paraphrases but the English seems the more easie and nearer to the Copy I am much straitned in time which has made me scribble so fast and leave off so soon and have a line or two to write to Mr. D. to see if he will speak to his and Your affectionate Friend and Servant H. More C. C. C. Jan. 8 1669. SIR THe Year is expired and yet I have not answer'd yours of the 9th of October which I hope you will excuse especially I having now the opportunity of wishing you a happy New Year I am glad my Enchiridion Metaphysicum gave you that satisfaction The Poetical Heat it stirred up in you is sound and good and the Verses handsome The other two parts of my Metaphysics will be less needful when my Writings are Translated into Latine In the first part I have done what is most proper for me to do in what follows there would be but what either others or my self have said already but if I live to publish my second Volume viz. the Philosophical no new thoughts touching this Metaphysical Subject shall be lost but I will contrive them in some form or other to go along with the Philosophical Volume I am now altogether taken up with Translating my Writings into Latine If you see Dr. T. again I pray you remember my service to him Dr. Barrow is a very worthy Person and that Discourse you mention very good and christian That saying of yours touching the eternity of the World is as true as handsome as my judgment is now but heretofore
I thought so much of the goodness and power of God that I did not so much consider the incapacity of the Creature If it please God I live to finish the present Task I am taken up with it is likely enough I may write such a Practical Treatise in English which I have long since call'd the Safe Guide but whatever becomes of me I doubt not but God will stir up those that will assist his true Church and the main ends of Religion Nothing more for the present but that I am Dear SIR Yours Affectionately Hen. More Jan. 2. 1671. SIR I Have receiv'd yours of Nov. 10. I was so full of business that I was fain to defer the answering of it till now I told Dr. Cudworth what service his Sermon did you on that place of Scripture you mention That saying of Plotinus you have pickt out with Judgment it is very significantly exprest and that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is that wherewith all men are in a manner always hurried scarce any attending to that which is more inward in the Soul her self and truly Moral and Divine Plotinus is raised to a great price it seems I bought one when I was Iunior Master for 16 shillings and I think I was the first that had either the luck or courage to buy him As for my Latin Translation my Theological Volume is now in the Press and I hope it will be finish't within this year or thereabout When this is out I intend God willing to set upon my Philosophical Writings to Translate them which wiil excuse me the going on in my Enchiridion Metaphysicum But I shall I believe in an Epistle give some brief Account of what I should have done if I had gone on whereby nothing new shall be lost I pray return my affectionate service wishing you both a chearful Christmass and an happy New Year I take leave and rest Dear SIR Your Affectionate Friend to serve you Hen. More C. C. C. Decemb. 27th 1673. SIR I Deliver'd your enclosed Book to Dr. Cudworth after I had run it over my self he returns his thanks to you for it who has also run it over but has not had leisure to observe things so closely and districtly as to spy out those points you intimate that you differ from him in I think you would do well distinctly and expresly to signifie them to him or me I asked him about his Second Volume but he says He hath so many both Colledge Occasions and Domestick that he cannot yet tell when he shall be in readiness to send the Papers of his Second Volume to the Press I wish you all good success in your competition for your Lecturers place in St. Clements and should be glad to hear that you have sped There 's good pious and useful sense in your Verses but that passage in which there is a Star and refers to Gregory the Great is notwithstanding dark and obscure to me Your Letter to the Chancellor of Denmark has things in it not unsuitable to his Condition and fit to be thought on in all Conditions For he that makes it not his business to enlarge his own Will and Desire is a real Prisoner in his inward Man tho' his outward be free to go where he will Whoever permits himself in any sin or is captivated with any thing but the love of God and true Vertue is his own Prison and Jailour And in those things therefore every Man is sincerely and impartially to examine himself and forthwith to break the Bands and Cords of whateverVanity he finds himself held with and cast them from him that he may become the faithful Servant of