court, he could not but see, if they did not succeed, they would recoil. The duke had now seen the worth and way of Doctor Preston; he had found that he could not win him and make him his; he could not, therefore, in the way of policy, but labour and resolve to wreck and sink him . . . . yet in a civil, court way. "But the doctor was too knowing not to see this afar off.... and had accordingly provided a succession of reserves wherein to hide himself. The first and surest was his conscience. . . . . If a man be welcome into his conscience, he need not fear the storms and blusters that he meets abroad. . . . His next retreat was to Lincoln's-inn; for now, he said, the duke was chancellor, and would endeavour to ingratiate himself, and be a benefactor, and had bought Erpenius' manuscripts, and did verily intend to found a library, and so it would be easy and in his power to out him of the college and university. . . . . There is a statesman, of no mean esteem, that writes professedly against the use of citadels and forts, because it makes the soldier less resolved in engagements. And the Spartans were forbidden to wall their city, because it would encourage cowardice. But it did not take off Doctor Preston from his duty; for, finding that his standing at court was undermined, he resolved upon buttresses to underprop him in the country. There was, in the county of Northampton, a gentleman of very able parts and clear affections to the public good, no stranger to the court in former times, nor to the Duke of Buckingham, with whom the doctor used to communicate affairs, and who was then a parliament man of much esteem. To him the doctor, in a letter, discovers all, shews him the hopeless posture of the duke, how much they both were disappointed in him; lays some directions what to do, and urgeth activeness. This letter, by a sad misfortune, was let fall by him that was entrusted to convey it, about Temple-bar, and handed from one to one, until it came to Sir Henry Spillers; who, having viewed and pondered the contents, concluded it was a purchase that would ingratiate him unto the duke, and so immediately presents it to him. The duke was troubled to read his faults and face so shrewdly intimated and presaged. His temper was exceeding good, and he could manage his affections many times with much serenity and moderation; but now he was quite off, and could not think of anything but a revenge. I have not known anything so trouble and afflict the doctor as this did, that the duke should have his hand against him, and that he had involved so good a man to whom he wrote. But it pleased God to cut the duke out other work; for the cry of Rochelle and the protestants of France was so exceeding great, and so much resented by the parliament, that the duke resolves to vindicate his honour by relieving them. And whilst he was busy to set that fleet out, and furnish forces for surprising the Isle of Rhees, he could not undertake that work of revenge intended against Doctor Preston." "* "And now I am fallen on Preston, I shall add something of him too, as being a man which made much noise in the world about this time. A man he was (beyond all question) of a shrewd wit and deep comprehension; an excellent master in the art of insinuation, and one who for a long time sate at the helm, and steered the course of his party, as one well observeth. Toward the latter end of the reign of King James, he was brought into the court by the Duke of Buckingham, in hope to gain a party by him. There he was gazed on for a time, like a new court-meteor; and having flashed and blazed a little, went out again, and was forgotten. . . . Much was he cried up by his followers in the university, city, and all places else, as if he might have chosen his own mitre, and had been as likely a man as any to have been trusted with the great seal in the place of Williams: but he was not principled for the court, nor the court for him; for long he had not been in that school of policy but he found other men as wise and cunning as himself, and that he could not govern there with that absolute omni-regency as he had done in the families Clarke's Lives, pp. 107-109. of private gentlemen in most parts of the kingdom. Nor was it long before the duke began to have some suspicion of him, as one not to be trusted in his Majesty's service, when it seemed any way to cross with the puritan interest, which he drove on with so much openness in the court as was not proper for a man of so famed a cunning. But that which lost him at the last was a letter by him written to a great peer of the realm, in which he spake disadvantageously enough, if not reproachfully, of the court, and signified withal how little hope there was of doing good in that place for the advancement of the cause; wh.ch letter, or a copy of it, being unluckily dropt out of his pocket, was taken up, and forthwith carried to the duke. The shame and grief of which mischance gave him so much trouble, that he withdrew by little and little, and at last betook himself wholly to his old affectation of a popular greatness. By reason of his lectures in Cambridge and Lincoln's-inn, he was grown powerful in the university, and had gained a strong party in the city, but died about the time that