xlvi PREFACE TO THE FIRST DUBLIN EDITION. of character, they cannot fail to be interesting; since, they, not only, have that strength which always marks the hand of Burnet; but possess a peculiarly glowing, yet mellowed richness of colouring, then only observable, when the subjects were eminent for that goodness, to which his own heart was devoted. This remark will be verified, in all the characters which have been selected, but above all, in that of the apostolic LEIGHTON; than whom, since the very earliest age of the church, christianity never had a more perfect votary, or a more illustrious ornament. An over-recluseness of temper seems to have been his only foible: but, as this did not abate his liberality toward those of other habits, so, it was amply compensated by that sublimity of piety, which placed him, as it were, In regions mild of calm and serene air, Above the smoke and stir of this dim spot, It was thought this collection could not be better concluded, than with the bishop's own parting exhortation, with which he ends that admirable set of counsels to posterity, subjoined to the History of his Own Times. So noble, and, at the same time, so comprehensive a view of practical piety, perhaps, has in no other instance, proceeded from an uninspired pen. It is not too much to say, that no piece of human writing more truly deserves to be familiarized to every eye, and to be engraven on every heart. Dublin, Nov. 17. 1803. PREFACE TO THE SECOND DUBLIN EDITION. In offering to the public this second Irish edition of Burnet's lives, it is necessary to state, that, in one particular instance, abbreviation has been adopted. The sermon preached by Mr. Parsons on the death of the earl of Rochester, was interesting, only on account of the additional information which it afforded, respecting that extraordinary Accordingly, the biographical part alone is retained; and will be found subjoined to the life, in the form of an appendix. It was at first a question, whether the memoir respecting sir Matthew Hale, by Richard Baxter, should be retained or rejected. The objection to its retention arose, from its being so strongly marked with that spirit of non-conformity, which predominated in the mind, and gave law to the conduct, of its otherwise excellent, and justly celebrated author. Retention was at length preferred, not only, because the sketches of Hale, which Baxter has given, were immediately from the life, while Burnet depended solely on the information of others; but also, because some of the particulars which Baxter has recorded, may serve to throw useful light on a remarkable transaction in the life of Hale. This transaction, as related by Burnet, might, at first view, be thought to bear a favourable testimony to the cause of non-conformity. Certain circumstances, stated, as far as we know, exclusively in Baxter's memoir, are peculiarly fitted to obviate any such conclusion. The passage in Burnet's life of Hale, to which this observation alludes, is that, in which the then chief baron is stated to have taken an active and zealous part, in obtaining such modifications, in the government and ceremonies of the national church, as might tend to satisfy the scruples of the more moderate non-conformists, In Burnet's account of this unsuccessful effort, though some of the grounds on which it was resisted, are stated with fairness, the reader, on the whole, seems left to conclude, that the advocates for comprehension, as it was called, not only acted from motives of christian charity, (a point which no candid mind will dispute,) but were, also, guided by soundness of judgment, and enlarged views of religion. It must, however, be felt, that, if this were the fact, an inference might be made, reflecting discredit, not only on the actual opponents of the measure, but on the national church itself; whose improvement is thus supposed to have been obstructed, and, by consequence, its imperfection perpetuated. In this view, it is of importance, that we should be able to judge with certainty, under what distinct considerations Hale engaged in this pursuit: whether the interest he took in the question, was the result of impartial reason, and penetrating sagacity; or whether, even this worthy and excellent person, might not, on this particular occasion, have been influenced by some rooted prepossession in a word, whether there was not some party bias, of which he himself might have scarcely been conscious, but, from which, all his strength of understanding, and depth of experience, might have been inadequate to set him at perfect liberty. It is conceived, that Baxter's memoir will be found amply sufficient to satisfy this inquiry. Among the particulars which it contains, there are some, which put it beyond a doubt, that the otherwise liberal and enlightened Hale, could not be wholly without bias on the questions in dispute; as it plainly appears, that his mind was, in a certain degree, influenced by puritanic prepossessions. The evidences of this fact, might, from their minuteness, have escaped observation, if they had not met the eye of one, whose own prejudices made him sharp-sighted in whatever was favourable to his cause; and who could not but desire, to record the slightest sanction, from so great a name. Seemingly trivial as the circumstances are, their significancy will be felt to admit of no dispute; and, had they been questionable, the intimacy between Hale and Baxter would have led to explanation. d The fact of such an intimacy has been expressly noticed by Burnet. Hale,' says he, held great conversation with Mr. Baxter, who was his neighbour, at Acton; on whom he looked as a person of great devotion and piety.' Baxter observes farther, that the seat in which he himself sat in the church at Acton, was next to that of Judge Hale. This deserves to be noticed, because the symptoms of Hale's non-conforming tendency appeared, in his behaviour at church; and Baxter's constant nearness made it impossible, that he should misconstrue accidental movements, into settled intention. Baxter's words are, His behaviour in the church was conformable, but prudent. In common prayer, he behaved himself as others: saving, that, to avoid the differencing of the Gospels, from the epistles, and the bowing at the name of Jesus, from the names Christ, Saviour, God, &c., he would use some equality in his gestures, and stand up at the reading of all God's words alike.' This statement requires no elucidation. It is obvious, that this worthy man was influenced, either by the scruples, or the dislikes, of non-conformity. He believed, either that the observances enjoined by the church of England were, in themselves, exceptionable; or, at least, that it was wrong to make them obligatory. Whichsoever of the two sentiments possessed the mind of Hale, his wish for indulgence to non-conformists is accounted for, on other grounds, besides those of unbiassed |