ding to the old canon per difciplinam, et verbera. In his fons he was more fortunate, than many bifhops in England have been thought to have been; his eldest being a civil gentleman, and well left, another an excellent preacher, that hath preached oft before the king, and namely one fermon on this text out of the 2d. of the Canticles, verfe 15. Take us the foxes, the little foxes that deftroy our vines: for our vines, have finall grapes: which fermon fo pleafed his majefty, that befides other approbations of that, he said to me, that if Mr. Ellmer had not had his father's collections and notes against puritans, he never could have made fo good a fermon: and fo much of Bishop Eimar.

BISHOP FLETCHER.

There fucceeded in lefs than one year's vacancy, as hath been already told, Mr. Richard Fletcher, a comely and courtly prelate, but I may fay, as Tully faid, when he had commended King Dejotarus to Cæfar, by the name of Rex frugi, a frugall, or thrifty king, he straight addeth this parenthefis, quanquam reges hoc verbo laudari non folent, although faid he, kings are not accustomed to be praifed with this word thrifty, fo I might fay, that comely and courtly, are no fit epithetons for the true praise of a prelate. I remembered before how Ely had been long vacant, almost 20 years, and Briftoll and Oxenford though both new erected bishopricks (faved as it were out of the ruins and afhes of the Abbies) were thought in fome danger again to be loft, for Briftoll was held in commendam, and Oxford not much to be commended; wherefore about the year 88, that fame annus mirabilis, fome of the zealous courtiers, whofe devotion did ferve them to prey more on the church, than pray in the, church, harkened out for fit fupplies to thefe places, and fent their agents to find out fome men that had great mindes and fmall means or merits, that would be glad to leave a fmall deanry to make a poor bifhoprick, by new leafing out lands, that were now almoft out of leafe, but to free him from the guilt of it, the poor bishop must have no part of the fine. There was then a deane whom I may not name; but to give the ftory more life, I will name his place for names fake of Coventry, a man of great learning, but of no great living. To him was fent one of thefe foxes, the little foxes that deftroy our vines, and make small grapes, with this favourable meffage, that his honourable lord had fent him to him, to let him know, how much he refpected his good gifts (in which word also, there might be fome equivocation) and though that was hard in those times, to pleasure men of his worth, according to their merit, yet my lord in favour of him, hath bethought him of this courfe, that whereas Salisbury was then like to be void by a remove, if this dean would for the prefent take the bishoprick of Oxford, which was then in a long vacation alío, and make leafes, &c. he fhould the next year be removed to Salisbury: the honeft dean that in his foul detefted fuch facriledge, made this mannerly and ingenuous anfwer. Sir, I befeech you commend my humble fervice to his honourable lordship; but I pray you tell his lordship, that in my. confcience, Oxford is not my right way, from Coventry to Salisbury: what became of Oxford I fhall touch, and but touch hereafter, I come now to bishop Fletcher, that made not fo much fcruple to take Bristoll in his way, from Peterborough to Worcester, though that were wide of the right way, upon the finifter or bow hand many miles; as the card of a good confcience will plainly discover. I fortuned to be one day at the

Savoy with Mr. Secretary Walfingham, where Mr. Fltecher was then upon his difpatch for Bristoll, a familiar friend of his meeting him there, bad God give him joy, my lord elect of Briftoll, which he taking kindly and courtly upon him, anfwered that it had pleafed indeed the higher powers, fo to difpofe of him; but faid his friend in his eare, do you not lease out tot et tot to fuch and fuch? He clapping his hand on his heart, in a good gracefull fashion, replied with the words of Naman the Syrian. Herein the Lord be mercifull to me; but there was not an Elizeus to bid him go in peace. What fhall I fay for him? Non erat hoc hominis vitium fed temporis? I cannot fay fo, for your highness knowes I have written otherwife in a book of mine I gave you Libri 3. numero 80.

Alafs a fault confeft were half amended,

But fin is double, that is thus defended,
I know a right wife man fayes and believes

Where no receivers are, would be no theeves,

Wherefore at the most I can but fay Dividatur. He was a well spoken man, and one that the queen gave good countenance to, and discovered her favour to him, even in her reprehenfions, as Horace faith of Mecænas. Rerum tutela mearum, cum fis, et prave fectam ftomacheris ob unguem; for the found fault with him once for cutting his beard too thort, whereas good lady (if the had known that) the would have found fault with him for cutting his bithoprick so short. He could preach well and could fpeak boldly, and yet keep decorum. He knew what would please the queen, and would adventure on that though that offended others. Once I remember there had been two councellers fworn within compass of one year, and neither of them had a gray hair at that time, whereupon he glawnc't in his fermon at it with a fentence of Seneca.

Which Mr. Daniel upon a better occafion did put into English verfe in this fort.

