Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

A LETTER OF mr. george HERBERT TO HIS MOTHER,

• 66 MADAM,

IN HER SICKNESS.

"Ar my last parting from you, I was the better content be"caufe I was in hope I fhould myself carry all sickness out of "your family; but fince I know I did not, and that your fhare. "continues, or rather increaseth, I wish earnestly that I were "again with you; and, would quickly make good my wifh, "but that my employment does fix me here, it being now but "a month to our commencement: wherein my abfence by how "much it naturally augmenteth fufpicion, by fo much fhall it "make my prayers the more conftant and the more earneft for you to the God of all confolation. In the mean time, I be"feech you to be cheerful, and comfort yourself in the God of all comfort, who is not willing to behold any forrow but for "fin. What hath affliction grievous in it more than for a mo"ment? or why fhould our afflictions here have fo much power

or boldness as to oppofe the hope of our joys hereafter ?"Madam, as the earth is but a point in refpect of the heavens, "fo are earthly troubles compared to heavenly joys: therefore, "if either age or fickness lead you to thofe joys, confider what "advantage you have over youth and health, who are now fo "near thofe true comforts.- -Your laft letter gave me earthly "preferment, and, I hope, kept heavenly for yourself. But "would you divide and choose too? our College cuftoms allow "not that; and I fhould account myself moft happy if I might "change with you: for I have always obferved the thread of "life to be like other threads or fkenes of filk, full of fnarles "and incumbrances: Happy is he, whofe bottom is wound up "and laid ready for work in the new Jerufalem. For myfelf, "dear mother, I always feared fickness more than death; be"caufe ficknefs hath made me unable to perform thofe offices "for which I came into the world, and must yet be kept in it; "but you are freed from that fear, who have already abundant"ly difcharged that part, having both ordered your family, and "fo brought up your children that they have attained to the "years of difcretion, and competent maintenance. So that

now if they do not well, the fault cannot be charged on you, "whofe example and care of them will justify you both to the "world and your own confcience: infomuch, that whether you "turn your thoughts on the life paft, or on the joys that are "to come, you have ftrong prefervatives againft all difquiet. "And for temporal afflictions, I befeech you confider, all that can happen to you are either afflictions of eftate, or body, or "mind. For thofe of eftate, of what poor regard ought they "to be, fince if we had riches we are commanded to give them away? fo that the beft ufe of them is, having, not to have "them. But, perhaps, being above the common people, our "credit and eftimation calls on us to live in a more splendid

66

:

"fafhion: But, O God! how eafily is that anfwered, when we "confider that the bleffings in the holy Scripture are never "" given to the rich, but to the poor. I never find Blessed de "the rich,' or 'Blefsed be the noble ;' but Blessed be the meek, "and Blessed be the poor,, and Blessed be the mourners, for they hail "be comforted. And yet, O God! moft carry themselves fo, as if "they not only not defired, but even feared to be blefsed. And "for afflictions of the body, dear Madam, remember the holy "martyrs of God, how they have been burnt by thousands, and "have endured fuch other tortures, as the very mention of "them might beget amazement; but their fiery trials have had "an end and yours (which praifed be God, are lefs) are not "like to continue long. I beseech you let fuch thoughts as "these moderate your prefent fear and forrow; and know that "if any of yours fhould prove a Goliah-like trouble, yet you "may fay with David, That God, who delivered me out of the paws of the lion and bear, will also deliver me out of the hands of this "uncircumcifed Philifine. Laftly, for thofe afflictions of the "foul: confider that God intends that to be as a facred temple "for himself to dwell in, and will not allow any room there for "fuch an inmate as grief, or allow that any fadness fhall be his "competitor. And, above all, if any care of future things mo"left you, remember thofe admirable words of the Pfalmift : "Caft thy care on the Lord, and he ball nourish thee, Pfal. lv. To "which join that of St. Peter, Cafting, all your care on the Lord, "for he careth for you, Pet. v. 7. What an admirable thing is this, that God puts his fhoulder to our burden, and entertains 66 our care for us that we may the more quietly intend his fer"vice. To conclude, let me commend only one place more to "" you (Philip. iv. 4); St. Paul faith there, Rejoice in the Lord "always: And again I fay, rejoice. He doubles it to take away "the fcruple of thofe that might fay, what, fhall we rejoice in "afflictions? yes, I fay again, rejoice; fo that it is not left to us to rejoice or not rejoice; but whatsoever befals us we must always, at all times, rejoice in the Lord, who taketh care for us. And it follows in the next verfe: Let your moderation ap❝pear unto all men: The Lord is at hand: Be careful for nothing."What can be faid more comfortably? trouble not yourselves, "God is at hand to deliver us from all, or in all. Dear Madam, pardon my boldness, and accept the good meaning of

