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consult their own consciences,though in respect to the mere forms of an establishment they undoubtedly may bend to the inclinations of the people. Eligibility to office, we add, is not one of the rights of man: it is a question of expediency. We think that much more importance has been given to it in the present day than truly belongs to it. The far more momentous question is (the other seems important only as this is involved) what species of religion shall be established. We should feel little indisposition to the admission of Catholics to political power, if we were not afraid of seeing a popish establishment; and should bave no particle of objection to the extension of the like privilege to Dissenters, if we could be secure of the maintenance of our church establishment. We love our church; we cleave to her with a portion of that same unconquerable zeal which this author manifests for the circulation of Christian knowledge through the medium of Dissenters. Our prejudices, if such they are to be deemed, are as conscientious as his; and we cherish them for the sake, not of the church herself, but of that Gospel to whose interests we confidently believe her to be subser

vient.

Ecclesiastical Biography; or Lives
of Eminent Men, connected with
the History of Religion in Eng-
land; from the Commencement of
the Reformation to the Revolution:
Selected and illustrated with Notes.
By CHRISTOPHER WORDSWORTH,
M. A. Dean and Rector of Bock-
ing, and Domestic Chaplain to
bis Grace the Archbishop of Can-
terbury. In 6 vols.
Rivingtons. 1810.

London:

rarely suffer us to descend into the details of private life: it is conversant with high matter, with battles, and treaties, and revolutions; with splendid virtues and extraordinary crimes. Its characters are like the members of a public assembly, whom we are privileged to hear, but cannot address. We know them by

sight, but they are not of our acquaintance,

Many lessons, highly valuable and important, are doubtless to be derived from the page of history; but every reader must feel a strong desire to follow the hero of the tale into the common walks of life; to observe his conduct on ordinary occasions; to trace in his habits and dispositions, the motives of action; to view him in his domestic relations, in the bosom of his family, or in the circle of his private friends. Few men are destined to appear as statesmen or as heroes; but the passions of human nature are common to us all. All the characters in history must frequently be placed in situations, with which we are ourselves familiar; and the manner in which they conduct themselves on such occasions can hardly fail to excite peculiar interest, whilst they furnish at once the most entertaining and the most valuable instruction.

To the Christian reader, the narratives of men, whose names are connected with the religion of his country, must carry with them a powerful recommendation. Of these some have been distinguished by their piety and their sufferings; others by their hatred of divine truth, and by a spirit of oppression and intolerance; but all have been instruments in the hand of God for the consummation of his own work,

and for the fulfilment of his heavenly will. As our own country has been fertile in examples, as well of From the volumes of biography patient suffering as of bigoted opwhich are every day issuing from pression, we are furnished with the press, it is reasonable to infer many valuable specimens of biograthat this mode of writing is well phy both in ancient and modern suited to the general taste. The times. Of these, some are, from dignity of historical narration will their scarcity, not generally known, CHRIST. OUSERV. No. 109. G

and others cannot easily be procured in a separate form. A judicious selection, at a moderate price, has long been wanted, and never more want ed, we presume, than at the present period. In an enlargement of liberality, which knows no definite limits, we seem to be in danger of forgetting, that the basis of the protestant religion is the unadulterated word of God; that for the purity of its doctrines the holiest and the best of men have accounted themselves happy in being called to shed their blood; and that, by the most illus trious ornaments of our church, a proposal to compromise, for any objects merely political, the essential articles of our faith, would have been rejected with instant condemna tion.

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It can hardly be necessary guard this remark, by stating, that to genuine liberality, and to the exercise of Christian charity, we have at all times been friendly but between enlightened liberality and cold indifference there is an obvious and wide distinction. Christian benevolence will be found in its purest exercise in the hearts of those who contend earnestly for the faith of the Gospel. Men may differ widely on topics of inferior impor tance, and yet be animated with true piety and zeal; and even in a corrupt establishment, it is possible to find some examples of splendid excellence, which the members of the purest church would do well to imitate. The names of Philip Henry among the non-conformists, and of Sir Thomas More among the catholics, both of which are to be found in Dr. Wordsworth's publication, will probably be considered as justi 'fying these remarks without farther appeal.

