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The Rev. James Capper, M. A. vicar of Wilmington in Suffex, is prefented, by her Grace the Duchefs of Dorfet, to the rectory of Afhhurft in Kent.

The Rev. Edward Burton Barker, B. A. is inftituted to the rectory of Bacton, in Suffolk, on the prefentation of William Mafon, jun. Efq.

The Bishop of Exeter has prefented the Rev. John David Perkins, M. A. and Chap lain to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, to the rectory of St. Lawrence, in that city.

Lord Courtenay has prefented the Rev. Timothy Napleton, M. A. and rector of Powderham, to the rectory of North Bovey, in Devonshire, void by the death of the Rev. John Lock.

The Rev. Bernard Cracroft, of Louth, domestic chaplain to the Right Hon. Lord Glaftonbury, is empowered, by difpenfation under the great feal, to hold the rectory of Rippengale, together with the rectory of Weft Keal, both in the county and diocese of Lincoln.

Jan. 22.] This day, being Bachelors' Commencement, the following 89 gentlemen, from the undermentioned colleges, will be admitted Bachelors of Arts.

[Note-The names are arranged alphabetically.]

Trinity college. Meffrs. Campbell, Carruthers, Freeman, Frere, Gouldfmith, Gretton, Jaumard, Judgfon, Kent, Macfarlan, North, Palmer, Scarlett, Shipperdfon, Sutton, Walker, Wilkinfon, Wolftenholme. Yeates-19.

St. John's college. Meffrs. Barber, Bingle, Birch, Cunningham, Evans, Forbes, Goodwin, Huffey, Lowe, Mackenzie, Palgrave, Peck, Smith, Stanley, Stephen, Stratton, Weyland, Wheatley-18.

Peter-houfe. Meffrs. Bodley, Burton, Eliot, Hutchinfon-4.

Clare-hall. Meffrs. Ambler, Corfield, Morritt, Parfon, Verelst-5.
Pembroke-hall. Meffrs. Briggs, Hamilton, Harenc, Newton, Paley-5.
Caius-college. Meffrs. Barnwell, Cooper, Okes, Sainsbury, Syer-5.
Trinity hall. Mr. Hopkins-1.

Bene't college Meffrs. Durham, Ince, Jones, Layton, Martin, Pye-6.
Queen's coll ge. Meffrs. Barker, Godfrey, Humphries, Thompfon, White-5.
Catherine-hall. Meffrs. Allot, Cautley-2.

Jefus college. Meffrs. Bennett, Forge-2.

Chris college. Meffrs. Bonney, Grifdale, Moore-3.

Magdalen college. Meffrs. Atkinfon, Deverell, Wilding, Wilfon-4.

Emmanuel college. Meffrs. Fergufon, Holland, Poftlethwaite, Wainewright-4. Sidney college. Meffrs. Eyre, Marthall, Rogers, Renoliard, Phillipps, Thompson-6. The Senior Wrangler this year is Mr. White, of Queen's.

Lord Burgherth, eldest son of the Earl of Weftmoreland, is admitted of Trinity college. Mr. Charles Ekins, and Mr. Duke Yonge, of King's college, were yesterday admitted Fellows of that Society.

The Rev. Cæfar Morgan, D. D. formerly of Chrift's college, is prefented, by the Hon. and Right Rev. the Lord Bifhop of Ely, to the valuable rectory of Stretham in this county, vacated by the death of the Rev. Mr. Swaine.

The Rev. John Sheepfhanks, M. A. Fellow of Trinity college, is prefented to the valuable living of the Holy Trinity in Leeds, vacated by the death of the Rev. Francis Cripps, formerly of Trinity college.

The Rev. Thomas Cole, of Daventry, has been collated, by the Lord Bishop of Peterborough, to the vicarage of Long Buckby, in Northamptonshire.

The Rev. Jofeph Venables, M. A. of Clare-hall, is appointed domeftic chaplain to Lord Vifcount Hereford.

