THE INTRODUCTION .

I Have been perswaded by a Friend , that I ought to obey , to write , The Life of RICHARD HOOKER , the happy Author of Five ( if not more ) of the Eight Learned Books of The Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity . and though I have undertaken it , yet it hath been with some unwillingness , foreseeing that it must prove to me , and especially at this time of my Age , a Work of much labor to enquire , consider , research , and determine what a needful to be known concerning him . For I knew him not in his Life , and must therefore not onely look back to his Death , ( now Sixty four years past ) but almost Fifty years beyond that , even to his Childhood and Youth , and gather thence such Observations and Prognosticks , as may at least adorn , if not prove necessary for the compleating of what I have undertaken .

This trouble I foresee , and foresee also ; that it is impossible to escape Censures ; against which I will not hope my well-meaning and diligence can protect me , ( for I consider the Age in which I live ) and shall therefore but intreat of my Reader a suspension of them , till I have made known unto him some Reasons , which I my self would now fain believe , do make me in some measure fit for this undertaking : And if these Reasons shall not acquit me from all Censures , they may at least abate of their severity ; and this is all I can probably hope for .

My Reasons follow .

About Forty years past ( for I am now in the Seventieth of my age ) I began a happy affinity with William Cranmer , ( now with God ) Grand Nephew unto the Great Archbishop of that name ; a family of noted prudence and resolution ; with him and two of his sisters I had an entire and free friendship : One of them was the Wife of Dr. Spencer , a Bosom-friend , and sometime Compupil with Mr. Hooker in Corpus-Christi Colledge in Oxford , and after President of the same . I name them here , for that I shall have occasion to mention them in this following Discourse ; as also George Cranmer their Brother , of whose useful abilities my Reader may have a more authentick testimony then my Pen can purchase for him , by that of our Learned Cambden and others .

This William Cranmer and his two forenamed Sisters , had some affinity , and a most familiar friendship with Mr. Hooker , and had had some part of their Education with him in his House , when he was Parson of Bishops-Born near Cantebury ; in which City their good Father then lived . They had ( I say ) a great part of their Education with him , as my self since that time , a happy Cohabitation with them ; and having some years before read part of Mr. Hookers Works with great liking and satisfaction , my affection on to them , made me a diligent Inquisitor into many things that concerned him ; as namely , of his Person , his Nature , the management of his Time , his Wife , his Family , and the Fortune of him and his . Which inquiry hath given me much advantage in the knowledge of what is now under my consideration and intended for the satisfaction of my Reader .

I had also a friendship with the Reverend Dr. Usher , the late Learned Archbishop of Armagh ; and with Dr. Morton , the late Learned and Charitable Bishop of Durham ; as also with the Learned John Hales of Eaton Colledge ; and with them also ( who loved the very name of Mr. Hooker ) I have had many discourses concerning him ; and from them , and many others that have now put off Mortality , I might have had more Informations , if I could then have admitted a thought of any fitness for what by perswasion I have now undertaken . But , though that full Harvest be irrecoverably lost , yet my Memory hath preserved some Gleanings , and my diligence made such Additions to them , as I hope will prove useful to the compleating of what I intend . In the discovery of which I shall be faithful , and with this assurance put a period to my Introduction .

THE LIFE

IT is not to be doubted , but that Richard Hooker was born within the Precincts , or in the City of Exeter . A City which may justly boast that it was the Birth-place of him and Sir Thomas Bodley ; as indeed the County may in which it stands , that it hath furnished this Nation with Bishop Iewel , Sir Francis Drake , Sir Walter Raleigh , and many others memorable for their Valor and Learning . He was born about the Year of our Redemption One thousand five hundred fifty and three ; and of Parents , that were not so remarkable for their Extraction or Riches , as for their Vertue and Industry , and Gods Blessing upon both : By which they were enabled to educate their Children in some degree of Learning , of which , our Richard Hooker may appear to be one fair Testimony : And that Nature is not so partial , as always to give the great Blessings of Wisdom and Learning , and with them the greater Blessings of Vertue and Government , to those onely that are of a more high and honorable Birth .

His Complexion ( if we may guess by him at the Age of Forty ) was Sanguine , with a mixture of Choler ; and yet his Motion was slow even in his Youth , and so was his Speech , never expressing an Earnestness in either of them , but a Gravity suitable to the Aged . And it is observe ( so far as Inquiry is able to look back at this distance of Time ) that at his being a School-boy , he was an early Questionist , quietly inquisitive , Why this was , and that was not , to be remembred ? Why this was granted , and that denied ? This being mixt with a remarkable Modesty , and a sweet serene Quietness of Nature ; and with them a quick Apprehension of many perplext parts of Learning , imposed then upon him as a Scholar , made his Master and others to believe him to have an inward Blessed Divine Light , and therefore to consider him to a little wonder . For in that , Children were less pregnant , less confident , and more malleable , then in this wiser , but not better Age.

This Meekness and conjuncture of Knowledge , with Modesty in his Conversation , being observed by his School-master , caused him to perswade his Parents ( who intended him for an Apprentice ) to continue him at School till he could finde out some means , by perswading his rich Uncle , or some other charitable Person , to ease them of a part of their Care and Charge : Assuring them , that their Son was so enriched with the Blessings of Nature and Grace , that God seemed to single him out as a special Instrument of his Glory . And the good Man told them also , that he would double his diligence in instructing him , and would neither expect not receive any other Reward , then the content of so hopeful and happy an imployment .

This was not unwelcome news , and especially to this Mother , to whom he was a dutiful and dear Childe ; and all Parties were so pleased with this Proposal , that it was resolved So it should be . And in the mean time his Parents and Master laid a Foundation for his future Happiness , by instilling into his Soul the Seeds of Piety . those Consciencious principles of Loving and fearing God ; of an early belief , that he knows the very secrets of our Souls ; that he punisheth our Vices , and rewards our Innocence ; that we should be free from Hypocrisie , and appear to Man , what we are to God , because first or last the crafty man is catcht in his own snare . These Seeds of Piety were so seasonably planted , and so continually watered with the daily dew of Gods Blessed Spirit , that his Infant-vertues grew into such holy Habits , as did make him grow daily into more and more favor , both with God and Man ; which with the great Learning that he did attain to , hath made Richard Hooker honored in this , and will continue him to be so to succeeding Generations .

This good School-master , whose name I am not able to recover , ( and am sorry , for that I would have given him a better Memorial in this humble Monument , dedicated to the memory of his Scholar ) was very sollicitous with Iohn Hooker , then Chamberlain of Exeter , and Uncle to our Richard , to take his Nephew into his care , and to maintain him for one year in the University , and in the mean time to use his Endeavors to procure an Admission for him into some Colledge ; still urging and assuring him that his Charge would not continue long ; for the Lads Learning and Manners were both so remarkable , that they must of necessity be taken notice of ; and that God would provide him some second Patron , that would free him and his Parents from their future care and charge .

These Reasons , with the affectionate Rhetorick of his good Master , and Gods blessing upon both , procured from his Uncle a faithful promise that he would take him into his care and charge before the expiration of the year following , which was performed .

This Promise was made about the Fourth year of the Reign of Queen Mary ; and the Learned Iohn Iewel ( after Bishop of Salisbury ) having been in the first of this Queens Reign expelled out of Corpus-Christi Colledge in Oxford , ( of which he was a Fellow ) for adhering to the truth of those Principles of Religion , to which he had assented in the days of Her Brother and Predecessor , Edward the Sixth ; and he having now a just cause to fear a more heavy punishment then expulsion , was forced by forsaking this , to seek safety in another Nation , and with that safety the enjoyment of that Doctrine and Worship for which he suffered .

But the Cloud of that Persecution and Fear ending with the Life of Queen Mary , the Affairs of the Church and State did then look more clear and comfortable ; so that he , and many others of the same judgment , made a happy return into England about the first of Queen Elizabeth ; in which year , this Iohn Iewel was sent a Commissioner or Visitor of the Churches of the Western parts of this Kingdom , and especially of those in Devonshire , in which County he was born ; and then , and there he contracted a friendship with Iohn Hooker , the Uncle of our Richard .

In the Third year of Her Reign , this Iohn Iewel was made Bishop of Salisbury ; and there being always observed in him a willingness to do good and oblige his Friends , and now a power added to it : Iohn Hooker gave him a visit in Salisbury , and besought him for Charities sake to look favorably upon a poor Nephew of his , whom Nature had fitted for a Scholar ; but the estate of his Parents was so narrow , that they were unable to give him the advantage of Learning ; and that the Bishop would therefore become his Patron , and prevent him from being a Tradesman ; for he was a Boy of remarkable hopes . And though the Bishop knew Men do not usually look with an indifferent eye upon their own children and Relations , yet he assented so far to Iohn Hooker , that he appointed the Boy and his School-master should attend him about Easter next following at that place ; which was done accordingly : And then after some Questions and Observations of the Boys Learning , and Gravity , and Behavior , the Bishop gave his School-master a Reward , and took order for an Annual Pension for the Boys Parents , promising also to take him into his care for a future preferment ; which was performed . For , about the Fourteenth year of his age , which was Anno 1567. he was by the Bishop appointed to remove to Oxford , and there to attend Dr. Cole , then President of Corpus-Christi Colledge : Which he did , and Dr. Cole had ( according to a promise made to the Bishop ) provided for him both a Tutor ( which was said to be the Learned Dr. Iohn Reynolds ) and a Clerks place in that Colledge : Which place , though it were not a full maintenance , yet with the contribution of his Uncle , and the continued Pension of his Patron , the good Bishop , gave him a comfortable subsistence . And in this condition he continued unto the Eighteenth year of his age , still increasing in Learning and Prudence , and so much in Humility and Piety , that he seemed to be filled with the Holy Ghost , and even like St. Iohn Baptist , to be sanctified from his Mothers Womb , who did often bless the day in which she bare him .

About this time of his age , he fell into a dangerous Sickness , which lasted two Moneths : All which time , his Mother having notice of it , did in her hourly Prayers as earnestly beg his life of God , as the Mother of St. Augustine did , that he might become a true Christian : And their Prayers were both so heard , as to be granted . Which Mr. Hooker would often mention with much joy , and pray that he might never live to occasion any sorrow to so good & Mother , whom he would often say , he loved so dearly , that he would endeavor to be good , even as much for her sake , as for his own .

As soon as he was perfectly recovered from this Sickness , he took a journey from Oxford to Exeter , to satisfie and see his good Mother , being accompanied with a Countreyman and Companion of his own Colledge , and both on foot ; which was then either more in fashion , or want of Money , or their Humility made it so : But on foot they went , and took Salisbury in their way , purposely to see the good Bishop , who made Mr. Hooker and his Companion dine with him at his own Table ; which Mr. Hooker boasted of with much joy and gratitude when he saw his Mother and Friends : And at the Bishops parting with him , the Bishop gave him good Counsel , and his Benediction , but forgot to give him Money ; which when the Bishop had considered , he sent a Servant in all hasle to call Richard back to him : And at Richards return , the Bishop said to him , Richard , I sent for you back to lend you a Horse which hath carried me many & mile , and I thank God with much ease . And presently delivered into his hand a Walking-staff , with which he professed he had travelled through many parts of Germany . And he said , Richard , I do not give , but lend you my Horse ; be sure you be honest , and bring my Horse back to me at your return this way to Oxford . And I do now give you Ten Groats to bear your charges to Exeter ; and here is Ten Groats more , which I charge you to deliver to your Mother , and tell her , I send her a Bishops Benediction with it , and beg the continuance of her Prayers for me . And if you bring my Horse back to me , I will give you Ten Groats more to carry you on foot to the Colledge : And so God bless you , good Richard .

And this , you may believe , was performed by both parties . But alas ! the next news that followed Mr. Hooker to Oxford was , That his Learned and Charitable Patron had changed this for a better life . Which may be believed , for that as he lived , so he died , in devout Meditation and Prayer ; and in both so zealously , that it became a Religious question , Whether his last Ejaculations , or his Soul , did first enter into Heaven ?

