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Letter addressed to the Parishioners of Woodhay during the time of the plague," but he has not succeeded in finding it. It does not appear that the Sermon which the Bishop preached at Bath on Ascension-day, and which called forth some animadversions in print, was ever itself published.

Several works which have been printed from time to time with Bishop Ken's name, are not included in this collection. The following passage, from the Epistle Dedicatory, prefixed by Mr. Hawkins to his edition of Ken's Poems, in four volumes, octavo, proves that such spurious works were to be found even during the lifetime of the Bishop. "His frequent joining of the syllable co to words, beside the great propriety thereby preserved, may be taken (though I dare not aver it to be so intended) for a designed characteristic of his genuine performances from such as are spurious, he having met with illtreatment of that nature in his lifetime. And for the further prevention of which, (as far as in me lies,) I beg leave to assure your Lordship, that nothing more of his performances are ever to be published." The four following have come under the notice of the Editor, and have been rejected by him as spurious.

1. A Letter to the Author of a Sermon, &c.

2. The Retired Christian.

3. The Royal Sufferer: a manual of meditations and devotions; written for the use of a royal though afflicted family, by T. K., D.D. 1699.

Afterwards published under the title of

"A Crown of Glory, the reward of the righteous; being meditations upon the vicissitude of all sublunary enjoyments."

4. Expostulatoria; or, the Complaints of the Church of England, &c.

1. In regard to the "Letter to the Author of a Sermon," the Editor is of opinion, that in the absence of all evidence in favour of its genuineness, the tone and temper shown through the whole of it are sufficient to prove that it was not written by Ken.

2. The extract from Hawkins's Epistle Dedicatory, relating to the spurious works, is cited in a note of the Biographia Britannica, under the article Ken, with the following remark in the margin by the Editor: "Among these was published under his name, The Retired Christian, the seventh edition of which came out in 1756, 12mo." The style and matter of this book are conclusive against its genuineness.

3. It cannot be denied that there are some traces of resemblance between the style of "The Royal Sufferer," and that of Bishop Ken, but they are points characteristic of the writers of those times, rather than peculiar to Ken himself. In the following particulars, there is a striking want of resemblance. Ken's acknowledged prayers abound with thanksgiving, and with ascriptions of glory to God; but in those of "The Royal Sufferer" there are comparatively few of either, and these few have no traces of Ken's peculiar manner. A marked differ

ence is also to be observed in the terminations of the prayers. In those acknowledged to be Ken's, the following forms of expression are used, "for the merits of Jesus, thy beloved,”—“ through Jesus Christ, thy beloved,"-" through Jesus, thy beloved," -"for thy infinite goodness' sake, and for the sake of Jesus, the Son of thy love."

In "The Royal Sufferer" the prayers are usually terminated with the ordinary forms of expression, e. g. "through Jesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour,"-" for Jesus Christ's sake, thy beloved Son, and my alone Saviour." Other minute traces of dissimilarity have influenced the Editor in deciding against the admission of "The Royal Sufferer" into this collection.

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4. Had it not been for the following very amusing extract from the manuscripts of Thomas Hearne in the Bodleian Library, vol. ii. page 169., the Editor would have had much greater difficulty in deciding upon the claims of the "Expostulatoria:" but after Hearne's statement of its disavowal by Ken's executor, it is impossible, whatever its merits may be, to consider it a genuine production of the Bishop.

"An infamous book is lately published called 'Expostulatoria,' under the name of Bishop Ken. It

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This is not the only devotional book connected with the memory of James. The Editor has been favoured by Archdeacon Todd with a sight of a scarce little Tract, printed at Paris in the year 1692;-the second part of which is entitled, "Royal Meditations, being the true portraiture of his Majesty in his solitudes and sufferings, written during his retirements in France."

is against the Clergy, and exposes them for nonresidence, and I know not what. The Executor of the Bishop has published an advertisement or two, showing that it is none of his Lordship's, (as indeed nobody of understanding and honesty can think,) and another advertisement is published, showing that it is a fanatical book reprinted, that first came out in 1663 under the name of "Ichabod." It was reprinted in 1691. See Bodley's interleaved Linc. C. ii. 22.-N. B. Since the writing what goes before, I have looked into this book, which is far better done than I thought when I wrote that passage. It appears to me to be too true a representation of the condition of our Church;-and I am afraid there are too good grounds to charge the several incumbents with the crimes specified in it. It is writ in the style of Bishop Ken, but I much question whether it be really his. Yet it is very well done, and I see no hurt why it may not bear so great

a name."

The following advertisement from "The PostBoy," May 29, 1711, would seem to be one of those alluded to by Hearne,-" Whereas there has been lately published a book called 'Expostulatoria, or the Complaints of the Church,' &c. under the name of Dr. Ken, late Bishop of Bath and Wells; to do therefore justice to the memory of that pious prelate, and to undeceive them that have been imposed upon by it, this is to certify, that the same was first printed in the year 1663, and reprinted in 1691, for J. Harris at the Harrow in the Poultry,

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under the title of Ichabod, or, Five Groans of the Church, prudently foreseeing and passionately bewailing her second fall, threatened by these five dangerous though undiscerned miscarriages, that caused her first, viz.-1. Undue ordination. 2. Loose profaneness. 3. Unconscionable Simony. 4. Encroaching pluralities. 5. Careless non-residence, &c.' Which book is to be seen at Mr. Samuel Keble's, Bookseller, in Fleet-street."

Archdeacon Todd has kindly informed the Editor, that the history of the "Expostulatoria" was as follows:

1. It first appeared as "Ichabod," in 1663.

2. Then as "Lachrymæ Ecclesiarum," in 1689. 3. Then as "Expostulatoria," in 1711.

4. Then as the "Church of England's Complaints," &c. in 1737.

If proof was wanting of the great popularity of Ken as a writer in his own time, the existence of these spurious works would furnish it.

But

Popularity, in the usual sense, can hardly be expected for this collection in the present day. the Editor believes that it will have a favourable reception from all admirers of primitive piety and constancy; and he doubts not that they will readily pardon him for concluding these few prefatory remarks with the following address to the memory of Ken, taken from a pamphlet in the possession of Archdeacon Todd, entitled "An Address to the Archbishop of Canterbury, as Visitor of Colleges in the University of Oxford, and as Primate of all

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