TO THE

HONOURABLE GEORGE BERKELEY,

SOLE SON TO

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

GEORGE BARON OF BERKELEY.

I HAVE ever dissented from their opinion who maintain, that the world was created a level champaign, mountains being only the product of Noah's flood, where the violence of the waters aggested the earth, gored out of the hollow valleys. For we read how in that deluge "the mountains were" (not then as upstarts first caused, but as old standards newly) "covered," Gen. vii. 20.

As much do I differ from their false position who affirm, that, "all being equal in the loins of Adam and womb of Eve, honour was only the effect of human ambition in such whose pride or power advanced themselves above others." Whereas it was adequate to the creation, as originally fixed, in eldership or primogeniture, and afterwards, by Divine Providence, (the sole fountain thereof,) conferred on others; either out of love, by nothing less than his express commission, for their good; or [out of] hatred, by somewhat more than his bare permission, for their ruin.

The three sons of David serve us for the threefold division of honour: 1. Absalom said, "O that I were made judge in the land!" 2 Sam. xv. 4. 2. Adonijah exalted himself, saying, "I will be king," 1 Kings i. 5. 3. Solomon said nothing; but David said, (and God

confirmed his words,) " Assuredly he shall reign after me," 1 Kings i. 17.

The first sought, by secret ambition, to surprise his father's subjects. The second went a more bold and blunt way to work, by open usurpation. But both finally miscarried. The third reached, not at all at honour, but only happily held what was put into his hands.

But when outward greatness (as in the last instance) is attended with inward grace, all Christian beholders thereof are indebted to a double tribute of respect to that person whose HONOUR is martialled according to the apostolical equipage: "But GLORY, HONOUR, and PEACE," &c. Rom. ii. 10. See how it standeth like a shield in the middle, with "glory" and "peace" as supporters on each side. And this is that honour, the zealous pursuit whereof. I humbly recommend unto you.

Nor will you be offended at this my counsel, as if it imported a suspicion of your present practice, who know well what St. Paul saith, "Edify one another, even as also ye do," 1 Thess. v. 11. It is no tautology to advise good people to do what they do. Such, cepts are praises; such counsels, commendations; and in this notion do I tender my humble advice to your consideration.

pre

Remember the modesty of David in asking: "ONE thing have I desired of the Lord," Psalm xxvii. 4; namely, to be constantly present at his public service. And behold the bounty of God in giving three for one! "And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour," Chron. xxix. 28. Such measure may you assuredly expect from Him, if, before and above all things, seeking for that one thing which is needful,the rather because God hath done great things for you already, for which you have cause to rejoice.

A great and good man said to his fellow-servants, "Seemeth it a small thing to you to be son-in-law to a

king?" 1 Sam. xviii. 23. A greater honour was done to your first ancestor, who was son to a king, namely, to Harding king of Denmark, whence Fitz-Harding, your most ancient surname. But labour, Sir, for a higher honour than both; even to be led by God's Spirit, and then you shall be, even in the language of the apostle himself, Fitz-Dieu, A SON OF GOD, Rom. viii. 14.

Now, as your eminent bounty unto me may justly challenge the choicest of my best endeavours, so the 'particular motive inducing me to dedicate this Book to your Honour, is, because it containeth the reign of queen Elizabeth, to whom you are so nearly related; 'whose grandmother proved her heir by Anne Boleyn her mother. In which capacity some of that queen's (or rather the lady Elizabeth's) movables and jewels, which were her mother's, descended unto her. You may therefore challenge an interest most properly in this part of my History.

And now, what remaineth but my humble and hearty prayers to the Divine Majesty for his blessing on your 'self, and on your hopeful issue, that God would plentifully pour all his favours of this and a better life upon them?