And now Mr. Hooker became a Man of Sorrow and Fear : Of sorrow , for the loss of so dear and comfortable a Patron ; and of Fear , for his future subsistence . But Dr. Cole raised his spirits from this dejection , by bidding him go cheerfully to his Studies , and assuring him he should neither want Food not Rayment , ( which was the utmost of his hopes ) for he would become his Patron .

And so he was for about Nine Moneths , or not much longer ; for about that time this following accident did befal Mr. Hooker .

Edwin Sandys ( then Bishop of London , and after Archbishop of York ) had also been in the days of Queen Mary forced , by forsaking this , to seek safety in another Nation ; where for many years , Bishop Iewel and he were Companions at Bed and Board in Germany ; and , where in this their Exile , they did often eat the Bread of Sorrow , and by that means they there began such a friendship , as time did not blot out , but lasted till the death of Bishop Iewel , which was One thousand five hundred seventy and one . A little before which time the two Bishops meeting , Iewel began a story of his Richard Hooker , and in it gave such a Character of his Learning and Manners , that though Bishop Sandys was educated in Cambridge , where he had obliged , and had many Friends : Yet his resolution was , that his Son Edwin should be sent to Corpus-Christi Colledge in Oxford , and by all means be Pupil to Mr. Hooker , though his Son Edwin was then almost of the same age : For the Bishop said , I will have a Tutor for my Son , that shall teach him Learning by Instruction , and Vertue by Example ; and my greatest care shall be of the last , and ( God willing ) this Richard Hooker shall be the Man , into whose hands I will commit my Edwin . And the Bishop did so about Twelve Moneths after this resolution .

And doubtless , as to these two , a better choice could not be made : For , Mr. Hooker was now in the Nineteenth year of his age ; had spent five in the University , and had by a constant unwearied diligence , attained unto a Perfection in all the Learned Languages : By the help of which , as excellent Tutor , and his unintermitted Study , he had made the subtilty of all the Arts easie and familiar to himself , and useful for the discovery of such Learning as lay hid from common Searchers . So that by these added to his great Reason , and his Industry added to both , He did not onely know more of Causes and Effects ; but what he knew , he knew better then other men . And with this Knowledge he had a most blessed and clear Method of Demonstrating what he knew , to the great advantage of all his Pupils , ( which in time were many ) but especially to his two first , his dear Edwin Sandys , and his as dear George Cranmer , of which there will be a fair Testimony in the ensuing Relation .

This for his Learning . And for his Behavior , amongst other Testimonies , this still remains of him , That in four years he was but twice absent from the Chappel prayers ; and that his Behavior there was such as shewed an awful reverence of that God which he then worshipped and prayed to ; giving all outward Testimonies that his Affections were set on Heavenly things . This was his Behavior towards God ; and for that to Man , it is observable , That he was never known to be angry , or passionate , or extream in any of his desires ; never heard to repine or dispute with Providence , but by a quiet gentle submission and resignation of his will to the Wisdom of his Creator bore the burthen of the day with patience ; never heard to utter to an uncomly word : And by this and a grave Behavior , which is a Divine Charm , hebegot an early Reverence unto his Person , even from those that at other rimes , and in other companies , took a liberty to cast off that strictness of Behavior and Discourse that is required in a Collegiate Life . And when he took any liberty to be pleasant , his Wit was never blemished with scoffing , or the utterance of any conceit that bordered upon , or might beget a thought of loosness in his hearers . Thus innocent and exemplary was his Behavior in his Colledge ; and thus this good man continued till his Death ; still increasing in Learning , in Patience , and Piety .

In this Nineteenth year of his Age , he was chosen , December 24. 1573. to be one of the Twenty Scholars of the Foundation ; being elected and admitted as born in Devonshire , ( out of which County a certain number are to be elected in Vacancies by the Founders Statutes . ) and now he was much encouraged ; for now he was perfectly incorporated into this beloved Colledge , which was then noted for an eminent Library , strict Students , and remarkable Schollars . And indeed it may glory , that it had Bishop Iewel , Doctor Iohn Reynolds , and Doctor Thomas Iackson , of that Foundation . The first , famous by his Learned Apology for the Church of England , and his Defence of it against Harding . The second , for the learned and wise Menage of a publick Dispute with Iohn Hart , of the Roman perswasion , about the Head and Faith of the Church , then Printed by consent of both parties . And the third , for his most excellent Exposition of the Creed , and for his other Treatises ; all such as have given greatest satisfaction to men of the greatest Learning . Nor was this man more eminent for his Learning , then for his strict and pious Life , testified by his abundant Love and Charity to all Men.

In the year 1576. February 23. Mr. Hookers Grace was given him for Inceptor of Arts ; Doctor Herbert Westphaling , a Man of noted Learning , being then Vice-Chancellor , and the Act following he was compleated Master , which was Anno 1577. His Patron Doctor Cole being that year Vice-Chancellor , and his dear Friend Henry Savil of Merton Colledge , then one of the Proctors . It was that Henry Savil , that was after Sir Henry Savil , Warden of Merton Colledge , and Provost of Eaton : He which founded in Oxford two famous Lectures , and endowed them with liberal maintenance . It was that Sir Henry Savil that translated and enlightned the History of Cornelim Tacitus , with a most excellent Comment ; and , enriched the World by his laborious and chargeable collecting the scattered pieces of St. Chrysostome , and the Publication of them in one entire Body in Greek ; in which Language he was a most judicious Critick . It was this Sir Henry Savil that had the happiness to be a Contemporary , and a most familiar Friend to our Richard Hooker , and let Posterity know it .

And in this year of 1577. he was chosen Fellow of the Colledge : Happy also in being the Contemporary and Friend of Dr. Iohn Reynolds , of whom I have lately spoken , and of Dr. Spencer ; both which were after , and successively , made Presidents of his Colledge : Men of great Learning and Merit , and famous in their Generations .

Nor was Mr. Hooker more happy in his Contemporaries of his Time and Colledge , then in the Pupillage and Friendship of his Edwin Sandys and George Cranmer , of whom my Reader may note , That this Edwin Sandys was after Sir Edwin Sandys . and as famous for his Speculum Europe , as his Brother George for making Posterity beholden to his Pen by a Learned Relation and Comment on his dangerous and remarkable Travels ; and for his harmonious Translation of the Psalms of David , the Book of Iob , and other Poetical parts of Holy Writ , into most high and elegant Verse . And for Cranmer , his other Pupil , I shall refer my Reader to the Printed Testimonies of our Learned Master Cambden , the Lord Tottenes , Fines , Morison , and others .

This Cranmer , whose Christen name was George , was a Gentleman of singular hopes , the eldest Son of Thomas Cranmer , Son of Edward Cranmer , the Archbishops Brother : He spent much of his Youth in Corpus-Christi Colledge in Oxford , where he continued Master of Arts for many years before he removed , and then betook himself to Travel , accompanying that worthy Gentleman Sir Edwin Sandys into France , Germany , and Italy , for the space of three years ; and , after their happy return , he betook himself to an imployment under Secretary Davison : After whose fall , he wen : in place of Secretary with Sir Henry Killigrew in his Embassage into France ; and after his death , he was sought after by the most Noble Lord Mount-Joy , with whom he went into Ireland , where he remained , until in a Battel against the Rebels near Carlingford , an unfortunate wound put an end both to his life , and the great hopes that were conceived of him .

Betwixt Mr. Hooker , and these his two Pupils , there was a Sacred Friendship ; a Friendship made up of Religious Principles , which increased daily by a similitude of Inclinations to the same Recreations and Studies ; a Friendship elemented in Youth , and in an University , free from self-ends , which the Friendships of Age , usually are not . In this sweet , this blessed , this Spiritual Amity they went on for many years : And , as the Holy Prophet saith , so they took sweet counsel together , and walked in the House of God as Friends . By which means they improved it to such a degree of Amity , as bordered upon Heaven ; a Friendship so sacred , that when it ended in this World , it began in the next , where it shall have no end .

And , though this World cannot give any degree of pleasure equal to such a Friendship ; yet obedience to Parents , and a desire to know the Affairs , and Manners , and Laws , and Learning of other Nations , that they might thereby become the more serviceable unto their own , made them put off their Gowns and leave Mr. Hooker to his Colledge : Where he was daily more assiduous in his Studies , still enriching his quiet and capacious Soul with the precious Learning of the Philosophers , Casuists , and Schoolmen ; and with them the Foundation and Reason of all Laws , both Sacred and Civil ; and with such other Learning as lay most remote from the Track of Common Studies . And as he was diligent in these ; so , he seemed restless in searching the scope and intention of Gods Spirit revealed to mankinde in the Sacred Scripture : For the Understanding of which , he seemed to be assisted by the same Spirit with which they were written : He that regardeth truth in the inward parts , making him to understand Wisdom secretly . And the good man would often say , The Scripture was not writ to beget Pride and Disputations , and Opposition to Government ; but Moderation , and Charity , and Humility , and Obedience , and Peace , and Piety in Mankinde ; of which , no good man did ever repent himself upon his Death-bed . 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 aery parts of Learning , as Musick and Poetry ; all which he had digested , and made useful : And of all which , the Reader will have a fair Testimony in what follows .

Thus he continued his Studies in all quietness for the space of Three or more years ; about which time he entered into Sacred Orders , and was made both Deacon and Priest ; and not long after , in obedience to the Colledge Statutes , he was to Preach either at St. Peters , Oxford , or at St. Pauls Cross , London , and the last fell to his Allotment .

In order to which Sermon , to London he came , and immediately to the Shunamites House ; which is a House so called , for that : Besides the stipend paid the Preacher , there is Provision made also for his Lodging and Diet two days before , and one day after his Sermon . This House was then kept by Iohn Churchman , sometimes a Draper of good note in Watling street , upon whom , after many years of Plenty , Poverty had at last come like an armed man , and brought him into a necessitous condition : Which , though it be a Punishment , is not always an Argument of Gods disfavor , for he was a vertuous man : I shall not yet give the like testimony of his Wife , but leave the Reader to judge by what follows . But to this House Mr. Hooker came so wet , so weary , and weather-beaten , That he was never known to express more Passion , then against a Friend that disswaded him from Footing it to London , and for hiring him no easier an Horse , ( supposing the Horse trotted when he did not ; ) and at this time also , such a faintness and fear possest him , that he would not be perswaded two days quietness , or any other means could be used to make him able to Preach his Sundays S●rmon ; but a warm Bed , and Rest , and Drink proper for a Cold given him by Mistress Churchman , and her diligent attendance added unto it , enabled him to perform the Office of the day , which was in or about the year One thousand five hundred eighty and one .

And in this first publick appearance to the World , he was not so happy as to be free from Exceptions against a point of Doctrine delivered in his Sermon , which was , That in God there were two Wills ; an Antecedent , and a Consequent Will : His first Will , That all mankinde should be saved ; but his second Will was , That those onely should be saved , that did live answerable to that degree of Grace which he had offered or afforded them . This seemed to cross a late opinion of Mr. : alvins , and then taken for granted by many that had not a capacity to examine it , as it had been by him , and hath been since by Dr. Iackson , Dr. Hammond , and others of great Learning , who believe that a contrary opinion trenches upon the Honor and Justice of our Merciful God . How he justified this , I will not undertake to declare ; but it was not excepted against ( as Mr. Hooker declares in an Occasional Answer to Mr. Travers ) by Iohn Elmer , then Bishop of London ; at this time one of his Auditors , and at last one of his Advocates too , when Mr. Hooker was accused for it .