The Rev. John Griffiths, late Fellow of Queen's college, Oxon, was a few days fince elected, by the Dean and Chapter, to the head Mastership of the King's fchool, Ro

chefter.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

To our numerous and refpectable Correfpondents we are greatly obliged for the importance as well as the nature of their communications. To feveral we could exprefs ourselves in terms dictated by the warmth of pureft friendship, expreffive of our perfonal esteem for their generous aid and grateful affiftance, were we not affured that, viewing as they do the tendency of our labours, they feel folicitous for the welfare of a publication, of which the chief intents are to promote Chriftianity, to diffufe and eftablish Chriftian principles, to pull off the mafk, that conceals hypocrify, and to fupport and maintain thofe doctrines and that government, which, in church and flate, are effential to the welfare of the United Kingdom.

The letter of the "Young Quaker" is inadmiffible, as the continuance of such a correfpondence would evidently be difagreeable to most of our readers.

We fympathize with our honeft correfpondent " Margery," but the infertion of her letter would, in our opinion, hardly remove the caufe of her complaint. She muft perceive that the abuse the speaks of has already been noticed by us.

"hall carefully be investigated.

THE

ORTHODOX

CHURCHMAN'S MAGAZINE,

For FEBRUARY, 1802,

Be ye followers of them who through FAITH and PATIENCE inherit the
PROMISES.
ST. PAUL to the HEBREWS.

THE LIFE OF RICHARD HOOKER.

THE judicious and immortal author of the ECCLESIASTICAL POLITY was born at Heavitree, a small village near Exeter, about the year 1553. His parents were in rather mean circumftances, yet they contrived to give their children a good education, and Richard in particular, was placed at the grammar-school in Exeter. It is obferved, fays his honeft biographer, Walton, that at his being a school-boy, he was an early queftionist, quietly inquifitive why this was, and that was not, to be remembered? Why this was granted, and that denied? This being mixed with a remarkable modefty, and a fweet ferene quietnefs of nature, and with them a quick apprehenfion of many perplexed parts of learning, imposed then upon him as a fcholar, made his mafter and others believe him to have an inward bleffed divine light, and therefore to confider him as a little wonder. This meeknefs and conjuncture of knowledge, with modefty in his converfation, being obferved by his fchool-mafter, caufed him to perfuade his parents (who intended him for an apprentice) to continue him at school, till he could find fome means to ease them of a part of their care and charge, affuring them that their fon was fo enriched with the bleffings of nature and grace, that God feemed to fingle him out as a special inftrument of his glory. Accordingly, this good fchool-mafter prevailed upon John Hooker, then chamberlain of Exeter, and uncle to Richard, to maintain him at the univerfity; but foon afterwards this Mr. Hooker mentioning the good qualities of his nephew to bishop Jewell, who was also a relation of his, that excellent prelate took the charge off his hands. By him Richard Hooker was fent, in 1567, to Corpus Chrifti College, Oxford, where he was provided with a clerk's place, which, with the bishop's allowance, fupported him comfortably. After continuing at the univerfity about three years, he took a journey on foot, with a companion, and fellow-collegian, into Devonthire, to see his mother. They took SaVol. II. Churchm. Mag. Jan. 1802. litbury

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lisbury in their way, purposely to fee the good bishop, who made Mr. Hooker and his friend dine with him at his own table; and at parting the bishop gave him good counfel, and his benediction, but forgot to give him money. On reflection, the pious prelate fent a fervant, in hafte, to call Richard back, and at his return faid to him, Richard, I fent for you back to lend you a horfe, which hath carried me many a mile, and I thank God, with much eafe, and then delivered into his hand a walking-staff, with which he had himself travelled through many parts of Germany; and then he continued, Richard, I do not give, but lend you my horfe; be fure you be honest, and bring my horfe 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 be ten groats more, which I charge you to deliver to your mother, and tell her, I fend her a bishop's benediction with it, and beg the continuance of her prayers for me. And if you bring my horfe back to me, I will give you ten groats more to carry you on foot to the college, and fo God bless you, good Richard.