7

Suspect me not, Sir, for omitting, because not expressing, your noble consort. We find in the fourth commandment, " Thou, and thy son, and thy daughter," &c. where divines render this reason why the wife is not mentioned, because the same person with the husband. On which account, your second self is effectually included within the daily devotions of LAY Your bounden orator, D. In 570ds Las oferim THOMAS FULLER. Juthoon doute goal ono tudi nok prodore world ngoduse anod *The heir-general of George Carey lord Hunsdon, whose grand1916 90 mother Mary was second sister to Anne Boleyn,

VRIN

1. Her slow but sure Pace of Reformation. A. D. 1558. 1 Elizabeth.

FOR the first six weeks, the queen and her wise Council suffered matters to stand in their former state, without the least change; as yet not altering, but consulting what should be altered. Thus our Saviour himself coming into the temple, and finding it profaned with sacrilege, when he looked round about upon all things, departed for that evening, Mark xi. 11; contenting himself with the survey of what was amiss, and deferring the reformation thereof till the next morning. But on the 1st of January following, being Sunday, (the best new-year's gift that ever was bestowed on England,) by virtue of the queen's proclamation, the Litany was read in English, with Epistles, and Gospels, in all churches of London, as it was formerly in her Grace's own chapel.

2. The Forwardness of private Men in public Reformation variously censured.

But some violent spirits, impatient to attend the leisure (by them counted the laziness) of authority, fell beforehand to the beatingdown of superstitious pictures and images, and their forward zeal met with many to applaud it. For idolatry is not to be permitted a moment; the first minute is the fittest to abolish it. All that have power have right to destroy it, by that grand charter of religion whereby every one is bound to advance God's glory. And if sove

HOLINSHED first year of queen Elizabeth, page 1172.

reigns forget, no reason but subjects should remember their duty.* But others condemned their indiscretion herein: for though they might reform their private persons and families, and refrain to communicate in any outward act, contrary to God's word, yet public reformation belonged to the magistrate, and a good deed was by them ill done for want of a calling to do it. However, the papists have no cause to tax them with over-forwardness in this kind; the like being done by them in the beginning of queen Mary's reign, whilst the laws of king Edward VI. stood as yet in full force, when they prevented authority, as hath been formerly observed; thus, those who are hungry, and have meat afore them, will hardly be kept from eating, though grace be not said, and leave given them by their superiors.

3. The Letter from the English Church at Geneva to those at Frankfort, about Accommodation in Ceremonies, comes too late.

Now the tidings of queen Elizabeth's peaceable coming to the crown was no sooner brought beyond the seas, but it filled the English exiles with unspeakable gladness, being instantly at home in their hearts, and not long after with their bodies. I knew one right well, whose father, amongst them, being desperately diseased, was presently and perfectly cured with the cordial of this good news; and no wonder if this queen recovered sick men, which revived religion itself. Now the English church at Geneva, being the greatest opposer of ceremonies, sent their letter by William Ceth, to all other English congregations in Germany, and especially to those of Frankfort, congratulating their present deliverance, condoling their former discords, counselling and requesting "that all offences heretofore given or taken might be forgiven and forgotten, and that, for the future, they might no more fall out about superfluous ceremonies." But this letter came too late, because the principal persons concerned in that controversy, with whom they sought a charitable reconciliation, were departed from Frankfort, (I think, towards England,) before the messenger arrived; and so the motion

• Heylin calls this "our author's master-piece, and a fair ground-work for the seditious and rebellious for the times ensuing." In his defence, Fuller replies: "The Animadverter hath dealt most unfairly with me, in citing by the halves what I have written, and leaving out what immediately followed, and what he ought to have inserted. I appeal to such who knew me in the university, to those that have heard my many sermons on this subject in London, and elsewhere, but especially to my book called Truth maintained, made against Mr. Saltmarsh, wherein I have heartily, largely, and to my power strongly vindicated, Non licet populo, renuente magistratu, reformationem moliri,”—“It is not lawful for the people, on the refusal of the magistrates, to attempt a reformation."-Edit. † See cent. xvi, in this volume, pages 375, 377, 401. It was dated December 15th,

but not received till about January 2nd. See "the Troubles at Frankfort," page 162.