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on first thoughts they had furiously attempted; knowing full well that Rebellion, though running so at hand, is quickly tired, as having rotten lungs, whilst well-breathed Loyalty is best at a long course. As David was flying this way the Priests proffered their service to carry the Ark along with them: indeed how could it well stay behind, and what should the Ark and Absalom, Religion and Rebellion, do together? Was it not fit that as once it was joyfully brought into Jerusalem with David's dancing, so now it should dolefully depart hence with David's weeping? Howsoever, he accepted their goodwill, and on better reason declined their attendance. Coming a little past the top of the hill Ziba meets him with a couple of asses, laden with bread, raisins, summer fruits and wine for the refection of David and his company. But O the bran in that Bread! rottenness in those raisins! dregs in that wine he brought joining them with a false accusation of his Master Mephibosheth to be a Traitor, whilst, alas! all the disloyalty that good man was guilty of, was only his lame legs, his lying servant; and his over-credulous sovereign David did rashly believe this information. A little farther eastward was Bahurim, where Shimei, lord of that place, cursed David, casting stones and dust at him. What meant the mad man thus to rail, being within reach of David's armies, except he intended to vent out his venom and life together? But causeless curses rebound on their authors, and Ziba's gifts did David more harm than Shimei's curses; for those betrayed him to an act of injustice, whilst these improved his patience. Indeed his railing gave an alarm to the martial spirit of Abishai, who desired a commission to take off the head of this dead dog (blood so let out in the neck-vein is the soonest and speediest cure of such a traitorous phrenzy). But David, who desired not that

Shimei should be killed for his words but rather that his own heart should be mortified by them, by heavenly logic 'a majore ad minus' argued his own soul into humility; that seeing his own son had conspired against him, the ill words of an open enemy ought patiently to be endured. Well let Shimei know that though he pass unpaid for the present, yet either David himself or his executors, administrators or assignees, shall one day see this debt duly discharged.

2. Hooker and Travers.

HOOKER was born in Devonshire, bred in Oxford, Fellow of Corpus Christi College; one of a solid judgment and great reading. Yea, such the depth of his learning, that his pen was a better bucket than his tongue to draw it out a great defender both by preaching and writing of the discipline of the Church of England. Yet never got, (nor cared to get) any eminent dignity therein; conscience not covetousness engaging him in the controversy. Spotless was his conversation; and though some dirt was cast, none could stick on his reputation. Mr. Travers was brought up in Trinity College in Cambridge. For seven years together he became Lecturer at the Temple, till Mr. Hooker became the Master thereof.

Mr. Hooker's voice was low, stature little, gesture none at all, standing stone-still in the pulpit, as if the posture of his body were the emblem of his mind, unmoveable in his opinions. Where his eye was left fixed at the beginning, it was found fixed at the end of his sermon. In a word, the doctrine he delivered had nothing but itself to garnish it. His style was long and pithy, driving on a whole flock of several clauses before he came to the close of

a sentence.

So that when the copiousness of his style met not with proportionate capacity in his auditors, it was unjustly censured for perplexed, tedious, and obscure. His sermons followed the inclination of his studies, and were for the most part on controversies, and deep points of school-divinity.

Mr. Travers's utterance was graceful, gesture plausible, matter profitable, method plain, and his style carried in it indolem pietatis, 'a genius of grace' flowing from his sanctified heart. Some say, that the congregation in the Temple ebbed in the forenoon, and flowed in the afternoon; and that the auditory of Mr. Travers was far the most numerous,— the first occasion of emulation betwixt them. But such as knew Mr. Hooker, knew him to be too wise to take exception at such trifles, the rather because the most judicious is always the least part in all auditories.

Here might one on Sundays have seen almost as many writers as hearers. Not only young students, but even the gravest benchers, (such as Sir Edward Coke and Sir James Altham then were) were not more exact in taking instructions from their clients, than in writing notes from the mouths of their ministers. The worst was, these two preachers, though joined in affinity, (their nearest kindred being married together,) acted with different principles, and clashed one against another. So that what Mr. Hooker delivered in the forenoon, Mr. Travers confuted in the afternoon. At the building of Solomon's temple 'neither hammer, nor axe, nor tool of iron was heard therein,' Kings vi. 7; whereas alas! in this temple not only much knocking was heard, but (which was the worst) the nails and pins which one master-builder drave in, were driven out by the other. Thus, much disturbance was caused, to the disquieting of people's consciences, the

disgrace of the ordinance, the advantage of the common enemy, and the dishonour of God himself.

3. Travers is silenced by the Archbishop.

As for Travers's silencing, many which were well pleased with the deed done, were offended at the manner of doing it. For all the congregation on a Sabbath in the afternoon were assembled together, their attention prepared, the cloth (as I may say) and napkins were laid, yea, the guests set, and their knives drawn for their spiritual repast, when suddenly, as Mr. Travers was going up into the pulpit, a sorry fellow served him with a letter, prohibiting him to preach any more. In obedience to authority, (the mild and constant submission whereunto won him respect with his adversaries,) Mr. Travers calmly signified the same to the congregation and requested them quietly to depart to their chambers. Thus was our good Zacharias struck dumb in the Temple, but not for infidelity; impartial people accounting his fault at most but indiscretion. Meantime his auditory (pained that their pregnant expectation to hear him preach should so publicly prove abortive, and sent sermonless home) manifested in their variety of passion, some grieving, some frowning, some murmuring, and the wisest sort, who held their tongues, shook their heads, as disliking the managing of the matter.

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ROBERT THORN was born in this city [Bristol]. I see it matters not what the name be, so the nature be good. I confess Thorns came in by 'man's curse' and our Saviour saith, 'Do men gather grapes of thorns?' But this our

Thorn (God send us many coppices of them) was a blessing to our nation, and wine and oil may be said freely to flow from him. Being bred a merchant-tailor in London he gave more than four thousand four hundred and fortyfive pounds to pious uses; a sum sufficient therewith to build and endow a college, the time being well considered, being towards the beginning of the reign of King Henry the Eighth.

I have observed some at the church door cast in sixpence with such ostentation that it rebounded from the bottom, and rung against both the sides of the basin (so that the same piece of silver was the alms and the giver's trumpet); whilst others have dropped down silent five shillings without any noise. Our Thorn was of this second sort, doing his charity effectually, but with a possible privacy. Nor was this good Christian abroad worse (in the apostle-phrase) than an infidel at home in not providing for his family, who gave to his poor kindred (besides debts forgiven unto them) the sum of five thousand one hundred and forty-two pounds.

5. The Schoolmaster.

He studieth his scholars' natures as carefully as they their books. And ranks their dispositions into several forms. And though it may seem difficult for him in a great school to descend to all particulars, yet experienced schoolmasters may quickly make a grammar of boys' natures, and reduce them all (saving some few exceptions) to their general rules.

The con

1. Those that are ingenious and industrious. junction of two such planets in a youth, presage much good unto him. To such a lad a frown may be a whipping, and a whipping a death, yea when their master whips them

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