But the justifying of this Doctrine did not prove of so bad consequence , as the kindness of Mistress Churchmans curing him of his late distemper and cold ; for that was so gratefully apprehended by Mr. Hooker , that he thought himself bound in conscience to belive all that she said : So that the good man came to be perswaded by her , That he was a man of a tender constitution ; and , that it was best for him to have a Wife , that might prove a Nurse to him ; such an one as might both prolong his life , and make it more comfortable ; and such a one , she could and would provide for him , if he thought fit to marry . And he not considering , that the Children of this World are wiser in their Generation then the Children of Light : But , like a true Nathaniel , fearing no guile , because he meant none ; did give her such a power as Eleazar was trusted with , when he was sent to chuse a wife for Isaac ; for even so he trusted her to chuse for him : Promising upon a fair Summons to return to London , and accept of her choice ; and he did so in that , or the year following . Now , the Wife provided for him was her Daughter Ioan , who brought him neither Beauty nor Portion ; and , for her Conditions , they were too like that Wife 's , which is by Solomon compared to a Dripping House : So that he had no reason to rejoyce in the Wife of his Youth , but rather to say with the Holy Prophet , W● is me that I am constrained to have my habitation in the Tents of Kedar !

This choice of Mr. Hookers ( if it were his choice ) may be wondered at ; but let us consider that the Prophet Ezekiel says , There is a Wheel within a Wheel ; a secret Sacred Wheel of Providence ( especially in Marriages ) guided by his hand that allows not the Race to the swift , nor Bread to the wise , not good Wives to good Men : And he that can bring good out of evil , ( for Mortals are blinde to such Reasons ) onely knows why this Blessing was denied to patient Iob , and ( as some think ) to meek Moses , and to our as meek and patient Mr. Hooker . But so it was ; and let the Reader cease to wonder , for Affliction is a Divine Diet ; which though it be not pleasing to mankinde , yet Almighty God hath often , very often , imposed it as good , though bitter Physick to those Children whose Souls are dearest to him .

And by this means the good man was drawn from the tranquillity of his Colledge : From that Garden of Piety , of Pleasure , of Peace , and a sweet Conversation , into the Thorny Wilderness of a busie World ; into those corroding cares that attend a Married Priest , and a Countrey-Parsonage ; which was Draiton Beauchamp in Buckinghamshire , ( not far from Alesbury , and in the Diocess of Lincoln ; ) to which he was presented by Iohn Cheny Esquire ( then Patron of it ) the Nineth of December , 1584. where he behaved himself so , as to give no occasion of evil , but ( as St. Paul adviseth a Minister of God ) in much patience , in afflictions , in anguishes , in necessities , in poverty , and no doubt in long-suffering ; yet troubling no man with his discontents and wants .

And in this condition he continued about a year ; in which time his two Pupils , Edwin Sandys , and George Cranmer , were returned from Travel , and took a journey to Draiton to see their Tutor ; where they found him with a Book in his hand ( it was the Odes of Horace ) he being then tending his small allotment of Sheep in a common Field ; which he told his Pupils he was forced to do , for that his Servant was then gone home to Dine , and assist his Wife to do some necessary houshould business . When his Servant returned and released him , his two Pupils attended him unto his House , where their best entertainment was his quiet company , which was presently denied them , for , Richard was called to rock the Cradle ; and the rest of their welcome was so like this , that they staid but till next morning , which was time enough to discover and pitty their Tutors condition : And having in that time remembred and paraphrased on many of the innocent Recreations of their younger days , and by other such like diversions , given him as much present pleasure as their acceptable company and discourse could afford him , they were forced to leave him to the company of his Wife , and seek themselves a quieter Lodging . But at their parting from him , Mr. Cranmer said , Good Tutor , I am sorry your lot is faln in no better Ground , as to your Parsonage : And more sorry your Wife proves not a more comfortable Companion after you have wearied your thoughts in your restless Studies . To whom the good man replied , My dear George , if Saints have usually a double share in the miseries of this life , I that am none , ought not to repine at what my Wise Creator hath appointed for me ; but labor , as indeed I do daily , to submit to his Will , and possess my Soul in Patience and Peace .

At their return to London , Edwin Sandys acquaints his Father , then Bishop of London , and after Archbishop of York , with his Tutors sad condition , and sollicites for his removal to some Benefice that might give him a more comfortable subsistence : Which his Father did most willingly grant him , when it should next fall into his power . And not long after this time , which was in the year One thousand five hundred eighty and five , Mr. Alvy ( Master of the Temple ) died , who was a man of a strict Life , of great Learning , and of so venerable Behavior , as to gain such a degree of love and reverence from all men that knew him , that he was generally known by the name of Father Alvy . At the Temple Reading , next after the death of this Father Alvy , the Archbishop of York being then at Dinner with the Judges ; the Reader and Benchers of that Society , he met there with a Condolement for the Death of Father Alvy , an high commendation of his Saint-like Life , and of his great Merit both to God and Man : and as they bewail'd his Death , so they wisht for a like Pattern of Virtue and Learning to succeed him . And here came in a fair occasion for the Bishop to commend Mr. Hooker to Father Alvies Place , which he did with so effectual an earnestness , and that seconded with so many other Testimonies of his worth , that Mr. Hooker was sent for from Draiton Beauchamp to London , and there the Mastership of the Temple proposed unto him by the Bishop , as a greater freedom from his Country Cares , the advantage of a better Society , and a more liberal Pension than his Parsonage did afford him . But these Reasons were not powerful enough to incline him to a willing acceptance of it : his wish was rather to gain a better Country Living , where he might be free from Noise , ( so he exprest the desire of his Heart ) and eat that bread which he might more properly call his own , in privacy and quietness . But , notwithstanding this aversness , he was at last perswaded to accept of the Bishops Proposal ; and was by * * This you may find in the Temple Reconds . Will . Ermstead was Master of the Temple at the Dissolution of the Priory , and di●d 2. Eliz. Richard Alvey Bat. l. ivinity . pa● . 13. Fe● . 2 Eliz. Magister sive Cujtos Demūs & Ecclestae nevi Templle died 27 Bez. Richard Hooker Succeeded that year by Patent in termini● as Alvy had ●● and he left it 32 Eliz. Tint year Dr. Belgey succeeded Richard Hooker . Patent for Life made Master of the Temple the 17th of March , 1585. He being then in the 34th year of his Age.

And here I shall make a stop ; and , that the Reader may the better judge of what follows , give him a Character of the Times , and Temper of the people of this Nation , when Mr. Hooker had his Admission into this Place . A Place which he accepted , rather than desired ; and yet here he promised himself a virtuous quietness : that blessed Tranquillity which he always prayed and laboured for ; that so he might in Peace bring forth the Fruits of Peace , and glorifie God by uninterrupted Prayers and praises : for this he always thirsted ; and yet this was denied him . For his Admission into this Place was the very beginning of those Oppositions and Anxieties , which till then this Good man was a stranger to , and of which the Reader may guess by what follows .

In this Character of the Times , I shall , by the Readers favour , and for his information , look so far back as to the beginning of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth ; a time in which the many pretended Titles to the Crown , the frequent Treasons , the Doubts of her Successour , the late Civil War , and the sharp Persecution that had raged to the effusion of so much Blood in the Reign of Queen Mary , were fresh in the memory of all men ; and these begot fears in the most Pious and Wisest of this Nation , least the like days should return again to them or their present Posterity . The apprehension of which Dangers begot an earnest desire of a Settlement in the Church and State ; believing there was no other probable way left to make them sit quietly under their own Vines and Fig-trees , and enjoy the desired Fruit of their Labours . But Time , and Peace , and Plenty , begot Self-ends ; and those begot Animosities , Envy , Opposition , and Unthankfulness for those blessings for which they lately thirsted : being then the very utmost of their Desires , and even beyond their Hopes .

This was the temper of the Times in the beginning of her Reign ; and thus it continued too long : For those very people that had enjoyed the desires of their hearts in a Reformation from the Church of Rome , became at last so like the Grave , as never to be satisfied ; but were still thirsting for more and more : neglecting to pay that Obedience to Government , and perform those Vows to God , which they made in their days of Adversities and Fear : so that in short time theree appeared thre several Interests , each of them fearless and restless in the prosecution of their Designs ; they may for distinction be called , The active Romanists , The restless Non-conformists ( of which there were many sorts ) and The passive peaceable Protestant , The Counsels of the first considered and resolved on in Rome : the second in Scotland , in Geneva , and in divers selected , secret , dangerous Conventicles , both there , and within the bosom of our own Nation : the third pleaded and defended their Cause by Establisht Laws , both Ecclesiastical and Civil ; and if they were active , it was to prevent the other two from destroying what was by those known Laws happily establisht to them and their Posterity .

I shall forbear to mention the very many and as Dangerous Plots of the Romanists against the Church and State : because , what is principally intended in this Digression , is an account of the Opinions and Activity of the Non-conformists ; against whose judgement and practice , Mr. Hooker became at last , but most unwillingly , to be ingaged in a Book-war ; a War which he maintained not as against an Enemy , but with the spirit of Meekness and Reason .

In which number of Non-conformists , though some might be sincere and well-meaning men , whose indiscreet zeal might be so like Charity , as thereby to cover a multitude of Errors , yet of this Party there were many that were possest with an high degree of Spiritual wickedness ; I mean with an innate restles radical Pride and Malice ; I mean not those lesser sins that are more visible and more properly Carnal , and sins against a mans self , as Gluttony , and Drunkenness , and the like , ( from which good Lord deliver us ; ) but sins of an higher nature ; because more unlike to the nature of God , which is Love , and Mercy , and Peace ; and more like the Devil : ( who is not a glutton nor can be drunk ; and yet , is a Devil : ) those wickednesses of Malice , and Revenge , and Opposition , and a Complacence in working and beholding Confusion ) which are more properly his work , who is the Enemy and disturber of mankind , and greater sins , though many will not believe it ) Men whom a furious Zeal and Prejudice had blinded , and made incapable of hearing Reason , or adhearing to the ways of Peace ; Men whom Pride and Self-conceit had made to overvalue their own Wisdom , and become pertinacious , and to hold foolish and unmannerly disputes against those Men which they ought to Reverence , and those Laws which they ought to obey ; Men that laboured and joyed to speak evil of Government , and then to be the Authors of Confusion ( of Confusion as it is Confusion : ) whom Company , and Conversation , and Custom had blinded , and made insensible that these were Errours : and at last became so restless , and so hardened in their opinions , that like those which perisht in the gain-saying of Core , so these dyed without repenting these spiritual wickednesses , of which Coppinger and Hacket , and their adherents are too sad testimonies .

And in these times which tended thus to Co●fusion , there were also many others that pretended a Tenderness of Conscience , refusing to submit to Ceremonies , or to take an Oath before a lawful Magistrate : and yet these very M●n did in their secret Conventicles , Covenant and Swear to each other , to be assiduous and faithful in using their best endeavours to set up a Church Government that they had not agreed on . To which end , there was many Select parties that wandered up and down , and were active in sowing Discontents and Sedition , by venemous and secret Murmurings , and a Dispersion of scurrilous Pamphlets and Libels against the Church and State ; but especially against the Bishops : by which means , together with very bold , and as indiscreet Sermons , the Common people became so Phanatick , as St. Peter observed , there were in his time , some that wrested the Scripture to their own destruction : so by these men , and this means many came to believe the Bishops to be Antichrist , and the onely Obstructers of Gods Discipline ; and many of them were at last given over to such desperate delusions , as to find out a Text in the Revelation of St. Iohn , that Antichrist was to be overcome by the sword , which they were very ready to take into their hands . So that those very men , that began with tender meek Petitions , proceeded to print publick Admonitions ; and then to Satyrical Remonstrances ; and at last , ( having like David numbred who was not , and who was , for their Cause , ) they got a supposed Certainty of so great a Party , that they durst threaten first the Bishops , and not long after , both the Queen and Parliament ; to all which they were secretly encouraged by the Earl of Leicester , then in great favour with her Majestie , and the reputed Cherisher and Patron-general of these Pretenders to Tenderness of Conscience ; whom he used as a sacreligious snare to further his Design , which was by their means to bring such an odium upon the Bishops , as to procure an Alienation of their Lands , and a large proportion of them for himself : which Avaritious desire had at last so blinded his Reason , that his ambitious and greedy Hopes had almost flattered him into present possession of Lambeth-house .

