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price was fifty shillings. He thought no care of repayment. Let that tbe book worth the sum demanded; be when thou canst, or in wbat but whether the purchase was small parcels thou wilt; or whether expedient for a person in bis nar. or never, it will be all one to me.' row circumstances was a considera. He was accordingly prevailed on to tion; and he retired to a secluded return to the shop, and purchase walk to weigh the alternative of the work. continuing at the university, or pur. It was shortly after, that the chasing the work in question, and college received private information accepting his friend's offer. Such that a stranger had obtained a accidents, trifling in themselves, mandamus for a fellowship. This become important in the view of induced the society to choose Mr. those who are accustomed to refer Mede, on condition that he should all events to that Providence who recede, if the mandamus were per watches over the minutest concerns tinaciously insisted on, or could of believers, and to trace the con not be diverted. He however nexion between causes and effects. immediately made application to While he was meditating, his ex- Bishop Andrews, and obtained the cellent acquaintance, Mr. William confirmation of his appointment. Boswell, fellow of Jesus College, Impressed with a sense of the overhappened to turn into the same ruling goodness of God, he sopath, and observing Mr. Mede in lemnly vowed' to lay aside every deep reflection, was led to accost tenth shilling he should ever re. him, and presuming on the privi- ceive in the college, and to dedicate lege of intimacy, to inquire the it to pious uses.' subject of his thoughts, which he He was next made reader of the as readily communicated. Boswell Greek lecture, founded by Sir at first recommended him to close Walter Mildmay; in which situa. with the gentleman's proposal, ob- tion his constant attention to Homer serving that he knew him to be a not only perfected hiin as a critic worthy character, and possessor of upon shat author, but from his a well-furnished library; alleging habit of collating the Greek writers further, that the leisure he would with the Hebrew, Chaldaic, and enjoy under his roof, with the Syriac, he became a proficient in advantage of the society he would their different idioms. He em. meet, and the addition of the salary ployed himself besides in making a to his present income, would enable collection of such Greek, Latin, and him probably to do his church and English words, as he had observed country more service with his pen, to have a near sense and like than, considering the impediment sound with the Hebrew; an exerin his speech, he might effect in the cise which increased his value both pulpit. Mr. Mede was determined as a lecturer and a companion. by this advice. They had scarcely He had a peculiar talent for the however separated, when Mr. Bos- office of tutor. After he had well well called him back again. But, grounded his pupils in the classics, Joseph,' said he, it is a great pity logic, and philosophy, and by frethough, that thou shouldst leave us quent converse had ascertained the for want of a book! Lo, here is departments in which they were all my stock at present (shewing respectively likely to succeed, he him five pieces of money) but come, gave them suitable advice. When we will divide. Go and buy thy they had made sufficient progress, book!' He declined his friend's he chose rather to set every one generosity, objecting, · How shall · his daily task, than constantly to I be solvent in convenient time?' confine bimself and them to fixed 'I pray thee (replied Boswell) take hours for lectures. In the evening

they all came to his chamber to ancient Chaldeans, Egyptians, and satisfy him that they had performed other Orientals. He wished to their appointed tasks. The first make such inquiries subservient to question which he used to put to a critical acquaintance with the each in his order, was, “What prophetical writings. Antiquities doubts have you met with in your relating to the Heathen, Jewish, studies to-day ?' For be regarded Christian, and Mahometan religions all absence of doubt and difficulty engaged a considerable sbare of bis in young students, as indicative attention ; whose results are seen of dullness of intellect. Their in several of his treatises, partidoubts being propounded, he pro- cularly his ‘Apostacy of the latter ceeded to resolve them. And then, times ;' the Christian sacrifice;' having by prayer commended them · Discourses on Daniel, Paraphrase and their studies to God's protec- and Notes on St. Peter's prophecy;' tion and blessing, he dismissed and the work by which he is more them to their lodgings. Such at- generally known; • Commentaries tention argued at once kindness on the Apocalypse.' and conscientiousness, and must · To histories he added those have ensured the respect of the necessary attendants, which, to the steady and reflective, though he was knowledge of the more difficult frequenly heard to remark, · That scriptures must never be wanting the office of training up young (as is remarked by his biographer) scholars in the university, proved namely an accurate understanding of oftentimes but a thankless business. the ichnography of the tabernacle

He was so devoted to the acqui- and temple, the order of the service sition of useful knowledge, that he of God therein performed, as also made even the time which he spent the city of Jerusalem, together with in recreation, subservient to this an exact topography of the holy purpose. He allowed himself little land ; besides other Jewish antior no exercise but walking; and quities, scripture chronology, and frequently, when he traversed the the exact calculation of times, so fields, or paced the college-garden far especially, as made for the solvwith his associates, the beauty, ing or clearing of those difficulties properties, and medicinal virtues and obscure passages that occur in of the vegetable world supplied the historical part of scripture, him with a theme, on which he which the vulgar chronologers bave found pleasure in expatiating, to the perplexed, and the best not fully great gratification of his hearers. freed from scruple.' In the language of the economist, Mr. Mede occupies a distinguishno man knew better how to hus- ed niche in the temple of fame, as band time; or in that of the divine, the introducer of that interpretation few Christians seem to have been of different parts of the prophetical more sensible of the importance writings, relative to the millennium, of the talent.