Laud succeeded Mountain in the see of London..... But before Laud shall come from St. David's to London, he must take Bath and Wells in his way, to which we are now ready to wait upon him." DEVOTIONAL, FROM THE PARISIAN BREVIARY. COMMUNE PONTIFICUM. If the Anglican church had retained the breviary, this is a subject on which our purer antiquity would have appeared to advantage over those churches which acknowledge the authority of Rome; for in our Commune Pontificum we might have taken the lectios not from Chrysostom and Augustin only, but also from those at whose feet Chrysostom and Augustin would have been glad to sit,—such as Ignatius and the Roman Clement. As it has been the policy of Rome to depreciate the episcopal order, by so doing to elevate the papacy; of the ultraprotestant, by setting it at nought, to arrogate to himself its privileges; of the Erastian, to corrupt it, and thus to give unto the world the things that belong unto God; it will be the object of the Anglican church. to guard with peculiar watchfulness those high privileges which, to the eye of Faith, bring down, as it were, the presence of Jesus Christ to the latter days; and for this purpose to clear away those accumulations which, in the progress of time, have too much concealed the divine edifice, to open to view the full breadth and height of that building of God, not made with hands, nor raised to-day or yesterday on the sand of human device, but whose "foundations are upon the holy hills." IN THE FIRST VESPERS. Ant. I will raise me up a faithful Priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind.—1 Sam. ii. Ant. I chose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, and to burn incense.-1 Sam. ii. Ant. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.-1 Sam. ii. • Heylyn's Life of Laud, anno 1626. Ant. I give unto him the covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.-Num. xxv. Ant. The man whom the Lord doth choose, he shall be holy.-Num. xvi. Capitulum. Hebrews, v. And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but He that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to-day have I begotten thee. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a Priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedec. r. Thou spakest some time in visions unto thy saints, and saidst, I have found my Servant. *With my holy oil have I anointed him. My hand shall hold him fast. -v. To him God gave testimony, and said, I have found a man after mine own heart. * With my holy oil, &c.-Ps. lxxxix.; Acts, xix. The Hymn. Christe, Pastorum caput atque princeps. O Christ, the chief of Pastors, Head and Crown! And to the mantle's skirts went softly down, He who with no self-will, no spirit vain, Nor impious self-confidence made bold, The Champion true to wage his heavenly war, Shepherd, and Father, and Example fair, His all he spends for them-himself is spent; And all things made to all men. Wholly bent Comforts the comfortless, instructs the blind, v. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and receivest unto thee.dwell in thy court.-Ps. lxv. -r. He shall Ant. Blessed are those servants whom the Lord, when he cometh, shall find watching.-Luke, xii. AT THE NOCTURNAL OFFICE. The Hymn. Christe, decreto Patris institutus. Christ, by thy Father's high decree, Yet loath and weeping doth he stand, To take from thee the pastor's crown Well taught the dangers that surround By fervent love unquiet made On every need of aid, To his dear flock he instant flies He shews the way, and he precedes, And while his words the faith reveal, God's house is fragrant with the breath The lame man's staff, the blind man's sight, The sinner's guiding light, A Father prompt to hear each call, IN THE FIRST NOCTURN. Ant. The Lord called unto him and said, I have seen the affliction of my people; come, and I will send thee that thou mayest bring forth my people.-Exod. iii. Ant. He said unto God, Who am I that I should go, and bring forth the children of Israel? And he said, I will be with thee.-Exod. iii. Ant. Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel; have not I sent thee?Jud. vi. v. I have laid help upon one that is mighty.of the people.-Ps. lxxxix. r. I have exalted one chosen out (Here occur the three Lectios from scripture, with their accompanying responsories; the 1st Lectio is from the first epistle of St. Paul to Timothy, the 2nd and 3rd from that to Titus.) IN THE SECOND NOCTURN. Ant. By the law of the Lord he judged the congregation, and by his faithfulness was found a true Prophet, and by his word was known to be faithful.—Eccle. xlvi. Ant. Having given them the law, he charged them not to forget the commandments of the Lord, that they should not err in their minds, and exhorted them that the law should not depart from their hearts.-2 Mac. iii. Ant. He will open his mouth in prayer, and give thanks unto the Lord, and he shall direct his counsel and knowledge.-Eccle. xxxix. v. His priests called upon the Lord.r. And he heard them, and spake unto them.