Calliope interferes, and directs him to Palingenius. Her sisters approve her choice, and the poet assents, after hinting, that In Englande here, a hundred headdes more able now there be Thys same to do: then choose the beste, Palingenius, it has been remarked, though an Italian, was a zealous advocate for the Reformation, and spared not to tell the Court and the Hierarchy their several faults, in his Zodiacus Vita. * This was partially done, not by Googe, but Marlow, and printed in 1600, seven years after the death of the translator. Memorials of Godlines and Christianity: In three parts. The fifth edition, corrected and enlarged by the Author, Herbert Palmer, B. D. late Master of Queen's College, Cambridge. London, printed by A. M. for T. Underhill, at the Anchor in Pauls church-yard. 1655. 12mo. pp. 120. THE three parts of this estimable volume comprise the following items: I. CONTAINS MEDITATIONS. 1. Of making Religion one's Business. 2. An Appendix, applied to the calling of a Minister. II. CONTAINS 1. The Character of a Christian, in paradoxes and seeming contradictions. 2. A Proof or Character of visible Godliness. 3. Some general Considerations to excite Watchfulness, and to shake off spiritual Drowsiness. 4. Remedies against Carefulness. 5. The Soul of Fasting. III. CONTAINS 1. A daily Direction, or brief Rules for daily Conversation. 2. A particular direction for the Lord's-day, Addresses to the Christian reader bear date Dec. 1644, and July 1645, and may then have had a first impression. Of such a publication, the value consists in its entireness: but perhaps a few of the paradoxes may be most acceptable as a specimen. "A Christian is one, who believes things which his reason cannot comprehend. He believes the God of all grace to have been angry with one who never offended him; and the God that hates all sin, to be reconciled to himself, though sinning continually; and never making, or being able to make, satisfaction. He believes himself to be precious in God's sight, yet loaths himself in his own sight. He believes Christ to have no need of any thing he doth, yet makes account he relieves Christ in all his deeds of charity. He knows that flesh and blood shall not inherit the kingdom of God; yet believes he shall go to heaven, body and soul. He trembles at God's word; yet counts it sweeter to him than honey and the honey-comb, and dearer than thousands of gold and silver. He believes his prayers to be heard, even when they are denied; and gives thanks for that which he prayed against. He is often led away captive by the law of sin, yet it never gets the dominion over him. He is sometimes so troubled, that he thinks nothing is true in religion; and yet if he did think so, he could not be at all troubled. He wavers and doubts, and yet obtains: he is often tossed and shaken, and yet like mount Zion. He thinks sometimes God hath no mercy for him, and yet resolves to die in the pursuit of it." P.S. It may here be cursorily remarked, that Sibbes's Soul's Conflict, noticed in RESTITUTA, iii. 498, was bequeathed by Isaac Walton to his Son, and the Bruised Reed to his daughter, with a desire for both to read them, so as to be well acquainted with them. See Walton's Will, in his Life by Sir John Hawkins. Of HERBERT PALMER a memoir may be found in many old Collections of the Biography of our Divines. He was a younger son of the ancient family of Palmer, Baronets of Wingham, near Canterbury; of which the head branch ended in coheiresses about eighty years ago, when the title devolved on a branch settled near Windsor, who now enjoy it. The old mansion at Wingham, formed out of the College, at the Reformation, lately inhabited by Mrs. Hey, widow of the Rev. Dr. Hey, to whom it was bequeathed by his halfsister, Mrs. Palmer, daughter of Sir Thomas Palmer, the last Baronet of the elder line, still remains, though dismantled, within the last twelve months, of furniture and inhabitation. The Editor, perhaps with a foolish enthusiasm, loves to throw the consecration of genius or learning over spots in the neighbourhood of which he passes so much of his time. March 18, 1816. Biographiana. Collectanea for Athena Cantabrigienses. 27. Rev. James Granger. Hor. Walpole to W. Cole. Apr. 16, 1776. OU will be concerned, my good Sir, for what I have this minute heard from his nephew, that poor Mr. Granger was seized at the communion table on Sunday with an apoplexy, and died yesterday morning at five. I have answered the letter with a word of advice about his MSS. that they may not fall into the hands of booksellers. He had been told by idle people so many gossiping stories, that it would hurt him and living persons, if all his collections were to be printed; for as he was incapable of telling an untruth himself, he suspected nobody else. Too great goodness in a biographer! Yours ever, HOR. WALPOLE." P.S. The whole world is occupied with the Duchess of Kingston's trial. I don't tell you a word of it, for you will not care about it these two hundred years." |