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But this is certain, that the nearer he was to his death, the more he grew in humility, in holy thoughts, and refolutions.

About a month before his death, this good man, that never knew, or at leaft never confidered the pleasures of the palate, became first to lofe his appetite, and then to have an averfeness to all food, infomuch, that he seemed to live fome intermitted weeks by the fmell of meat only, and yet ftill ftudied and wrote. And now his guardian angel feemed to foretel him, that his years were paft away as a fhadow, bidding him prepare to follow the generation of his fathers, for the day of his diffolution drew near; for which his vigorous foul appeared to thirst..

In this time of his sickness, and not many days before his death, his house was robbed; of which he having notice, his question was, "Are my books " and written papers fafe?" and being answered that they were, his reply. was, "Then it matters not, for no other loss can trouble me.”

About one day before his death, Dr. Saravia, who knew the very fecrets of his foul (for they were fuppofed to be confeffors to each other), came to him, and after a conference of the benefit, the neceffity, and fafety of the church's abfolution, it was refolved the doctor fhould give him both that and the facrament the day following.. To which end the doctor came, and after a short retirement and privacy, they returned to the company; and thenthe doctor gave him and fome of those friends that were with him the bleffed facrament of the body and blood of our Lord Jefus. Which being performed, the doctor thought he saw a reverend gaiety and joy in his face; but it lafted. not long; for his bodily infirmities did return fuddenly, and became more vifible; infomuch, that the doctor apprehended death ready to seize him : yet, after fome amendment, left him at night, with a promife to return early the day following; which he did, and then found him better in ap

Ss

"The chamber where the good man meets his fate

"Is privileg'd beyond the common walk

"Of virtuous life, quite in the verge of heaven.
"Fly, ye profane! if not, draw near with awe,
"Receive the blessing, and adore the chance
"That threw in this Bethesda your disease ;
"If unreftor'd by this, defpair your cure.

pearance,

(Young's Night Thought).

pearance, deep in contemplation, and not inclinable to difcourfe; which gave the doctor occafion to inquire his prefent thoughts: to which he replied, "That he was meditating the number and nature of angels', and "their bleffed obedience and order, without which, peace could not be in "heaven; and oh! that it might be fo on earth!" After which words, he faid, "I have lived to fee this world is made up of perturbations, and I "have been long preparing to leave it, and gathering comfort for the dread"ful hour of making my account with God, which I now apprehend to be "near: And though I have by his grace loved him in my youth, and feared "him in mine age, and laboured to have a confcience void of offence to "him, and to all men; yet if thou, O Lord, be extreme to mark what I "have done amifs, who can abide it? And, therefore, where I have failed, "Lord, fhew mercy to me; for I plead not my righteousness, but the forgiveness of my unrighteoufnefs, for his merits who died to purchase a pardon for penitent finners. And fince I owe thee a death, Lord, let it "not be terrible, and then take thine own time; I fubmit to it! Let not "mine, O Lord, but let thy will be done!" With which expreffion he fell into a dangerous flumber; dangerous as to his recovery; yet recover he did, but it was to speak only thefe few words: "Good doctor, God "hath heard my daily petitions; for I am at peace with all men, and he "is at peace with me; and from which bleffed affurance, I feel that inward joy which this world can neither give nor take from me." More he would have spoken, but his fpirits failed him; and, after a short conflict betwixt nature and death, a quiet figh put a period to his last breath, and fo he fell asleep".

And

That Mr. Hooker in the full vigour of his understanding did lift up his eyes as it were from the footstool to the throne of God to confider the ftate of heavenly and divine creatures, fee "Ecclef. Polity," B. I. §. iv. "The fubject which engaged Mr. Hooker's dying thoughts "ought conftantly to engage our living ones; fince in the prayer compofed and delivered out "to his difciples by our Lord and Saviour, the obedience of the angels is propofed as the pat"tern to be imitated by us, as the copy after which we fhould diligently write, Thy will be « done on earth as it is in heaven." (Bishop Horne's Sermons, Vol. IV. p. 322.)

z He died Nov. 2, 1600. Thus the day of his death was noted by Archbishop Laud, in the title-page of his copy of "The Ecclefiaftical Polity."