Under these reflections, and for other reasons which will readily occur, we feel great pleasure in warmly recommending the volumes before us. Our former numbers will have proved, that on one important question we differ widely from Dr. Wordsworth. This circumstance

will shew that our recommendation of the present work arises simply from the persuasion of its merits and utility; and we are glad of the opportunity to prove, in our ownbehalf, that our strictures are given with reluctance, and that commendation is far more to our taste than the language of disapprobation or

censure.

Every writer has an indisputable claim to lay down his own plan; and in general an author must be considered as the best judge of his plan. In the field before him, Dr. Wordsworth has thought proper to limit himself to a particular part; but this part is very important. The period, which he embraces, extends from the days of Wickliffe to the Revolution.

"Within those limits," says Dr. Words worth," are comprehended, if we except the first establishment of Christianity amongst us, the rise, progress, and issue of the principal agitations and ́revolutions of the public mind of this country in regard to matters of Religion :—namely, the Refor mation from Popery, and the glories and horrors attending that hard-fought struggle: the subsequent exorbitances and outrages of the antipopish spirit, as exemplified by the Puritans, the victory of that spirit, in illsuited alliance with the principles of civil liberty, over loyalty and the Established Church, in the times of Charles the First; the wretched systems and practices of the sectaries, during the Commonwealth, and the contests for establishment between the Presbyterians and Independents at the same period: the hasty return of the nation, weary and sick of the long reign of con

fusion, to the antient constitution of things, at the Restoration: the operation of those confusions, and of the ill-disciplined triumph of the adverse party upon the state of morals and religion, during the early part of the reign of the Second Charles; the endeayours of Charles and his brother to restore Popery, and introduce despotism; the noble exertions of the clergy of the Church of England, at that interval, in behalf of natural and revealed Religion, and Protestantism, and civil liberty; the Revolution of 1688, together with the ascertainment of the distinct nature and rights of an esta blished church, and a religious toleration, and the principles of the Non-jurors." Vol. i. Pref. pp. xi. xii.

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Many of the lives are taken from Fox's Acts and Monuments. The reader, however, is admonished that they are brought together and -compiled from distant and disjointed parts of that very extensive work," -"that in many places much has been omitted; and that a liberty has not unfrequently been taken of leaving out clauses of particular sentences, and single coarse and gross terms and expressions, especially such as occurred against Papists." It seems unnecessary to state, that Fox is a most faithful and authentic historian, and that his works are extremely valuable.

All the lives written by Isaac Walton are given entire : the ac-counts of Ferrar and Tillotson, which were published by other writers, have been shortened.

cribe a considerable part of each volume. Neither shall we think it necessary to enlarge upon the dif ferent views, whether of fact or character, which different writers have been pleased to take. We shall confine ourselves chiefly to the accounts of Wolsey and Sir Thomas More; and shall merely offer a few remarks of our own, to connect the series of events, and to give a general idea of the whole.

The first three lives are those of

Wickliffe, Thorpe, and Lord Cobham. The period which they embrace comprises part of the reign of Edward the Third, the reigns of Richard the Second, Henry the Fourth, and part of Henry the Fifth. Lord Cobham was put to death in the year 1418. The next in the series is Cardinal Wolsey. The chasm in the intermediate period is filled up by a few supplementary extracts.

We could have wished that Dr. Wordsworth had not adhered so rigidly to his rule of mere compilation for the text. It is true that the intervening period of 80 or 90

For the original matter in the text, Dr. Wordsworth has, by permission of the Archbishop of Canterbury, availed himself of the maBascripts in the Lambeth library. Hence we have a Life of Sir Thomas More, which now appears for the first time; a new edition of Caven-years presents little to the ecclesidish's Life of Cardinal Wolsey, very far superior to those which preceded it; and some large additions to the memoirs of Nicholas Ferrars.

The notes are by no means the deast interesting part of the work. They are learned and judicious; and the utility of additional notes of the same kind would, we think, have amply compensated for the objection to which Dr. Wordsworth alludes, that they might possibly distract the attention of the reader from the object before him.

astical historian. Events which were purely political, succeeded each other with fearful rapidity; but of religious occurrences the account is miserably scanty. Distracted as the kingdom was, during a great part of the time, by the sanguinary contests between the houses of York and Lancaster, men found little opportunity to inquire into the nature of their faith; and the persecutions carried on, especially by Chicheley, seemed to have extirpated both the principles and the persons of the Lollards."

