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conden Pullä het hy L. 6. Seriey & Sons, 29 Mlece. Strece, Jan;"7* 1928.

CHRISTIAN GUARDIAN,

AND

Church of England Magazine.

JANUARY 1828.

MEMOIRS OF THE REFORMERS.

WHITGIFT. In reading the history of the Church of heaven to any exclusive denoof Christ, it is very desirable to mination. He will duly estimate form a just judgment of the merits the piety of the Novatian and of those disputes, which relate Donatist, as well as the Athanasian, more immediately to the rites and in the primitive times, of the ceremonies, the discipline and Armenian as well as the Greek in revenues of an ecclesiastical con the middle age; and of the Presstitution. This can only be effected byterian as well as the Episcopalian by an union, as far as possible, of a later season ; discriminating, against prejudice, so as not to as he peruses the record of their attribute undue importance to the lives and actions, between those objects of those controversies on characters who were influenced by the one hand, or regard them as merely secular considerations, and mere matters of indifference on the those whose purer aim was the other. A Christian will make no glory of God, and the good of his compromise as to what he believes Church. essential to the very existence and Among the most respectable well-being of a church, while he is supporters of the English establishcontending with meekness of wis ment, John Whitgift holds a condom, endeuvouring to keep the spicuous station. He was the son unity of the spirit in the bond of of Henry Whitgift, merchant, of peace; but he will draw largely on Great Grimsby, in Lincolnshire, his own charity towards an honest descended of an ancient family near opponent, with respect to a differ the mouth of the Ouse in the Westence of sentiment on certain ques- riding of Yorkshire, who married tions, which may arise from relative Ann, daughter of a gentleman in or local feeling, or from strong Great Grimsby, named Dynewell, convictions, whose degree of cul- by whom he had six sons, John pability can be known only to being the eldest, born in 1530. that Being, who searcheth the Robert, his paternal uncle, was heart, and trieth the reins of men. abbot of the neighbouring monasIn contemplating the externals tery of Wellow, a foundation of of religion, he will notice with Augustinian Black Canons, who reverence and gratitude any symp- took charge of his education; and toms of the Divine Blessing, under though a dignified clergyman of the modes and forms to which he could Romish persuasion, was not withnot conscientiously subscribe; and, out a sufficient portion of scriptural however decided in his personal information to suspect the groundviews on Christian communion, he less character of the papal system, will fear to limit the mercies and declared his opinion in the

JAN. 1828.

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hearing of his nephew, “ that they He was pleasantly situated in this and their religion could not long new foundation, where Dr. Perne continue, because he had read the the bead, though a professed whole scripture over and over, and papist, treated him with particular could never find therein that their regard. Cardinal Pole visiting the religion was founded by God; University by commission of Queen which consequently could not stand, Mary, to institute inquiry after since our Saviour had said, Every heretics, and enjoin the first tonsure plant which my father hath not on candidates for ordination in planted shall be rooted out.” On conformity with Popish usage, the suggestion of the abbot, he Whitgift entertained thoughts of was sent to pursue his studies at accompanying some friends, who St. Anthony's School, Bennet Fink, were passing over to the Continent London, lodging at the house of an to avoid persecution on account aunt in St. Paul's Church Yard, of their attachment to Protestant who was a regular attendant at the principles; but Dr. Perne, learning early mass, and soon became dis- his intention, discoursed with him pleased with her nephew for re- on the existing controversies, and fusing to accompany her. Having finding him determined in his applied to some of the canons to support of the reformed tenets, persuade him to attend a worship, kindly assured bim, that provided in which he was too much en. he would maintain a temporary lightened to join, but without silence on the obnoxious doctrines, effect, she abruptly sent him back he would contrive, by the influence to Grimsby, declaring that she had he possessed as Vice-chancellor, to been visited with repeated troubles screen bim from inconvenience. since she had harboured such a “ After he was entered into the heretic; and at parting told him, ministry,” says his principal bio" that she thought she had received grapher, “which was upon the a saint into her house, but had year 1560, being to preach his first perceived that he was a devil.” public sermon in St. Mary's, he

He was now entered at Queen's chose for his text that excellent College, Cambridge, being about saying of St. Paul, “ I am not eighteen years of age, but not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, relishing that Society, he removed &c.” wherein his singular method, to Pembroke-hall, induced perhaps choice of matter, and judicious by the hope of meeting with those handling thereof, were such, that of more congenial sentiments, as his whole auditory, especially the the master was Dr. Ridley, and chief of the University, grew into Grindal and Bradford were both great admiration of those great Fellows. These two recommended parts in so young years.”* Another him to the master for bible-clerk writer, speaking of him at the same and scholar, in consideration of his period, observes : “ Having thus diligence and piety, as well as by the favour and connivancy of contracted means of subsistence the Doctor (God reserving him for from some recent losses experienced further and higher employments) by his father, while the latter was rid out those stormy and temmore immediately connected with pestuous times; upon the disperhim as his tutor. Mr. Bradford sion of those black clouds, that had leaving Cambridge however not formerly overspread and eclipsed long after, he was placed under the good parts of many, by the Mr. Gregory Garth, and taking happy sunshine of that illustrious the degree of bachelor of arts, was Princess, Queen Elizabeth's ascent elected fellow of Peter-house, and commenced master of arts in 1556. . * Sir George Paule.

