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his noble work, De Primordiis Ecclesiarum Britannicarum, [On the Original State of the British Churches]. In 1631 he published the first Latin book ever printed in Dublin, a History of the learned monk Gotteschalcus, and of the predestinarian controversy which his tenets provoked. In this work the archbishop laments that men are so prone to assert their opinions in a positive manner respecting the deep mysteries of religion. About the end of the same year he published, in London, A Treatise upon the Tenets of the ancient Irish, Northern-Scottish, and British Churches; which he proved to be identical, in all material points, with the Protestant faith, and far removed from the "novel and foreign doctrines introduced by the Pope in later times." A year after, he threw further light upon the same subject, by publishing a collection of ancient letters from Irish bishops and clergy, which he had taken much pains to gather from various quarters.

About the end of the year 1639, the archbishop sent out his great work, Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates [The Ancient History of the British Churches]; including an account of Pelagius and his heresy. This work was the produce of many years' labour and reflection, and as the learned had looked forward to its publication with much anxiety, so it fully answered their expectations. It was the most exact account then existing of the religion of the British isles, and contains his reasons for believing that the Gospel was implanted here within twenty years after our Saviour's crucifixion, and traces the history of the church, and the succession of bishops, till near the end of the seventh century. Dr. Parr justly remarks, that this work "is so great a treasure of this kind of learning, that all that have writ since

with any success on this subject must own themselves beholding to him for his elaborate collections."

For his help in the prosecution of these studies he found it expedient to employ a stated sum every year in the purchase of books and manuscripts, and engaged the assistance of many friends in collecting them. Thus, one of the first Samaritan Pentateuchs brought into the western part of Europe, and the most perfect copy of the Old Testament in Syriac, came into his possession through the hands of Mr. Davis, a British merchant at Aleppo. These and other manuscripts were used by bishop Walton in preparing that edition of the several ancient versions of the Scriptures, called the Polyglot Bible, and are now in the Bodleian Library at Oxford.

Besides his efforts to diffuse the Protestant faith by means of his writings, he sought opportunities of conversing with his Roman Catholic neighbours of every class, and convinced many that the views in which they had been brought up were erroneous; at the same time he successfully represented to them the soundness of the doctrines of the established church, and the excellence of her liturgy. During his visit to England at the time of his advancement to the archbishopric, he was invited by lord Mordaunt, afterwards earl of Peterborough, to his seat at Drayton in Northamptonshire. That nobleman was a papist, and wished to draw his lady to the same religion, but happily consented that a discussion of the doctrines at issue should take place in their presence. Lady Mordaunt chose archbishop Usher as the advocate of the Protestant side; and his opponent was a jesuit, then residing with that family. The conference lasted for several days, and at length ended in the jesuit's declining farther discussion, on the ground that he had

forgotten his arguments. The consequence was, that the lady was confirmed in her views of scriptural truth, and Lord Mordaunt, after a few private interviews with the archbishop, confessed himself a Protestant by conviction, and continued in that faith to the end of his days.

In 1626 our archbishop brought into Ireland the admirable Mr. Bedell, afterwards bishop of Kilmore and Ardagh. That excellent man was with some difficulty induced to leave a retired and poor preferment to take the headship of Dublin College. Even after he had entered upon that office he longed to return to his living in Suffolk; but, being assured that he might be useful in that situation, he remained in it until he was promoted to a bishopric. In this new charge he united firmness and vigilance with a truly christian meekness, and conferred much benefit upon the Irish church, proving the correctness of that character which Dr. Ward, an eminent scholar of Cambridge, had sent over with him, that he was 66 a sincere, honest man, not tainted with avarice or ambition; pious, discreet, wise, and in cases of exigency stout enough." He often complained that the archbishop was not sufficiently intent upon carrying into effect the reforms which long-established abuses seemed to require, and considered himself entitled by age and station to remonstrate with him. But their mutual esteem was strong; bishop Bedell's letters indicate affection and respect for the character of his friend," and the primate," says Burnet, "loved the bishop beyond all the rest of the order, and valued him highly for the zealous discharge of his office."

Soon after the appointment of Mr. Bedell to the provostship of Trinity College, archbishop Usher made one of his periodical visits to England. From his corre

spondence at this time it appears that he was an anxious observer of the course of public affairs, and that some forebodings of approaching evil occupied his mind. On these points he occasionally expressed his feelings to his friends in those letters which have been preserved, although they are generally rather learned than political.

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A few days after the dissolution of parliament in June 1626, writing to his friend Dr. Ward, he evinced much alarm at the complexion of the times :-" The sudden dissolution of parliament hath amazed us," he says; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking on those things which are coming on the land. The Lord prepare us for the day of our visitation, and then let his blessed will be done !"

In the same month he was consulted upon a curious. incident, which seems to have made some stir at Cambridge. Dr. Ward wrote thence as follows:-" There was last week a codfish brought from Colchester to our market to be sold; in the cutting up of which there was found in the maw of the fish a thing which was hard; which proved to be a book of a large 16mo, which had been bound in parchment. The leaves were glued together with a jelly. After washing of it, Mr. Mede did look into it. It was printed, and he found a table of the contents. The book was entitled A Preparation to the Cross. It may be a special admonition to us at Cambridge. Mr. Mede upon Saturday read to me the heads of the chapters, which I very well liked of. Now, it is found to have been made by Rich. Tracy, of whom Bale* maketh mention, cent. 9, p. 719. He is said to flourish then, 1550. But I think the book was made in

* Bale, or Baleus, was the first protestant bishop of Ossory in Ireland, and the writer of many works of learning and antiquarian research.

King Henry the Eighth's time, when the Six Articles were afoot. The book will be printed here shortly."

The archbishop replied:-" I received your letters, wherein you signify unto me the news of the book taken in the fish's belly; and another letter from Mr. Mede, touching the same argument. The accident is not lightly to be passed over, which (I fear me) bringeth with it too true a prophecy of the state to come; and to you of Cambridge (as you write) it may well be a special admonition, which should not be neglected. It behoveth you, who are heads of colleges, and united in sentiments, to stick close to one another, and (quite obliterating all secret distastes or privy discontentments, which possibly may fall betwixt yourselves), with joint consent to promote the cause of God. Mr. Provost will, I doubt not, with great alacrity devote himself to this object. So, with the remembrance of my affections to all my friends. there, I commit you to the protection and direction of our good God; in whom I rest your own most assured, "JA. ARMACHANUS."

"Lond. June 30, 1626."

Before leaving England the primate preached before the king, upon the general state of religion in the country, and received warm thanks and commendations from his friends for that sermon. At the end of July he commenced his journey homeward, by way of Oxford and Liverpool, and arrived in Ireland in the following month.

A few years afterwards, he was in frequent correspondence with archbishop Laud, who consulted him upon such measures as affected the welfare and efficiency of the Irish church.

When lord Falkland was recalled from the government of Ireland in 1630, archbishop Usher bestowed

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