Christ whose service is perfect Freedom Thus with my kind respects committing you both to Gods gracious keeping I take leave and rest Your Affectionate Friend to serve you Hen. More December 2d 1678. SIR I Beg your pardon that I have not return'd my Thanks for your civil and pious Letter at this time it being almost a Quarter of a Year since I receiv'd it But I have been much taken up in business and have but so much leasure as to excuse my self Your Citations out of Savanorola are pertinent and pious and certainly he was a ve-Holy Man But Picus Mirandulanus has dress'd up his Life so that it looks like one of the rest of the Roman Legends He knew more than those Times would bear and 't was his honesty and courage that he would die in what he knew to be true I am glad you find so much benefit in being persuaded of that main point of Faith in the assistance of Christ's Spirit for the subduing our Corruptions There is little hope of any progress in the ways of true Holiness without it And they that have it possess a Jewel if they make right use of it and not entertain it as a true Notion only but as an indispensable Principle of Life that will remind us perpetually That it is long of our selves if we be not as we should be for as much as we are assur'd there is in readiness so powerful a supply of Strength and Grace from Christ if we will sincerely set our selves to resist our Spiritual Enemies As for the Query you put to me I think you are a little too early in forecasting about such things Let us speak what is true and do what is just and righteous and make it our business to kill and consume all remainders of Corruption in our Souls and Bodies in that condition we are and God will give us Wisdom when the time of suffering comes to do what is most behooffal No man can give Advice at such a distance either to himself or any one else I am sure I cannot what he is to resolve of But in general the safest way is that in which there is the greatest Self denyal and that no interest of his own stands in competition with the interest of Christ's Church and Kingdom Thus commending you to God's gracious Guidance and Keeping I take leave and rest Your Affectionate Friend and Servant Hen. More C. C. C. Feb. 2. 1681. SIR YOurs of Iune 23d came to Cambridge first but in my absence from thence was sent me to London which I brought with me hither again but I have been in such an hurry of business both at London and here since my return that I had no leasure to look out your Letter and peruse it till now I am glad you are so much gratified with my Philosophical Volumes The Copies in Quires is my Gift to you but if you will indulge so much to your own proneness to lay out your mony that way as to pay for the Binding you may follow your own humour in that if you be so minded The same party that you say declared to that French Gentleman that I wrote not satis terse I have heard from other hands that he has much commended my Latine Style So that these things are as mens Humours take them and searce
one of a thousand that can make shift to understand Latine are competent Judges of a Style but measure things by the scantness of their own skill in the Tongue As Theophrastus his Character of a Country man in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is touching his receiving Mony that he would cry out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because he had not the skill to discern what was current and what not But for any little fidling 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where any such occur I leave the Reader to mend as I declare after the Syllabus Scriptorum c. to all the World The Employment you hug your self in is a very noble and weighty Employment and if you see your Labour succeed in your hand you need envy no man's Happiness that fancy themselves in an higher or more splendid Condition besides that our stay here upon Earth is but for a moment so that if men were not intoxicated with the unwholesome Fumes of the World they would be ashamed of their so much stickling to get the most Counters and Cherry-Cobs These be Seneca's Pueri Barbati And to avoid that Sarcasm one would think it were the humour of the Age so universally to cut off their Beards that such Stoics may not pull them by them How one should be Affected in Divine Worship your intimations are sound and right so far as I see and your Study of condescending to the capacity of meaner people highly laudable And if you can engage Sir S. to read over with you that Manual you mention and seriously to consider it I hope with God's Blessing it may do him much good Your Poetry is handsome upon the Anagram of the Name of the Gentleman's Father But still I advise you to heat your self no more than needs must With my commendations committing you all to God's