but riches can make them and theirs happy. But it was not so with Dr. Sanderson: for he was concerned, and spoke comfortably to the poor dejected man; bade him go home and pray, and not load himself with sorrow, for he would go to his landlord next morning, and if his landlord would not abate what he desired, he and a friend would pay it for him.

To the landlord he went the next day; and in a conference the Doctor presented to him the sad condition of his poor dejected tenant, telling him how much God is pleased when men compassionate the poor: and told him, that though God loves sacrifice, yet he loves mercy so much better, that he is best pleased when he is called the God of Mercy' and told him, the riches he was possessed of were given him by that GoD of Mercy, who would not be pleased if he that had so much given, yea, and forgiven him too, should prove like the rich steward in the Gospel, that took his fellow-servant by the throat to make him pay the utmost farthing. This he told him: and told him, that 'the law of this nation (by which law he claims his rent) does not undertake to make men honest or merciful; that was too nice an undertaking; but does what it can to restrain men from being dishonest or unmerciful: and yet, that our law was defective in both; and that taking any rent from his poor tenant, for what GoD suffered him not to enjoy, though the law allowed him to do so, yet if he did so, he was too like that rich steward which he had mentioned to him.' And told him, that 'riches so gotten, and added to his great estate, would, as Job says,prove like gravel in his teeth-would in time so corrode his conscience, or become so nauseous when he lay upon his death-bed, that he would then 'labor to vomit it up, and not be able.' And therefore advised him (being very rich) to make friends of his unrighteous Mammon, before that evil day come upon him: but however, neither for his own sake, nor for God's sake, to take any rent of his poor dejected sad tenant, for that were to gain a temporal and lose his eternal happiness.'

Mr. Walton generally quotes from memory. "Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterward his mouth shall be filled with gravel." Prov. xx. 17.

These and other such reasons were urged with so grave and so compassionate an earnestness, that the landlord forgave his tenant the whole rent.

The reader will easily believe that Dr. Sanderson, who was himself so meek and merciful, did suddenly and gladly carry this comfortable news to the dejected tenant; and will believe also, that at the telling of it there was a mutual rejoicing. It was one of Job's boasts, that "he had seen none perish for want of clothing; and that he had often made the heart of the widow to rejoice." And doubtless Dr. Sanderson might have made the same religious boast of this, and very many like occasions: but since he did not, I rejoice that I have this just occasion to do it for him; and that I can tell the reader, I might tire myself and him in telling how like the whole course of Dr. Sanderson's life was to this which I have now related.

Thus he went on in an obscure and quiet privacy, doing good daily both by word and by deed as often as any occasion offered itself; yet not so obscurely, but that his very great learning, prudence, and piety, were much noted and valued by the bishop of his diocese, and by most of the nobility and gentry of that county. By the first of which he was often summoned to preach many visitation sermons, and by the latter at many assizes." Which sermons, though they were much esteemed by them that procured and were fit to judge them, yet they were the less valued, because he read them, which he was forced to do; for though he had an extraordinary memory, (even the art of it,) yet he was punished with such an innate invincible fear and bashfulness, that his memory was wholly useless as to the repetition of his sermons, so as he had writ them; which

Dr. FEATLEY tells us, that "there were few gentlemen of his acquaintance whom Dr. Sanderson had not directed to some noble and charitable work for men's improvement or relief: he, their great casuist, having their hearts and purses at his devoir, and using his happy power, always to their honor, comfort, and infinite satisfaction."-Reason and Judgment, &c. p. 29.

b In the collection of his Sermons, we find five preached ad Clerum, at the visitations heid at Boston or Grantham; one preached ad Magistratum, at a public sessions at Grantham; four at the assizes at Lincoln, and one at the assizes at Nottingham.

gave occasion to say, when some of them were first printed and exposed to censure (which was in the year 1632,) that the best sermons that were ever read were never preached.'

In this contented obscurity he continued till the learned and pious Archbishop Laud, who knew him well in Oxford (for he was his contemporary there,) told the King (it was the knowing and conscientious King Charles I.) that there was one Mr. Sanderson, an obscure country minister, that was of such sincerity, and so excellent in all casuistical learning, that he desired his Majesty would take so much notice of him as to make him his chaplain. The King granted it most willingly, and gave the bishop charge to hasten it; for he longed to discourse with a man that had dedicated his studies to that useful part of learning. The bishop forgot not the King's des and Mr. Sanderson was made his Chaplain in Orary in November following (1631.) And when the King and he became better known to each other, then, as it is said, that after many hard questions put to the prophet Daniel, King Darius found "an excellent spirit in him ;"d so it was with Mr. Sanderson and our excellent King; who having put many cases of conscience to him, received from Mr. Sanderson such deliberate, safe, and clear solutions, as gave him so great content in conversing with him (which he did several times in private) that, at the end of his month's attendance, the King told him 'he should long for the next November; for he resolved to have a more inward acquaintance with him when that month and he returned.' And when the month and he did return, the good King was never absent from his sermons, and would usually say, I carry my ears to hear other preachers, but I carry my conscience to hear Mr. San

Archbishop LAUD's excellent book against FISHER the Jesuit, and his success in recovering Mr. CHILLINGWORTH from Popery, afford incontestable proofs of his learning, and his sincere attachment to the Church of England. Not to mention other instances of his liberality; how nobly did he bestow his patronage, unexpected and undesired, upon Mr. JOHN HALES, of Eton, who esteemed him so much, that he mourned for his death in a most remarkable manner, and wished he had died in his stead!