And to thse strange and dangerous Undertakings , the Non-conformists of this Nation were much encouraged and heightened by a Correspondence and Confederacy with that Brotherhood in Scotland ; so that here they became so bold , that one told the Queen openly in a * * Mr. Dering . Sermon , She was like an untamed Heyfer , that would not be ruled by Gods people , but obstructed his Discipline . And in Scotland they were more confident , for there † † See Bishop Spotswoods History of the Church of Scotland . they declared Her an Atheist , and grew to such an height , as not to be accountable for any thing spoken against Her ; No nor for Treason against their own King , if spoken in the Pulpit : Shewing at last such a disobedience even to Him , that His Mother being in England , and then in distress , and in prison , and in danger of Death , the Church denied the King their Prayers for Her ; and at another time , when he had appointed a day of Feasting , their Church declared for a general Fast , in opposition to his Authority .

To this height they were grown in both Nations , and by these means there was distill'd into the mindes of the common people such other venemous and turbulent Principles , as were inconsistent with the safety of the Church and State : And these , vented so daringly , that beside the loss of Life and Limbs , the Church and State were both forced to use such other severities as will not admit of an excuse , if it had not been to prevent Confusion , and the perilous consequences of it ; which without such prevention , would in short time have brought unavoidable ruine and misery to this numerous Nation .

These Errors and Animosities were so remarkable , that they begot wonder in an ingenious Italian , who being about this time come newly into this Nation , writ scoffingly to a Friend in his own Countrey ; That the common people of England were wiser then the wisest of his Nation ; for here the very Women and Shop-keepers were able to judge of Predestination , and determine what Laws were fit to be made concerning Church Government ; then , what were fit to be obeyed or abolished . That they were more able ( or at least thought so ) to raise and determine perplex'd Cases of Conscience , then the most Learned Colledges in Italy . That Men of the slightest Learning , and the most ignorant of the common people , were mad for a new , or Super - or Re-Reformation of Religion ; and that in this they appeared like that man , who would never cease to whet , and whet his Knife , till there was no Steel left to make it useful . And he concluded his Letter with this observation , That those very Men that were most busie in Oppositions , and Disputations , and Controversies , and finding out the faults of their Governors , had usually the least of Humility and Mortification , or of the Power of Godliness .

And to heighten all these discontents and dangers , there was also sprung up a Generation of Godless-men ; Men that had so long given way to their own Lusts and Delusions ; and , had so often , and so highly opposed the Blessed Motions of his Blessed Spirit , and the inward Light of their own Consciences , that they had thereby sinned themselves to a belief of what they would , but were not able to believe : Into a belief , which is repugnant even to Humane nature ( for the Heathens believe there are many gods ; ) but these had sinned themselves into a belief , that there is no God : And so finding nothing in themselves , but what is worse then nothing , began to wish what they were not able to hope for , That they should be like the Beasts that perish ; and , in wicked company ( which is the Atheists Sanctuary ) were so bold as to say so : Though the worst of mankinde , when he is left alone at midnight , may wish , but cannot then think it . Into this wretched , this reprobate condition , many had then sinned themselves .

And now ! When the Church was pestered with them , and with all these other Irregularities ; when her Lands were in danger of Alienation , her Power at least neglected , and her Peace torn to pieces by several Schisms , and such Heresies as do usually attend that sin : When the common people seemed ambitious of doing those very things which were attended with most dangers , that thereby they might be punished , and then applauded and pittied : When they called the Spirit of Opposition a Tender Conscience , and complained of Persecution , because they wanted power to persecute others : When the giddy multitude raged , and became restless to finde out misery for themselves and others ; and the r●●ble would herd themselves together , and endeavor to govern and act in spight of Authority . In this extremity , fear , and danger of the Church and State , when to suppress the growing evils of both , they needed a Man of Prudence and Pi●ty , and of an high and fearless Fortitude ; they were blest in all by Iohn Whitgift , his being made Archbishop of Canterbury ; of whom ingenious Sir Henry Wot●on ( that knew him well ) hath left this true Character , That he was a Man of a Reverend and Sacred Memory ; and of the Premitive temper : A Man of such a temper , as when the Church by lowliness of Spirit did flourish in highest examples of Vertue .

And though I dare not undertake to add to his Character , yet I shall neither do right to this Discourse , nor to my Reader , if I forbear to give him a further and short account of the life and manners of this excellent Man ; and it shall be short , for I long to end this digression , that I may lead my Reader back to Mr. Hooker , where we left him at the Temple .

Iohn Whitgift was born in the County of Lincoln , of a Family that was ancient , and noted to be prudent and affable , and gentile by nature : He was educated in Cambridge ; much of his Learning was acquired in Pembroke-Hall ( where Mr. Bradford the Martyr was his Tutor : ) From thence he was remov'd to Peter-house ; from thence to be Master of Pembroke-Hall ; and from thence to the Mastership of Trinity Colledge . About which time the Queen made him her Chaplain ; and not long after Prebend of Ely , and then Dean of Lincoln ; and having for many years past looked upon him with much reverence and favor , gave him a fair testimony of both , by giving him the Bishoprick of Worcester , and ( which was not a usual favor ) forgiving him his First-fruits ; then by constituting him Vice-President of the Principality of Wales . And having for several years experimented his Wisdom , his Justice , and Moderation in the menage of Her affairs , in both these places , She in the Twenty sixth of Her Reign , made him Archbishop of Canterbury ; and not long after , of Her Privy Council ; and trusted him to menage all Her Ecclesiastical Affairs and Preferments . In all which Removes , he was like the Ark , which left a Blessing upon the place where it rested , and in all his Imployments , was like Iehoida , that did good unto Israel .

These were the steps of this Bishops Ascension to this place of Dignity and Cares ; in which place ( to speak Mr. Cambdens very words in his Annals ) He devoutly consecrated both his whole life to God , and bit painful labors to the good of his Church . And yet in this place he met with many oppositions in the regulation of Church Affairs , which were much disordered at his entrance , by reason of the age and remisness of Bishop Grindal ( his immediate Predecessor ) the activity of the Non-conformists , and their cheif assistant , the Earl of Leicester ; and indeed , by too many others of the like Sacrilegious Principles . With these he was to encounter ; and though he wanted neither courage nor a good cause , yet he foresaw , that without a great measure of the Queens favor , it was impossible to stand in the Breach that was made into the Lands and Immunities of the Church , or to maintain the remaining Rights of it . And therefore by justifiable Sacred Insinuations , such as St. Paul to Agrippa , ( Agrippa believest thou ? I know thou believest ) he wrought himself into so great a degree of favor with Her , as by his pious use of it , hath got both of them a greater degree of Fame in this World , and of Glory in that , into which they are now entred .

His merits to the Queen , and Her Favors to him were such , that she called him Her little black Husband , and called his Servants Her Servants : And She saw so visible and blessed a sincerity shine in all his cares and endeavors for the Churches , and for Her good , that She was supposed to trust him with the very secrets of Her Soul , and to make him Her Confessor : Of which She gave many Fair testimonies ; and of which , one was , That She would never eat flesh in Lent without obtaining a Licence from Her little black Husband : And would often say , She pio●●ed him , because She trusted him , and had eased Her-self by laying the burthen of all Her Clergy-cares upon his shoulders , which She was certain he managed with Prudence and Piety .

I shall not keep my self within the promised Rules of Brevity in this account of his Interest with Her Majesty , and his care of the Churches Rights , if in this digression I should enlarge to particulars● and therefore my desire is , that one example may serve for a testimony of both . And that the Reader may the better understand it , he may take notice , that not many years before his being made Archbishop , there passed an Act or Acts of Parliament intending the better preservation of Church Lands , by recalling a Power which was vested in others to Sell or Lease them , by lodging and trusting the future care and protection of them onely in the Crown : And amongst many that made a bad use of this Power or Trust of the Queens , the Earl of Leicester was one ; and the good Bishop having by his Interest with Her Majesty put a stop to the Earls Sacrilegious designs , they two fell to an open Opposition before her ; after which they both quitted the Room , nor Friends in appearance . But the Bishop made a sudden and a seasonable return to Her Majesty , ( for he found her alone ) and spake to her with great Humility and Reverence , and to this purpose .

I beseech your Majesty to hear me with patience , and to believe that yours and the Churches Safety are dearer to me than my Life , but my Conscience dearer than both : and therefore give me leave to do my Duty , and tell you that Princes are deputed Nursing Fathers of the Church , and owe it a Protection ; and therefore God forbid that you should be so much as Passive in her Ruines , when you may prevent it ; or that I should-behold it without horrour and detestation ; or should forbear to tell your Majesty of the Sin and Danger . And though you and my self are born in an Age of Frailties , when the Primitive Piety and Care of the Churches Lands and Immunities are much decayed ; yes ( Madam ) let me beg that you will but first consider , and then you will believe there are such sins at Prophaneness and Sacriledge ; for if there were not ? they could not have Names in Holy Writ : and particularly in the New-Testament . And I beseech you to consider , that though our Saviour said , He judged no man ; and to testifie it , would not judge nor divide the Inheritance betwixt the two Brethren , nor would judge the Woman taken in Adultery ; yet , in this point of the Churches Rights , he was so zealous , that he made himself both the Accuser , and the Iudge , and the Executioner to punish these sins ; witnessed , in that he himself made the Whip to drive the Prophaners out of the Temple ; overthrew the Tables of the Money-changers , and drove them out of it . And consider that it was S. Paul that said to those Christians of his time that were offended with Idolatry , yet Thou that abhorrest Idols , dost thou commit Sacriledge ? Supposing I think Sacriledge to be the greater sin . This may occasion your Majesty to consider that there is such a sin as Sacriledge ; and to incline you to prevent the Curse that will follow it ; I beseech you also , to consider that Constantine the first Christian Emperor , and Helena his Mother ; that King Edgar , and Edward the Confessor , and indeed many others of your Predecessors , and many private Christians , have also given to God and to his Church , much Land , and many Immunities , which they might have given to those of their own Families , and did not ; but gave them as an absolute Right and Sacrifice to God : And with these Immunities and Lands they have entailed a Curse upon the Alienators of them ; God prevent your Majesty from being liable to that Curse .

And , to make you that are trusted with their Preservation , the better to understand the danger of it ; I beseech you forget not , that , besides these Curses , the Churches Land and Power have been also endeavoured to be preserved , as far as Humane Reason and the Law of this Nation have been able to preserve them , by an immediate and most sacred Obligation on the Consciences of the Princes of this Realm . For they that consult Magna Charta shall find , that as all your Predecessours were at their Coronation , so you also were sworn before all the Nobility and Bishops then present , and in the presence of God , and in his stead to him that anointed you , to maintain the Church Lands , and the rights belonging to it ; and this testified openly at the holy Altar , by laying your Hands on the Bible then lying upon it . And not only Magna Charta , but many Modern Statutes have denounced a Curse upon those that break Magna Charta . And now what account can be given for the breach of this Oath at the last Great Day , either by your Majesty , or by me , if it be wilfully , or but negligently violated , I know not .

And therefore , good Madam , let not the late Lords Exceptions against the failings of some few Clergie-men , prevail with you to punish Posterity , for the Errors of this present Age ; let particular Men suffer for their particular Errors , but let God and his Church have their right ; And though I pretend not to prophesy , yet I big Posterity to take notice of what is already become visible in many Families ; That Church-land added to an ancient Inheritance , hath proved like a Moth fretting a Garment , and secretly consumed both : Or like the Eagle that stole a Coal from the Altar , and thereby set her Nest on fire , which consumed both her young Eagles , and her self that stole it . And , though I shall forbear to speak reproachfully of your Father : yet , I beg you to take notice , that a part of the Churches Rights , added to the vast Treasure left him by his Father , hath been conceived to bring an unavoidable Consumption upon both , notwithstanding all his diligence to preserve it .