gracious keeping I take leave and rest Dear SIR Your Affectionate Friend to serve you Hen. More C. C. C. Aug. 10th 1682. SIR I humbly thank you for your Accumulation of Favours RO. SHARROCK THese following Verses I Present to all Pious Readers particularly to those who with me enjoy'd the Friendship of these Excellent Men whose Names shall be esteem'd amongst the Learned as better than Pretious Ointment through all Generations Reflections on a Passage in some Printed Verses Entituled An Essay of Friendship Thy Contemplation yields more Ioy Than all the Transports of the winged Boy 1. WHere Souls indeed united are Without the mixture of gross Sense No Time or Chance their Ioys impair Advanc'd to Pure Intelligence 2. Wit Learning Beauty Vertue All That comes from GOD they quickly spy Not only what Men here so call But what 's such in Capacity 3. They who Immortal Souls can love Do All Created Beauty View Since beyond Time their Thoughts still move What they enjoy is always New 4. See sprightly Youths substantial Joy What you pursue is but a Sliade In Paradice your Thoughts employ There Love's Pure Flowers shall never Fade Upon my being Recover'd out of a kind Apoplectical Fit by a spoonful of Cold Water poured into my mouth 1693. BAPTISMAL WATER thus Revives Souls that by Sin have lost their Lives My Soul and Body both Restor'd To Life by the Almighty WORD I' th' use of Water I would be My IESUS so Devote to Thee That from henceforth there be no Fire In me but that which doth aspire To Heav'n above from whence it came In One Pure Everlasting Flame Thus Water sprinkled on my Fire Shall make the Flame still mount the higher That the remainder of this Life may be No stay on Earth but an Ascent to Thee My Reverend Friend I Receiv'd yours and that enclosed by the last Post and this comes with my love and respects to return my Thanks Though I know well enough that I have many Accusers it was in you the part of a Friend to let me know what Crimes they lay to my charge For my not visiting my Diocess I have this to say My great Age and many Infirmities disable me personally to do it being now within a few months 82 years old When I came to the Bishoprick I appointed a Visitation printed Articles and sent them to the Arch-Deacons but when I should have set upon that work I found that I was not able to take such large Journies and do the business which should have been done in them so that upon the sense of my own Disability and my Friends Advice I appointed my Chancellor and Commissioners to Visit for me that time and writ a long Letter to my Brethren the Clergy containing Directions for their Studies and Conversation such as had I been able to have gone in person I should have deliver'd to them by word of mouth in the Speeches I was to make in several places I did afterwards Visit by my Chancellour and Commissioners once or twice Then my Arch-Deacons of which I have 6 in my Diocess Visiting twice a Year I gave them a charge and directions diligently to do it and if any dubious or difficult business happen'd which they could not so really reform I requir'd them to bring it to me that I might Auxiliis consiliis assist them And on this Account I have personally determin'd more Causes especially Cases of Conscience than any of my Accusers ever did or may be ever could But Innocence is no fence against a false Tongue far better Men have been calumniated and I have no reason to expect freedom from what all good Men endure Calumnies However I hope by God's Blessing to have so much Religion and Christian Charity as to pardon and pray for my Enemies and never though it were in my power do nor wish them any harm I thank you for your Animadversions upon Dr. S. How he will be able to justifie those Propositions or give any probable sense of them to free them from Heresie if not Blasphemy I know not Ipse viderit I am Your Affectionate Friend and Brother Tho. Lincolne Buckdon Sept. 1 st 1688. Reverend SIR Sar. Aug. 24. 83. I Congratulate to you the truth of what you learn by the Experience That all things work together for good to them that love God even Crosses and Afflictions sweetned with Joy in the Holy Ghost and whilst you have That you may part with Sir Sandy's Fortescue as you did with your dearer Friend not with contentment only but comfort whilst you live the life of Faith and do believe you shall go to them as well as after them What you Transcribe out of St. Chrysostom is as comfortable as it is true God deals with us as we with our little ones sometimes let 's us fall gently that we must cry to him for help and perfects us by Sufferings as well as the Captain of our Salvation afflicts because he loves us and fits us for himself by both My Latine Book you will have from Mr. Davis whom I hope you have written to for it you will find as full of