Page images
PDF
EPUB

up by the neck till they be dead, John Bunyan, the object of their envy, would be still alive and well. I know not whether there be such a thing as a woman breathing under the face of heaven, but by their apparel, their children, or by common fame, except my wife. And in this I admire the wisdom of God, that he made me shy of women, from my first conversion until now. Those know and can also bear me witness, with whom I have been most intimately concerned, that it is a rare thing to see me carry it pleasant towards a woman. The common salutation of women I abhor. It is odious to me in whomsoever I see it. Their company alone I cannot away with. I seldom so much as touch a woman's hand. for I think these things not so becoming me. When I have seen good men salute those women that they have visited, or that have visited them, I have at times made my objection against it; and when they have answered, that it was but a piece of civility, I have told them it is not a comely sight. Some, indeed, have urged the holy kiss. But then I have asked why they made baulks? Why they did salute the most handsome, and let the ill-favoured go? Thus, how laudable soever such things may have been in the eyes of others, they have been unseemly in my sight.

Bunyan is said to have written books equal

to the number of his years; viz. sixty; but as many of them are on similar subjects, they are consequently very much alike. The Pilgrim's Progress, (his master-piece) which contains a considerably accurate specimen of Calvinistie divinity, is an allegory carried on with much ingenuity; the characters are well drawn and well supported. There are also, in spite of his vulgarity, frequent symptoms of poetical talent, far from despicable. The talents, as well as the character of Bunyan, have encountered much ridicule; but if we consider the circumstances of his birth and education, together with the times in which he lived, that ridicule will probably be found without a solid foundation. His "Pilgrim's Progress," and his Holy War," are too well known to require a specimen.

TEMPLE.

SIR WILLIAM TEMPLE, an eminent statesman and writer, sprang from a younger branch of the same stock with sir Richard Temple, lord viscount and baron Cobham, who traced his genealogy as far back as Leoric, or Leofric, earl of Chester, in the time of Ethelbald, anno 710. He was born in London, 1628; had his school-education at Pensehurst, in Kent, and at Bishop Stortford in Hertfordshire; and at the age of seventeen entered Emanuel College, Cambridge, under the learned Dr. Cudworth, then fellow of that college.

After spending about two years at the university, he commenced his travels; and in 1648, set out for France, where he continued two years, when he proceeded to Holland, Flanders, and Germany; and during his tour

became a complete master of the French and Spanish languages. Returning in 1654, he married and lived in privacy during the protectorate, under which government he rejected all solicitations to accept of employment, but at the restoration, in 1660, he was chosen member of the convention in Ireland, and distinguished himself by his spirited opposition to the poll-tax.

He was afterwards sent by Charles II. on a commission to the bishop of Munster, which he executed with such satisfaction to the king, that he sent him a commission to take the character of resident at Brussels, with a patent for a baronet.. Making an excursion to Holland, he visited, at the Hague, De Wit, which was the foundation of their future intimacy. On the breaking out of a war between France and Spain, Brussels being in danger, he returned privately to England, called on De Wit again in his way, and now, pursuant to his instructions, proposed those overtures which produced the triple alliance; and on bis return from the English court, January 16, 1668, invested with the character of ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Holland, the treaty was concluded. His subse

quent public employments were numerous; but as they are known from general history, it were needless to mention them here. I shall therefore simply observe, that after refusing the office of secretary of state, he accepted a place at the council board; but discovering eventually that Charles determined to govern without his parliament, he quitted the court in disgust, and retired to his house at Sheen, near Richmond, in Surry, whence he sent by his son a message to his majesty, stating, that "he would pass the rest of his life as good a subject as any in his kingdoms, but would never more meddle with public affairs."

From this period, he lived so retired a life, that the transactions which brought about the revolution, were unknown to him. After the abdication of James,' the prince of Orange also pressed him to become secretary of state, but did not prevail. He died in 1698, at a small seat called Moor-park, near Farnham in Surry, where his heart was buried in a silver box, under a sun-dial in the garden, agreeably to the tenor of his will.

His works are well known, and have been often published, both separately and collectively. I select the following specimen.

« PreviousContinue »