-Ps. xcix. Sermon of St. John Chrysostom. LECTIO THE FOURTH. If any one desireth the office of a bishop, not from ambition of pre-eminence and authority, but for the cure of discipline and from affections of charity, I disapprove not of it, for he desireth a good work; for Moses is known to have been desirous of the same. But he by no means aspired to it from love of power or ambition of ruling, but he so coveted it as not to shrink from the bearing of reproach, when it was said unto him, "Who hath appointed thee a lord and a judge over us?" For episcopacy hath its name from this, that it bath the insight into and watcheth over all things. It behoveth, therefore, a bishop to be blameless. By this single word is expressed every kind of virtue. He, therefore, who is conscious to himself of even a slight fault, doubtless doeth ill in coveting that office, of which, by his works, he sheweth himself unworthy. For it were more becoming that such a one should be ruled by others than that he himself should have rule. For he that undertaketh to rule others, ought himself to surpass them in virtue, like the sun, which, by his own brightness, throweth into the shade the little shinings of the stars. Such a person ought to have his life free from stain, and quietly composed, that all may look unto him and his life as unto an excellent example. r. He made him to hear his voice, and gave him commandments, the law of life and knowledge, that he might teach Jacob his covenants, and Israel his judgments. This is he that was in the church in the wilderness with our fathers, who received the words of life to give unto us, *that he might teach, &c.-Eccle. xlv.; Acts, vii. LECTIO THE FIFTH. It behoveth a bishop to be watchful, that is, to be endued with a most clear mental vision, and to have, as it were, innumerable eyes on every side, by which he may have a most keen prospect of all things. For there are many circumstances which may occur to deaden the eyes of the soul,-such are the desires of concupiscence, daily cares, and the disturbances of the world; and very many things of this kind hang over us in every place. Watchful, therefore, he necessarily must be who hath not only to sustain the charge of himself, but of others also. Very watchful such a one needs must be; he must live by the Spirit, and by his works themselves give proof of the flame of internal affection. He must exceed others in solicitude and industry; by day and by night he must explore the army and the camp; he must labour himself, and fulfil the duties of his own office with the greatest diligence; and must also sustain the charge and anxiety of all. Chaste, it is added, of good behaviour, given to hospitality; and these qualities thou must generally perceive in those that are subordinate. But, because it is necessary that he should also have those qualities which belong to the governor, he hath therefore added, " apt to teach." For this is by no means required of those that are subordinate, but, before all things, necessary in him who hath undertaken such an office. r. My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave to him fear, and he feared me. *The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips.v. He was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken. *The law of truth, &c.—Mal. ii.; Heb. iii. LECTIO THE SIXTH. On this account hath God chosen us, that we should be like lights; that we should become like leaven; that we should be rendered masters of others; that our conversation on earth should be like that of angels with mankind; like that of men with boys; as those that are spiritual with those that are natural, that from our intercourse with them they should obtain great gain; that we should be like seed, to bear most abundant fruit. There would be no need of words if, after this manner, our life shone with the light of holiness. There would be no need of masks if we were to set forth before us actions of genuine virtue. No one, indeed, would be a heathen, if we ourselves would take care to be Christians as we ought to be; if we would obey the warnings and the commandments of God; if, when suffering injuries, we returned them not; if, when attacked by railings, we would bless ; if for evils we would return good. There could be no one of a nature so savage but that, if he saw these things taking place in all men, he would immediately hasten to the cultivation of true religion. And, that thou mayest learn that this is the case, Paul alone, who was himself of this character, attracted so many people to the knowledge of God. If we ourselves were such, how many worlds of people might we ourselves attract ! r. He walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.- -v. Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine to exhort. * For the priest's lips, &c.-Mal. ii.; Tit. i. IN THE THIRD NOCTURN. Ant. In all his works he praised the Holy One most high with words of glory.Eccle. xlvii. Ant. He spent much of his own substance, he kept justice and faith to his nation, and sought by all means to exalt his people.-1 Mac. xiv. Ant. His memorial shall not depart away, and his name shall live from generation to generation.-Eccle. xxxix. v. His righteousness remaineth for ever, his horn shall be exalted with honour.Ps. cxii. From the Sacred Gospel according to Matthew. LECTIO THE SEVENTH. Chap. xxiv. At that time said Jesus unto his disciples, Watch ye, for ye know not at what hour your Lord doth come. Et reliqua. |