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

About the year 1629, and the 34th of his age, Mr. Herbert was feized with a fharp quotidian ague, and thought to remove it by the change of air; to which end, he went to Woodford in Effex, but thither more chiefly to enjoy the company of his beloved brother Sir Henry Herbert, and other friends then of that family. In his house he remained about twelve months, and there became his own phyfician, and cured himself of his ague, by forbearing drink, and not eating any meat, no not mutton, nor a hen, or pigeon, unlefs they were falted; and by fuch a conftant diet he removed his ague, but with inconveniences that were worse; for he brought upon himself a difpofition to rheumes and other weaknesses, and a fuppofed confumption. And it is to be noted that in the fharpest of his extreme fits he would often fay, "Lord abate my great affliction, "or increase my patience; but, Lord, I repine not; I am "dumb, Lord, before thee, because thou doeft it." By which, and a fanctified fubmifsion to the will of God, he fhewed he was inclinable to bear the fweet yoke of Chriftian difcipline, both then and in the latter part of his life, of which there will be many true teftimonies.

And now his care was to recover from his consumption by a change from Woodford into fuch an air as was most proper to that end: And his remove was to Dauntfey in Wiltshire, a noble house which stands in a choice air; the owner of it then was the Lord Danvers Earl of Danby, who loved Mr. Herbert

The following lines are taken from a poem of Mr. Herbert's, entitled "Affliction."

"At first thou gav'st me milk and sweetnesses;
"I had my with and way:

"My days were ftrew'd with flow'rs and happiness;
"There was no month but May.

"But with my years forrow did twift and grow,
"And made a party unawares for woe:

[ocr errors]

My flesh began unto my foul in pain,
"Sickness clave my bones,

"Consuming agues dwell in every vein,

"And tune my breath to groans.

"Sorrow was all my foul; I fcarce believed,

"Till grief did tell me roundly-that I lived."

d HENRY DANVERS, created Baron of Dauntfey by King James, and Earl of Danby by Charles I. He was Knight of the Bath, and died unmarried, Jan. 20, 1673.

ON LORD DANVERS.

"Sacred marble, fafely keep

"His duft, who under thee must fleep,

"Until the years again restore

"Their dead, and time fhall be no more.

"Mean while, if he (which all things wears)

"Does ruin thee, or if thy tears

"Are fhed for him; diffolve thy frame,
"Thou art requited: for his faine,

"His virtue, and his worth fhall be
"Another monument to thee.

G. HERBERT."

fo very much, that he allowed him fuch an apartment in it as might beft fuit with his accommodation and liking. And in this place, by a fpare diet, declining all perplexing ftudies, moderate exercife, and a cheerful converfation, his health was apparently improved to a good degree of ftrength and cheerfulnefs: And then he declared his refolution both to marry, and to enter into the Sacred Orders of Priesthood. Thefe had long been the defires of his mother and his other relations; but he lived not to fee either, for fhe died in the year 1627. And though he was disobedient to her about Layton Church, yet in conformity to her will, he kept his, Orator's place till after her death, and then presently declined it; and the more willingly, that he might be fucceeded by his friend Robert Creighton, who now is Dr. Creighton, and the worthy Bishop of Wells.

I fhall now proceed to his marriage; in order to which, it will be convenient that I first give the reader a fhort view of his perfon, and then an account of his wife, and of fome circumftances concerning both.

He was for his perfon of a ftature inclining towards talness; his body was very ftraight; and fo far from being cumbered with too much flesh, that he was lean to an extremity. His afpect was cheerful, and his fpeech and motion did both declare him a gentleman; for they were all fo meek and obliging, that they purchased love and refpect from all that knew him.

Thefe, and his other visible virtues, begot him much love from a gentleman, of a noble fortune, and a near kinsman to his friend the Earl of Danby; namely, from Mr. Charles Danvers of Bainton, in the county of Wilts, Efq.; this Mr. Danvers having known him long, and familiarly, did fo much affect him, that he often and publicly declared a defire that Mr. Herbert

e ROBERT CRETONE, OF CREITTON, was elected Scholar of Trinity College in Canbridge, May 6, 1614; Miner Fellow, Oct. 1, 1619; Major Fellow, March 16, 1620." (From the Bursar's Books of Trinity. College.)

