give an account of the rest of his behaviour, both to his parishioners and those many others that knew and conversed with him. Doubtless Mr. Herbert had considered and given rules to himself for his Christian carriage, both to God and man, before he entered into holy orders. And it is not unlike, but that he renewed those resolutions at his prostration before the holy altar, at his induction into the church of Bemerton: but as yet he was but a deacon, and therefore longed for the next ember week, that he might be ordained priest, and made capable of administering both the sacraments. At which time, the Rev. Dr. Humphrey Henchman, now Lord Bishop of London, (who does not mention him but with some veneration for his life and excellent learning,) tells me"He laid his hand on Mr. Herbert's head, and alas! within less than three years, lent his shoulder to carry his dear friend to his grave.” And that Mr. Herbert might the better preserve those holy rules which such a priest as he intended to be ought to observe, and that time might not insensibly blot them out of his memory, but that the next year might shew him his variations from this year's resolutions, he therefore did set down his rules, then resolved upon, in that order as the world now sees them printed in a little book, called, The Country Parson; in which some of his rules are: The Parson's knowledge; The Parson comforting the sick; The Parson arguing; The Parson condescending; wardens; The Parson blessing his people. And his behaviour toward God and man may be said to be a practical comment on these, and the other holy rules set down in that useful book. At the death of Mr. Herbert, this book fell into the hands of his friend Mr. Woodnot; and he commended it into the trusty hands of Mr. Barnabas Oly, who published it with a most conscientious and excellent preface; from which I have had some of those truths, that are related in this Life of Mr. Herbert. The text for his first sermon was taken out of Solomon's Proverbs, and the words were, "Keep thy heart with all diligence." In which first sermon he gave his parishioners many necessary, holy, safe rules for the discharge of a good conscience, both to God and man; and delivered his sermon after a most florid manner, both with great learning and eloquence: but, at the close of this sermon, told them-" That should not be his constant way of preaching; for since Almighty God does not intend to lead men to heaven by hard questions, he would not therefore fill their heads with unnecessary notions; but that, for their sakes, his language and his expressions should be more plain and practical in his future sermons." And he then made it his humble request"That they would be constant to the afternoon's service, and catechising;" and shewed them convincing reasons why he desired it; and his obliging example and persuasions brought them to a willing conformity to his desires. The texts for all his future sermons (which, indeed, were not many) were constantly taken out of the gospel for the day; and he did as constantly declare why the church did appoint that portion of Scripture to be that day read; and in what manner the collect for every Sunday does refer to the gospel, or to the epistle then read to them; and, that they might pray with understanding, he did usually take occasion to explain, not only the collect for every particular Sunday, but the reasons of all the collects, responses, and other parts of our church service: and made it appear to them, that the whole service of the church was a reasonable, and therefore an acceptable sacrifice to God. By this account of his diligence to make his parishioners understand what they prayed, and why they praised and adored their Creator, I hope I shall the more easily obtain the reader's belief to the following account of Mr. Herbert's own practice; which was, to appear constantly with his wife and three nieces (the daughters of a deceased sister) and his whole family, twice every day at the church prayers, in the chapel, which does almost join to his parsonage house. And for the time of his appearing, it was strictly at the canonical hours of ten and four; and then and there he lifted up pure and charitable hands to God in the midst of the congregation. And he would joy to have spent that time in that place, where the honor of his Master Jesus dwelleth; and there, by that inward devotion which he testified constantly by an humble behaviour, and visible adoration, he, like Joshua, brought not only his own household thus to serve the Lord, but brought most of his parishioners, and many gentlemen in the neighborhood, constantly to make a part of his congregation twice a day; and some of the meaner sort of his parish did so love and reverence Mr. Herbert, that they would let their plough rest when Mr. Herbert's saint's bell rung to prayers, that they might also offer their devotions to God with him; and would then return back to their plough. And his most holy life was such, that it begot such reverence to God, and to him, that they thought themselves the happier, when they carried Mr. Herbert's blessing back with them to their labor. Thus powerful was his reason and example to persuade others to a practical piety and devotion. And his constant public prayers did never make him to neglect his own private devotions, nor those prayers that he thought himself bound to perform with his family, which always were a set form, and not long; and he did always conclude them with that collect which the church hath appointed for the day or week. Thus he made every day's sanctity a step towards that kingdom where impurity cannot enter. His chiefest recreation was music, in which heavenly art he was a most excellent master, and did himself compose many divine hymns and anthems, which he set and sung to his lute or viol; and though he was a lover of retiredness, yet his love to music was such, that he went usually twice every week, on certain appointed days, to the cathedral church in Salisbury; and at his return would say "That his time spent in prayer, and cathedral music, elevated his soul, and was his heaven upon earth." But before his return thence to Bemerton, he would usually sing and play his part at an appointed private music meeting; and, to justify this practice, he would often say-" Religion does not banish mirth, but only moderates and sets rules to it." And as his desire to enjoy his heaven upon earth drew him twice every week to Salisbury, so his walks thither were the occasion of many happy accidents to others; of which I will mention some few. In one of his walks to Salisbury, he overtook a gentleman, that it still living in that city; and in their walk together, Mr. Herbert took a fair occasion to talk with him, and humbly begged to be excused, if he asked him some account of his faith; and said "I do this the rather, because though you are not of my parish, yet I receive tithe from you by the hand of your tenant; and, sir, I am the bolder to do it, because I know there be some sermon hearers that be like those fishes that always live in salt water, and yet are always fresh." After which expression, Mr. Herbert asked him some needful questions, and having received his answer, gave him such rules for the trial of his sincerity, and for a practical piety, and in so loving and meek a manner, that the gentleman did so fall in love with him, and his discourse, that he would often contrive to meet him in his walk to Salisbury, or to attend him back to Bemerton; and still mentions the name of Mr. George Herbert with veneration, and still praiseth God for the occasion of knowing him. In another of his Salisbury walks, he met with a neighbor minister; and after some friendly discourse betwixt them, and some condolement for the decay of piety, and too general contempt of the clergy, Mr. Herbert took occasion to say : "One cure for these distempers would be, for the clergy themselves to keep the ember weeks strictly, and beg of their parishioners to join with them in fasting and prayers for a more religious clergy. "And another cure would be, for themselves to restore the great and neglected duty of catechising, on which the salvation of so many of the people and ignorant lay-people does depend: but principally, that the clergy themselves would be sure to live unblamably; and that the dignified clergy especially, which preach temperance, would avoid surfeiting, and take all occasions to express a visible humility and charity in their lives; for this would force a love and an imitation, and |