I have now brought him to the parsonage of Bemerton, and to the thirty-sixth year of his age, and must stop here, and bespeak the reader to prepare for an almost incredible story of the great sanctity of the short remainder of his holy life,-a life so full of charity, humility, and all Christian virtues, that it deserves the eloquence of St. Chrysostom to commend and declare it, a life, that if it were related by a pen like his, there would then be no need for this age to look back into times past for the examples of primitive piety; for they might be all found in the life of George Herbert. But now, alas! who is fit to undertake it! I confess I am not: and, am not pleased with myself that I must; and profess myself amazed, when I consider how few of the clergy lived like him then, and how many live so unlike him now. But it becomes not me to censure: my design is rather to assure the reader, that I have used very great diligence to inform myself, that I might inform him of the truth of what follows; and though I cannot adorn it with eloquence, yet I will do it with sincerity.

When at his induction he was shut into Bemerton church, being left there alone to toll the bell, (as the law requires him,) he staid so much longer than an ordinary time, before he returned to those friends that staid expecting him at the church door, that his friend Mr. Woodnot looked in at the church window, and saw him lie prostrate on the ground before the altar; at which time and place, as he after told Mr. Woodnot, he set some rules to himself, for the future manage of his life; and then and there made a vow, to labor to keep them.

And the same night that he had his induction, he said to Mr. Woodnot-"I now look back upon my aspir

ing thoughts, and think myself more happy than if I had attained what then I so ambitiously thirsted for; and I can now behold the court with an impartial eye, and see plainly, that it is made up of fraud, and titles, and flattery, and many other such empty, imaginary painted pleasures, pleasures that are so empty as not to satisfy when they are enjoyed; but in God and his service is a fulness of all joy and pleasure, and no satiety. And I will now use all my endeavors to bring my relations and dependants to a love and reliance on him, who never fails those that trust him. But above all, I will be sure to live well, because the virtuous life of a clergyman is the most powerful eloquence to persuade all that see it, to reverence and love, and at least to desire to live like him. And this I will do, because I know we live in an age that hath more need of good examples, than precepts. And I beseech that God who hath honored me so much as to call me to serve him at his altar, that, as by his special grace he hath put into my heart these good desires and resolutions, so he will by his assisting grace give me ghostly strength to bring the same to good effect; and I beseech him that my humble and charitable life may so win upon others, as to bring glory to my JESUS, whom I have this day taken to be my Master and Governor; and am so proud of his service, that I will always observe, and obey, and do his will, and always call him Jesus my Master: and I will always contemn my birth, or any title or dignity that can be conferred upon me, when I shall compare them with my title of being a priest, and serving at the altar of Jesus my Master.

And that he did so, may appear in many parts of his book of sacred poems; especially, in that which he calls The Odour; in which he seems to rejoice in the

thoughts of that word, Jesus, and say that the adding these words, my Master, to it, and the often repetition of them, seemed to perfume his mind, and leave an oriental fragrancy in his very breath. And for his unforced choice to serve at God's altar, he seems in another place of his poems (The Pearl, Matt. xiii.) to rejoice and say "He knew the ways of learning; knew what nature does willingly, and what, when it is forced by fire; knew the ways of honor, and when glory inclines the soul to noble expressions; knew the court; knew the ways of pleasure, of love, of wit, of music; and upon what terms he declined all these for the service of his Master, JESUS ;" and then concludes, saying,

That, through these labyrinths, not my groveling wit,
But thy silk twist, let down from heaven to me,
Did both conduct, and teach me, how by it

To climb to thee.

The third day after he was made Rector of Bemerton, and had changed his sword and silk clothes into a canonical coat, he returned so habited with his friend Mr. Woodnot to Bainton: and immediately after he had seen and saluted his wife, he said to her-" You are now a minister's wife, and must now so far forget your father's house, as not to claim a precedence of any of your parishioners; for you are to know, that a priest's wife can challenge no precedence or place, but that which she purchases by her obliging humility; and I am sure, places so purchased, do best become them. And let me tell you, that I am so good a herald, as to assure you that this is truth." And she was so meek a wife, as to assure him it was no vexing news to her, and that he should see her observe it with a cheerful willingness. And indeed her unforced humility-that humility that

was in her so original as to be born with her, made her so happy as to do so; and her doing so, begot her an unfeigned love, and a serviceable respect from all that conversed with her; and this love followed her in all places, as inseparably as shadows follow substances in sunshine.

It was not many days before he returned back to Bemerton, to view the church, and repair the chancel; and, indeed, to rebuild almost three parts of his house, which was fallen down or decayed, by reason of his predecessor's living at a better parsonage house, namely, at Minal, sixteen or twenty miles from this place. At which time of Mr. Herbert's coming alone to Bemerton, there came to him a poor old woman, with an intent to acquaint him with her necessitous condition, as also with some troubles of her mind; but after she had spoke some few words to him, she was surprised with a fear, and that begot a shortness of breath, so that her spirits and speech failed her; which he perceiving, did so compassionate her, and was so humble, that he took her by the hand, and said-" Speak, good mother, be not afraid to speak to me; for I am a man that will hear you with patience; and will relieve your necessities too, if I be able; and this I will do willingly; and therefore, mother, be not afraid to acquaint me with what you desire." After which comfortable speech, he again took her by the hand, made her sit down by him, and understanding she was of his parish, he told her-" He would be acquainted with her, and take her into his care." And having with patience heard and understood her wants, (and it is some relief for a poor body to be but heard with patience,) he like a Christian clergyman comforted her by his meek behaviour and counsel; but because that cost him nothing, he relieved her with money too, and so sent her home with a cheerful heart,

praising God, and praying for him. Thus worthy, and like David's blessed man, thus lowly, was Mr.George Herbert in his own eyes, and thus lovely in the eyes of others.

At his return that night to his wife at Bainton, he gave her an account of the passages betwixt him and the poor woman: with which she was so affected, that she went next day to Salisbury, and there bought a pair of blankets, and sent them as a token of her love to the poor woman, and with them a message-"That she would see and be acquainted with her, when her house was built at Bemerton."

There be many such passages both of him and his wife, of which, some few will be related; but I shall first tell, that he hasted to get the parish church repaired, then to beautify the chapel, (which stands near his house,) and that at his own great charge. He then proceeded to rebuild the greatest part of the parsonage house, which he did also very completely, and at his own charge; and having done this good work, he caused these verses to be writ upon, or engraven in the mantle of the chimney in his hall:

We will now, by the reader's favor, suppose him fixed at Bemerton, and grant him to have seen the church repaired, and the chapel belonging to it very decently adorned at his own great charge, (which is a real truth ;) and having now fixed him there, I shall proceed to