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we have had, which, by his unskilfulnes, is, in a great measure, lost: since, we must now depend only on him, because we have no other or better author, that has written on that argument.

For many ages, there were no lives writ, but by monks; through whose writings, there runs such an incurable humour, of telling incredible and inimitable passages, that little in them can be believed, or proposed as a pattern. Sulpitius Severus*, and Jeromet, showed too much credulity in the lives they writ; and raised Martin‡ and Hilarion S beyond what can be reasonably believed. After them, Socrates, Theodoret, Sozomen]], and Palladius¶ took a pleasure to tell uncouth stories of the monks of Thebaïs, and Nitria. And those who came after them, scorned to fall short of them; but raised their saints above those of former ages; so that, one would have thought, that indecent way of writing could rise no higher. And this humour infected even those, who had, otherwise, a good sense of things, and a just apprehension of mankind; as may appear in Matthew Paris **, who,

* An ecclesiastical writer of the fifth century. The best edition of his works, was printed at Venice, 1741-54. 2 vols. 4to.

+ The best editions of the works of St. Jerome, are the Benedictine, by Père Martianay. Paris, 1693-1706. 5 vols. folio; and that of Vallarsius, Verona, 1734-42. 11 vols. folio.

S. Martin, Bp. of Tours.

§ Hilarion, the founder of the monastic life: he became the companion of S. Anthony. Born A.D. 291; died 371.

The best edition of these historians, is that of Reading; Cantabr. 1720. ¶ Palladius; the friend of S. Chrysostom, and author of the Historia Lausiaca.' Born in the year 368, at Cappadocia: the year of his death is unknown. His History' was published by Meursius, Amstel. 1619.

** The best edition of M. Paris, is that of London, 1684. See Brunet.

though he was a writer of great judgment and fidelity, yet he has corrupted his history, with much of that alloy. But, when emulation and envy arose among the several orders or houses, then, they improved in that art of making romances, instead of writing lives: to that pitch, that the world became generally much scandalized with them. The Franciscans and Dominicans tried who could say the most extravagant things, of the founders, or other saints, of their orders: and the Benedictines, who thought themselves possessed of the belief of the world, as well as of its wealth, endeavoured, all that was possible, still to keep up the dignity of their order, by out-lying the others all they could: and whereas, here or there, a miracle, a vision, or trance, might have occurred in the lives of former saints, now, every page was full of those wonderful things.

Nor, has the humour of writing in such a manner, been quite laid down in this age, though more awakened, and better enlightened; as appears in the Life of Philip Nerius*, and a great many more. And the Jesuits at Antwerpt are now taking care to load the world with a vast and voluminous collection of all those lives; that has

Philip de Neri: founder of the congregation of the oratory in Italy. Born in Florence, 1515; died at Rome, 1595.

+ The Acta Sanctorum, originally printed at Antwerp, has reached the fifty-third volume; which comprizes the history of the Saints of the twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth days of October. Whoever wishes for interesting information on the subject, may consult the Typographical Gazetteer' of Dr. Henry Cotton, Article Tongerloa,' p. 161.

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already swelled to eleven volumes in folio, in a small print; and yet, being digested according to the calendar, they have yet but ended the month of April. The Life of Monsieur Renty is writ in another manner: where there are so many excellent passages, that he is justly to be reckoned amongst the greatest patterns that France has afforded, in this age.

But, while some have nourished infidelity, and a scorn of all sacred things, by writing of those good men, in such a strain, as makes, not only, what is so related to be disbelieved, but creates a distrust of the authentical writings of our most holy faith,.. others, have fallen into another extreme, in writing lives too jejunely; swelling them up, with trifling accounts, of the childhood and education, and the domestic or private affairs, of those persons of whom they write, in which the world is little concerned: by these, they become so flat, that few care to read them; for, certainly, those transactions only, are fit to be delivered to posterity, that may carry with them some useful piece of knowledge, to after-times.

I have, now, an argument before me, which will afford, indeed, only a short history; but will contain in it as great a character, as, perhaps, can be given of any, in this age; since, there are few instances of more knowledge, and greater virtues, meeting in one person. I am, upon one account, (besides many more,) unfit to undertake it, because I was not at all known to him; so, I can say

nothing from my own observation: but, upon second thoughts, I do not know whether this may not qualify me to write more impartially, though perhaps more defectively: for the knowledge of extraordinary persons, does, most commonly, bias those, who were much wrought on, by the tenderness of their friendship for them, to raise their style a little too high, when they write concerning them. I confess, I knew him as much, as the looking often upon him could amount to. The last year of his being in London, he came always on Sundays, when he could go abroad, to the chapel of the Rolls, where I then preached. In my life, I never saw so much gravity, tempered with that sweetness, and set off with so much vivacity, as appeared in his looks and behaviour; which disposed me to a veneration for him, which I never had for any, with whom I was not acquainted. I was seeking an opportunity of being admitted to his conversation: but I understood, that, between a great want of health, and a multiplicity of business, which his employment brought upon him, he was master of so little of his time, that I stood in doubt whether I might presume to rob him of any of it; and so he left the town, before I could resolve on desiring to be known to him.

My ignorance of the law of England made me, also, unfit to write of a man, a great part of whose character, as to his learning, is to be taken from his skill in the common law, and his performance

in that. But I shall leave that, to those of the same robe; since, if I engage much in it, I must needs commit many errors, writing of a subject that is foreign to me.

The occasion of my undertaking this, was given me first, by the earnest desires of some, that have great power over me; who, having been much obliged by him, and holding his memory in high estimation, thought I might do it some right, by writing his life. I was, then, engaged in the History of the Reformation; so I promised, that, as soon as that was over, I would make the best use I could, of such informations and memorials as should be brought me.

This I have now performed, in the best manner I could; and have brought into method, all the parcels of his life, or the branches of his character, which I could gather, either, from the informations that were brought me; or, from those that were familiarly acquainted with him; or, from his writings. I have not applied any of the false colours, with which art, or some forced eloquence, might furnish me, in writing concerning him; but have endeavoured to set him out, in the same simplicity in which he lived. I have said little of his domestic concerns, since, though in these he was a great example, yet, it signifies nothing to the world, to know any particular exercises that might be given to his patience: and, therefore, I shall draw a veil over all these; and shall avoid saying any thing of him, but what may afford the reader

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