over-joy of a sudden happiness befallen us by the recalling of his Majesty by both houses of parliament and the city of London, which (I doubt not but you have it from London better,) was upon our May-day, when, upon his Majesty's letters and declaration to them, brought by Sir John Greenville, all was done, absolutely, without treaty or propositions; six lords, twelve commoners, four aldermen, with the recorder, and nine more of the city, daily expected here to fetch him-too long to write, and not to be expressed the joy universally conceived. So you see (according to his late Majesty's prophecy at the end of his excellent book) vota dederunt, quæ bella negarunt; what worldly arms could not do, Christian arms, preces et lacrymæ, have done; God in his mercy hearing them, and making it his own work, without the help of man; Deo gloria solique. I hope now to be so happy as to see you and Mr. Gayer in England. God in heaven keep you both, and make us all thankful for this great blessing upon us and our miserable country.'

It will readily be believed that the travellers lost no time, after the receipt of this most welcome intelligence, in effecting their return to England. The arrival of Mr. Sancroft seems to have been anxiously expected by his friends; and situations of credit and emolument awaited

his acceptance: amongst others,* a chaplaincy to a nobleman, with a handsome salary annexed, to which he was specially recommended as a good scholar, a good preacher, and a pious man." But his merits and his claims were of a higher description, and the change which had taken place opened the prospect of his obtaining those remunerations which were justly due to him. He arrived in England, probably† in the month of September or October.

* The following is an extract of a letter from the Bishop of Derry to a friend of Mr. Sancroft's, conveying this offer; dated Aug. 9, 1660. "The only occasion of my writing at present is, my Lady of Ormond spake to me to procure her a chaplain for my Lord Steward, to live in the house with them, that was a good scholar, a good preacher, and a pious man. I know no man fitter for that employment than our friend Mr. Sancroft, and I do not know an employment better deserving so good a man, either for present means or hopes. He shall have for his subsistence in present a donative without cure, of £400 per ann. and his hopes (even certain hopes) are what he will. I wish he were coming over; but if not, I pray you by your first letter give him a call: it is worth two Scotch calls. And withal be pleased to remember my service to Gayer and him. I wonder why they come not over."

+ The letter just quoted from the Bishop of Derry, written Aug. 9, expresses anxiety for his return; and another written. to him in London, Nov. 20, (Harl. MSS. 3784.202.) expresses the hope that he is " in good health, after his long and hasty journey." Thus the precise time of his return may be variously conjectured between these two periods.

CHAPTER III.

FROM THE RESTORATION TO HIS ELEVATION TO THE SEE OF CANTERBURY.

He is appointed Chaplain to Bishop Cosin-Sermon on the first Consecration of Bishops after the Restoration-Assists in the Revision of the Liturgy-Rapid Advancement in the ChurchMade Prebendary of Durham--Dean of York-Master of Emanuel-Dean of St. Paul's-Archdeacon of Canterbury— Takes an important part in forwarding the rebuilding of St. Paul's Cathedral-Measures for the advantage of the Church Unexpected elevation to the Primacy-Letter of Congratulation from the University of Cambridge.

MR. Sancroft, on his return to England, found the church, together with the monarchical form of government, happily restored. One of the earlier acts of King Charles's government was to fill up the vacancies which had occurred in the higher situations of the church; and Mr. Sancroft had the gratification of finding his venerable friend Dr. Cosin nominated, in recompense for his services, and for his sufferings, to the bishopric of Durham. This prelate lost no time in making the best return in his power for the favours he had received from Mr. Sancroft, and in paying, at the same time, a deserved tribute to his high character and talents, by

making him his domestic chaplain. In this capacity, Mr. Sancroft was selected to preach a sermon in Westminster Abbey, on Nov. 18th, at the consecration of his patron and six other new bishops.*

The sermon preached on this auspicious and remarkable occasion was published by the express desire, as appears from the dedication, of Bishop Cosin. The dedication, drawn up in Latin, is distinguished for the concise neatness of the expression, and the judicious selection of topics of encomium on the prelate to whom it is addressed. The sermon must be read, like the greater part of the works of the divines of that period, with just allowances for the style of preaching then in vogue; according to which it was usual to make a number of minute and technical divisions of the subject, to introduce a mass of quotations and illustrations from the Fathers and the classical writers, and to employ images and modes of expression which, according to modern ideas, are scarcely suited to the dignity of the subject. With these allowances

* The seven bishops consecrated in Westminster Abbey at this early period after the Restoration, were John Cosin, Bishop of Durham; William Lucy, of St. David's; Benjamin Laney, of Peterborough; Hugh Lloyd, of Llandaff; Richard Stern, of Carlisle; Brian Walton, of Chester; John Gauden, of Exeter.

for defects, if such they be, which are chargeable not on the writer so much as on the taste of the times in which he wrote, the sermon must be considered as affording no unfavourable specimen of the talents of the author; of the extent and variety of his learning; of his clear method of reasoning; occasionally too, of his powers of eloquent description. His representation of the church rising from her ruins under the image of the Phoenix rising from her funeral pile, has been particularly admired.

One of the most important works, in which the more eminent divines of the church were engaged soon after the Restoration, was the review and alteration of the Liturgy.

King Charles, as is known from the public histories of the time, having imbibed favourable ideas of the Presbyterians from the part which some of their leaders had taken at the Restoration, granted a commission, bearing date March 25th, 1661, for a certain number of the bishops, and an equal number of the Presbyterian divines, to meet and consult respecting the expediency of making such alterations in the Liturgy, as might obviate the objections of the Presbyterian party. At the conference which took place, well known under the name of the Savoy Conference, it was soon discovered that the divines of the latter party, so far from desiring only a few moderate alterations, would be sa