With so large a compilation in our hands, proceeding from the pens Many among the clergy of those of different authors, and contain- times are represented, by archjag so many distinct and separate bishop Bourchier, to have been "igportions, it is by no means our de-norant, illiterate blockheads, or rasign to enter into an account of every part: especially as many of the lives are well known and deservedly esteemed. If we should introduce every passage which we would recommend to the perusal f our readers, we must trans

ther idiots, and as profligate as they were ignorant." They appear to have dreaded no sin but heresy, nor to have considered as a crime any rebellion which was not directed against themselves.

* Heury's Hist. of Great Britain.

If the manners of the clergy tended to produce an impression to their disadvantage, this effect was no lessened by their disputes with the laity, about the immunities of the church. These disputes were carried on with great bitterness and animosity; and the privileges and authority of the order gained nothing by the discussion. As the spirit of persecution continued in all its force, it cannot be doubted that the minds of men were becoming gradually alienated from the priesthood, and disposed in favour of a change. So little, however, of this disposition was apparent, except among the poor, persecuted victims of the hierarchy, when Henry VIII. ascended the throne, that no prince or nation ever seemed more devoted to the see of Rome. But the reign of Anti-Christ in this country was drawing to a close; and, under the auspices of one of the worst and most tyrannical princes whom the history of Britain records, the Reformation was about to commence.

as if he had shared in his hospitalities, and witnessed his fall. The remainder of this article, in the present number, will consist chiefly in extracts from the life.

Wolsey had been made almoner, and dean of Lincoln, in the reign of Henry VII. His character on the accession of Henry VIII. is drawn in the following terms.

"His sentences and witty persuasions amongst the counsaillors in the counsaile chamber, were alwaies so pithy that they, as occasion moved them, continually as signed him, for his filed tongue and excellent eloquence, to be the expositor unto the kinge in all their proceedings. In whome the kinge conceived such a loving fansy, and in especiall for that he was most earnest and readiest in all the counsaile to avaunce the king's only will and pleasure, having no respect to the cause; the king therefore, perceiving him to be a muete instrument for the accomplishing of his devised pleasures, called him more neare unto him, and esteemed him so highly, that the estimation and favour of him put all other auncient counsaillors out of high favour, that they before were in; insomuch that the king committed all his will unto his In the narrative of those eventful his matters that his endeavour was alwaies disposition and order. Who wrought so all times, the most conspicuous cha- only to satisfy the kings pleasure, knowing racter was Cardinal Wolsey. The right well that it was the very vaine and life of him which is contained in right course to bring him to high promotion. these volumes, was written by his The kinge was young and lusty, and disgentleman usher, Cavendish; and posed all to pleasure, and to followe his it is certainly one of the most princely appetite and desire, nothing mindamusing and instructive pieces of ing to travell in the affaires of his realme. biography that we remember to Which the almoner perceiving very well, have seen. The writer of it was tooke upon him therefore to discharge the eminently qualified for his task. king of the burthen of so weighty and trouTo fidelity of narration, he has add-forte that he should not neede to spare any blesome business, putting the kinge in comed great knowledge of character and felicity in his selection of circumstances. His moralizings are always pleasant, and he does not spare, where he thinks it useful to moralize. Such is the liveliness of his manner, and the animation of his style, that it is not easy to part with him till his tale is told. Such also is the apparent simplicity of his narrative, and such the dramatic bustle which he contrives to keep up, that the reader believes himself on the perusal to be as well acquainted with the hero of the story

time of his pleasure, for any business that should happen in the counsaile, as long as he, being there and having his graces authority, and by his commandment, doubted not so to see all things well and sufficiently perfected; making his grace privy first of all to such matters before, or he would proceede to the accomplishing of the same, whose minde and pleasure he would have, and followe to the uttermost of his power; wherewith the kinge was wonderfully pleas ed. And whereas the other auncient counsaillors would, according to the office of good counsaillors, diverse times persuade the kinge to have some time a recourse unto the counsaile, there to heare what was