And consider , that after the violation of those Laws , to which he had sworn in Magna Charta , God did so far deny him his Restraining Grace , that be fell into greater sins then I am willing to mention . Madam , Religion is the Foundation and Cement of Humane Societies : And , when they that serve at Gods Altar shall be exposed to Poverty ? then Religion it self will be exposed to scorn , and become contemptible ; as you may already observe in too many poor Vicaridges in this Nation . And therefore , as you are by a late Act or Acts entrusted with a great Power to preserve or waste the Churches Lands ; yet , dispose of them for Iesus sake as the Donors intended : Let neither falshood nor flattery beguile you to do otherwise , and put a stop ( I beseech you ) to the approaching ruines of Gods Church , as you expect comfort at the last great day ; For Kings must be judged . Pardon this affectionate plainness , my most dear Soveraign , and let me beg to be still continued in your Favor ; and the Lord still continue you in his .

The Queens patient hearing this affectionate Speech ; and Her future care to preserve the Churches Rights , which till then had been neglected , may appear a fair Testimony , that he made Hers and the Churches good , the cheifest of his cares , and that She also thought so . And of this , there were such daily Testimonies given , as begot betwixt them so mutual a joy and confidence , that they seemed born to believe and do good to each other : She not doubting his Piety to be more then all his opposers , which were many , and those powerful too ; nor his Prudence equal to the cheifest of Her Council , who were then as remarkable for active Wisdom , as those dangerous times did require , or this Nation did everenjoy . And in this condition he continued Twenty years ; in which time he saw some flowings , but many more ebbings of Her Favor towards all men that opposed him , especially the Earl of Leicester : So that God seemed still to keep him in Her Favor , that he might preserve the remaining Church Lands and Immunities from Sacrilegious Alienations . And this good man deserved all the honor and power with which She trusted him ; for he was a pious man , and naturally of Noble and Grateful Principles : He eased Her of all Her Church cares by his wise menage of them ; he gave Her faithful and prudent Counsels in all the extremities and dangers of Her Temporal Affairs , which were very many ; he lived to be the cheif comfort of Her life in Her declining age ; to be then most frequently with Her , and Her assistant at Her private Devotions ; to be the greatest comfort of Her Soul upon Her Death-bed ; to be present at the expiration of Her last breath ; and to behold the closing of those eyes that had long looked upon him with reverence and affection . And let this also be added , That he was the chief Mourner at Her sad Funeral ; nor let this be forgotten , that within a few hours after Her death , he was the happy Proclaimer that King Iames ( Her Peaceful Successor ) was Heir to the Crown .

Let me beg of my Reader , that he allow me to say a little , and but a little more of this good Bishop , and I shall then presently lead him back to Mr. Hooker ; and , because I would hasten , I will mention but one part of the Bishops Charity and Humility ; but this of both . He built a large Alms-house near to his own Palace at Croydon in Surrey , and endowed it with maintenance for a Master and Twenty eight poor Men and Women ; which he visited so often , that he knew their names and dispositions ; and was so truly humble , that he called them Brothers and Sisters : And whensoever the Queen descended to that lowliness to dine with him at his Palace in Lambeth , ( which was very often ) he would usually the next day shew the like lowliness to his poor Brothers and Sisters at Croydon , and dine with them at his Hospital ; at which time , you may believe there was joy at the Table .

And at this place he built also a fair Free-School , with a good accommodation and maintenance for the Master and Scholars . Which gave just occasion for Boyse Sisi , then Ambassador for the French King , and Resident here , at the Bishops death , to say , The Bishop had published many Learned Books , but a Free-School to train up Youth , and an Hospital to lodge and maintain aged and poor People ; were the best evidences of Christian Learning that a Bishop could leave to Posterity . This good Bishop lived to see King Iames settled in Peace , and then fell sick at Lambeth ; of which , the King having notice , went to visit him , and found him in his Bed in a declining condition , and very weak ; and after some short discourse , the King assured him , He had a great affection for him , and high value for his Prudence and Vertues , which were so useful for the Church , that he would earnestly beg his life of God . To which he replied , Pro Ecclesi● Dei , Pro Ecclesiâ Dei : Which were the last words he ever spake ; therein testifying , That as in his Life , so at his Death , his chiefest care was of Gods Church .

This Iohn Whitgift was made Archbishop in the Year One thousand five hundred eighty and three . In which busie place , he continued Twenty years and some moneths , and in which time , you may believe he had many Tryals of his Courage and Patience ; but his Motto was , Vincit , qui Patitur : And he made it good . Many of his many Tryals were occasioned by the then powerful Earl of Leicester , who did still ( but secretly ) raise and cherish a Faction of Non-conformists to oppose him ; especially one Thomas Cartwright , a Man of noted Learning ; sometime Contemporary with the Bishop in Cambridge , and of the same Colledge , of which the Bishop had been Master : In which place there began some Emulations , ( the particulars I forbear ) and at last open and high oppositions betwixt them ; and , in which you may believe Mr. Cartwright was most faulty , if his Expulsion out of the University can incline you to it .

And in this discontent , after the Earls death ( which was One thousand five hundred eighty and eight ) Mr. Cartwright appeared a cheif Cherisher of a Party that were for the Geneva Church-Government ; and to effect it , he ran himself into many dangers , both of Liberty and Life ; appearing at last to justifie himself and his Party in many Remonstrances , which he caused to be Printed ; and to which , the Bishop made a first Answer , and Cartwright Replied upon him ; and then the Bishop having rejoyned to his Reply , Mr. Cartwright either was , or was perswaded to be satisfied ; for , he wrote no more , but left the Reader to be judge which had maintained their Cause with most Charity and Reason .

After some silence , Mr. Cartwright received from the Bishop many Personal Favors , and retired himself to a more Private Living , which was at Warwick , where he was made Master of an Hospital , and lived quietly , and grew rich ; and , where the Bishop gave him a Licence to Preach , upon promise not to meddle with Controversies , but incline his hearers to Piety and Moderation : And this promise he kept during his life , which ended One thousand six hundred and two , the Bishop surviving him but one year , each ending his days in perfect charity with the other .

And now after this long digression made for the information of my Reader concerning what follows , I bring him back to venerable Mr. Hooker , where we left him in the Temple , and where we shall finde him as deeply engaged in a Controversie with Walter Travers , a Friend and Favorite of Mr. Cartwrights , as the Bishop had ever been with Mr. Cartwright himself ; and of which , I shall proceed to give this following account .

And first this ; That though the Pens of Mr. Cartwright and the Bishop were now at rest , yet there was sprung up a new Generation of restless Men , that by Company and Clamors became possest of a Faith which they ought to have kept to themselves , but could not : Men that were become positive in asserting , That a Papist cannot be saved : Insomuch , that about this time , at the Execution of the Queen of Scots , the Bishop that Preached Her Funeral Sermon ( which was Dr. Howland , then Bishop of Peterborough ) was reviled for not being positive for Her Damnation . And beside this boldness of their becoming Gods , so far as to set limits to his Mercies ; there was not onely Martin Mar-Prelate , but other venemous Books daily Printed and dispersed : Books that were so absurd and scurrilous , that the Graver Divines disdained them an Answer . And yet these were grown into high esteem with the common people , till Tom Nash appeared against them all , who was a man of a sharp wit , and the master of a scoffing Satyrical merry Pen , which he imployed to discover the absurdities of those blinde malicious sensless Pamphlets , and Sermons as sensless as they . Nash his Answers being like his Books , which bore these Titles , An Almond for Parro● . A Fig for my God-son . Come crack me this Nut , and the like : So that his merry Wit made such a discovery of their absurdities , as ( which is strange ) he put a greater stop to these malicious Pamphlets , then a much wiser-man had been able .

And now the Reader is to take notice , That at the Death of Father Alay , who was Master of the Temple , this Walter Travers was Lecturer there for the Evening Sermons , which he Preached with great approbation , especially of the younger Gentlemen of that Society ; and for the most part approved by Mr. Hooker himself , in the midst of their oppositions . For he continued Lecturer a part of his time ; Mr. Travers being indeed a Man of competent Learning , of a winning Behavior , and of a blameless Life . But he had taken Orders by the Presbytery in Antwerp , and if in any thing he was transported , it was in an extream desire to set up that Government in this Nation : For the promoting of which , he had a correspondence with Theodore Beza at Geneva , and others in Scotland ; and was one of the cheifest assistants to Mr. Cartwright in that design .

Mr. Travers had also a particular hope to set up this Government in the Temple , and to that end , used his endeavors to be Master of it ; and his being disappointed by Mr. Hookers admittance , proved some occasion of opposition betwixt them in their Sermons . Many of which were concerning the Doctrine , Discipline , and Ceremonies of this Church ; insomuch , that as St. Paul withstood St. Peter to his face , so did they . For as one hath pleasantly exprest it , The Forenoon Sermon spake Canterbury ; and the Afternoons , Geneva .

In these Sermons there was little of Bitterness , but each party brought all the Reasons he was able , to prove his Adversaries Opinion erroneous . And thus it continued a long time , till the oppositions became so high , and the consequences so dangerous , especially in that place , That the prudent Archbishop put a stop to Mr. Travers his Preaching , by a positive Prohibition ; against which Mr. Travers appealed and petitioned Her Majesty and Her Privy Council to have it recalled , where he met with many assisting powerful Friends ; but they were not able to prevail with or against the Archbishop , whom the Queen had intrusted with all Church Power ; and he had received so fair a Testimony of Mr. Hookers Principles and of his Learning and Moderation , that he withstood all Sollicitations . But the denying this Petition of Mr. Travers was unpleasant to divers of his party , and the reasonableness of it became at last to be so magnified by them and many others , as never to be answered : So that intending the Bishops and Mr. Hookers disgrace , they procured it to be privately Printed and scattered abroad ; and then Mr. Hooker was forced to appear as publickly , and Print an Answer to it , which he did , and dedicated it to the Archbishop ; and it proved so full an Answer , to have in it so much of clear Reason , and writ with so much Meekness and Majesty of style , that the Bishop began to wonder at the Man , to rejoyce that he had appeared in his Cause , and disdained not earnestly to beg his Friendship ; even a familiar Friendship with a Man of so much quiet Learnning and Humility .

To enumerate the many particular Points , in which Mr. Hooker and Mr. Travers dissented ( all or most of which I have seen written ) would prove at least tedious ; and therefore I shall impose upon my Reason no more then two , which shall immediately follow ; and by which , he may judge of the rest .

Mr. Travers excepted against Mr. Hooker , for that in one of his Sermons be declared , That the assurance of what we believe by the Word of God , is not to us so certain as that which we perceive by Sense . And Mr. Hooker confesseth he said so , and endeavors to justifie it by the Reasons following .

First , I taught , That the things which God promises in his Word , are surer to us then what we touch , handle , or see : But are we so sure and certain of them ? If we be , Why doth God so often prove his Promises to us as he doth , by Arguments drawn from our sensible experience ? For we must be surer of the proof , then of the things proved ; otherwise it is no proof . For example , How is it that many men looking on the Moon at the sametime , every one knoweth it to be the Moon as certainly as the other doth ? But many believing one and the same Promise , have not all one and the same fulness of Perswassion . For how falleth it out , that men being assured of any thing by Sense , can be no surer of it then they are ; when at the strongest in Faith that liveth upon the Earth , hath always need to labor , strive , and pray , that his assurance concerning Heavenly and Spiritual things , may grow , increase , and be augmented ?

The Sermon that gave him the cause of this his Justification , makes the case more plain , by declaring , That there is besides this certainly of Evidence , a certainty of Adherence . In which , having most excellently demonstrated what the Certainty of Adherence is , he makes this comfortable use of it : Comfortable ( he says ) as to weak Believers , who suppose themselves to be faithless , not to believe , when notwithstanding they have their Adherence ; the Holy Spirit hath his private operations , and worketh secretly in them , and effectually too , though they want the inward Testimony of it .