the personal reign of Christ, the In the retirement of his more ingathering of the Jews, and kindred private studies, after giving some subjects, which bave occupied so attention to those astrological lucu- many divines in modern days, after brations, wbich have deservedly lying dormant since the times of ceased to interest an age of more the ancient fathers of the church. extended science and more enlarged It will not be expected in a biograinformation, and of which he him phical account, like the present, self soon perceived the vanity, he that any discussion should be oriwas diligent in his application to ginated on the relative value of his history and antiquities; particularly prophetical scheme. It is sufficient the mysterious sciences of the to observe, that his sentiments on

some difficult passages of scripture •The mountain of the Lord's house gained him the esteem of many shall be one day exalted, yea able theologians both at home and mounted, not only above the lesser abroad; and that whether engaged hills, but the highest mountains, with opponents of those sentiments though at this time it were depressin oral communication or epistolary ed, and trampled underfoot by the correspondence, he always exhibited proud enemies thereof. The ena modesty and diffidence in the sup- largement and ampleness thereof, port of his own opinions on such in the words - All nations shall curious thernes, which some of his flow upto it: that is, though at the successors in the same department time of this prophecy it were reduced would have done well to imitate. to a small remnant; yet the time It could scarcely fail, that his merit was to come, when it should not as a prophetical expositor should only consist of the one nation of be variously appreciated. To the the Jews, as then it did, but of all profundity of his learning, however, nations under the whole heaven, and the acuteness of his criticism, The prosperity thereof begins to be many subsequent writers have been described from the words in the perhaps more indebted, than their fourth verse. They shall beat their honesty has led them to acknow. swords into plowsbares, &c. that is, ledge.

although the greatest part of Jacob · In the absence of such discussion, were already captive, and Judah it may be desirable to give an extract and Jerusalem in a continual fear from one of his discourses, showing and no less danger of the arms and his manner as a preacher, and his invasion of the king of Babel; yet views as an interpreter. The text the time should one day come, that is from Isaiah ii. 2-4. “ It shall the people or church of God should come to pass in the last days, that not only be the most exalted state the mountain of the Lord's house upon the earth, and the most ample shall be established (or prepared) and universal dominion that ever in the top of the mountains, and was in the world, but the most exalted above the hills; and all peaceable, quiet, and tourishing nations shall flow unto it: &c. state that ever was, since Man was

“Hills or mountains are states, first created. kingdoms, or societies of men; “This is the prophecy. But now which, consisting of degrees, rising comes the question, Whether this unto a height one above another, as we have described it, be and bath are compared unto mountains raised already been fulfilled; or whether above the ordinary plain and level the time thereof be yet to come ; of the earth. The mountain of the or if already any ways fulfilled, Lord's house is that state and whether it be not in part only persociety of men, which is called the formed, and the full accomplishchurch and people of God; the ment reserved for the time to come ? kingdom of heaven ; that is, a “Our adversaries would fain find kingdom, both whose king and here, the constant and perpetual king's throne have their residence visibility of the church. And I must and place in the heavens. These needs grant them, that it is meant words therefore are a prophecy or of a time when the Gentiles shall prophetical promise of the glorious be called ; for the words of the exaltation, wonderful enlargement, text, viz. all nations, tell us so. and unheard of prosperity of this But without doubt, he that will society of men, called the church, have this place for his purpose, above all other states or societies of must show us not only a naked and men whatsoever. The glory and single visibility, but more than that, exaltation is expressed in the words, a glorious visibility; yea, the most glorious among the sons of men. was not in the tops of the moun. For a visibility is one thing, and a tains ; but the imperial mountain glorious visibility is another : for of Rome not only overtopped it, but many things are visible, which are ever trampled it under their feet. not glorious to look upon; and For we must know here, that we oftentimes good and rich metal may speak all this time of the external be within, when the outside glistens glory, for that is the thing wherenot. We must therefore, when we about the quarrel is. In the times talk of the church's visibility, dis. of Constantine and thereabouts, tinguish between these two, and not after three hundred years cruel confound them. The church might persecution, the sun seemed as it be visible, though it were but a hill, were to break forth of a cloud, and much more if it be a mountain ; but the Christian society became for a here it is to be established on the while both visible and glorious; tops of mountains, and exalted but presently after, even as it was above the hills ; so that no other in the end of Solomon's reign, this state shall overtop or overlook it, glory of the church was not only much less trample it under feet. eclipsed, but even the visibility Now whether there were ever yet thereof, in a manner, covered and such a time, when this was com altogether darkened with that thick pletely fulfilled, though all be and universally overspreading cloud granted our adversaries they can of Arianism. And thus far our ask, yea and that the Romish adversaries will go with us. But church be the church here spoken we require that they should grant of, I leave it to any man's indifferent us something more, namely, that judgment, who can compare the this Arian cloud was no sooner description of the prophet with the blown over, but another great cloud stories of forepast and present times. of that fore-prophesied apostacy

