reafons, I chufe rather to follow my text, and to give them an advice, of which I am fure they greatly ftand in need; and that is, that they would be cautious not to run into the extreme, of undervaluing and reviling their teachers and governors.

Say not thou, fays Solomon, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? For thou doft not inquire wifely concerning this. There is room to conjecture that Solomon fpake this feelingly, and for particular reafons. There were probably in his time perverfe men in Ifrael, who fhook their foolish heads, and regretted the old days; and obferved that the reign of his father David was preferable to his; and that it was better with the nation under Saul, than under the new family. Such judgments he condemns, as proceeding from malicious fpleen, and fenfelefs prejudice. To bring the matter home to ourselves, One who were to confider the thing impartially, and found in himself no difpofition to flatter, or to rail, or to repine, would probably be of opinion that the world goes on, as the fun fhines, much as it did before we were born, and that we are no worfe than our progenitors for as to public calamities, which human prudence cannot forefee, or, foreseeing, cannot prevent, it is very unreasonable to lay them to the charge of the government; and the civil Magiftrate might juftly fay, as the king of Ifrael did, Am I God, to kill and to make alive?

where

fore

fore confider, I pray you, and fee, how they feek a quarrel against me.

One thing, only, give me leave to add, for I cannot decently ftifle it, in favour of our own times; namely, that Learning,-learning, which has made a man pass for a Magician, for a Heretic, and for a Fool, and has been often obferved to be a fymptom of poverty, is no difqualification or impediment, but rather a credit and a recommendation. It has fome friends and favourers, even amongst the great; and it has no enemy except Envy, which pilfers and purloins a small matter from an established character; a moderate tax upon fupérior abilities, and a lofs which is fcarcely felt.

It would be an unpardonable omiffion in one who has had a liberal education, not to lay hold of this occafion, and proceed to fay fomething in behalf of Literature. We, who cannot reward it, ought at least to recommend it to those who can; and exhort and admonish them, that they would cherish and protect it, even for their own fake. We are naturally difpofed to feek and to value reputation; Reputation and praise are a recompenfe, which our Saviour himself with his own facred mouth conferred upon a generous action: Wherefoever, fays he, this Gospel fhall be preached in the

* II Kings, v. 7. —Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me, to recover a man of his leprofy? said the king of Ifrael. Our fovereign likewife pretends not to cure the leprofy; and yet is a rightful king, and a good ruler for all that.

whole

whole world, there shall alfo this, that this woman

hath done, be told for a memorial of her. There is no furer way for great men to obtain it, than by patronifing letters, arts, and fciences; for thefe are always grateful, and both willing and able to transmit the names of their friends to the latest generations. They who are not to be moved by these motives, may hope for reputation; but they will reap as they fow; and never be praised, except by hangers-on of their own ftamp and capacity, or by dedicators, whofe works ufually die before them, and who certainly will have no interest with posterity.

Excluded, on one account or other, from every obvious topic, and fcarce knowing which way to turn, and how to proceed,-I refolved to look back to times past, and to recollect, what old annals and the voice of the public had formerly declared concerning worthy Prelates. This had a promifing afpect, and feemed to open the way to modeft, inoffenfive, and inftructive defcription. Here alfo was a plentiful variety of materials, - of every

May it happen to fuch, according to the prognoftic of the Greek Mufe:

quality that conftitutes a great and a good man. Here were to be found diligence, patience, activity, candour, and integrity: here was religion without formality, liberality without oftentation, ferioufnefs without morofenefs, and cheerfulnefs without levity: here was gentlenefs to others, and felfseverity: here was ufeful learning, and a love of those who loved and purfued it, and a care to confer favours upon those who deferved them: here was a contempt and diflike for detracting fycophants, and fawning parafites: here was affability to inferiors: here were other bright virtues, and endearing accomplishments, which fhall not be recounted; - for there is already reason to fear that justice has not been done to the dignity of the fubject. May the great Author of every good gift enable us, each in our several stations, to act an honest and prudent part; till we arrive at the mansions, where all earthly diftinctions ceafe, and give place to those which are made by piety and virtue: where we fhall meet with innumerable beings, better, and greater, and wiser than ourselves; where, as none will be unhappy and difcontented, there, may be room for pious Emulation, but not for Jealousy and Envy; and where all, how different foever in glory, will be united by love, and charity, and friendship, and gratitude, and condefcenfion, and efteem!

MISCELLANEOUS

From the APPENDIX to Dr. BIRCH's Life of TILLOTSON, Second Edition. Page 426. Number III.

FOLIO EDITION.

VOL. I. SERMON XXXV.

THIS Sermon hath been attacked by Cavillers at home and abroad, and defended by LE CLERC, in the Bibliotheque Choifie.

IBID. SERMON XXXVI.

"The poet feigns of Achilles, that by fome charm, or gift of the Gods, he was invulnerable, except in the heel, &c. The wife poet instructing us, &c."

This