Tell this to a Man that hath a minde too much dejected by a sad sense of his sin ; to one that by a too severe judging of himself , concludes that he wants Faith , because he wants the comfortable Assurance of it ; and his Answer will be , Do not perswade me against my knowledge , against what I finde and feel in my self : I do not , I know I do not believe . ( Mr. Hookers own words follow ) Well then , to favor such men a little in their weakness , let that be granted which they do imagine ; be it , that they adhere not to Gods promises , but are faithless , and without belief : But are they not grieved for their unbelief ? They confess they are ; Do they not wish it might , and also strive that it may be otherways ? We know they do . Whence cometh this , but from a secret love and liking , that they have of those things believed ? For , no man can love those things which in his own opinion are not ; And , if they think those things to be , which they shew they love , when they desire to believe them ; then must it be , that by desiring to believe , they prove themselves true Believers : For , without Faith no man thinketh that things believed are : Which Argument all the Subtilties of Infernal Powers will never be able to dissolve . This is an Abridgment of part of the Reasons he gives for his Justification of this his opinion , for which he was excepted against by Mr. Travers .

Mr. Hooker was also accused by Mr. Travers , for that he in one of his Sermons had declared , That he doubted not but that God was merciful to save many of our Forefathers living heretofore in Popish Superstition , for as much as they sinned ignorantly : And Mr. Hooker in his Answer professeth it to be his judgment , and declares his Reasons for this charitable opinion to be as followeth .

But first he states the Question about Iustification and Works , and how the Foundation of Faith is overthrown ; and then he proceeds to discover that way which Natural Men and some others have mistaken to be the way by which they hope to attain true and everlasting Happiness : And having discovered the mistaken , he proceeds to direct to that true way , by which , and no other , Everlasting Life and Blessedness is attainable . And , these two ways he demonstrates thus , ( they be his own words that follow ) That , the way of Nature ; This , the way of Grace ; the end of that way , Salvation merited , presupposing the Righteousness of Mens works : Their Righteousness , a natural ability to do them ; that ability , the goodness of God which created them in such perfection . But the end of this way , Salvation bestowed upon men as a gift : Presupposing not their Righteousness , but the forgiveness of their Unrighteousness , Iustification ; their Iustification , not their natural ability to do good , but their hearty sorrow for not doing ; and unfeigned belief in him , for whose sake not doers are accepted , which is their Vocation ; their Vocation , the Election of God , taking them out of the number of lost Children ; their Election , a Mediator in whom to be elect : This Mediation inexplicable Mercy , this Mercy , supposing their misery for whom be vouchsafed to die , and make himself a Mediator .

And he also declareth , There is no meritorious cause for our Iustification , but Christ ; no effectual , but his Mercy ; and says also , We deny the Grace of our Lord Iesus Christ , we abuse , disannul , and annihilate the benefit of his Passion , if by a proud imagination we believe we can merit everlasting life , or can be worthy of it . This Belief ( he declareth ) is to destroy the very Essence of our Justification , and he makes all opinions that border upon this , to be very dangerous . Tet nevertheless , ( and for this he was accused ) considering how many vertuous and just Men , how many Saints and Martyrs have had their dangerous opinions , amongst which this was one , That they hoped to make God some part of amends , by voluntary punishments which they laid upon themselves : Because by this , or the like erroneous opinions which do by consequene overthrow the Merits of Christ , shall Man be so bold as to write on their Graves , Such men are damned , there is for them no Salvation ! St. Austin says , Errare possum , Hareticus esse nolo , And except we put a difference betwixt them that erre ignorantly , and them that obstinately persist in it , how is it possible that any Man should hope to be saved ? Give me a Pope or a Cardinal , whom great afflictions have made to know himself , whose heart God hath touched with true sorrow for all his sins , and filled with a love of Christ and his Gospel ; whose Eyes are willingly open to see the Truth , and his Mouth ready to renounce all Error , this one opinion of Merit excepted , which he thinketh God will require at his hands ; and because he wanteth , trembleth , and is discouraged , and yet can say , Lord , cleanse me from all my secret sins ! Shall I think because of this , or a like Error , such men touch not so much as the Hem of Christs Garment ? If they do , wherefore should I doubt , but that Vertue may proceed from Christ to save them ? No , I will not be afraid to say to such a one , You erre in your opinion , but be of good comfort , you have to do with a Merciful God , who will make the best of that little which you hold well , and not with a captions Sophister , who gathereth the worst out of every thing in which you are mistaken .

But it will be said , The admittance of Merit in any degree , overthroweth the Foundation , excladeth from the hope of Mercy , from all possibility of Salvation . ( And now Mr. Hookers own words follow . )

What though they hold the truth sincerely in all other parts of Christian Faith ? Although they have in some measure all the Vertues and Graces of the Spirit ? Although they have all other Tokens of Gods Children in them ? Although they be far from having any proud opinion , that they shall be saved by the worthiness of their Deeds ? Although the onely thing that troubleth and molesteth them , be a little too much dejection , somewhat too great a fire arising from an erronious conceit . That God will require a worthiness in them , which they are grieved to finde wanting in themselves ? Although they be not obstinate in this Opinion ? Although they be willing , and would be glad to forsake it , if any one Reason were brought sufficient to disprove it ? Although the onely cause why they do not forsake it ere they die , be their ignorance of that means by which it might be disproved ? Although the cause why the ignorance in this point is not removed , be the want of knowledge in such as should be able , and are not to remove it ? Let me die ( says Mr. Hooker ) if it be ever proved , That simply an Error doth exclude a Pope or Cardinal in such a case utterly from hope of life . Surely I must confess . That if it be an Error to think that God may be merciful to save men , even when they err ; my greatest comfort is , my error : Were it not for the love I bear to this Error , I would never wish to speak or to live .

I was willing to take notice of these two points , as supposing them to be very material ; and that as they are thus contracted , they may prove useful to my Reader ; as also for that the Answers be Arguments of Mr. Hookers great and clear Reason , and equal Charity . Other Exceptions were also made against him , as , That he prayed before , and not after his Sermons ; that in his Prayers be named Bishops , that be kneeled , both when he prayed , and he when he received the Sacrament ; and ( says Mr. Hooker in his Defence ) other Exceptions so like these , as but to name , I should have thought a greater fault then to commit them .

And 't is not unworthy the noting , that in the menage of so great a Controversie , a sharper reproof then this , and one like it , did never fall from the happy Pen of this humble Man . That like it , was upon a like occasion of Exceptious , to which his Answer was , Your next Argument consists of Railing and of Reasons ; to your Railing I say nothing , to your Reasons I say what follows . And I am glad of this fair occasion , to testifie the Dove-like temper of this meek , this matchless Man ; and doubtless , it Almighty God had blest the Dissenters from the Ceremonies and Discipline of this Church , with a like measure of Wisdom and Humility , instead of their pertinacious Zeal , then Obedience and Truth had kissed each other , then Peace and Piety had flourished in our Nation , and this Church and State had been blest like Ierusalem , that is at unity with it self ; but that can never be expected , till God shall bless the common people with a belief , That Schism is a sin , and that there may be offences taken which are not given ; and that Laws are not made for private men to dispute , but to obey .

And this also maybe worthy of noting , That these Exceptions of Mr. Travers against Mr. Hooker , were the cause of his transcribing several of his Sermons , which we now see Printed with his Books ; of his Answer to Mr. Travers his Supplication ; and of his most learned and useful Discourse of Iustification , of Faith , and Works ; and by their Transcription , they fell into the hands of others , that have preserved them from being lost , as too many of his other matchless Writings have been ; 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 most Learned and Wise 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 ; insomuch , that though Mr. Travers left the place , yet the Seeds of Discontent could not be rooted out of that Society , by the great Reason , and as great Meekness of this humble Man : For though the Cheif Benchers gave him much Reverence and Incouragement , yet he there met with many neglects and oppositions-by-those of Mr. Travers judgment ; insomuch , that it turned to his extream grief : And that he might unbeguile and win them , he designed to write a deliberate sober Treatise of the Churches power to make Cannons for the use of Ceremonies , and by Law to impose an obedience to them , as upon Her Children ; and this he proposed to do in Eight Books of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity ; intending therein to shew such Arguments , as should force an assent from all Men , if Reason , delivered in sweet 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 Dissenting Brethren , wherein there were such Bowels of Love , and such a Commixture of that Love with Reason , as was never exceeded but in Holy Writ ; and particularly , by that of St. Paul to his dear Brother and Fellow-Laborer Philemon : Then which , none ever was more like this Epistle of Mr. Hookers . So that his dear Friend and Companion in his Studies , Doctor Spencer , might after his Death justly say , What admirable height of Learning , and depth of Iudgment , dwelt in the lowly minde of this truly humble Man , great in all wise mens eyes except his own : With what gravity and majesty of Speech his Tongue and Pen uttered Heavenly Mysteries ; whose eyes in the Humility of his Heart , were always cast down to the ground : How all things that proceeded from him , were breathed as from the Spirit of Love ; as , if he , like the Bird of the Holy Ghost , the Dove , had wanted Gall : Let those that knew him not in his Person , judge by these living Images of his Soul , his Writings .

The Foundation of these Books was laid in the Temple ; but he found it no fit place to finish what he had there designed ; and therefore solicited the Archbishop for a remove , to whom he spake to this purpose ; My Lord , When I lost the freedom of my Cell , which was my Colledge ; yet , I found some degree of it in my quiet Countrey Personage : But I am weary of the noise and oppositions of this place ; and indeed , God and Nature did not intend me for Contentions , but for Study and Quietness . And , My Lord , my particular Contests here with Mr. Travers , have prov'd the more unpleasant to me , because I believe him to be a good Man ; and that beliefe hath occasioned me to examine mine own Conscience concerning his opinions ; and , to satisfie that , I have consulted the holy Scripture , and other Laws , both Humane and Divine , Whether the the Conscience of him , and others of his Iudgment , ought to be so far complied with us , as to alter our Frame of Church-Government , our manner of Gods worship , our praising and praying to him , and , our establishe Ceremonies , as often as their tender Consciences shall require us . And , in this Examination , I have not onely satisfied my self ; but have begun a Treatise , in which I intend the satisfaction of others , by a demonstration of the reasonableness of our Laws of Ecclesiastical Policy ; and therein laid a hopeful foundation for the Churches Peace ; and , so as not to provoke your Adversarie Mr. Cartwright , nor Mr. Travers , whom I take to be mine ( but not my enemy ) God knows this to be my meaning . To which end , I have searched many Books , and spent many thoughtful hours ; and I hope not in vain ; for I write to reasonable men . But , My Lord , I shall never be able to finish what I have begun , unless I be remov'd into some quiet Countrey Parsenage , where I may see Gods Blessings Spring out of my Mother Earth , and eat mine own Bread in peace and privaty . A place where I may without disturbance , Meditate my approaching Mortality , and that great account , which all flesh must at the great day , give to the God of all Spirits . this is my design ; and , as these are the desires of my heart , so they shall by Gods assistance be the constant indevors of the uncertain remainder of my life . And therefore if your Grace can think me and my poor labors , worthy such a favour ? Let me beg it , that I may perfect what I have begun : which is a blessing I cannot hope for in this place .

About the time of this request to the Bishop , the Parsonage or Rectory of Boscom , in the Diocess of Sarum , and six miles from that City , became void . The Bishop of Sarum is Patron of it , but in the vacancy of that See ( which was three years betwixt the death of Bishop Peirce , and Bishop Caldwells admission into it ) the disposal of that and all Benefices belonging to it , during the time of this said vacancy , came to be disposed of by the Archbishop of Canterbury ; and he presented Richard Hooker to it in the year 1591. And Richard Hooker was also in this said year Instituted , ( Iuly 17. ) to be a minor Prebend of Salisbury , the Corps to it being nether-Havin , about ten miles from that City ; which Prebend was of no great value , but intended chiefly to make him capable of a better preferment in that Church . In this Boscum he continued till he had finished four of his eight proposed Books of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity , and these were enter'd into the Register Book in Stationers-Hall the 9th of March 1592. but not printed till the year 1594. and then with the beforementioned large and affectionate Preface , which he directs to them that seek ( as they term it ) the Reformation of the laws and orders Ecclesiastical in the Church of England ; of which Books I shall yet say nothing more , but that he continued his laborious diligence to finish the remaining four during his life ( of all which more properly hereafter ) but at Boscum he finisht and publisht but only the first four , being then in the 39 year of his Age.

