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towards the south, the sun shining clear, and no wind stirring, I took my book 'De Veritate,' in my hand, and kneeling on my knees, devoutly said, 'O thou eternal God, I am not satisfied enough whether I shall publish this book; if it be for thy glory, I beseech thee give me some sign from heaven; if not, I shall suppress it.'

I had no sooner spoken these words, but a loud though gentle noise, came from the heavens, which did so comfort and cheer me, that I took my petition as granted, and that I had the sign I demanded; whereupon also I resolved to print my book.'

It must appear strange, says a very ingenious writer, that a man who had spent a considerable part of his life in courts and camps, should possess such a deluded imagination. And this delusion will be still more suspicious when you are told that lord Herbert's chief argument against Christianity is, the improbability that heaven should reveal its laws only to a portion of the earth. For how could he, who doubted of a partial, believe an individual revelation? Or is it possible that he could have the vanity to think his book of such importance, as to extort a declaration of the divine will, when the interest and happiness of a fourth part of mankind, were deemed by him, objects inadequate to the like display of goodness.'*

* Dr. Percival's Moral and Philosophical Dissertations, 82.

It will be both pleasant and profitable to turn to a more excellent character. This lord Herbert

had a younger brother George, who distinguished himself at Cambridge, as the public orator of the University, and was for some time ambitious of a place at court. But by the advice of his pious mother, he entered into holy orders, and was presented to the rectory of Bemerton, near Salisbury. Honest Isaack Walton relates of him, that when he first came to the living, a poor old woman waited upon him to acquaint him with her necessitous condition, and also with the troubles of her mind but after she had spoke some few words, she was seized with such a trepidation, that her spirits failed her.

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Mr. Herbert perceiving her confusion, took her by the hand, and said, Speak, good mother, be not afraid to speak to me; for I am a man that will hear you with patience; and will relieve your necessities too, if I be able; and this I will do willingly, and therefore, mother, be not afraid to acquaint me with what you desire.' He then made her sit down by him, and understanding she was of his parish, he told her he would be acquainted with her, and take her into his care. And having with patience heard and understood her wants, he comforted her by his meek behaviour and counsel; but because that cost him nothing, he relieved her with money too, and so sent her home with a cheerful heart, praising God, and praying for him.

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At his return that night to his wife, at Bainton, he gave her an account of the passages between him and the poor woman; with which she was so affected, that she went the next day to Salisbury, and bought a pair of blankets, and sent them as a token of her love to the poor woman; and with them a message, that she would see and be acquainted with her, when her house was built at Bemerton.'

Mr. Herbert's first care was to repair the parish church, and the chapel, after which he proceeded to rebuild his parsonage house, all at his own expense; and having done this, he caused these verses to be engraved upon the mantle of the chimney in the hall :

"TO MY SUCCESSOR.

If thou chance for to find

A new house to thy mind,

And built without thy cost;

Be good to the poor,

As God gives thee store,

And then my labour's not lost."

Another instance of the great charity and humility of Mr. Herbert is told by his entertaining biographer, as follows:

There was a music-meeting at Salisbury, which Mr. Herbert generally attended twice a week, and one day as he was walking thither, he saw a poor man, with a poorer horse that was fallen

under

under his load; they were both in distress, and needed present help; which Mr. Herbert perceiving, he immediately put off his canonical coat, and helped the poor man to unload, and after to load his horse. The poor man blest him for it, and he blessed the poor man; and was so like the good Samaritan, that he gave him money to refresh both himself and his horse, and told him, that if he loved himself, he should be merciful to his beast.' Thus he left the poor man, and at his coming to his musical friends at Salisbury, they began to wonder that Mr. George Herbert, who used to be so trim and clean, came into the company so soiled and discomposed; but he told them the occasion-and when one of the company said he had disparaged himself by so dirty an employment;' his answer was, that the thought of what he had done would prove music to him at midnight, and that the omission of it would have upbraided, and made discord in his conscience, whensoever he should pass by that place for if I be bound to pray for all that be in distress, I am sure that I am bound, so far as it is in my power, to practise what I pray for; and though I do not wish for the like occasion every day, yet let me tell you, I would not willingly pass one day of my life without comforting a sad soul, or shewing mercy and I praise God for this occasion, and now let's tune our instruments.'

The death of this exemplary man was correspondent with the tenour of his amiable life: to

his most intimate friend he said just before his departure I am sorry I have nothing to present to my merciful God, but sin and misery; but the first is pardoned, and a few hours will now put a period to the latter.' What a contrast is this to the conduct and end of the proud and selfsufficient sceptic, who devotes his talents to the vile purpose of robbing men of their best hope, and consoles himself at last with the gloomy reflection, that death is no more than 'taking a leap in the dark !'

Mr. Herbert died in the year 1635, before he had completed his fortieth year. His poems were held in such esteem, not only in his own time, but for many years afterwards, as to go through numerous editions, and to procure for the author the appellation of the divine Herbert.' They are, however, now seldom read; but his book entituled 'The Priest to the Temple,' merits the frequent perusal of every clergyman. Of the learning and judgment of Mr. Herbert, lord Bacon had so high an opinion, that he would not suffer his works to be printed, before they had passed his examination.

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