1662-9. this true foundation that the practice of Christian virtues must be built, to make them acceptable in the sight of God. And then all this must be delivered to the people in so plain and intelligible a style, that they may easily comprehend it; and it must be addressed to them in so affecting and moving a manner, that their passions may be winged to a vigorous prosecution of what is taught. If I mistake not, the sermons of this learned bishop answer this character; and I am confirmed in this opinion by the judgment of those who are allowed to have the greatest talents for the pulpit, as well as for all other parts of learning. He had a way of gaining people's hearts, and touching their consciences, which bore some resemblance to the apostolical age; and when it shall appear that those bright preachers, who have been ready to throw contempt upon his lordship's performances, can set forth as large a list of persons whom they have converted by their preaching, as I could produce of those who owed the change of their lives, under God, to the Christian instructions of this pious prelate, I shall readily own that they are superior to his lordship in the pulpit. Though, considering what learned works he published in the cause of religion, and what an eminent pattern he was of true primitive piety, I am not inclined to think that his lordship will, upon the whole of his character, be easily equalled by any one. But to proceed.

Mr. Bull's manner of

XV. In the governing this parish of Suddington, governing Mr. Bull observed the same method which he had this parish. prescribed to himself in that of St. George's near Bristol, which hath been already mentioned. And

certainly nothing could better answer the end and 1662-9. design of his function, than a constant watch over the conduct of his flock; that the seed he sowed in such plenty might not be scattered by the winds of violent temptations, nor be destroyed by the evil one, who goeth about seeking whom he may devour. This personal acquaintance of a minister with his parishioners will give him a great advantage in forwarding their spiritual welfare, provided it is chiefly employed to that purpose. For besides that profit which redoundeth to them from the thing itself, this tender and compassionate regard towards the people will create in them a great love for his person, and a cheerful attendance upon his ministry, which are admirable dispositions to prepare the mind for instruction. And I think no man ought to be deterred from attempting this, because some inconsiderate minds censure it as an affectation of popularity; for to endeavour to procure the love and good-will of the parishioners, is so far from being a fault in a parish priest, that I look upon it as his duty, it being the likeliest means to make his labours among them effectual. All the mischief of popularity is, when men betray their consciences rather than displease men, and sacrifice their duty to the breath of the people; when, by mean and unworthy arts, they court that applause which is only due to merit; and rather than forfeit the favour of the lord of a manor, comply with him in his follies, and yield to his sacrilegious encroachments. But there is no danger that a clergyman, who understandeth the weight of his employment, and hath a zeal for the salvation of souls, will ever vouchsafe to be popular upon such terms.

1662-9. But to excite all the parochial clergy to this watchfulness over the conduct of their flock; they have a pattern of it in the High-Priest of our profession, the blessed Jesus, who with particular assiduity applied himself to form and preserve those disciples which his Father had committed to his care. He lived among them, supporting all their weakness, and compassionating their infirmities; he instructed them in public and in private, and hid no truth from them which might be profitable for them, and which they were able to bear. He hardly suffered them out of his sight, but when he retired into some solitude, and then he remembered them in his prayers. This love and care of his disciples appeared not only in those his addresses to Heaven, which preceded his passion, but when he was delivered into the hands of his enemies, he seemed to forget himself in respect of them, If you seek me, saith he, let these go their way; as if he had been concerned for nothing so much as the preservation of his disciples: notwithstanding his bonds, and the violence of his persecutors, he did not forget his chief apostle, but reached forth his hand to raise him from his unhappy fall, fulfilling to the last those words of Scripture, Having loved his own, he loved them unto the end.

While Mr. Bull was rector of Suddington, the prothat were vidence of God gave him an opportunity of fixing wavering in two ladies of quality, in that neighbourhood, in the protestant communion; who had been reduced to a very wavering state of mind, by the arts and subtleties of some Romish missionaries. Their specious 1662-9. pretences to antiquity were easily detected by this great master of the ancient Fathers; and by his thorough acquaintance with Scripture, and the sense of the catholic church, in matters of the greatest importance, he was able to distinguish between primitive truths, and those errors which the church of Rome built upon them. He had frequent conferences with both these ladies, and answered those objections which appeared to them to have the greatest strength, and by which they were very near falling from their steadfastness; for one of them he writ a small treatise, which she had requested from him, but no copy of it is to be found among those papers he left behind him; nothing remaineth of it but the remembrance that it was written, and that he did thereby succeed in establishing the lady in the communion of the church of England". Both the ladies always owned with the greatest sense of gratitude this signal service they received from the learning and capacity of Mr. Bull. None can well apprehend how grievous a state of human life doubt is, in matters of consequence, but they who feel it; and therefore no wonder if they blessed that happy instrument, by which fresh light was conveyed into their minds, and those uncertainties cleared up which they laboured under in reference to matters of the greatest moment. The method indeed they took

Z

[This treatise was afterwards discovered, and published by the bishop's son, Robert Bull, with the title of A Vindication of the Church of England. It was written in 1671.]

a

[It is singular that Nelson's own wife was converted to the Romish faith by Bossuet: she was the lady Theophila Lucy, widow of sir Kingsmill L. bart. and second daughter of George

1662-9. was prudent and Christian, to seek for knowledge at those lips which are appointed to preserve it, and to bring their doubts to their own pastors before they submit to the authority of others. And I question not but for this reason, among many, God thought fit to give them the satisfaction they sought for; and if others, who are assaulted after this manner, would take the same course, I doubt not but that they would find the same success.

The only dissenters he had in this parish were Quakers, who resisted all the endeavours he made to bring them into the church, for they were as obstinate as they were ignorant: who by their impertinent and extravagant manner caused him often no small uneasiness. And of this number was one who was a preacher among them, who would frequently accost Mr. Bull; and once more particularly said he, " George, as for human learning I set no value upon "it; but if thou wilt talk Scripture, have at thee." Upon which Mr. Bull, willing to correct his confidence, and to shew him how unable he was to support his pretensions, answered him, "Come on then, "friend." So opening the Bible, which lay before them, he fell upon the Book of Proverbs; "Seest " thou, friend," said he, " Solomon saith in one place, " Answer a fool according to his folly; and in " another place, Answer not a fool according to his "folly; how dost thou reconcile these two texts of " Scripture?" "Why," said the preacher, " Solomon " don't say so;" to which Mr. Bull replied, “Aye, " but he doth." And turning to the places he soon