“But suppose it were to be fulfilled of the church began to arise; and fully accomplished in the times whereby the church's glory was not which have already been ; and I only eclipsed, but at length agais will not deny but in part it bath the visibility thereof wholly overbeen so; yet how doth jt follow shadowed with the thick darkness from this prophecy that this glorious of idolatrous antichristianism ; until visibility should be constant and that after a long day of darkness perpetual, and never interrupted or and a black night, it pleased God, eclipsed ?"-" When we therefore even of late, somewhat to dispel talk of the church's visibility and the cloud, whereby the society of glory, we must distinguish of- true believers became again outtimes; and know that there are wardly visible and conspicuous to times when the church is indeed the world. And we hope, when the visible, but not glorious; secondly, cloud shall be wholly consumed by times when it is neither visible nor the beams of the Sun of the Gospel. glorious ; thirdly, times when it is it shall become not only more to be both visible and glorious. In visible than yet it is, but far more the times immediately after Christ's glorious than ever hitherto it bath passion, or if you will at his passion, been, when the fulness of the GenI think any man will grant, that it tiles (as St. Paul speaks) shall was then neither visible nor glo- come in.” rious. In the times of the perse. The preacher, having next showcuting emperors, when the church ed that a true church hath ever had taken foot among the Gentiles, existed, clouded under persecution, and the nations began to flow into and eclipsed under antichrist; and it was a society indeed visible, having handled the subject of differbut not glorious ; I am sure it ence with the papists about the

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Mede.

367 church's visibility ;- concluded by (saith he) have you ignorant of this declaring his anticipation of her mystery, that blindness in part is glory in the latter days.

bappened to Israel, until the fulness “And thus far we have in a of the Gentiles be come in ; and so manner yielded to our adversaries all Israel shall be saved. This is for a time, that the time of fulfilling that time whereof he speaks, that this prophecy bath already been ; if the present fall of the Jews be the for we would deny them no favour riches of the world, and their decay willingly which we could lawfully the riches of Gentiles, how much yield them. Nevertheless I verily more sball their fulness be the fulbelieve, that this prophecy hath ness of the Gentiles? This is that never yet received its full accom. glorious time which the prophecy plishment, nor is to do, until, as of this text principally, if not St. Paul saith, Rom. xi. 25. the altogether, intended : for if the fulfulness of the Gentiles be come in; ness of the glory and enlargement and so all Israel shall be saved. of the church be here described,

" For we find in the prophecies then it must needs be that the time of the scriptures that there are two hereof hath never yet been, because sorts and times of the calling of the as yet the fulness of the Gentiles, Gentiles : the first is that which whereof St. Paul speaks, is not should be with the rejection and come in. While the Roman and casting off of the Jews, and (as St. iron part of Nebuchadnezzar's Paul saith) to provoke them to image was yet standing, a stone jealousy: such a calling as should was hewn out of the mountain be in a manner occasional, that without hands : this is the first state God might not want a church the of the kingdom of Christ, and calling time the Jews were to be cast out; of the world; which hath been for this is that which St. Paul hitherto. But at length this stone, means, Rom. xi. 15, that the cast when the time of the image's brittle ing away of the Jews is the calling feet came, smote the image upon of the Gentiles or reconciling of the those feet, so that the wind blew world: whence we may see, that the whole image away, and there the apostles were not to preach was no more place found for any Christ to the Gentiles, until being part thereof: which was no sooner first offered to the Jews, they re. done, but the stone which smote fused him. And this is that calling the image swelled into a great of the Gentiles which hitherto hath mountain, and filled the whole been for many ages.

earth. This is the time of the " But there is a second and more fulness of Christ's kingdom, the glorious calling of the Gentiles to fulness of the Gentiles; this is be found in the prophecies of scrip- the time when the mountain of ture ; not a calling, as this is the Lord's house should be estawherein the Jews are excluded; blished upon the tops of the mounbut a calling wherein the Jews shall tains; namely, when the small stone have a share of the greatest glory, of Christ's kingdom, which is now and are to have a pre-eminence in being, shall smite the brittle feet above other nations, when all na of the last remainder of the Roman tions shall flow unto them, and walk state now subsisting in the Popein their light: for the calling of the dom, in which the divided toes remainder of the world which is not of too many kingdoms are in a sort, yet under Christ, iş reserved for the though but brittlely united together; solemnizing of the Jews restitution, and so that great seven-billed city This is that calling and that time still ladies it over the nations of the which he calls the fulness of the earth.” Gentiles; I would not brethren,

[To be continued.]

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