a conversation with the Primate, says: "I have heard of his prediction that Popery would be restored again in England for a short time, and then fall for ever: and asking

"I then asked him by what instruments this great trial would be brought on? He answered, by the Papists.' I replied, that they were less countenanced and less in number in these nations, and the hearts of the people were more set against them, than ever since the Reformation.' He answered, that it would be by their hands, and in the way of a sudden massacre, and that the now Pope would be the instrument of it.'

"And these things he spoke with the assurance and ireful look that I have observed him to speak with, when I have heard him myself predict things very unlikely in human appearance to come, which I myself had then lived to see happen according to his predictions; which made me give more attention to what he uttered.

"And he then added, that the Papists were in his opinion the Gentiles spoken of in Rev. ii., to whom the outward court should be left, that they may tread it under foot, they having received the Gentile worship in their adoring images and saints departed, and taken to themselves many media'And this,' said he, 'is now designing among them, and therefore look you be ready.'

tors.

"This was the substance, and for the greatest part (I think) the words themselves, which that holy man spake to me."

It is then stated that these prophecies were repeated to his daughter, and the following letter is given from her, in answer to inquiries upon the subject:

"SIR,-I cannot speak so punctually to the particulars of your paper, but much of it I have heard him speak with great assurance in the beginning of summer, before the rebellion in Ireland. Sir Thomas Barrington's lady was inquiring his opinion of the interpreters of the Revelations and of the prophecies of Daniel; she was desirous to hear whither the last bitter dregs would be poured out upon the world. I can never forget with what trouble he expressed his answer, viz., That he could not see but that God intended them on the northern parts. And,' said he, 'I besought God in mercy to divert a share of the time from our dominions, and that they may not begin with poor Ireland. But we must all (said he) taste of them.' I am certain Mrs. Barrington, who is yet living, was present at this discourse as well as myself, when my father, among other admonitions, was pleased to give me his commands to be prepared for times of persecution: for he feared wicked people would for a time prevail, and that the persecution would be sharp, but would not last long. The last day that I saw my dear father he told me that I should see in a short time London burnt; at which when I was troubled; 'Yes,' says he, 'it will be burnt to a cinder' (that was his expression): 'How can we expect other than judgment upon the seat of rebellion and sin, and miseries that have proceeded from thence.' He was also confident of his Majesty's return within five years or less. He said, it will

him of it, he pretended to me no prophetical revelation for it to himself, but only his judgment of the sense of the Apocalypse."

Of the Primate as a man of learning it is almost unnecessary to speak; the works which he has published sufficiently attest the stupendous extent of his information", and

be in a short time; you will live to see it, but I shall not:' and said, 'my thoughts and dreams are often troubled by being carried by violence into a great church.' These were his last discourses to her who is Your faithful Servant, "E. TYRREL."

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I cannot discover any evidence for the authenticity of this letter. The preceding part is said to be quoted from a Manuscript in the Museum Thoresbianum, and has been nearly published in a pamphlet, "Bishop Usher's second prophesie, which was delivered to his daughter on his sick bed, wherein is contained divers prophetick sayings for the years 1680, 1681, 1682, 1683, 1684, which were by him predicted for the said years." This is generally printed at the end of another tract, with the title "Strange and remarkable Prophecies and Predictions of the holy, learned, and excellent James Usher, late Lord Archbishop of Armagh and Lord Primate of Ireland." London, 1678.

If the author of these tracts had been endeavouring to prove by his publication that the Archbishop had not the gift of prophecy, he could not have been more successful.

P Quis non mirabitur stupendam ejus industriam ac plane incredibilem; qui libros studiorum suorum instrumenta undecunque terrarum diligenter conquisivit? Primus ille omnium ex Oriente per procuratores suos Pentateuchum Samaritanum Europæ intulit (uti testis est Seldenus in editionis consilio ante marmora sua Arundeliana) cujus tribus e Syria delatis exemplaribus Bodleianam, Leidensem et Cottonianam ditavit bibliothecas, quartum autem sibimet ipsi reservavit. Qui plures libros legit quam cæteri conspexerunt, plures autem conscripsit quam alius quivis, tot negotiis certe curisque districtus, vel legere unquam sustinuisset. Qui sæpius Evangelium prædicavit quam alii quidem plurimi, qui omnem suam vitam et operam in illo uno collocarunt; qui sæpius hostem diputando profligavit, quam reliqui conspexerunt. Quid porro memorem illud epistolare commercium, quod ille cum plurimis viris doctis quotidie fere exercebat, quo eruditionis vel conscientiæ nodos solveret? Quantum interim temporis in consulendis consolandisque aliis impertiebat? Quantum in excipiendis advenis? Siquidem in accessibus comes admodum erat et affabilis. Quantum in privatis precibus, quantum in domesticis quotidie impertiebat? Quod denique laboris in munere suo publico, ac ecclesiarum omnium rebus administrandis exantlabat? Quæ ego omnia dum mecum recolo, non possum certo quin exclamare (quid de Cæsare olim Cicero) O horribilem plane diligentiam.-Dillingham in Vit. Usserii, pag. 81.82.

the skill with which he could make use of the treasures he possessed. His name became celebrated throughout Europe, and his services to the cause of literature, more particularly in the departments of history and chronology, have been acknowledged by all modern writers. The panegyric of Selden has been repeated from every part of Europe: "Jacobus Usserius, Archiepiscopus Armachanus, vir summa pietate, judicio singulari, usque ad miraculum doctus et literis severioribus promovendis natus." Bishop Walton placed him at the head of his literary benefactors, and consulted him on every difficult question which occurred. The Bishop says of him, "Consilium suum quando ipsum convenirem libenter impertivit, quo in multis me adjutum profiteor; haud inique tamen tulit, quo erat animi candore, si in quibusdam dissensum libere profiterer." It appears, however, from the critical treatises in the last volume of the Polyglot, and from the vindication of the whole work, that the editor most frequently bowed to the learning and judgment of the Pri

Prolegomen. ad Marmor. Arundel. Inscriptiones.