And here I draw his curtain, till with the moft glorious company of the patriarchs and apostles, the most noble army of martyrs and confeffors, this most learned, most humble, holy man, fhall also awake to receive an eternal tranquillity, and with it a greater degree of glory than common Christians shall be made partakers of. In the mean time, Bless, O Lord! Lord, bless his brethren, the clergy of this nation, with ardent defires, and effectual endeavours to attain, if not to his great learning, yet to his remarkable meekness, his godly fimplicity, and his Chriftian moderation: for these are praife-worthy; thefe bring peace at the laft! And let the labours of his life, his moft excellent writings, be blessed with what he defigned when he undertook them: which was glory to thee, O God on high, peace in thy church, and good will to man♣ kind. Amen, Amen.

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APPENDIX

TO THE LIFE OF MR. RICHARD HOOKER.

AND now having by a long and laborious fearch satisfied myself, and, I

hope, my reader, by imparting to him the true relation of Mr. Hooker's life; I am defirous alfo to acquaint him with fome obfervations that relate to it, and which could not properly fall to be spoken till after his death, of which my reader may expect a brief and true account in the following Appendix.

And first, it is not to be doubted but that he died in the forty-seventh, if not in the forty-fixth year of his age; which I mention, because many have believed him to be more aged; but I have fo examined it, as to be confident, I mistake not; and for the year of his death, Mr. Camden, who in his "Annals of Queen Elizabeth," 1599, mentions him with a high commendation of his life and learning, declares him to die in the year 1599; and yet in that infcription of his monument, fet up at the charge of Sir William

The following is an accurate copy of the infcription on Mr Hooker's monument :

SUNT MELIORA MIHI.

RICHARDUS HOOKER EXONIENSIS SCHOLARIS SOCIUSQ; COLLEGII CORP. XTII OXON: DEINDE LONDINIIS TEMPLI INTERIORIS IN SACRIS MAGISTER RECTORQ; HUJUS ECCLÆ. SCRIPSIT VIII LIBROS POLITIÆ ECCLESIASTICÆ ANGLICANÆ, QUORUM TRES DESIDERANTUR. OBIIT ANO

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POSUIT HOC PIISIMO VIRO MONUMENTUM AN DOM. MDCXXXIII. GULIELMUS COWPER ARMIGER IN CHRISTO JESU QUEM GENUIT PER EVANGELIUM. 1 Cor. iv. 15.

Sir

William Cooper in Borne church, where Mr. Hooker was buried, his death is faid to be anno 1603, but doubtlefs both are mistaken; for I have it attefted under the hand of William Somner the archbishop's register for the province of Canterbury, that Richard Hooker's will bears date October the 26th in anno 1600, and that it was proved the third of December following. And this attefted alfo, that at his death he left four daughters, Alice,

Sir William Cowper, who erected this monument, was the great grandfather of William, the first Earl Cowper, Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain. He was created first a Baronet of Nova Scotia, and afterward a Baronet of England in 1641. He fuffered imprisonment, the lofs of his fon, and other great calamities, for his fidelity to Charles I. He outlived all his troubles, refiding at his caftle of Hertford, and famed for his hofpitality, charity, and other Christian virtues, often vifiting his poor neighbours at their houfes, and relieving them in private according to their neceffities.

b

The following is extracted from the registry of the archdeacon's court of Canterbury. In the name of God Amen This lixe and twentieth of Daober in the yeare of our Lod one thousand and fire hundred J Richard Hooker of Bithopesborne though acke in bodye yet lounde in minde thankes be unto allmightye God doe o2daine and make this my lalt will and teflament in manner and forme followinge Firl I bequeth my Coule unto Allmightye God my creatoz hopinge alluredly of my salvation purchaled thorough the death of Christ Jelus and my bodye to the earth to be buried at the discretion of mine executo? Item give and bequeth unto my daughter Alice Hooker one hundred pounds of lawfull Engliche money to be paide unto her at the daye of her marriage Item give and bequeth unto my daughter Ticilye Hooker one hundred pounds of lawful Engliche money to be paid unto her at the daye of her marriage Item give and bequethe unto my daughter Jane Hooker one hundred pounds of lawful Englishe money to be paid unto her at the day of her marriage Item I give unto my daughter Margaret Hooker one hundred pounds of lawful Engliche moneye to be paid unto her at the day of her marriage And if it shall happen any of my laid daughters to departe this life befoze the daye of their said marriage then I will that her oz their portion lo dieinge thal be equally divided amonge her oz their filters furvivinge Item give and bequeth unto the pooz of the piche of Barha live pounds of lawful money to be paid unto them by mine executo? Item I give unto the pooze of the piche of Bichopesborne fiftye Hillings of lawfull Englische money to be paid unto them by mine executog Item I give and bequeth three pounds of lawful Engliche money towards the buildinge and makeing of a nese and lufficient pulpett in the pithe church

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