Mr. Walton, generally quoting from memory, is not always accurate compare Dan. i. 19, 20. and vi, 3,

derson, and to act accordingly.' And this ought not to be concealed from posterity, that the King thought what he spake for he took him to be his adviser in that quiet part of his life, and he proved to be his comforter in those days of his affliction, when he was under such a restraint as he apprehended himself to be in danger of death or deposing. Of which more hereafter.

In the first parliament of this good King (which was 1625,) he was chosen to be a clerk of the Convocation for the diocese of Lincoln, which I here mention, because about that time did arise many disputes about predestination, and the many critical points that depend upon or are interwoven in it; occasioned, as was said, by a disquisition of new principles of Mr. Calvin, though others say they were long before his time. But of these Dr. Sanderson then drew up for his own satisfaction such a scheme (he called it Pax Ecclesia) as then gave himself, and hath since given others, such satisfaction, that it still remains to be of great estimation. He was also chosen clerk of all the convocations during that good King's reign: which I here tell my reader, because I shall hereafter have occasion to mention that convocation in 1640, that unhappy Long Parliament, and some debates of the predestinarian points, as they have been since charitably handled betwixt him, the learned Dr. Hammond, and Dr. Pierce, the now reverend Dean of Salisbury. And here the reader may note, that in let

• This good man was born at Chertsey in Surrey, August 18, 1605, being the youngest son of Dr. John Hammond, physician to Prince Henry, Educated at Eton School, he was sent to Magdalen College, Oxford, of which he became Fellow, and afterward a Canon of Christ Church. In 1630, he was preferred by the Earl of Leicester to the rectory of Penshurst. In 1639, he proceeded D. D., was member of Convocation in 1640, and afterward named to be of the Assembly of Divines. In 1643, he was persecuted and forced to retire, the Parliament visitors ejecting him from his canonry of Christ Church and his office of Public Orator. He was one of the chaplains of King Charles I., on whom he was a constant attendant during his last troubles. Having spent his life in great retiredness, lucubration, and devotion, he surrendered up his soul to GOD in the house of Sir John Packington, April 25, 1660, aged 55 years.

f Dr. THOMAS PIERCE, for some years President of Magdalen College, Oxford, well known in his time for his skill in the quinquarticular controversy, and for his writings in defence of the ancient establishment of the Church of England, against Baxter, Calamy, and other

ters wrote to the said Dean, Dr. Sanderson seems to have altered his judgment in some points, since he wrote his scheme, called Pax Ecclesia, which he seems to say in his last will, beside other reasons to think so.

In the year 1636, his Majesty, then in his progress, took a fair occasion to visit Oxford, and to take an entertainment for two days for himself and his honorable attendants; which the reader ought to believe was suitable to their dignities: but this is mentioned, because at the King's coming thither, May 3, Mr. Sanderson did then attend him, and was then (the 31st of August) created Doctor of Divinity; which honor had an addition to it, by having many of the nobility of this nation then made Doctors and Masters of Arts with him: some of whose names shall be recorded and live with hisand none shall outlive it. First, Dr. Curle and Dr. Wren, who were then Bishops of Winton and of

i

Nonconformists. On the promotion of Dr. RALDO BRIDEOKE to the see of Chichester, he was appointed Dean of Salisbury. He composed the following epitaph upon himself, a little before his death :

"Here lies all that was mortal, the outside, dust, and ashes of Tho. Pierce, D. D. once the President of a college in Oxford, at first the Rector of Bringtoncum-membris, Canon of Lincoln, and at last Dean of Sarum; who fell asleep in the Lord JESUs, [Mar. 28, an. 1691.] but in hope of an awake at the resur rection. He knew himself, and taught others, that all the glorified saints in heaven cannot amount to one Saviour, as all the stars in the firmament cannot make up one sun. Therefore his only hope and trust was in the Lord JESUS, who will "change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."-Phil. iii. 21.

DISCE, VIATOR, PERINDE ESSE, SEU FRAGILE FRANGI, SEU MORTALE

MORI.

[See that which Walton has appended to this Life.]

[Dr. WALTER CURLE was son of the steward of Cecil, Earl of Salisbury, by whose interest he was made Fellow of Peter-house, preferred to a living, and made chaplain to James I. He soon gained the favor of the King, who gave him the Deanery of Litchfield in 1621. He was appointed Bishop of Rochester in 1628, removed to the see of Bath and Wells in 1629, and to that of Winchester in 1632. During the cívil wars he was despoiled not only of the revenues of his see, but of his private patrimony, and driven to Lubberton in Hampshire, where he died about 1650.-RICHARDSON's ed. of GODWIN's de Præsul. Angl. p. 242.]

i Dr. MATTHEW WREN, successively Bishop of Hereford, Norwich, and Ely, died April 24, 1667, aged eighty-one years and upward. He was distinguished for his extraordinary attachment to the royal cause, having suffered an imprisonment for eighteen years with singular patience and magnanimity. The pressures under which he lay during this period were such, that, his estate being taken away, he could not allow his children bread, much less supply their expenses for living in