done in weighty matters, the which pleased the kinge nothing at all, for he loved nothing worse than to be constrained to doe any thing contrary to his pleasure; that knew the almoner very well, having a secret intelligence of the kings naturall inclination, and so fast as the other counsaillors counselled the kinge to leave his pleasure, and to attend to his affaires, so busily did the almoner persuade him to the contrary; which delighted him very much, and cansed him to have the greater affection and love to the almoner? Thus the almoner ruled all them that before ruled him; such was his policy and witt, and so he brought things to pass, that who was now in high favour, but Mr. Almoner? who had all the sute but Mr. Almoner? and who ruled all under the king, but Mr. Almoner? Thus he persevered still in favour, untill at the last, in came presents, gifts, and rewardes so plentifully, that I dare say he lacked nothing that might either please his fantasy or enrich his coffets; fortune smiled so favourably upon him. But to what end she brought him, ye shall heare hereafter." Vol. i. pp. 334-336.

In the reign of Henry VIII. a man of these qualifications could not fail to rise. With the highest dignities of the Church, he presently secured to himself the most important offices of the state and under whatever name he appears, whe. ther as cardinal, chancellor, or ambassador, we discover still the same high-minded character, the same loftiness of authority, the same splendor of representation. Even in the exercise of his hospitality, there was to be a display of unheardof magnificence: and if he condescended at all, it was still the condescension of Wolsey. The account of a feast given to the French ambassadors will serve as a specimen of our author's talent in that sort of description.

"Nowe was all things in a readiness and supper time at hande, the principalle officers caused the trumpetts to blowe to warne to sapper. The said officers right discreetly weat and conducted these noble-men from their owne chambers, into the chambers where they should suppe. And they being there, caused them to sit downe; and that done, their service came up in such aboundance, both costly and full of subtilties, and with rach a pleasant noise of instruments of mack, that the Frenchmen as it semed, were tapinto a heavenly paradise.

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"Ye must understand that my Lord Car. dinall was not there, ne yet come, but they were merry and pleasaunte with their fare, and devised subtilties. Before the second course, my Lord Cardinall came in booted and spurred, all sodenly among them, and bade them proface; at whose comming there was great joye with rising every man from his place. Whom my saide lorde caused to sit still, and kepe their romes; and being in this apparell as he rode, he called for a chaire, and sat down in the middest of the highe table, laughing and being as merry as ever I sawe him in my life. Anon came up the second course, with many dishes, subtilties, and devises, about a hundred in number, which were of so goodly proportion and costly device, that I thinke the Frenchmen never sawe the like. The wonder was no less than it was worthy in deede. There were castles with images in the same; Paules churche for the quantity as well counterfaited cloath or wall. There were beastes, birdes, as the painter should have painted it on a fowles, and personnages, most likely made and counterfaited, some fighting with swordes, some with gunnes and cross bowes, some vaulting and leaping; some dauncing with ladies, some on horses, in compleit harnes, justing with longe and sharpe speares, with many mo devises than I am able to describe. Among all, one I noted: There was a chess borde made with spiced plate, with men thereof to the same. And for the good pro

portion, and because the Frenchmen be very cunning and experte in that playe, my Lord France,commaunding there should be made a Cardinall gave the same to a gentleman of goodly case, for the preservation thereof, in all haste, that he might couvey the same safe into his country. Then toke my lord a bowle of gold filled with hypocras, and putting off his cap, saide, I drink to the king my soveraigne lord, and next unto the king your master,' and therewith dranke a good draught. And when he had done, he deand all, the which was well worth five hunsired the Grand Master to pledge him cup dred marks; and so caused all the borde to pledge these two royal princes.

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Then went the cuppes so merrily about that many of the Frenchmen were faine to be led to their beddes. Then rose up my lord, and went into his privy chamber to pull off his bootes, and to shifte him; and then went he to supper in his privy chamber, and making a very shorte supper, yea rather a short repaste, retourned into the chamber of presence among the Frenchmen, using them so lovingly and familiarly, that they could not commend him too much."—Vol. i. pp 410-412.

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