constant effort, to live as he lived, and to die as he

died, and then, assuredly, you will neither live

nor die in vain.

J. L.

East Hill, Wandsworth.

The editor feels assured, that he will be more than excused, for having extracted so much, from the correspondence, and conversation, of his departed friend: the truth is, that, had he not kept in view the retiring modesty, which always characterized that friend, he should, probably, have extracted much more. His feelings have been admirably expressed, by cardinal Quirini, in speaking of the matchless FENELON:

< Hærent memoriæ meæ argumenta omnia, quæ, à præsule illo narrata, seu disputata, sitientibus auribus captavi; et prætereà, quænam ea fuerint, oculis meis, nunc fidem faciunt plures ejusdem literæ, quibus, nihil stat pretiosius in scriniis meis.'. . COMMENT. HISTOR. DE REB. PERTIN. AD AUG. MAR. CARD. QUIRINUM.

1749.

PREFACE

TO THE

FIRST DUBLIN EDITION.

THE following collection of bishop Burnet's biographical pieces, is made more complete than in any former edition, by the insertion of the sermon at the funeral of Mr. Boyle *; and by a selection of the most interesting characters, in the bishop's history of his own life and times. It may, therefore, on the whole, be recommended to the intelligent and serious public, as one of the most instructive volumes of the biographical kind, that has ever issued from the press.

In the life of sir Matthew Hale, we do not, merely, see a character improved and adorned by the christian graces and virtues, but we behold christianity itself, substantially exemplified. We see its power 'to convert the soul,' in that radical change which it effects in the youth: while every subsequent action of the man, concurs to prove, that the ideal character of wisdom, which some ancient philosophers described as the mark to be aimed at, though without any hope of attainment,

* A slight transposition of the materials, has been judged proper in this edition: the characters have been placed immediately after the lives; and the address to posterity, after the sermon for Mr. Boyle, as a general conclusion to the whole.

is, in all its valuable features, actually realized in the true christian.

What, but christianity, could have given to judge Hale that uniform ascendancy over every thing selfish and secular, by means of which, he, so undeviatingly, kept the path of pure heroic virtue, as to be alike looked up to and revered, by parties and interests, the most opposite to each other? Is there, in human history, any fact more extraordinary, than, that the advocate of Strafford and Laud, and of king Charles, (had leave been given for pleading,) should be raised to the bench, by Cromwell? And again, that a judge of Cromwell's should be, not only reinstated by Charles II., but compelled by him, against his own will, to accept of the very highest judicial trust? Such is the triumph of genuine Christianity!.. a triumph, which is, in some degree, renewed, whenever the name of Hale is even professionally repeated: since the appeal is evidently made, not more to the authority of the judge, than to the integrity of the man. If Burnet had never written more, than the life of sir Matthew Hale, this alone would have entitled him to the gratitude of the christian world there being no work of the kind, better worth the study, whether of the professional, or private man; of all, who would truly learn, how to live, or how to die.

Respecting the passages in the life of the earl of Rochester, nothing could easily be added to the encomium of Dr. Johnson: It is a work, which

the critic ought to read, for its elegance; the philosopher, for its arguments; and the saint, for its piety. It were an injury to the reader, to offer him an abridgment.'

In the sermon at Mr. Boyle's funeral, we have an exquisite delineation of the true christian philo sopher. We see a most enlightened, and powerful mind, penetrating the yet unexplored recesses of nature; opening new paths to profound and useful science; and aiding future investigation, by admirable inventions. Who is there, that pretends to scientific knowledge, even in this age of arrogant self-esteem, who would venture to withhold respect from the venerable name of BOYLE? Yet, we see this great and good man, bowing before his GOD, with the humility of a child; never pronouncing the hallowed name, without some mark of unaffected veneration; and counting all his knowledge of physical nature, to be but infant ignorance, compared with that heavenly wisdom, which he sought, and found, in the sacred volumes of Revelation. The portraiture of such a man, executed by one who was qualified to do it ample justice, both from intimate knowledge, and congenial feeling, well deserves to be rescued from obscurity; especially at a time, when the baleful effects of science falsely so called,' have made it necessary to recur to the only genuine philosophy,.. the WISDOM

FROM ABOVE.

The shorter extracts which are added, scarcely need to be recommended to attention. As sketches