That we may truely fay, these spoil'd the state,
Young councel, privat gain, and partiall hate,

The queen as I faid, found no fault with his liberall fpeech, but the friends of thefe councellers taxing him for that, I have heard he had this pretty fhift, to tell the friends of either of them, he meant it by the other. Being bishop of London, and a widower, he married a gallant lady and a widow, fifter to Sir George Gifford the penfioner, which the queen feemed to be extreamly displeased at, not for the by-gain of a bishop (for fhe was free from any fuch fuperftition) but out of her general mislike of clergymens' mariage: this being indeed a mariage that was talked of at least nine dayes; yet in a while he found means to pacifie her fo well, as the promised to come, and I think did come to a house he had at Chelfey, For there was a fayre and a door made on purpose for her, in a bay window, of which pleasant wits difcanted diverfely, fome faid that was for joy, to fhew he would (as the proverb is) caft the house out at window for her welcome, fome more bitingly called it the impreffe or emblem of his entry first to the bishoprick, viz. not at the doore, but at the window. But certain it is that (the queen being pacified, and hee in great jollity, with his faire lady and her carpets and cushions in his bed-chamber) he died fuddenly, taking tobacco in his chaire, faying to his man that stood by him, whom he loved very well, Oh boy, I die; whereupon many bolts were

K 2

roved

roved after him, and fome spitefully feather'd, which both for charity fake, as well as brevity, I wil omit; but this blunt one, not knowing out of whose quiver it first came: but fitting a gray goose wing, I will produce as his moft vulgar epitaph:

Here lies the first prelate made Christendom fee,

A bishop, a husband unto a ladee,
The caufe of his death was fecret and hid,
He cry'd out I die, and e'en fo he did.

He was buried in the church, the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's not being fo fcrupulous, as they of York were, the 9 of Hen. I. who because their archbishop died fuddenly, buried him without the church-porch, notwithstanding he had been their great benefactor.

BISHOP VAUGHAN.

Mr. Richard Vaughan is the next I have to speak of, being the last man nam'd in my author's book, and of him he hath but two lines, onely declaring him to have been the bishop of Chichester.

Upon the remove of my lord at Canterbury that now is, he fucceeded him in London, as is not unknown to your highneffe.

His beginning of preferment was under the lord keeper Puckering, being his examiner, of such as sued for the benefices in my lord's gift, in which, though fome complaine he was too precife, yet for my part I ascribe to that one of his greateft praises. For this I know, that a preacher being a nobleman's chaplaine, and therefore qualified for two benefices, came to him recommended in good fort, and brought with him a gentleman of both their acquaintance, that fome time had been an univerfity man, to speak for his approbation. Mr. Vaughan examined him of no very deep points, and found him but fhallow, and not very ready in the Roman tongue, his friend having been fain to help him up in two or three foul ftumbles, both of language and matter; whereupon he difmift him, without all hope of the benefice, and after told the gentleman feriously, that if he would have it himselfe, he would allow him fufficient, but the fuiter by no means. He was in those daies very prompt, and ready in fpeech, and with all factious; he was an enemy to all fuppofed miracles, infomuch as one arguing with him in the clofet at Greenwich, in defence of them, and alledging the queen's healing of the evil for an inftance, afking him what he could fay against it, he answered that he was loth to answer arguments taken from the topic place of the cloth of eftate; but if they would urge him to anfwer, he faid his opinion was, fhe did it by vertue of fome precious ftone in poffeffion of the crown of England, that had such a naturall quality. But had Queen Elizabeth been told, that he afcribed more vir tue to her jewels (though the loved them well) then to her perfon, she would never have made him bishop of Chefter. He grew heavy and corpulent of a fudden, not fo much with too much eafe, as with too little exercife. Corpus quod corrumpitur aggravat animam; foon after his remove to London he fell into that drowfie difeafe, of which he after died, growing thereby unfit for the place, that requires a vigilantius, and not a dormitantius. He was held a milde man, and was well fpoken of in the city, which fometime hapneth not to them that deferve the best. To cons clude, being taken with an apoplexie, he may properly be faid to have slept with his forefathers.

DOCTOR

DOCTOR RAVIS.

Within a few moneths there fucceeded him Dr. Ravis bishop of Gloucefter, who is not formerly mentioned in this book, because Mr. Goldborow his prediceffor in Gloucester was then living. His preferment to Gloucester makes me remember a story that fome record of Scipio, who being made generall of the Roman army, was to name his questor or treafurer for the wars, whom he thought fit being a place in thofe daies as is now in thefe, of great importance, one that took himself to have a speciall intereft in Scipio's favour was an earnest fuitor for it, but by the delay, miftrufting he fhould have a deniall, he importuned him one day for an anfwer. Think not unkindness in me (faid Scipio) that I delay you thus, for I have been as earnest with a friend of mine to take it, and yet cannot prevaile with him: noting hereby, that offices of charge and confcience, are fitteft for such as fhunne them modeftly, rather than fuch as feek them greedily. And even fo did my lords of the councell deale with Mr. Ravis, who being then dean of Chrift-Church, which lightly is not held, but by fome choice man of the univerfity, being a place of good valew and reputation, was requested by them to take this bifhoprick, when many that fued to have it, were put by. But as he was not willing to goe thither, fo they of Gloucester, were more unwilling he fhould go thence, he was in a fhort space in fo good liking of all forts, infomuch as fome that can fcant well brook the name of a bishop, yet can be content to give him a good report.

