replete with good sense, and marked throughout by a manly piety. Quinet justly remarked that Bishop Patrick was an honour to the church, and to the in which he lived.

age

15.

EDWARD FOWLER, D.D.

BISHOP OF GLOUCESTER.-DIED 1714.

WOULD we know whether we embrace all the fundamentals of Christianity, and are guilty of no damnable and destructive errors, among the great diversity and contrariety of opinions that this kingdom abounds with, (I think I may say) above all other parts of Christendom, our only way is to examine ourselves impartially after this manner:

Am I sincerely willing to obey my Creator and Redeemer in all things commanded by them? Do I entertain or harbour no lust in my breast? Do I heartily endeavour to secure a right understanding of the Holy Scriptures, to cherish the gospel, and to know what doctrines are delivered there, in order to the bettering of my soul by them, and the regulation of my life and actions according to them?

If we can answer these questions in the affirmative, whatsoever mistakes we may labour under, they can be none of them such as will undo us; because we may conclude from thence that the design of Christianity is in some good measure accomplished

in us. And whatsoever tenets may be accompanied and consist with the true love of God, and a solicitous care to keep a conscience void of offence to

wards him and men, we may be certain that they belong not to the catalogue of fundamental errors. This obedient temper is the most infallible mark (of any I know) of an orthodox man; he that is endowed with it, though he may err, cannot be a heretic. Design of Christianity.

EDMUND FOWLER was born 1632, at Westerleigh, Gloucestershire. In 1650 he became one of the clerks to Corpus Christi College, Oxford. He was soon presented to the rectory of Northill, Bedfordshire. Afterwards, in 1673, he was collated to a prebend in Gloucester, and had the vicarage of St. Giles, Cripplegate. In 1685, during the reign of James the Second, he was tried and suspended for his whiggism and his liberality. He, however, was not dispirited, but zealously opposed civil and ecclesiastical tyranny, refusing, along with other of the London clergy, to read the king's declaration of conscience! In their resolution they were supported by the most respectable and consistent friends of liberty among the dissenters from the establishment. At the revolution his zeal was rewarded, for in 1690 he was raised to the see of Gloucester. He in 1714 died at Chelsea, in the 82d year of his age. He published "The Principles and Practices of certain Moderate Divines of the Church of England, abusively called Latitudinarians (greatly misunderstood), truly represented and defended; wherein, by the very same, controversies of no mean importance are succinctly discussed, 1670." But his chief and most

excellent work was his "Design of Christianity, or a Plain Demonstration and Improvement of the Proposition, viz. that the enduing men with inward, real righteousness, or true holiness, was the ultimate end of our Saviour's coming into the world, and is the great intendment of the blessed Gospel, 1671." He put forth a defence of it entitled, "The Dirt Wiped Off, or a Manifest Discovery of the Gross Ignorance, Erroneousness, and most Unchristian Spirit of one John Bunyan, lay preacher in Bedford, which he hath showed in a vile pamphlet published by him against the Design of Christianity, 1672." It is curious, however, that honest John published a work, entitled "Holiness the Beauty of Christianity," so that the titles of these books, at least, coincide on the subject. Dr. Fowler was an excellent prelate, discharging the duties of his station with fidelity.

16.

WILLIAM CAVE, D. D.

VICAR OF ISLINGTON.-DIED 1713.

THAT the Christian religion was immediately designed to improve and perfect the principles of human nature, appears, as from many other instances of it, so especially from this, that it so strictly en, joins, cherishes, and promotes that natural kindness and compassion which is one of the prime and essential inclinations of mankind. Wherever the gospel is cordially complied with, it begets such a sweet and

gracious temper of mind, as makes us humble, affable, courteous, and charitable, ready and disposed to every good work, prompt to all offices of humanity and kindness; it files off the ruggedness of men's natures, banishes a rude, churlish, and pharisaical temper, and infuses a more calm and treatable disposition. It commands us to live and love as brethren, to love without hypocrisy, to have fervent charity among ourselves, and to be kindly affectionate one towards another. It lays the sum of our duty towards others in this,-to love our neighbours as ourselves. This our Saviour seems to own as his proper and peculiar law, and has ratified it with his own solemn sanction. A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. And then makes this the great visible badge of all those who are truly Christians. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another.

And so, indeed, it was with those first and best ages of religion; for no sooner did the gospel fly abroad into the world, but the love and charity of Christians became notorious, even to a proverb; the heathens taking notice of the Christians of those times, with this particular remark,-See how these Christians love one another! Primitive Christianity.

WILLIAM CAVE was born 1637, in Leicestershire. His father was rector of the parish. Having first had his grammar education, he was educated at St. John's College, Cambridge. In 1662 he was presented with the vicarage of Islington, and was soon

afterwards made chaplain to Charles the Second, of irreligious memory! In 1672 he took his degree of doctor in divinity, and soon became distinguished for his writings. He had several preferments, the last of which, a canonry of Windsor, and the vicarage of Isleworth, near Brentford. At Windsor he died, 1713, but is interred at Islington, with a monument to his memory. He published many learned works, particularly "Primitive Christianity, or the Religion of the Ancient Christians in the first Ages of the Gospel; " and afterwards "Lives of the Apostles and Martyrs of the first Ages." His chief work, however, is his "History of the Lives, Deaths, Acts, and Writings of the most eminent Fathers of the Church, that flourished in the fourth Century, 1682, folio." Le Clerc animadverted on the work, and Cave replied. Jortin calls him "The White-Washer of the Ancients!" He published Sermons also, and a Tract on the Dissenting Controversy. Dr. Cave was a man of deep and extensive learning, but warmly attached to the doctrines and discipline of the Church of England

17.

GILBERT BURNET, D. D.

BISHOP OF SALISBURY.-DIED 1717.

WITH respect to love and charity, as our Saviour was the greatest pattern of doing good for evil, both in life and death, so he carried the precept higher than any religion ever did. Love is the badge of Christianity, and when once this holy religion spreads