to the throne of this realm ; con- by the students with a very ill trary to that which is wont to grace. But this letter was SO befall at the natural sun's rising, unacceptable at court, that he found this our bright star, among others, it expedient to make an apology and above many others, began now for the share he had in it. to shine forth and discover its In April, 1567, he was advanced lustre. Notice whereof being to the Mastership of Pembroke taken, as in the University so at Hall, and a few months after to Court, he received advancement that of Trinity College, appointed unto eminent places from either.”* regius professor of divinity on the

Dr. Cox, Bishop of Ely, pro- resignation of Hutton (now made moted him to a stall in his cathedral, Dean of York) being himself sucappointed him bis chaplain, and ceeded in the Margaret professorgave him the benefice of Tever- ship by Thomas Cartwright, fellow sham in Cambridgeshire. He of Trinity, and moreover nominated proceeded bachelor of divinity in one of the royal Chaplains. It was 1562, and the next year was in the same year that he was chosen Lady Margaret's professor admitted Doctor in Divinity, and of divinity, which office he dis- on his appointment to keep the charged with so much acceptance, public act at the commencement, that the salary was augmented for chose for his thesis, The Pope is bis sake from twenty marks to as Antichrist. many pounds, and the public schools At his entrance he found much were thronged with students of all division among the members of his ages, while he lectured on the book College, on subjects connected with of Revelations and the Epistle to the government and rites of the the Hebrews. He now joined church, and especially on the habits Hutton, Regius professor of divinity, required to be worn by the clergy. and several heads of houses, in a In Cambridge considerable oppopetition to Sir William Cecil, their sition had been made to orders sent Chancellor, for an order to regulate out by Queen Elizabeth enjoining the election of public officers, the the use of particular vestments, want of which had caused much which a great majority of discreet academical disturbance. From the and reflecting characters among the report of his extraordinary ability fathers of the church and sages as a preacher, Sir Nicholas Bacon, of the law deemed it expedient Lord-keeper, sent for him to preach should be worn by ecclesiastical before her Majesty, who was so and academical persons, while oáhers much gratified, that she observed, regarded them as too nearly allied after the punning humour of the to those meritricious ornaments time, that he was a white-gift which formed so culpable a portion indeed, and resolved on his prefer- of that superstition which the nament. In 1565, hearing that some tion had generally disowned. In statutes were preparing to enjoin the disputes that were held, the an uniformity of habits, particularly sermons that were preached, and to order the wearing of surplices in the books that were written, there the University, he promoted the was much that a devout and humble writing of a joint letter to Cecil, Christian would buth pity and rewho was principal Secretary of gret, when he saw men of godliState as well as Chancellor of the ness, erudition, and talent, on both University, requesting bim to "sides, wasting their energies, and oppose that measure, from a per- yielding to unholy tempers, and suasion that it would be received degrading their high profession by

unworthy recriminations. To enter • Abel redivivus. p. 459.

into the detail of such controversies. hearing of his nephew, “ that they He was pleasantly situated in this and their religion could not long new foundation, where Dr. Perne continue, because he had read the the bead, though a professed whole scripture over and over, and papist, treated him with particular could never find therein that their regard. Cardinal Pole visiting the religion was founded by God; University by commission of Queen which consequently could not stand, Mary, to institute inquiry after since our Saviour had said, Every heretics, and enjoin the first tonsure plant which my father hath not on candidates for ordination in planted shall be rooted out.” On conformity with Popish usage, the suggestion of the abbot, he Whitgift entertained thoughts of was sent to pursue his studies at accompanying some friends, who St. Anthony's School, Bennet Fink, were passing over to the Continent London, lodging at the house of an to avoid persecution on account aunt in St. Paul's Church Yard, of their attachment to Protestant who was a regular attendant at the principles; but Dr. Perne, learning early mass, and soon became dis. his intention, discoursed with him pleased with her nephew for re on the existing controversies, and fusing to accompany her. Having finding him determined in his applied to some of the canons to support of the reformed tenets, persuade him to attend a worship, kindly assured him, that provided in which he was too much en- he would maintain a temporary lightened to join, but without silence on the obnoxious doctrines, effect, she abruptly sent him back he would contrive, by the influence to Grimsby, declaring that she had he possessed as Vice-chancellor, to been visited with repeated troubles screen him from inconvenience. since she had harboured such a After he was entered into the heretic; and at parting told him, ministry,” says his principal bio“ that she thought she had received grapher, " which was upon the a saint into her house, but had year 1560, being to preach his first perceived that he was a devil.” public sermon in St. Mary's, he

He was now entered at Queen's chose for his text that excellent College, Cambridge, being about saying of St. Paul, “ I am not eighteen years of age, but not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, relishing that Society, he removed &c.” wherein his singular method, to Pembroke-hall, induced perhaps choice of matter, and judicious by the hope of meeting with those handling thereof, were such, that of more congenial sentiments, as his whole auditory, especially the the master was Dr. Ridley, and chief of the University, grew into Grindal and Bradford were both great admiration of those great Fellows. These two recommended parts in so young years.”* Another him to the master for bible-clerk writer, speaking of him at the same and scholar, in consideration of his period, observes : “ Having thus diligence and piety, as well as by the favour and connivancy of contracted means of subsistence the Doctor (God reserving him for from some recent losses experienced further and higher employments) by bis father, while the latter was rid out those stormy and temmore immediately connected with pestuous times; upon the disperhim as his tutor. Mr. Bradford sion of those black clouds, that had leaving Cambridge however not formerly overspread and eclipsed long after, he was placed under the good parts of many, by the Mr. Gregory Garth, and taking happy sunshine of that illustrious the degree of bachelor of arts, was Princess, Queen Elizabeth's ascent elected fellow of Peter-house, and commenced master of arts in 1556. : * Sir George Paule.

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