But Mr. Hooker never faw his kind patron again, for fhortly after this interview he received the melancholy news of his death. This circumftance affected him greatly, but Dr. Cole, the prefident of his college, raised his fpirits by affuring him, that he should want for nothing to enable him to profecute his ftudies, and he was as good as his word.

Not long before his death, bishop Jewell had recommended his nephew to Dr. Edwin Sandys, archbishop of York, to be tutor to his eldeft fon, and accordingly his grace fent him to Oxford instead of Cambridge, on that recommendation, for which he alledged this reason, I will have a tutor for my fon that shall teach him learning by inftruction, and virtue by example; aud my greatest care shall be of the last, and (God willing) this Richard Hooker shall be the man into whofe hands I will commit my Edwin.

And, doubtlefs, 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 conftant unwearied diligence, attained a perfection in the learned languages. With this knowledge he had alfo a clear method of demonftrating what he knew, to the great advantage of all his pupils, (which in time were many) but especially to his two first, Edwin Sandys and George Cranmer.

This (fays Walton) for Mr. Hooker's learning. And for his behaviour, amongst other things, this ftill remains of him that in four years he was but twice abfent from the chapel prayers; and that his behaviour there was fuch as fhewed an aweful reverence of that God whom he then worshipped, giving all outward teftimonies that his affections were fet on heavenly things. This was his behaviour towards God; and for that to man,-it is obfervable that he was never known to be angry, or paffionate, or extreme in any of his defires; never heard to repine or difpute with providence, but by a quiet gentle fubmiffion and refignation of his will to the wisdom of his Creator, bore the burthen of the day with patience; never heard to utter an uncomely word: and by this, and a grave behaviour, which is a divine charm, he begot an early reverence unto his perfon, even from those that at other times, and in other companies, took à liberty to caft off that ftrictness of behaviour and difcourfe 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

beget a thought of looseness in his hearers. Thus mild, thus innocent and exemplary was his behaviour in college; and thus this good man continued till his death, ftill increafing in learning, in patience and piety.

In 1878, he was admitted a scholar on the foundation, and in 1577, he took his master's degree, in which year he became fellow of his college. In 1579, he was chofen to read the Hebrew lecture, but fhortly afterwards, with his learned countryman, Dr. John Reynolds, he was expelled the college. It is certain they were not reftored till the end of that year, but what the occafion of their expulfion was, does not appear. There is, however, a letter extant of Dr. Reynolds to Sir Francis Knolles, which complains ftrongly of the conduct of a "certain perfon of the college for unrighteous dealing" in this bufinefs, and the letter had the defired effect of restoring these two excellent men to their stations.

Shortly after this he entered into orders, and in 1581, was appointed to preach at St. Paul's Cross, on which occafion he lodged at what was called the Shunamite's House, because it was appropriated for the convenience of those minifters, who came from the univerfities, to preach at that place. This houfe was at that time kept by one Churchman, whofe wife perfuaded poor Mr. Hooker that it would be better for him to get a wife; and, on her recommendation, he not long after married her daughter, Joan, 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 houfe. By this marriage the good man was drawn from the tranquillity of his college, into the thorny wilderness of a bufy world; into thofe corroding cares that attend a married prieft, and a country parfonage; which was Drayton Beauchamp, in Buckinghamshire.

