* Cotton. Magnalia Christi Americana ; or the Ecclesiastical History of New England, book iii., c i., § 5, p, 15. Folio, 1702.
t Robert Trail, A.M., Justification by Faith, Works, vol. i. p. 261 (edition 4 vols. 8vo, 1810).
MEMOIR OF KICEARD SIBBES, D.D. TTTIX
the university was a very different thing from the stern reproofs, bold invectives, burning remonstrances, prophet-like appeals of William Perkins. What was now cultivated and extolled was a frivolous, florid eloquence, that boasted itself on its deftly-turned tropes, its high-flown paraphrases of the classics, especially Seneca and Cicero, and the Fathers, the multiplied quotations of the ' ser- mons' published shewing like purple patches on a thread-bare robe. There was trick of manner, mellifluous cadence, simpering refine- ment, nothing more. The Senhouses et hoc genus omne sprinkled eau-de-cologne over their hearers (if they durst it had been ' holy water'), while parched lips were athirst for the ' living water' — tickled the ear when the heavily-laden soul sought pardon, the weary rest, the bruised balm. The cross lifted up on Calvary be- neath the pallid heavens — the cross as proclaimed by Paul — was ' vulgar,' and to be kept out of sight. The awful blood must first be wiped off — the coarse nails withdrawn. Whoso gainsays, let him turn to their extant ' Sernx)ns.' But amid the faithless some faithful were found. There were some not ashamed of the gospel/ some who could stand and withstand 'the loud laugh.' The 'towns- people' would have that which the ' collegians' (so they called them) rejected. In such circumstances we may conceive that the ministry of Sibbes could scarcely fail to be a ministry of power. ' The Day* alone will fully reveal its fruits.
CHAPTER IV.
* preacher' at gray's inn, LONDON.
'Deprived' of Lectureship and 'Outed' from Fellowship — Sir Henry Yelverton — ' Preacher' at Gray's Inn — Correction of date — The ' Chapel' — The ' Inn' — Segar MS.— The Auditory— Lord Bacon.
From 1610 to 1615, Sibbes held his lectureship and other honours without molestation. But in the latter year he was de^ prived (' outed,' says Clarke) both of his fellowship and lecture. Even thus early Laud was at work against all Puritanism and 'preaching ;' and this was the manner of his working. However, as in many other instances, while there was unquestionable hard- ship and hurt done by the double deprivation, it ' fell out for the furtherance of the gospel' Sir Henry Yelverton, that ' constant patron to godly ministers,' stepped in and secured the 'preacher- f hip ' of ' Gray's Inn,' London, for him. All preceding authorities
ll MEMOIR OF EICHAKD SIBBES, D.D.
give 1618 — the 'Synod of Dort' year — or 'about 1618,' as the date of this well-timed appointment. This is incorrect. I found the fol- lowing entry in the ' Order-Books : ' *
; * Quinto die, Feb. a.d. 1616.
• At this penton [pension] Mr Kichd. Sibbs is chosen preacher of Graies Inne ; and it is ordered that he shal be continually resident, and shaU not take any other benefice or livinge.' f
This appointment introduced him at a bound to the first society of the metropolis.
Among the treasures of the British Museum is a noble folio, drawn up from the books of 'Gray's Inn,' by Segar, one of the society's former ' butlers.' + In it, with superb blazonry of shield and scutcheon, and all the 'pomp of heraldry,' are registered the names of those who were resident 'readers, benchers, an- cients, barristers, students,' from the earliest date. If one had the Greek of Homer, or the 'large utterance' of Milton, or even the rhetoric of Macaulay, it were possible to revivify the auditory of the 'chapel.' A more illustrious can scarcely be imagined. The flower of the old nobility, the greatest names of the state and of history, men who mark epochs, were embraced in it. I have looked through the roll from 1616 to 1635 — the period of Sibbes's; office — and almost at random I note Abbots and Ashleys, Audleys and Amhersts, Bacons and Barnardistons, Boyles and Brookes, Bradshaws and Barrows, Cromwells and Cholmleys, Cornwallises
* 'Order Books.' These are deposited at 'Gray's Inn,' -where I had the privilege of an unrestricted examination of them. The volume from which I make all my excerpts, is a huge folio, marked ' Gray's Inn. Book of Orders. II. of Eliz. to XVIII. of Ghs. II.'
t ' Chapel ' of ' Gray's Inn.' I cull from the ahove authority a record of the foundation of the ' preachership ' to which Sibbes was elected : —
Chapell.
' It ai)pearoth as well by a deed of the Cort of Augmentacons, bearings date the 10th of November, in ye 33th (sic) yeare of ye reigne of King Henry 8. As also by an Exemplificacon thereof, made ye 12th November in ye said yeare. As also by anotluT Exemplificacon thereof, granted by ye late Queen Elizab., dated at "Westminster tlic 12t]i of ffebruary, in the fourth yeare of her reigne. That ye treasurer of ye Cort of Augmentacons, of ye said revenue of ye crowne, for the time beinge, sliould yeavely pay out of ye said treasurrcs to ye treasurer of ye house of Qrayc's Tun, Nigh llolborne, in ye county of Midd. for ye time being, ye sume of vi xiij iiij'' (£G, 13s. 4d ), in recompense of a yearly stipend of vij xiij iiij (£7, 133. 4d ), well, was duely proved before yo said Cort of Augmentacons to be issuinge out of yo possessions of yo late monasterie of St Bartholomew in Smithfield, besides London ; and of riglit payabhi, time out of mind, by ye prior and convent of the said monastrie and tlieir p'decossors, for ye findinge of a cliaplaine to celebrate divine Bervico in yo chapell of Graye's Inn aforesaid, for ye students, gent., and fellowes of ye said house," &c. &c. &c.