which he fet an example worthy the imitation of all Bishops: but these qualities were fo happily blended together, as to form a very eminent character. "This prelate aftonished even his moft accomplished guests with his learning; he was an Universalist in the best sense of the word, and not a smatterer in various sciences, but a perfect master of them all; the lawyer, the cafuift, the divine, the antiquary, the linguift, the philosopher, the claffical scholar; yet always the refined and accomplished gentleman. He blended the gravity of the Bishop with the pleasantry of the Wit; but the former always restrained the latter, so that the gracefulness of piety ever kept the brilliancy of imagination in chaftened reftraint. He was the Father of his Diocefe, known to, beloved, and esteemed by the good and wife. He was not a man to patronife Clergymen of doubtful liberal, or low church principles, because they were his nephews or coufins. His Clergy were his family—his spiritual fons: to them he was all gentleness. He drew no line againft applicants for preferments, because they were applicants: he encouraged them to reveal their wants, and, when necessary, his patronage and purse raised the diftreffed, laborious, zealous, or orthodox Paftor to ease and competence."* Such men as Hooper, and his friend Ken, were worthy of each other: their attachment began in the warmth of youth; for fifty years was conftantly ftrengthened by a mutual respect and confidence; it was fundered only by death, and we cannot doubt, that Ken's pious anticipations expreffed in the following lines, are now realized in the Everlasting Manfions: * Lives of the Bishops of Bath and Wells, by the Rev. S. H. Caffan, Pp. 171, 172. "Our love, which at Heaven's gate first mutual grew, The Works of the Right Reverend, Learned, and Pious Thomas Ken, D.D., late Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells. 4 vols. 8vo, 1721, vol. ii. p. 290. Their portraits hang fide by fide in the Palace at Wells;-where Hooper's charities vied with those of Ken. CHAPTER XXVI. Refemblance of Ken, in fome particulars of his life, to St. Gregory of Nazianzum. Ken's Poems-Death of Frampton, Bishop of Gloucester: his Character. F the reader has felt an intereft in Ken's previous life, dedicated, as it was, to God's fervice, and to alleviating the woes of others, he will be prepared to fympathize with him in the anguish he had to endure, in his own perfon, as he verged towards the grave. Alas! his infirmities were increafing upon him: he suffered from the rheumatism, the cholic, and an internal ulcer, which caufed him perpetual agony. In this, as in feveral other refpects, his life and character remind us of Gregory of Nazianzum, the great ornament of the Church in the time of the Council of Conftantinople. In a like spirit, if with unequal steps, Ken followed in the fame path of holiness. Both despised riches, except as the means of doing good: they employed their revenues in fupplying themselves with bare neceffaries for an abftemious and flender fubfiftence, and difpofed of the remainder in behalf of the poor. Both were pre-eminent in their day for an intimate knowledge of the holy Scriptures: both left behind them monuments of Chriftian eloquence: the greater praise of each was a fervent love of God and man, which prompted them in their felf-denying and laborious lives. St. Gregory was afflicted with many fharp fits of sickness, which often did not permit him to fleep. Ken thus defcribes his own fufferings: "Pain keeps me waking in the night; Forgets he this day's course must run. "I feel my watch, I tell the clock, † Ev'n Egypt, when three days, And again, "As in the Night I reftless lie, I the Watch-Candle keep in eye; In bed Pain makes it's first attack. Ah!-you are not my Bed-but Rack. "His watch was purpofely fo contrived, as that he could by his finger discover the time, to half a quarter of an hour." The Works of the Right Reverend, Learned, and Pious Thomas Ken, D.D., late Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells. 4 vols. 8vo, 1721, vol. iii. p. 396, note. This is clearly not the watch, now in the poffeffion of Mr. Serjeant Merewether, which is a small, thick watch, in a Tortoise-shell case, set in filver (the maker, “Th. Tompion, London”), with a little common steel chain, and three metal keys of rude workmanship. It was once the property of Dr. Hawes, a defcendant from the family, who left it to Serjeant Merewether, -the lineal defcendant of the worthy Physician of Devizes, Dr. Merewether, who attended the Bishop in his last illness. This was probably the "Pendulum Repeating Clock" which had been bequeathed to Ken, by Dr. Fitzwilliam. "Sweet Eafe, Oh whither art thou fled? Eager to see the morning ray; Is as afflictive as the night."* St. Gregory was bent with age, his countenance worn with tears and aufterities; his poor garb, and his extreme indigence made but a mean outward show. So it was with Ken. Both were deprived of their Bishoprics. St. Gregory feeing the great ferment of his enemies against him, cried out in the affembly, "If my holding the diocese gives any disturbance, behold, I am willing, like Jonah, to be caft into the sea to appease the storm, though I did not raise it. If all followed my example, the Church would enjoy an uninterrupted tranquillity. This dignity I never defired; I took the charge upon me much against my will. If you think fit, I am ready to depart; and I will return back to my little cottage, that you may remain here quiet, and the Church of God enjoy peace. I only defire that the fee may be filled by a person that is capable and willing to defend the faith.” ↑ In the same spirit let Ken speak for himself : "Bleff'd Gregory, with proud noisy Prelates tir'd, *The Works of Bishop Ken, vol. iii. p.421. + Butler's Lives of the Saints, vol. i. pp. 594-603. |