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extracts. But only a few weeks after his arrival had elapsed when his studies were interrupted by a dangerous illness, in which a violent bleeding so exhausted his frame that the physicians despaired of his life. "At last," says his friend, "when we apprehended that he was expiring, it staunched of itself; for he lay a good while in a trance. But God had some further work for him to perform, and was pleased by degrees to restore him to his former health and strength."

"But it is worth the remembering, that whilst he was in the midst of his pain, as also his bleeding, he was still patient, praising God, and resigning up himself to his will, and giving all those about him, or that came to visit him, excellent heavenly advice to a holy life, and due preparation for death, ere its agonies seized them.

"It

is a dangerous thing," he said, "to leave all undone till our last sickness; I fear a death-bed repentance will avail us little, if we have lived vainly and viciously, and neglected our conversion till we can sin no longer."

"Thus he exhorted us all to fear God, and love and obey the Lord Jesus Christ, and to live a holy life. 'And then,' said he, 'you will find the comfort of it at your death, and your change will be happy!'"

While he appeared to be approaching his last hour, Waiting his summons to the sky,

Content to live, but not afraid to die,

a member of the parliament, who was related by marriage to the family at St. Donat's, came to visit him; to whom he said in a solemn manner, "Sir, you see I am very weak, and cannot expect to live many hours; you are returning to the parliament, I am going to God; I charge you to tell them from me that I know they are in the wrong, and have dealt very injuriously with the king."

It was during his stay in Wales that his work, The Body of Divinity was published in London, but without his sanction or knowledge. Dr. Parr describes it as a compilation from various authors, made for his own private use in early life; and states that some persons, having borrowed it, transcribed it, and had it printed with the author's name.

When his strength was sufficiently restored, he began to think of seeking some fresh retreat. It was now more than ever unsafe to return to Oxford, for the king's affairs were in a wretched condition, and the university was likely to fall very soon into the hands of the parliamentary forces. He was also unwilling to repair to London, through fear that the enemies of the king would be no friends to him. He therefore resumed his former thoughts of crossing the sea, and seeking, in a foreign land and amongst strange people, the repose which seemed to be denied him at home.

A vessel was accordingly procured, and a passport obtained; "but when," says Dr. Parr, "we were preparing to go to it, there came into the road before Cardiff a squadron of ships, under the command of one Molton, vice-admiral for the parliament. Whereupon my lord primate sent me to him, (being then on shore at Cardiff,) to know if he would suffer him to go by him; and I showed him the pass above mentioned, to which Molton returned a rude and threatening answer, absolutely refusing it, and saying if he could get him into his hands, he would carry him prisoner to the parliament; and threatened likewise to send me also to his ship; by which you may see how highly enraged those of that faction were at this good bishop for adhering to the king."

Being thus at a loss whither to proceed, he remained quietly where he was for the present, until he received

a most friendly invitation from "that noble lady the countess dowager of Peterborough, to come and make his abode with her, engaging that he should not be molested, but have all accommodations suitable to his condition, and to the great affection and esteem she had for him; as a return for those benefits she had formerly received from him in converting her lord, and securing herself from popery, as has been already related."

After some consideration he accepted this generous proposal; and, having obtained passes for the journey, he took his leave of St. Donat's, thankful for the hospitality which he had enjoyed there for nearly a year, and for the great kindness which he had experienced throughout his illness.

When it was rumoured abroad in that part of the country that the archbishop was about to change his residence to some distant part, the neighbouring gentry, knowing that he was deprived of his ordinary means of support, and suspecting that his recent journeyings and sickness had exhausted his finances, generously sent him considerable sums, unknown to each other.

And in truth he had need of such help, for he had not the means of defraying the expense of that journey. He therefore gratefully received the gifts which were sent to him; and blessed that allwise and merciful Being who had raised up friends unexpectedly in the hour of his great necessity.

But

Alas! that archbishop Usher should have been compelled to accept alms at the hands of strangers! these trials made him feel more strongly than ever that his rest was not here; and his good hope through faith supported him amidst his journeyings, his perils of waters and of robbers, his perils by his own countrymen, and among false brethren,-through weariness and

painfulness, and watchings often, through afflictions, necessities, and tumults,-through evil report and good report. He could say in every dispensation, as unknown and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened and not killed; as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. In everything he prepared himself to endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, and was a follower of them, who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

CHAPTER IV.

'At even-tide there will be light,'
O yes, a radiance heavenly bright,
Beams from the brow of virtuous age;
At close of life still holier grown,
Some saintly presence there we own,
Too pure for earthly pilgrimage.

'At even-tide there will be light,'
Yes, faith, almost exchanged for sight,
Beholds the future bless'd abode;
Bright thrones and angel-forms seem near,
Heaven's glorious gates scarce closed appear,
And voices sing, Behold thy God!

R. B. H

THE singleness of archbishop Usher's purpose of following the word of God whithersoever it might lead him, both as to life and doctrine, and the candour and firmness with which he acknowledged and maintained what he believed to be right, were likely to expose him to some

inconveniences. He was not a partizan, for while his views on some points coincided with those for which the puritans were distinguished, on others he decidedly opposed that powerful party.

This freedom to judge for himself, and the conclusions to which it led him, left him but very little cause for expecting any great cordiality or warmth of support from either party, and gave him reason to value the consoling truth that there remaineth a rest for the people of God.

With reflections naturally arising out of this topic, and probably with some anxious thoughts upon the precarious nature of their means of support, we may suppose that the little household of archbishop Usher undertook their journey from the quiet retreat of St. Donat's castle towards the noisy and unquiet metropolis. And as they went on their way, he must often have bidden them to be of good courage, and to strengthen their armour by prayer and the word of God, so that they might resist evil, and maintain the right cause, whatever emergency might arise, unmoved by the frowns of friends or the wrath of enemies. And he must have resolved to express himself with honesty, decision, and boldness, whenever it should be demanded of him to explain or defend his opinions and principles.

But, however discouraging the prospects might be, God had designed that his servant should pass the remainder of his days in comparative ease and freedom from privation. He was indeed to continue stripped of his honours and emoluments, to experience many personal vexations, and grief for the evils of the times; but he escaped the sufferings of destitution, possessed the affection of his family, the friendship of his chaplain and many other estimable persons, and the respect and kind attentions of the generous lady who afforded him an asylum

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