4. Nulla cum hie sit mentio lucis, nulla Christi, sed hominum a Christo penitus abalienatorum, difficile nimis erit fanaticis thesiu
476 PKO SACRIS SCRIPTURIS, ETC.
suam hinc extorquere; nempe Christum esse lucem quandara omni- bus coramunem.
5. Fatemur quidem homnes omines aliquo sensu sibi ipsis legem esse, quateous nimirum habitum intellectual em, quo assentiri pos- sunt, atque assentiuntur, principiis operationum moralium, atque judicium pi-acticum, quo se super iis quae fecerunt, condemnant vel excusant, retinent; at vero habitum ilium spiritualem esse, suffici- enter eos dirigentem in cognitione Dei, atque obedientia ei ex vo- luntate ejus praestanda, hoc pernegamus.
Sect. 27. Ciim Deum non "longe abesse ab unoquoque nostrum," ita ut "omnes quaerere Dominum," si forte palpando eum invenirent, de- beant, affirmet apostolus. Act. xvii. 27, nescio quo stupore ex eo ssepius litigantes audivi, sed quid sibi vellent baud facile fait intel- ligere. Nempe Deo oxnma, ple7ia sunt; operaque ejus, turn creationis, tum providentise, immensam ejus deitatem, ^ternam potentiam, et creaturarum curam, ita luculenter ostendunt ut omnes ubique homines eum ulterius investigare debeant: sed quid hoc ad fanaticorum de- lirium, de quo jam actum est?
POEMA.
[Prefatory Note. — Among the addresses presented to Crom-well when he succeeded in concluding a peace with the Dutch in 1654, the University of Oxford joined in the tribute of congratulation by publishing a small pamphlet of poetical effusions, entitled, " Musarum Oxoniensium 'EXa(aipa^;a," etc. The first of these was from the pen of Dr Owen, and is the only specimen of his muse. Prefixed to the work was a dedica- tion, commemorating the services of Cromwell to the University. The dedication and the poem follow. — Ed.]
SERENISSIMO OLIVERO, REIPUB. ANG., SCOT., ET HIRER., DOMINO PROTECTORI, ET ACAD. OXON. CANCELL.
QubD Serb admodum gratulabunda videatur (suo more) tibi accedere academia tua Oxonieusis, ex stupore est ingentis beneficii, ex quo rerum potitus es, suscepti, undo non nisi iteratis gaudiis excitari potuit. Expergefacta tandem, undique mutub sibi gratantium plausibus, pacemque reboantibus terrarum mariumque vocibus, festinanter, et vix forsan composite decurrens, coram Celsitudine vestra devoluta, vota, qute dulci somno soluta conceperat, efifundit. Ad littus appulsi reliquam sentiunt aliquamdiu a jactatione sali vertiginem ; nee, nisi refecti, recta incedunt. Nobis, baud ita pridem, apud ignaros morum quibushic vivimus, reser.at. Lubrica inde ct infidastatio. More autem hominura evenit, ut pronis auribus calumnia excipiatur, laudi rara fides. Hinc modb gentis gloria et delicite fuimus, mox poene ludibrium. Nee frustra sane oderunt literas, qui posteritatis conscientiam reformidant. Dei immortalis beneficio, suo gradu, per te, sistitur academia. Nonnihil temporis admirationi dicant stupenda ; baud aliis hac tempestate stetit gentis togatae salus. Saevis tandem erepta periculis subito calore, et festinandi quadam libidine, in vota hoec erumpit. Nemini ea gravia fore sperat, nisi cui perennare bellum cordi est, donee desertas urbes teneant antris ejectse ferte, et antra vicissim occupent, pulsi urbibus, homines. Neque enim illud genus hominum attendunt musce, quod rebus gerendis cum sit vehementer inipar, vehementer tamen afFectat rerum imperia. Inde vero extra tela positi videamur, qubd tute nostri patro- cinium proximo suscipere non dedignaris : neque alio a teipso monitore apud Celsitu- dinem vestram nobis opus est. Intercessoribus plerumque infida spes, prsesertim in aulis principum, ubi rara absentium memoria, nisi opprimendis. Pads ideo laudes, apud teipsum, rebus bellicis omni nostra laude majorem, plurimis victoriis quxsitie, et qiiaqu^ patet orbis Christianus seternum celebrandje, academiam tuam canora voce resonantem, benigne (hoc est tuo more) ut accipias, humillime precatur,
Serenissimae Celsitudini ture
Dcvotissimus cliens,
Et
In celeberrima Academia tua
Procancellarius,
Jo. Owen.
478 POEMA.
AD PEOTECTOEEM.
Pacifica August! quem non fecere poetam ?
Sanctior, ingenium et musa mihi, genius : Coneolor haucl cygnis, vano nee percitus cestro,
Ex humili subitus vate poeta cano. Quin magis ut placeam nuraero, numerisque refertus
Advolo : nempe omnis musa cholysque tua est. Qubcl nisi consiliis academia fulta fuisset
Csesaris, auspiciis gensque togata tuis ; Excideras Auguste tibi, victoria noctem
Senserat, baud pacis gloria tanta foret. Has tibi pro musis grates academia inittit,
Qui pax una foris diceris, una domi : Nomine utroque tuas laudes base pagina gestit
Tollere, qui pacis nomen et omen babes. Accipias facilis, meritb quos reddit bonores,
Heroi invicto, pacis arnica cobors.
Jo. Owen,
Acad. Procan.
ORATIONES Y.
CLARISSIMI ET DOCTISSIMI VIET, JOANNIS OWEX, S.T P.
lU CELEBEKEIMA OXONrENSI ACADEMIA HABITS, DUM PROCANCELLABII MUNUS PER QUINQUENNIUM ILLIC ADMINISTRAVIT,
HIS ALIA ORATIO ACCEDIT,
EJUSDEM ACADEMI.C NOMINE AD RICHARDtTM CKOMWELLDM HABITA, CUM CANCELLARII OFFICIUM ANNO 1658 SUSCEPIT.
PREFATORY NOTE.
These Orations are perhaps the only memorials of Owen's connection with the Uni- versity of Oxford. Even in the judgment of his enemies, during his brief connection ■with it, he rendei'ed it no mean service ; so that, in answer to the calumnies of Vernon, he could say, " I do not believe there is any person of learning, ingenuity, or modesty, who had relation in those days to that place, hut will grant at least, that, notwithstand- ing some differences from them about things of very small importance, I was not altogether useless to the interest of learning, morality, peace, and the preservation of the place itself" Besides those who matriculated, 26 pei'sons receiA'ed the degree of Doctor, 837 that of Master of Arts, and 697 that of Bachelor of Arts. The salaries of the professors were secui-ed, important offices maintained, the rights of the Uni- versity defended, its funds increased tenfold, and various reforms effected. Clarendon distinctly admits the improvement which was effected at Oxford during the time that Owen was vice-chancellor.