He was a native of Scotland, educated at Westminster School, and from thence elected to Trinity College. He was afterward Greek Professor, and Orator of the University. In 1632 he was made Treafurer of Wells, and in 1637 Dean of St. Burien in Cornwall. In the beginning of the Rebellion, as well as in its progrefs, he fuffered feverely for the royal caufe, and was an exile with Charles II. who, on his Restoration, gave him the Deanery of Wells. During his abfence from England he was the Editor of "The Hiftory of the Council of Florence," written originaly in Greek, and tranflated by him into Latin, from an authentic MS copy. "Vera Hiftoria unionis non veræ inter Græcos et Latinos: five Concili "Florentini exactifsima narratio Græcè fcripta," &c. Hage Comitis, 1660, fol. paginis, 351.

Being Chaplain to the King, he reproved the vices of the times with boldness, whenever he preached at Court; which," fays Wood,

66

was

well taken by fome, though theered at by others." However, in 1670 he was advanced to the fee of Each and Wells, and dying in 1672 was buried in that Cathedral. See Wood's Falli," Vol. I. p. 243. And "Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy."

U 4

would marry any of his nine daughters (for he had so many); but rather his daughter Jane than any other, becaufe Jane was his beloved daughter: And he had often faid the fame to Mr. Herbert himself, and that if he could like her for a wife, and the him for a husband, Jane fhould have a double blessing; and Mr. Danvers had so often faid the like to Jane, and fo much commended Mr. Herbert to her, that Jane became fo much a Platonic, as to fall in love with Mr. Herbert unfeen.

This was a fair preparation for a marriage; but alas, her father died before Mr. Herbert's retirement to Dauntfey; yet fome friends to both parties procured their meeting; at which time a mutual affection entered into both their hearts, as a conqueror enters into a surprised city, and love having got fuch poffefsion governed, and made there fuch laws and refolutions as neither party was able to refift; infomuch that the changed her name into Herbert the third day after this first interview.

This hafte might in others be thought a love-phrenzy, or worfe; but it was not, for they had wooed fo like Princes, as to have felect proxies; fuch as were true friends to both parties; fuch as well understood Mr. Herbert's and her temper of mind,. and alfo their eftates, fo well before this interview, that the fuddennefs was juftifiable by the ftricteft rules of prudence; and the more, because it proved fo happy to both parties: For the eternal lover of mankind made them happy in each other's mutual and equal affections and compliance; indeed fo happy, that there never was any oppofition betwixt them, unless it were a conteft which fhould moft incline to a compliance with the other's defires. And though this begot, and continued in them, fuch a mutual love, and joy, and content, as was no way defective yet this mutual content, and love, and joy, did receive a daily augmentation, by fuch daily obligingness to each other, as ftill added fuch new affluences to the former fulness of thefe divine fouls, as was only improvable in heaven, where they now enjoy it.

;

About three months after his marriage, Dr. Curlef, who was then Rector of Bemerton in Wiltshire, was made Bishop of Bath

f WALTER CURLE, D. D. was born at Hatfield, in Hertfordshire, a feat of the Earls of Salisbury. His father was a fervant to William Cecil Earl of Salisbury, and as his agent in the affair of the Queen of Scots, and fteward of his eftates fo faithful and helpful, that the Earl not only preferred him to be Auditor of the Court of Wards, but advanced this his fon to be Fellow of Peter Houfe in Cambridge, and prefented him to a good living, in which he difcharged the duties of a paftor fo well, in preventing law-fuits, and compofing differences among his parishioners, fupprefsing houfes of debauchery, and regulating many other diforders, gaining many Dilsenters to the Church by his wife and meek difcourfes, and leaving others who were obftinate in error, inexcufable by his holy converfation and charitable hofpitality, that the Earl recommended him to King James 1. as a fit perion for his Chaplain; in which station he foon became the object of his Majesty's favour, which he found by being made Dean of Lichfield in 1621. King Charles I. in 1628 appointed him Bishop of Rochester, where he continued not much longer than a year before he was removed to Bath and Wells, and then to Winchefter, in which he

fat,

« AnteriorContinuar »