The name of the Archbishop is signed to the recommendation of the work in the prospectus first put forth.

"Whereas there hath been presented unto us a draught of an edition of the Bible, in the original and other learned languages, with a proof of printed paper, wherein the same are, in several columns, represented to the reader's view at once, and that (as is suggested) according to better copies and editions than those of the Complut. Antwerp and Paris Bibles, besides sundry needful additions which are wanting in them, whereby the edition will become more perfect, and fitter for use than those formerly mentioned, and yet the price very much lessened, We whose names are here subscribed, having viewed and well considered the said design, and being desired to give our judgments and opinions thereof, do conceive, that both in regard of the said editions and copies, which are more exact and perfect than those followed in other Bibles; and of the various readings and additions mentioned in the said draught, as also of the method and order wherein the said languages are digested; this work will become more complete and perfect, and also more useful than any that hath been hitherto published in that kind; and that the printing thereof will conduce much to the glory of God and the public honour of our nation. And therefore we do heartily desire that it may receive all due encouragement from all whom it may concern.

"JA. ARMACHANUS.

"J. SELDEN."

mate, who contributed the various readings of sixteen manuscripts, which he had collated.

Nor was the assistance he gave to literary men confined to the eastern languages. He appears to have been most anxious about the study of northern antiquities, which lay buried in the Gothic and Saxon languages. The learned Abraham Whelock, Professor of Arabic and Saxon in the University of Cambridge, in the preface to the Saxon translation of Bede's History, acknowledges the encouragement he received from the Primate in carrying on his Saxon lectures at the University and in his notes upon the Persian Gospels expresses his obligations for the information he obtained from the same eminent scholar, as to the Doxology of the Lord's Prayer found in an ancient Gothic version of the Gospels. Francis Junius, in publishing an ancient Saxon poem, supposed to be written by Cadmon, a monk, states that he was supplied with the manuscript by the Archbishop of Armagh; and he also published a very learned letters from the Primate to himself, relating to the Gothic translation of the four Gospels, which he transcribed from the Codex Argenteus.

The Primate's ideas of what could be effected by human. industry have been embodied in the answer to a request, that he would give directions in writing for the advancement of solid and useful learning, both sacred and profane. The Primate thought the object would be best attained,

1. By learned notes and illustrations of the Bible.

2. By considering and inquiring into the ancient councils. and works of the Fathers.

3. By the orderly writing and digesting of ecclesiastical history.

4. By gathering together whatsoever may concern the state of the Jews from the destruction of Jerusalem to the present age.

5. By collecting of all the Greek and Roman histories, and digesting them into a body.

For the purpose of carrying out this gigantic undertaking,

Works, vol. 16. pag. 189.

he proposed that the most learned men from the two English Universities should be presented to the prebends in the different cathedral churches, and enjoined to devote their time to the advancement of this great object. So early as the year 1626, he had addressed a letter to the University of Oxford, urging the revival' of the works of the ancient Fathers of the Church; from which the following extract is preserved by Dr. Parr: "The business of reviving the ancient Fathers works in Latin (so long projected and so many years followed by Dr. James) I do greatly approve, and judge it to be (as the times now are, and the books now printed at Cologne and elsewhere) most necessary, tending to the great honor of this famous university; the benefit of them that shall be imployed therein, and the great good of the Church: And if the heads of the university would be pleased, or might be intreated to incourage and employ some of their younger divines herein (whereof I see so great store, and some I have found very painful in another kind) I shall think myself greatly honored by this University (as I confess I have been very much already) if by my means they may be the rather encouraged to the performance of this great work." The proposal, unfortunately, was not carried into effect. The

The constant advice of the Primate to young students was, not to confine themselves to epitomes, but to set themselves in earnest to read the ancient authors; to begin with the Fathers and peruse their works in chronological order, and carefully to peruse along with them the Church histories of the period, by which the student would understand the rise and progress of the various heresies, and the particular doctrines and ceremonies which prevailed or were introduced in each century. He dissuaded young divines from studying the writings of the schoolmen farther than was necessary for understanding the controversies with the Church of Rome, as their works were calculated only to puzzle, and tended to advance neither religion nor learning, being well described by Prudentius:

"Fidem minutis dissecant ambagibus

Ut quisque lingua est nequior:
Solvunt ligantque quæstionum vincula
Per syllogismos plectiles."

The Archbishop was particularly anxious that new terms should not be introduced into theological discussions; he always suspected those who changed the terms used by the ancient writers, and quoted the maxim, Qui nova facit verba, nova gignit dogmata."

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