calleth and moveth them; and that they may, by their free will also resist it; but, withal that God, when he will, and to whom he will, gives such an abundant, such powerful, such congruous, otherwise effectual grace, that, although the will may in respect of the liberty thereof resist; yet it resists not, but doth certainly and infallibly obey; and that thus God deals with those, whom he hath chosen in Christ, so far as shall be necessary to their salvation." And, again, "my brethren," says he, "let our care be to study and to preach Christ and him crucified: to work the souls of men to faith, repentance, piety, justice, charity temperance, and other heavenly virtues; that they may find cordial testimonies in themselves, of their happy predestination to life, and their infallible interest in the precious blood of their redeemer. Let us beat down those sins in them, which make them obnoxious to everlasting damnation, and strip them of all comfortable assurances of the favor of God. Let us not undiscreetly spend our time and pains, in distracting their thoughts with those scholastic disquisitions, whereof the knowledge or ignorance makes nothing to heaven. The way to blessedness is not so short, that we should find leisure to make outroads into needless and unprofitable speculations. Never treatise could be more necessary, in this curious and quarrelsome age, than De paucitate credendorum.

The infinite subdivisions of those points, which we advance to the honour of being the objects of our belief, confound our thoughts and mar our peace. Peaceable discourse may have much latitude, but matter of faith should have narrow bounds. If, in the other, men will abound in their own sense, always let unity of spirit he held in the bond of peace. Since God hath given us change of raiment and variety of all intellectual provisions, as Joseph said to his brethren, let me to mine, Let us not fall out by the way. Now, by the dear bonds of brotherhood, by our love to our common mother, the church, by our holy care and zeal of the prosperous success of the gospel of our Lord Jesus, let us all compose our hearts to peace; and rest ourselves in those common truths, which sober minds shall find abundantly sufficient, whether for our knowledge or salvation." *

• See this excellent Tractate, called Via Media, in vol, ix. of the Bishop's Works.

CHAPTER III.

The Bishop continues his narrative :—

How,

"Immediately before the publishing of this tractate (which did not a little aggravate the envy and suspicion,) I was by his Majesty raised to the bishoprick of Exeter; having formerly, with much humble deprecation, refused the see of Gloucester earnestly proffered unto me. beyond all expectation, it pleased God to place me in that western charge; which, if the Duke of Buckingham's letters, he being then in France, had arrived but some hours sooner, I had been defeated of; and, by what strange means it pleased God to make up the competency of that provison, by the unthought-of addition of the rectory of St. Breok* within that diocese: if I should fully relate the circumstances, would force

The living of St. Breok, in Cornwall, according to Dr. Walker, was then worth about £300. a year. Sufferings of the Clergy, part ii, p. 24.

the confession of an extraordinary hand of God in the disposing of those events.

"I entered upon that place, not without much prejudice and suspicion on some hands: for some, that sat at the stern of the Church, had me in great jealousy for too much favor of Puritanism. I soon had intelligence who were set over me for espials. My ways were curiously observed and scanned. However, I took the resolution to follow those courses which might most conduce to the peace and happiness of my new and weighty charge. Finding, therefore, some factious spirits very busy in that diocese, I used all fair and gentle means to win them to good order; and therein so happily prevailed, that, saving two of that numerous clergy who continuing in their refractoriness fled away from censure, they were all perfectly reclaimed: so as I had not one minister professedly opposite to the anciently received orders (for I was never guilty of urging any new impositions) of the church in that large diocese.

"Thus we went on comfortably together, till some persons of note in the clergy, being guilty of their own negligence and disorderly courses, began to envy our success; and, finding me ever ready to encourage those whom I found conscionably forward and painful in their places, and willingly giving way to orthodox and peaceable

I

lectures in several parts of my diocese, opened their mouths against me, both obliquely in the pulpit and directly at the court; complaining of my too much diligence to persons disaffected, and my too much liberty of frequent lecturings within my charge. The billows went so high, that I was three several times upon my knee to his Majesty, to answer these great criminations: and what contestation I had with some great lords concerning these particulars, it would be too long to report; only this; under how dark a cloud I was hereupon I was so sensible, that I plainly told the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, that, rather than I would be obnoxious to those slanderous tongues of his misinformers, I would cast up my rochet.* I knew I went right ways, and would not endure to live under undeserved suspicions.

"What messages of caution I had from some of my wary brethren, and what expostulatory letters I had from above, I need not relate. Sure I am, I had peace and comfort at home, in the happy sense of that general unanimity and loving correspondence of my clergy, till, in the last year of my presiding there, after the synodical oath was set on foot (which yet I did never tender to

White garment; he means his episcopal dress.