He left Boscum in the year 1595. by a surrender of it into the hands of Bishop Caldwell , and he presented Benjamin Russel , who was Instituted into it , 23 of Iune , in the same year .

The Parsonage of Bishops Borne in Kent , three miles from Canterbury , is in that Archbishops gift , but in the latter end of the year 1594. Doctor William Redman the Rector of it was made Bishop of Norwich , by which means the power of presenting to it was pro ca vice in the Queen ; and she presented Richard Hooker , whom she loved well , to this good living of Borne the 7 of Iuly 1595. in which Living he continued till his Death , without any addition of Dignity or Profit .

And now having brought our Richard Hooker from his Birth-place , to this where he found a Grave , I shall only give some account of his Books , and of his behaviour in this Parsonage of Borne , and then give a rest both to my self and my Reader .

His first four Books and large Epistle have been declared to be printed at his being at Boscum , Anno 1594. Next I am to tell that at the end of these four Books there is printed this Advertisement to the Reader ; I have for some causes thought it at this time more fit to let go these first four Books by themselves , than to stay both them and the rest , till the whole might together be published . Such generalities of the cause in question as are here handled , it will be perhaps not amiss to consider apart , by way of Introduction unto the Books that are to follow concerning particulars ; in the mean time the Reader is requested to mend the Printers errors , as noted underneath .

And I am next to declare that his fifth Book ( which is larger than his first four ) was first also printed by it self Anno 1597. and dedicated to his Patron ( for till them he chose none ) the Archbishop . These Books were read with an admiration of their excellency in This , and their just same spread it self into forain Nations . And I have been told more than forty years past , that Cardinal Alen , or learned Doctor Stapleton ( both English men , and in Italy when Mr. Hookers four Books were first printed ) meeting with this general fame of them , were desirous to read an Author , that both the Reformed and the Learned of their own Church did so much magnifie , and therefore caused them to be sent for ; and , after reading them , boasted to the Pope ( which then was Clement the eighth ) that though he had lately said he never met with an English Book whose Writer deserved the name of an Author ; yet there now appear'd a wonder to them , and it would be so to his Holiness , if it were in Latin ; for a poor obscure English Priest had writ four such Books of Laws , and church Polity , and in a Style that exprest so Grave and such Humble Majesty with clear demonstration of Reason , that in all their readings they had not met with any that exceeded him ; and this begot in the Pope an earnest desire that Doctor Stapleton should bring the said four Books , and looking on the English ; read a part of them to him in Latin , which Doctor Stapleton did , to the end of the first Book ; at the conclusion of which , the Pope spake to this purpose ; There is no Learning that this man hath not searcht into , nothing too hard for his understanding : This man indeed deserves the name of an Author ; his Books will get Reverence by Age , for there is in them such seeds of Eternity , that if the rest be like this , they shall last till the last Fire shall consume all Learning .

Not was this high , the only testimony and commendations given to his Books ; for at the first coming of King Iames into this Kingdom , he inquired of the Archbishop Whi●gift for his friend Mr. Hooker that writ the Books of Church Polity ; to which the answer was , that he dyed a year before Queen Elizabeth , who received the sad news of his Death with very much Sorrow ; to which the King replyed , and I receive it with no less , that I shall want the desired happiness of seeing and discoursing with that Man , from whose Books I have received such satisfaction : Indeed my Lord , I have received more satisfaction in reading a Leaf , or Paragraph in Mr. Hooker , thought it were but about the fashion of Churches , or Church Musick , or the like , but especially of the Sacraments , then I have had in the reading particular large Treatises written but of one of those subjects by others , though very Learned Men ; and , I observe there is in Mr. Hooker no affected Language ; but a grave comprehensive , cleer manifestation of Reason ; and that back't with the Authority of the Scripture , the Fathers and Schoolmen , and with all Law both Sacred and Civil . And , though many others write well , yet in the next Age they will be forgotten ; but doubtless there is in every page of Mr. Hookers Book , the Picture of a Divine Soul , such Pictures of Truth and Reason , and drawn in so sacred colours , that they shall never fade , but give an immortal memory to the Author . And it is so truly true , that the King thought what he spake ; that , as the most Learned of the Nation have and still do mention Mr. Hooker with Reverence : so he also , did never mention him but with the Epithite of Learned , or Iudicious , or Reverend , or Venerable Mr. Hooker .

Nor did his Son our late King Charles the first , ever mention him but with the same Reverence , enjoyning his Son our now gracious King , to be studious in M. Hookers Books . And our learned Antiquary Mr. Cambden * * In his Annals of El●● 1599. mentioning the Death , the Modesty , and other Vertues of Mr. Hooker , and magnifying his Books , wisht , that for the honour of this , and benefit of other Nations , they were turn'd into the Universal Language . Which work though undertaken by many , yet they have been weary and forsaken it ; but the Reader may now expect it , having been long since begun , and lately finisht , by the happy pen of Doctor Earl , now Lord Bishop of Salisbury , of whom I may justly say ( and let it not offend him , because it is such a truth as ought not to be conceal'd from Posterity , or those that now live and yet know him not ) that since Mr. Hooker died , none have liv'd whom God hath blest with more innocent Wisdom ; more sanctified Learning , or a more pious , peaceable , primitive Temper : so that this excellent person seems to be only like himself and our venerable Richard Hooker ; and only fit to make the learned of all Nations happy in knowing what hath been too long confin'd to the language of our little Island .

There might be many more and just occasions taken to speak of his Books , which none ever did or can commend too much ; but I decline them , and hasten to an account of his Christian behaviour and Death at Borne , in which place he continued his customary rules of Mortification and Self-Denyal ; was much in Fasting , frequent in Meditation and Prayers , injoying those blessed Returns , which only Men of strict lives feel and know ; and of which Men of loose and Godless lives cannot be made sensible ; for spiritual things are spiritually discerned .

At his entrance into this place , his Friendship was much sought for by Doctor Hadrian Saravia , then one of the Prebends of Canterbury , a German by birth , and sometimes a Pastor both in Flanders and Holland , where he had studied and well considered the controverted points concerning Episcopacy and Sacriledge , and in England had a just occasion to declare his Judgement concerning both , unto his Brethren Ministers of the Low Countryes , which was excepted against by Theodor Beza and others ; against whose exceptions he rejoyned , and thereby became the happy Author of many Learned Tracts , writ in Latin , especially of three ; one of the Degrees of Ministers , and of the Bishops Superiority above the Presbytery ; a second against Sacriledge ; and a third of Christian obedience to Princes ; the last being occasioned by Gretzerus the Jesuit . And it is observable , that when in a time of Church tumults , Beza gave his reasons to the Chancellor of Scotland , for the abrogation of Episcopacy in that Nation , partly by Letters , and more fully in a Treatise of a three-fold Episcopacy ( which he calls Divine , Humane , and Satanical ) this Doctor Saravia had by the help of Bishop Whitgift made such an early discovery of their intentions , that he had almost as soon answered that Treatise as it became publique ; and therein discovered how Beza's opinion did contradict that of Calvins , and his adherents ; leaving them to interfere with themselves in point of Episcopacy ; but of these Tracts it will not concern me to say more , than that they were most of them dedicated to his and the Church of Englands watchful Patron Iohn Whitgift the Archbishop ; and printed about the year in which Mr. Hooker also appeared first to the world in the Publication of his four Books of Ecclesiastical Polity .

This friendship being sought for by this Learned Doctor , you may believe was not denied by Mr. Hooker , who was by fortune so like him as to be engaged against Mr. Travers , Mr. Cartwright , and others of their Judgment in a controversie too like Doctor Saravia's ; So that in this year of 1595. and in this place of Borne , these two excellent persons began a Holy Friendship , increasing dayly to so high and mutual affections , that their two wills seemed to be but one and the same , and designs both for the glory of God , and peace of the Church ; still assisting and improving each others vertues , and the desired comforts of a peaceable Piety ; which I have willingly mentioned , because it gives a foundation to some things that follow .

This Parsonage of Borne , is from Canterbury three miles , and near to the common Road that leads from that City to Dover ; in which Parsonage Mr. Hooker had not been twelve moneths , but his Books , and the Innocency and Sanctity of his Life became so remarkable , that many turn'd out of the road , and others ( Scholars especially ) went purposely to see the Man , whose Life and Learning were so much admired ; and alas , as our Saviour said of St. Iohn Baptist , what went they out to see ! a Man Cloathed in Purple and fine Linen ? no indeed ; but an obscure harmless Man ; a Man in poor Clothes , his Loynes usually girt in a course Gown or Canonical Coat ; of a mean Stature , and stooping , and yet more lowly in the thoughts of his Soul ; his body worn out , not with Age , but Study and Holy Mortifications ; his face full of Heat-Pimples , begot by his unactivity and sedentary life . And to this true Character of his Person , let me add this of his Disposition and behaviour ; God and Nature blest him with so blessed a hashfulness , that as in his younger days , his Pupils might easily look him out of countenance ; so neither then , nor in his Age , did he ever willingly look any Man in the face : and was of so mild and humble a Nature , that his poor Parish Clark and he did never talk but with both their Hats on , or both off at the same time ; and to this may be added , that though he was not purblind ; yet , he was short or weak-sighted ; and where be fixt his eyes at the beginning of his Sermon , there they continued till it was ended ; and the Reader has a Liberty to believe that his Modesty and Dim sight were some of the reasons why he trusted Mistris Churchman to choose a Wife for him .

This Parish Clark lived till the third or fourth year of the late long Parliament ; betwixt which time and Mr. Hookers Death , there had come many to see the place of his Burial , and the Monument dedicated to his memory by Sir William Cooper , ( who still lives ) and the poor Clark had many rewards for shewing Mr. Hookers Grave-place , and his said Monument , and did always hear Mr. Hooker mentioned with Commendations and Reverence ; to all which he added his own knowledge and observations of his Humility and Holiness : in all which Discourses , the poor man was still more confirm'd in his opinion of Mr. Hookers Vertues and Learning ; but it so fell out , that about the said third or fourth year of the long Parliament , the present Parson of Borne was Sequestred ( you may guess why ) and a Genevian Minister put into his good living . This , and other like Sequestrations , made the Clerk express himself in a wonder , and say , They had Sequestred so many good Men , that he doubted if his good Master Mr. Hooker had lived till now , they would have Sequestred him too .

It was not long before this intruding Minister had made a party in and about the said Parish , that were desirous to receive the Sacrament as in Geneva ; to which end , the day was appointed for a Select Company , and Forms and Stools set about the Altar or Communion Table for them to sit and eat and drink ; but when they went about this work , there was a want of some Joynd-stools , which the Minister sent the Clerk to fetch , and then to fetch Cushions . When the Clerk saw them begin to sit down , he began to wonder ; but the Minister bade him cease wondering , and lock the Church door : To whom he replied , Pray take you the Keys and lock me out , I will never come more into this Church ; for all men will say my Master Hooker was a good Man , and a good Scholar , and I am sure it was not used to be thus in his days : And report says , The old man went presently home , and died ; I do not say died immediately , but within a few days after .