For my part, I have obferved great change in Gloucefter, from that it feemed nine yeers fince, about the Earle of Effex going into Ireland; for at that time neither their bishop seemed to care for them, lying at a prebends in Worcester, which methought was very inconvenient; nor they seemed much to care for themselves, all their building both publique and private looking old and ruinous: whereas of late yeeres, their bithop keeping his houfe neere them, and being daily with them, they have built them a new market-place, and are now building a faire hall for juftice; which commendable and comfortable difpofition of the people, there and elsewhere, though it be principally afcribed to the joy and comfort that all well affected perfons took of his majestie's happy entrance, and peaceable government, and of the fucceffion eftablished in his hopefull iffue; yet is not the leaft to be imputed to the difcretion and diligence of the paftors that waken and stirre up their charity, and make them more fenfible of God's good bleffings beftowed on them; and the rather by this good bithop's means. The lord of Shrewsbury hath very nobly, and likę himfelf contributed to this fo great and neceffary work, giving a large portion of timber towards it.

Now, as I faid, it hath pleafed his majefty to place him in London, magiftratus indicubit cirum. This publique place (for I count the other was almoft private to this) will fhew what is in the man. I need not prognofticate, but I can wifh and hope, that as he is for his perfon comparable to Mr. Fletcher, fo he may equall Dr. Elmar in courage, Dr. Bancroft in carefulneffe, and Dr. Vaughan in his mild demeanour, to win the love of the people; and thus much be faid concerning the bithops of London.

SACRED

SACRED CRITICISM, No. V.

(Continued from page 16.)

A CRITIQUE, ON THE ORIGINAL PROPHECY OF CHRIST THE SON OF DAVID. 2 SAM. VII. 1-15.

TO THE EDITORS OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCHMAN'S MAGAZINE. GENTLEMEN,

OF the feveral prophecies of the OLD TESTAMENT, cited as peculiarly characteristic of the MESSIAH or CHRIST, and exclusively applied to JESUS, in the fublime INTRODUCTION OF THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS, on which A CRITIQUE was offered in the foregoing number, the earliest in order of time, and the moft important, as furnithing the ground-work of the reft, is that celebrated prophecy of the MESSIAH's lineal defcent from David, recorded 2 Sam. 7, 1-15.* and again, 1 Chron. 17, 1-14. :—fo underfood by the primitive Jewish Church, and believed by the Jews and neighbouring nations in our Saviour's time;-whence the appellation of "SON OF DAVID," appropriated to the MESSIAH, by the Pharifees, Matt. 22, 42.;-by the multitude, Matt. 12, 22. and 21, 9.;-and by the Canaanitifh woman, Matt. 15, 28. and the prophecy itself, exprefsly applied to JESUS, by the archangel Gabriel, Luke 1, 32-33.; and by the apostle Peter, Acts 2, 30-32.;' and by the Primitive Fathers, Tertullian, Augustin, &c.

Withing to evade the force of this most important prophecy, towards eftablishing the defcent of JESUS CHRIST from David," according to the flesh;" (Rom. 1, 3.) the later Jews transfer it to Solomon folely; in which they have been followed by the principal deiftical writers, Collins, &c. while the generality of Chriftian divines and expofitors, fteer a middle courfe; maintaining a double fenfe of the prophecy, as primarily applicable to Solomon, the immediate fon of David: and fecondarily, to JESUS CHRIST, his remote fon, or defcendant:-an ambiguous mode of interpretation, which, (in the prefent inftance, at leaft) I apprehend, is equally unfatisfactory to believers and infidels, and ruinous to the rational interpretation of Holy Writ, and, confequently, to the cause of genuine CHRISTIANITY.

A notable instance of the mischievous tendency of this accommodating fcheme of double interpretation of prophecy, we have feen exhibited by two well meaning correfpondents, (equally well-difpofed, I am perfuaded, "to search the fcriptures" in queft of truth,) Beed and Boustead; both fuppofing, (with Grotius, and other commentators) that the fixteenth Pfalm was fpoken in the person of David ;-a radical error, which led the former to propofe a new and unwarranted reading of the original text:

*The two Books of Samuel, in the Hebrew Canon, were confidered as one: The Talmu lifts (Bava Bathra, Kimchi) fuppofe that Samuel wrote the 24 firft Chapters of the firft book; and that the reft were fupplied by Gad and Nathan; on the authority of Chron. 29, 29.-To undermine the evidence of thefe important books, (the first of which, contains Hannah's firft or earlieft prophecy of THE MESSIAH; 1 Sam. 2, 10; and the fecond, this, of his defcent from David) the arch-infidel Voltaire, by a ludicrous blunder about the witch of Endor, expofed in THE INSPECTOR, dates them fo low as the time of Alexander the Great ;-and is followed by his fatellite Paine, from the ancient term "Seer" applied to Samuel, instead of the more modern term propher." Sam. 9, 9, A paffage which might have been inferted, in later times, like that of Mofes, Deut. 24, 10. without invalidating the antiquity of the books themfelves,

"Thou