APPENDIX:

CONTAINING,

I. BISHOP HALL'S PREFACE TO BRINSLEY'S LUDUS LITERARIUS.

II. BISHOP HALL'S CHARACTER OF THE REV. JOHN DOWNE, B. D.

III. ORATIO VALEDICTORIA, APUD SYNODUM DOR

IV.

DRECHTANAM HABITA.

A FORM OF PENANCE AND RECONCILIATION of
AN APOSTATE, BY ARCHBISHOP LAUD AND
BISHOP HALL.

V. CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN ARCHBISHOP USHER AND BISHOP HALL.

VI. LETTER FROM BISHOP HALL TO DR. FULLER.

NOW FIRST COLLECTED.

1839.

APPENDIX.

I. COMMENDATORY PREFACE

TO BRINSLEY'S LUDUS LITERARIUSa.

ARTS are the only helps towards human perfection. Those, therefore, which are the helps towards the easiness, maturity, perfection of arts, deserve best of mankind. Whence it is, that God would not suffer the first devisers, so much as of shepherds' tents, of musical instruments, of iron works, to be unknown to the world: the last whereof, even heathen antiquity hath in common judgment continued, without much difference of name, till this day; although I cannot believe that any of the heathen gods were so ancient. Yea, hence it is, that the Holy Ghost challengeth the faculty even of manuary skill to his own gift; as being too good for nature, and too meritorious of men. That Bezaliel and Aholiab can work curiously in silver and gold for the material tabernacle, is from God's Spirit, and not theirs. How much more is this true in those sciences, which are so essential to the spiritual house of God! As arts are to perfection of knowledge, so is Grammar to all arts. Man differs but in speech and reason (that is, Grammar and Logic) from beasts: whereof, reason is of nature; speech (in respect of the present variation) is of human institution. Neither is it unsafe to say, that this latter is the more necessary of the two. For we both have, and can use, our reason alone: our speech we cannot, without a guide. I subscribe therefore to the judgment of them, that think God was the first author of letters, (which are the first simples of this art;) whether by the hand of Moses, as Clement of Alex

This little piece, (now first introduced among the Works of Bishop Hall,) stands prefixed to a volume entitled "Ludus Literarius, or the Grammar Schoole; shewing how to proceede from the first entrance into learning, to the highest perfection required, with ease, certainty, and delight, both to Masters and Schollars," &c. (by John Brinsley; dedicated to Henry Prince of Wales, and Charles Duke of York.) Lond. 1612, 4to. The Author was the Bishop's nephew, and, besides several volumes on sacred subjects, published a succession of elementary books for the use of Schools.-H.

b Gen. iv. 20-22.-H.

d Vulcan.-H.

VOL. XII.

andria reports from Eupolemus; or rather of the ancienter progeny of Seth, as Josephus. He that gave man the faculty of speech, gave him this means, to teach his speech. And if he were so careful to give man this help, while all the world was of one lip (as the Hebrews speak), how much more, after that miserable confusion of tongues; wherein every man was a Grammar to himself, and needed a new Grammar to be understood of others! It is not therefore unworthy of observation, that God (knowing languages to be the carriage of knowledge) as in his judgment he divided the tongues of those presumptuous builders; so contrarily he sent his Spirit in cloven tongues upon the heads of those master-builders of his Church. What they were suddenly taught of God, we with much leisure and industry learn of men; knowing the tongues so necessary for all knowledge, that it is well if but our younger years be spent in this study.

How serviceable, therefore, is this labour, which is here undertaken, and how beneficial, to make the way unto all learning both short and fair! Our grandfathers were so long under the ferule, till their beards were grown as long as their pens this age hath descried a nearer way; yet not without much difficulty, both to the scholars and teacher. Now, time, experience, and painfulness (which are the means to bring all things to their height) have taught this author yet further, how to spare both time and pains this way unto others; and (that which is most to be approved) without any change of the received grounds. It is the common envy of men, by how much richer treasure they have found, so much more carefully to conceal it. How commendable is the ingenuity of those spirits, which cannot engross good experiments to their private advantage! which had rather do, than have, good! who can be content to cast at once into the common bank of the world, what the studious observation, inquisition, reading, practice of many years have enriched them withal! that which this author hath so freely done; as one that fears not, lest knowledge should be made too easy, or too vulgar.

The Jesuits have won much of their reputation, and stolen many hearts, with their diligence in this kind. How happy shall it be for the Church and us, if we excite ourselves at least to imitate this their forwardness! We may outstrip them, if we want not to ourselves. Behold here, not feet, but wings, offered to us! Neither are these directions of mere speculation; whose promises are commonly as large, as the performance defective: but such as, (for the most part,) to the knowledge of myself and many abler judges, have been, and are daily, answered, in his experience and practice, with more than usual success. What remains, therefore, but that the thankful acceptation of men, and his effectual labours, should mutually