But let us leave this grateful Clerk in his quiet Grave , and return to Mr. Hooker himself , continuing our observations of his Christian behavior in this place , where he gave a holy Valediction to all the pleasures and allurements of Earth ; possessing his Soul in a vertuous quietness , which he maintained by constant Study , Prayers , and Meditations : His use was to Preach once every Sunday , and he or his Curate to Catechize after the Second Lesson in the Evening Prayer : His Sermons were neither long nor earnest , but uttered with a grave Zeal , and an humble Voice : His Eyes always fixt on one place , to prevent his imagination from wandring ; insomuch , that he seem'd to Study as he spake ; the design of his Sermons ( as indeed of all his Discourses ) was to shew Reasons for what he spake : And with these Reasons such a kinde of Rhetorick , as did rather convince and perswade , then frighten men into Piety . Studying not so much for matter ( which he never wanted ) as for apt illustrations to inform and teach his unlearned hearers by familiar examples , and then make them better by convincing Applications ; never laboring by hard words , and then by needless distinctions and subdistinctions to amuse his hearers , and get glory to himself : But glory onely to God . Which intention he would often say , was as discernable in a Preacher , as an Artificial from a Natural Beauty .

He never failed the Sunday before every Ember week , to give notice of it to his Parishioners , perswading them both to fast , and then to double their Devotions for a Learned and Pious Clergy , but especially for the last ; saying often , That the life of a pious Clergy-man was visible Rhetorick , and so convincing , That the most godless men ( though they would not deny themselves the enjoyment of their present Lusts ) did get secretly wish themselves like those of the strictest lives . And to what he perswaded others , he added his own example of Fasting and Prayer ; and did usually every Ember week , take from the Parish Clerk the Key of the Church door ; into which place he retired every day , and lockt himself up for many hours ; and did the like most Fridays , and other days of Fasting .

He would by no means omit the customary time of Procession , perswading all , both rich and poor , if they desired the preservation of Love , and their Parish Rights and Liberties , to accompany him in his Perambulation , and most did so : In which Perambulation , he would usually express more pleasant discourse then at other times , and would then always drop some loving and facetious observations to be remembred against the next year , especially by the boys and young people ; still inclining them , and all his present Parishioners , to meekness and mutual kindnesses and love ; because Love thinks not evil , but covers a multitude of infirmities .

He was diligent to enquire who of his Parish were sick , or any way distressed , and would often visit them unsent for ; supposing , that the fittest time to discover those Errors , to which health and prosperity had blinded them : And having by pious Reasons and Prayers , molded them into holy Resolutions for the time to come , he would incline them to Confession , and bewailing their sins , with purpose to forsake them , and then to receive the Communion , both as a strengthning of those holy Resolutions ; and as a Seal betwixt God and them of his mercies to their Souls , in case that present sickness did put a period to their lives .

And as he was thus watchful and charitable to the sick , so he was as diligent to prevent Law-sutes , still urging his Parishioners and Neighbors , to bear with each others infirmities , and live in love , because ( as St. Iohn says ) He that lives in love , lives in God , for God is Love . And to maintain this holy Fire of Love , constantly burning on the Altar , of a pure Heart , his advice was to watch and pray , and always keep themselves fit to receive the Communion , and then to receive it often ; for it was both a confirming , and a strengthning of their Graces . This was his advice ; and at his entrance or departure out of any house , he would usually speak to the whole Family , and bless them by name ; insomuch , that as he seem'd in his youth to be taught of God , so he seem'd in this place to teach his Precepts , as Enoch did by walking with him , in all Holiness and Humility , making each day a step towards a blessed Eternity . And though in this weak and declining age of the World , such examples are become barren , and almost incredible ; yet let his memory be blest with this true Recordation , because , he that praises Richard Hooker , praises God , who hath given such gifts to men ; and let this humble and affectionate Relation of him , become such a pattern as may invite Posterity to imitate his Vertues .

This was his constant behavior at Borne ; thus as Enoch , so he walked with God ; thus did he tread in the footsteps of Primitive Piety ; and yet , as that great example of meekness and purity , even our Blessed Iesus was not free from false accusations , no more was this Disciple of his . This most humble , most innocent holy Man ; his was a slander parallel to that of chaste Susannaes by the wicked Elders ; or that against St. Athanasius , as it is Recorded in his life ( for that holy Man had Heretical enemies ) and which this age calls Trepanning . The particulars need not a repetition , and that it was false , needs no other Testimony then the publick punishment of his accusers , and their open confession of his innocency : 'T was said , that the accusation was contrived by a Dissenting Brother , one that indur'd not Church Ceremonies , hating him for his Books sake , which he was not able to Answer ; and his name hath been told me : But I have not so much confidence in the Relation , as to make my Pen fix a scandal on him to Posterity ; I shall rather leave it doubtful till the great day of Revelation . But this is certain , that he lay under the great charge , and the anxiety of this accusation , and kept it secret to himself for many moneths : And , being a helpless man , had lain longer under this heavy burthen , but that the Protector of the innocent gave such an accidental occasion as forced him to make it known to his two dear Friends , Edwin Sandys and George Cranmer , who were so sensible of their Tutors sufferings , that they gave themselves no rest , till by their disquisitions and diligence they had found out the Fraud , and brought him the welcome news , that his accusers did confess they had wrong'd him , and begg'd his pardon : To which the good mans reply was to this purpose , The Lord forgive them ; and , The Lord bless you for this comfortable news . Now I have a just occasion to say with Solomon , Friends are born for the days of Adversity , and such you have prov'd to me : And to my God I say , as did the Mother of St. John Baptist , Thus hath the Lord dealt with me , in the day wherein he looked upon me , to take away my reproach among men . And , O my God , neither my life , nor my reputation , are safe in mine own keeping , but in thine , who didst take care of me , when I yet hanged upon my Mothers Brest . Blessed are they that put their trust in thee , O Lord ; for , when false witnesses were risen up against me ; when shame was ready to cover my face ; when I was bowed down with an horrible dread , and went mourning all the day long ; when my nights were restless , and my sleeps broken with a fear worse then death ; when my Soul thirsted for a deliverance , as the Hart panteth after the Rivers of Waters : Then , thou Lord , didst bear my complaints , pitty my condition , and art new become my Deliverer ; and as long as I live I will hold up my hands in this manner , and magnifie thy Mercies , who didst not give me over as a prey to mine enemies . O blessed are they that put their trust in thee ; and no prosperity shall make me forget those days of sorrow , or to perform those vows that I have made to thee in the days of my fears and affliction ; for with such sacrifices , thou , O God , art well pleased ; and I will pay them .

Thus did the joy and gratitude of this good Mans heart break forth ; and 't is observable , that as the invitation to this slander was his meek behavior and Dove like simplicity , for which he was remarkable ; so his Christian Charity ought to be imitated : For , though the Spirit of Revenge is so pleasing to mankinde , that it is never conquered but by a Supernatural Grace , being indeed so deeply rooted in Humane Nature , that to prevent the excesses of it ( for men would not know Moderation ) Almighty God allows not any degree of it to any man , but says , Vengeance is mine . And , though this be said by God himself , yet this revenge is so pleasing , that man is hardly perswaded to submit the menage of it to the Time , and Justice , and Wisdom of his Creator , but would hasten to be his own executioner of it . And yet nevertheless , if any man ever did wholly decline , and leave this pleasing Passion to the time and measure of God alone , it was this Richard Hooker of whom I write : For when his slanderers were to suffer , he labored to procure their Pardon ; and , when that was denied him , his Reply was , That however he would fast and pray , that God would give them Repentance and Patience to undergo their Punishment . And his Prayers were so for returned into his own bosom , that the first was granted , if we may believe a Penitent Behavior , and an open Confession . And 't is observable , that after this time he would often say to Dr. Saravia , O with what quietness , did I enjoy my Soul after I was free from the fears of my slander ! And how much more after a conflict and victory ever my desires of Revenge !

In the Year One thousand six hundred , and of his Age Forty six , he fell into a long and sharp sickness , occasioned by a Cold taken in his Passage betwixt London and Gravesend , from the malignity of which , he was never recovered ; for , till his death he was not free from thoughtful days , and restless nights ; but a submission to his Will that makes the sick mans bed easie , by giving rest to his Soul , made his very languishment comfortable : And yet all this time he was solicitous in his Study , and said often to Dr. Saravia , ( who saw him daily , and was the cheif● comfort of his life ) That he did not beg a long life of God for any other reason , but to live to finish his three remaining Books of POLITY ; and then , Lord , let thy Servant depart in peace , which was his usual expression . And God heard his Prayers , though he denied the Church the benefit of them as compleated by himself ; and 't is thought he hastned his own death , by hastning to give life to his Books . But this is certain , that the nearer he was to his death , the more he grew in Humility , in holy Thoughts and Resolutions .

About a moneth before his death , this good man , that never knew , or at least , never consider'd the pleasures of the Palate , became first to lose his Appetite , then to have an aversness to all Food ; insomuch , that he seem'd to live some intermitted weeks by the smell of meat onely ; and yet still studied and writ . And now his Guardian Angel seem'd to foretel him , that his years were past away as a shadow , bidding him prepare to follow the Generation of his Fathers , for the day of his dissolution drew near ; for which his vigorous Soul appear'd to thirst .

In this time of his sickness , and not many days before his death , his House was robb'd ; of which , he having notice , his Question was , Are my Books and Written Papers safe ? And being answered , That they were . His Reply was , Then it matters not , for no other loss can trouble me .

About one day before his death , Dr. Saravia , who knew the very secrets of his Soul ( for they were supposed to be Confessors to each other ) came to him , and after a Conference of the Benefit , the Necessity , and Safety of the Churches Absolution , it was resolved the Doctor should give him both that and the Sacrament the day following . To which end the Doctor came , and after a short retirement and privacy , they return'd to the company ; and then the Doctor gave him and some of those friends that were with him , the Blessed Sacrament of the Body and Blood of our Jesus . Which being performed , the Doctor thought he saw a reverend gaity and joy in his face ; but it lasted not long ; for his bodily infirmities did return suddenly , and became more visible , insomuch , that the Doctor apprehended Death ready to seise him : Yet , after some amendment , left him at night , with a promise to return early the day following , which he did , and then found him better in appearance , deep in contemplation , and not inclinable to discourse ; which gave the Doctor occasion to require his present thoughts : To which he replied , That he was meditating the number and nature of Angels , and their blessed Obedience and Order , without which , Peace could not be in Heaven ; and oh that it might be so on Earth . After which words , he said , I have lived to see this World is made up of perturbations , and I have been long preparing to leave it , and gathering comfort for the dreadful hour of making my account with God , which I now apprehend to be near : And though I have by his Grace lov'd him in my youth , and fear'd him in mine age , and labor'd to have a Conscience void of offence to him , and to all men ; yet , if thou , O Lord , be extream to mark what I have done amiss , who can abide it ? And therefore , where I have failed , Lord shew mercy to me ; for I plead not my Righteousness , but the forgiveness of my unrighteousness , for his Merits who died to purchase a pardon for penitent sinners . And since I ow thee a death , Lord let it not be terrible , and then take thine own time , I submit to it : Let not mine , O Lord , but let thy Will be done . With which expression he fell into a dangerous slumber , dangerous as to his recovery ; yet recover he did , but it was to speak onely these few words , Good Doctor , God hath heard my daily Petitions ; for I am at peace with all men , and he is at peace with me ; and from which blessed assurance I feel that inward joy , which this World can neither give nor take from me . More he would have spoken , but his spirits failed him ; and , after a short conflict betwixt Nature and Death , a quiet sigh put a period to his last breath , and so he fell asleep .

And here I draw his Curtain , till with the most glorious Company of the Patriarks and Apostles ; the most noble Army of Martyrs and Confessors , this most Learned , most Humble , holy Man , shall also awake to receive an Eternal Tranquillity , and with it a greater degree of Glory then common Christians shall be made partakers of ; In the mean time , Bless , O Lord , Lord bless his Brethren , the Clergy of this Nation with ardent desires , and effectual endeavors to attain , if not to his great Learning , yet to his remarkable meekness , his godly simplicity , and his Christian moderation : For these are praise-worthy ; these bring peace at the last : And let the Labors of his life , his most excellent Writings be bless with what he designed when he undertook them : Which was Glory to thee , O God on high , Peace in thy Church , and good will to mankinde .

Amen , Amen .