THE LIFE

OF

GILBERT BURNET.

ILBERT BURNET, Bishop of Salisbury, in the latter end of the seventeenth century, was born at Edinburgh, in 1643, of an ancient family in the shire of Aberdeen. His father being bred to the law, was, at the resteration of King Charles II. appointed one of the lords of session, with the title of Lord Crimond, in reward for his constant attachment to the royal party during the troubles of GreatBritain. Our author, the youngest son of his father, was instructed by him in the Latin tongue. At ten years of age he was sent to continue his studies at Aberdeen, and was admitted M. A. before he was fourteen. His own inclination led him to the study of the civil and feudal law; and he used to say, that it was from this study he had received more just notions concerning the foundations of civil society and government, than those which some divines attain. About a year after, he changed his mind, and began to apply to divinity, to the great satisfaction of his father. He was admitted preacher before he was eighteen ; and Sir Alexander Burnet, his cousin-german, of

fered him a benefice; but he refused to accept it.

In 1663, about two years after the death of his father, he came into England; and after six months stay at Oxford and Cambridge, returned to Scotland: which he soon left again to make a tour for some months, in 1664, in Holland and France. At Amsterdam, by the help of a Jewish Rabbi, he perfected himself in the Hebrew language; and likewise became acquainted with the leading men of the different persuasions tolerated in that country; as Calvinists, Arminians, Lutherans, Anabaptists, Brownists, Papists, and Unitarians; amongst each of which, he used frequently to declare, he met with men of such unfeigned piety and virtue, that he became fixed in a strong principle of universal charity, and an invincible abhorrence of all severities on account of religious dissensions.

Upon his return from his travels, he was admitted minister of Salton; in which station he served five years in the most examplary manner. He drew up a memorial, in which he took notice of the principal errors in the conduct of the Scots bishops, which he observed not to be conformable to the primitive institution; and sent a copy of it to several of them. This ex

posed him to their resentment: but to show that he was not actuated with a spirit of ambition, he led a retired course of life for two years, which so endangered his health, that he

was obliged to abate his excessive application to. study. In 1669, he published his Modest and free Conferrence between a Conformist and a Non-Conformist." He became acquainted with the Duchess of Hamilton, who communicated to him all the papers belonging to her father and uncle; upon which he drew up the "Memoirs of the Dukes of Hamilton." The Duke of Lauderdale hearing he was about this work, invited him to London, and introduced him to King Charles II.

He returned to Scotland, and married the lady Margaret Kennedy, daughter of the Earl of Cassils, a lady of great piety and knowledge, highly esteemed by the Presbyterians, to whose sentiments she was strongly inclined. As there was some disparity in their ages, that it might remain past dispute, that this match was wholly owing to inclination, and not to avarice or ambition, the day before their marriage our author delivered the lady a deed, whereby he renounced all pretensions to her fortune, which was very considerable, and must otherwise have fallen into his hands, she herself having no intention to secure it.

The same year he published his "Vindication of the Authority, Constitution and Laws of the Church and State of Scotland;" which, at that juncture, was looked upon as so great a service, that he was again offered a bishopric, and a promise of the next vacant archbishopric, but he did not accept it, because he could not.

approve of the measures of the court,the grand view of which he saw to be the advancement of popery.

Mr. Burnet's intimacy with the Duke of Hamilton and Lauderdale, occasioned him to be frequently sent for by the king, and the Duke of York, who had conversations with him in private. But Lauderdale, conceiv ing a resentment against him, on account of the freedom with which he spoke to him, represented at last to the king, that Dr. Burnet was engaged in an opposition to his measures. Upon his return to London, he perceived that these suggestions had entirely thrown him out of the king's favour, though the Duke of York treated him with greater civility than ever, and dissuaded him from going to Scotland, Upon this, he resigned his professorship at Glasglow, and staid at London. About this time the living at Cripple-Gate being vacant, the dean and chapter of St. Paul's, (in whose gift it was) hearing of his circumstances, and the hardships he had undergone, sent him an .offer of the benefice; but as he had been informed of their first intention of conferring it on Dr. Fowler, he generously declined it. In 1675, at the recommendation of Lord Hollis, whom he had known in France, ambassador at that court, he was, by Sir Herbottle Grimstone, master of the rolls, appointed preacher of the chapel there, notwithstanding the opposition