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our burthen; and entertains our care for us, that we may the more quietly intend his service. To conclude, let me commend only one place more to you (Phil. iv. 4.) St. Paul saith there-" Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, rejoice." He doubles it to take away the scruple of those that might say-" What, shall we rejoice in afflictions?" Yes, I say again rejoice; so that it is not left to us to rejoice, or not rejoice; but, whatsoever befals us we must always, at all times, rejoice in the Lord, who taketh care for us: and, it follows in the next verses-" Let your moderation appear to all men: the Lord is at hand: be careful for nothing." What can be said more comfortably? Trouble not yourselves, God is at hand to deliver us from all, or, in all. Dear madam, pardon my boldness, and accept the good meaning of

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About the year 1629, and the thirty-fourth year of his age, Mr. Herbert was seized with a sharp quotidian ague, and thought to remove it by the change of air; to which end, he went to Woodford in Essex, but thither more chiefly, to enjoy the company of his beloved brother, Sir Henry Herbert, and other friends then of that family. In his house he remained about twelve months, and there became his own physician, and cured himself of his ague, by forbearing drink, and not eating any meat, no, not mutton, nor a hen, or pigeon, unless they were salted; and by such a constant diet, he removed his ague, but with inconveniencies that were worse; for he brought upon himself a disposition to rheums, and other weaknesses, and a supposed consumption.

And it is to be noted, that in the sharpest of his extreme fits, he would often say—“ Lord, abate my great affliction, or increase my patience; but, Lord, I repine not. I am dumb, Lord, before thee, because thou doest it." By which, and a sanctified submission to the will of God, he shewed he was inclinable to bear the sweet yoke of Christian discipline, both then, and in the latter part of his life, of which there will be many true testimonies.

And now his care was to recover from his consumption, by a change from Woodford into such an air as was most proper to that end. And his remove was from Woodford to Dantsey in Wiltshire, a noble house, which stands in a choice air; the owner of it then was the Lord Danvers, Earl of Danby, who loved Mr. Herbert so very much, that he allowed him such an apartment in it, as might best suit with his accommodation and liking. And, in this place, by a spare diet, declining all perplexing studies, moderate exercise, and a cheerful conversation, his health was apparently improved to a good degree of strength and cheerfulness; and then he declared his resolution both to marry, and to enter into the sacred orders of priesthood. These had long been the desires of his mother, and his other relations; but she lived not to see either, for she died in the year 1627. And, though he was disobedient to her about Layton Church, yet, in conformity to her will, he kept his orator's place till after her death; and then presently declined it; and the more willingly, that he might be succeeded by his friend, Robert Creighton, who now is Dr. Creighton, and the worthy Bishop of Wells.

I shall now proceed to his marriage; in order to which, it will be convenient that I first give the reader a short view of his person, and then, an account of his

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wife, and some circumstances concerning both. He for his person, of a stature inclining towards tallness; his body was very straight, and so far from being cumbered with too much flesh, that he was lean to an extremity. His aspect was cheerful, and his speech and motion did both declare him a gentleman; for they were all so meek and obliging, that they purchased love and respect from all that knew him.

These, and his other visible virtues, begot him much love from a gentleman of a noble fortune, and a near kinsman to his friend, the Earl of Danby; namely, from Mr. Charles Danvers, of Bainton, in the county of Wilts, Esq. This Mr. Danvers having known him long, and familiarly, did so much affect him, that he often and publicly declared a desire that Mr. Herbert would marry any of his nine daughters (for he had so many,) but rather his daughter Jane than any other, because Jane was his beloved daughter; and he had often said the same to Mr. Herbert himself; and that if he could like her for a wife, and she him for a husband, Jane should have a double blessing: and Mr. Danvers had so often said the like to Jane, and so much commended Mr. Herbert to her, that Jane became so much a Platonic, as to fall in love with Mr. Herbert unseen.

This was a fair preparation for a marriage; but alas, her father died before Mr. Herbert's retirement to Dantsey; yet some friends to both parties procured their meeting; at which time a mutual affection entered into both their hearts, as a conqueror enters into a surprised city, and love having got such a possession, governed and made there such laws and resolutions, as neither party was able to resist; insomuch that she changed her name into Herbert, the third day after this first interview.

This haste might, in others, be thought a lovefrenzy, or worse: but it was not; for they had wooed so like princes, as to have select proxies: such as were true friends to both parties; such as well understood Mr. Herbert's, and her temper of mind, and also, their estates, so well, before this interview, that the suddenness was justifiable, by the strictest rules of prudence: and, the more, because it proved so happy to both parties; for, the Eternal Lover of mankind made them happy in each other's mutual and equal affections and compliance; indeed, so happy, that there never was any opposition betwixt them, unless it were a contest which should most incline to a compliance with the other's desires. And though this begot, and continued in them, such a mutual love, and joy, and content, as was no way defective, yet this mutual content, and love, and joy, did receive a daily augmentation, by such daily obligingness to each other, as still added such new affluences to the former fulness of these divine souls, as was only improvable in heaven, where they now enjoy it.

About three months after his marriage, Dr. Curle, who was then Rector of Bemerton in Wiltshire, was made Bishop of Bath and Wells, and not long after translated to Winchester, and by that means the presentation of a Clerk to Bemerton did not fall to the Earl of Pembroke (who was the undoubted patron of it) but to the king, by reason of Dr. Curle's advancement: but Philip, then Earl of Pembroke, (for William was lately dead,) requested the king to bestow it upon his kinsman, George Herbert; and the king said-" Most willingly to Mr. Herbert, if it be worth his acceptance :" and the earl as willingly and suddenly sent it him, without seeking; but though Mr. Herbert had formerly put on a resolution for the clergy, yet, at receiving this pre

sentation, the apprehension of the last great account that he was to make for the cure of so many souls, made him fast and pray often, and consider, for not less than a month: in which time he had some resolutions to decline both the priesthood and that living. And in this time of considering,—" He endured (as he would often say) such spiritual conflicts, as none can think, but only those that have endured them."

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In the midst of these conflicts, his old and dear friend, Mr. Arthur Woodnot, took a journey to salute him at Bainton (where he then was with his wife's friends and relations) and was joyful to be an eye witness of his health and happy marriage; and after they had rejoiced together some few days, they took a journey to Wilton, the famous seat of the Earls of Pembroke; at which time, the king, the earl, and the whole there, or at Salisbury, which is near to it. And at this time Mr. Herbert presented his thanks to the earl, for his presentation to Bemerton, but had not yet resolved to accept it, and told him the reason why; but that night the earl acquainted Dr. Laud, then Bishop of London, and afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, with his kinsman's irresolution. And the bishop did the next day so convince Mr. Herbert that the refusal of it was a sin, that a tailor was sent for to come speedily from Salisbury to Wilton, to take measure, and make him canonical clothes against next day—which the tailor did; and Mr. Herbert being so habited, went with his presentation to the learned Dr. Davenant, who was then Bishop of Salisbury, and he gave him institution immediately, and he was also the same day, which was April 26, 1630, inducted into the good, and more pleasant than healthful, parsonage of Bemerton, which is a mile from Salisbury.

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