XVI. The unhappy Points of Division, in other Parts of Learning, made manifest.

XVII. A Recapitulation of former Instanees, with some Additions of a Question or two more.

From his lordship's Discourse concerning Episcopacy, the following extract may serve to confirm the testimonial of Milton:

"Can we not dissent in judgement (specially in the lower points of discipline, while we agree in doctrine), but we must also disagree in affection? A hard case !

"I confesse there are many now that turne the light of truth into a life of loosenesse, vanity, and profuseness; and we are all too prone to this. There are some enthusiasticks who prophane the Spirit: this I would resist with all my might. But let not all suffer with the wicked. Some without warrant runne away from their callings, and take up a bare, empty, fruitlesse profession of Christianity, without the least dramme of life or power: these men my soul

hateth.

"But when God shall so enlarge his hand, and unveile his face, that the poore creature is brought into communion and acquaintance with his Creator; stored in all his wayes by his Spirit, and by it carried up above shame, feare, pleasure, comfort, losses, grave, and death it selfe: let us not censure such tempers, but blesse God for them. So farre as Christ is in us, we shall love, prise, honour Christ, and the least particle of his image in others: for we never prove our selves true members of Christ more, then when

we embrace his members with most enlarged, yet straitest affections.

"To this end, God assisting mee, my desire, prayer, endeavours, shall still be, as much as in mee lyes, to follow peace and holinesse: and though there may haply be some little dissent between my darke judgement, weake conscience, and other good men, that are much more cleare and strong; yet my prayer still shall be, to keepe the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. And as many as walke after this rule, peace (I hope) shall still be on them, and the whole Israel of God."]

349

EDWARD,

LORD KEEPER LITTLETON,

Is so fully described by my lord Clarendon, and

there are so few additional circumstances related of him elsewhere, that it would be an useless recapitulation to mention more than the list of his compositions, which are,

"Several Speeches3."

"Several Arguments and Discourses." Reports in the Common Pleas and Exche

quer."

"His humble Submission and Supplication to the House of Lords, September 28, 1642.” Uncertain if genuine4.

• That good man, bishop Hall, insinuates in his Hard Measure, p. 48, &c. that the keeper attempted to make his peace with the prevailing party, by an untimely sacrifice of the protestation of the bishops. Vide Biogr. Brit. p. 2492. And whoever will examine vol. xi. p. 46, 123, 199, of that curious and useful work, the Parliamentary History, will find instances of even more than time-serving or prevarication in the keeper. • Wood, vol. ii. p. 83.

Ibid.