In this condition he continued about a year, in which time his two pupils, Edwin Sandys and George Cranmer, took a journey to see their tutor, where they found him reading Horace, and tending a few theep, in a common field, which he told them he was obliged to do, because his fervant was gone home to dinner. When the man returned and released him, his pupils accompanied him to the houfe, where their best entertainment was his quiet company, which was foon denied them; for Richard was called to rock the cradle; and the rest of their entertainment was fo unpleasant that they departed the next day. The condition of their tutor greatly diftreffed them, and Mr. Sandys reprefented it in such a manner to his father, that, through his intereft, Mr. Hooker was, the next year (1585) appointed master of the Temple. About this time the Puritans or Nonconformifts, being encouraged by the Earl of Leicester, were uncommonly arrogant, and greatly disturbed the peace of the nation, by the zeal with which they endeavoured to promote what they called reformation. The providence of God had placed that great prelate Dr. John Whitgift in the See of Canterbury, and by his fteadiness the Church of England was guided fafely through the ftorm. Yet the Puritans continued very active in their attempts to defpoil the church; and their lecturers were exceedingly bold in declaiming against episcopacy and a prefcribed form of prayer, the use of the furplice, of the fign of the crofs, and other primitive inftitutions. The Temple Church had one of these zealots for an afternoon preacher, one Travers; who, being greatly difappointed at not obtaining the maftership, fet himself to oppofe the fentiments of Mr. Hooker, in his public difcourfes. This man was of the Prefbyterian party, and Mr. Hooker was a firm Epifcopalian; fo that, as one pleasantly obferved,

I 2

obferved, the forenoon fermon fpake Canterbury, and the afternoon Geneva. This oppofition continued a long time, till the prudent archbishop put a ftop to it by prohibiting Mr. Travers from preaching. Against this prohibition he appealed to the privy council; but, though he had some powerful friends there, yet he could not prevail, for the queen had prudently committed the affairs of the church to the archbishop's management.

This affair gave great offence to the Puritans, and a paper contest enfued between Mr. Hooker and Mr. Travers, in which the former diftinguished himself by his extenfive learning, ftrength of reasoning, and candour of expreffion. It is not unworthy the noting, fays his honeft biographer, that in the managing of fo great a controversy, a tharper reproof than this, never fell from the happy pen of this humble man : Your next argument (fays Mr. Hooker, in reply to fome angry exceptions of his antagonist) confifts of railing, and of reafons; to your railing I fay nothing, to your reafons I fay what follows.

The following obfervation of Walton on this paffage and behaviour of Mr. Hooker, is most excellent. "I am glad of this fair occafion (fays he) to teftify the dove-like temper of this meek, this matchlefs man; and, doubtlefs, if Almighty God had bleft the Diffenters from the ceremonies and difcipline of this church, with a like measure of wisdom and humility, inftead of their pertinacious zeal; then obedience and truth had kiffed each other; then peace and piety had flourished in our nation, and this church and state had been bleft like Jerufalem, that is at unity with itself ; but this can never be expected till God thall bless the common people of this nation with a belief that schism is a fin; and they are not fit to judge what is fchifm; and bless them alfo with a belief, that there may be offences taken which are not given, and that laws are not made for private men to difpute but to obey."

To this difpute we are indebted for thofe immortal books of ECCLESIASTICAL POLITY, concerning the excellence of which it would be unneceffary to make any remarks in this place. The foundation of these books was laid in the Temple, but not finding that a fit place wherein to finish what he had defigned, he folicited the archbishop for a removal to fome retired spot, "where (says he) I may study, and pray for God's bleffing upon my endeavours, and keep myfelf in peace and privacy, and behold God's blefling fpring out of my mother earth, and eat my own bread without oppofitions."

His requeft was readily complied with, and the rectory of Bofcum, in the diocese of Salisbury, becoming vacant, he was prefented to it in 1591, in which year he was alfo inftituted to be a minor prebend in that cathedral.

In 1595, he quitted Bofcum for the rectory of Bishop's Bourne, in Kent, to which he was prefented by the archbishop, and here he continued till his death. The four firft books of his Polity were published while he refided at Bofcum, and the fifth appeared in 1597, with a dedication to his patron, the archbishop.

Thefe books were read with admiration, not only at home, but in foreign nations. They were foon conveyed to Rome, where Cardinal Allen and Dr. Stapleton, two learned Englishmen, prefented them to Pope Clement VIII. with this commendation, that, though his holiness had faid he never met with an English book whofe writer deferved the name of author; yet there now appeared a wonder, for a poor obfcure English priest had writ four fuch books of laws and church polity, and in a style that ex

preffed

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