(Venice, 1613); but though the anecdote suits the character of that saintly prelate, it is expressly said (1. 12) to be told of a bishop of name unknown.]

HERE is no Kind of a fragmental Note

That pleases better than an Anecdote
Or Fact unpublish'd, when it comes to rise,
And give the more agreeable Surprise.
From long Oblivion sav'd, an useful Hint
Is doubly grateful, when reviv'd in Print.
A late and striking Instance of this Kind
Delighted many an attentive Mind;
This Anecdote my Task is to rehearse,
As highly fit to be consign'd to Verse.

There liv'd a Bishop, once upon a Time,-
Where, is not said, but Italy the Clime,-
An honest, pious Man, who understood
How to behave as a true Bishop should;
But thro' an Opposition, form'd to blast
His good Designs by Men of diff'rent Cast,
He had some tedious Struggles and a Train
Of rude Affronts and Insults to sustain,-
And did sustain; with calm, unruffled Mind
He bore them all, and never once repin'd.
An intimate Acquaintance, one who knew
What Difficulties he had waded thro'
Time after Time, and very much admir'd
A Patience so provok'd and so untir'd,
Made bold to ask him, if he could impart
Or teach the Secret of his happy Art.

"Yes," said the good old Prelate, “that I can;
And 'tis a plain and practicable Plan.

For all the Secret that I know of, lies

In making a right Use of my own Eyes."

ΙΟ

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1

Begg'd to explain himself, how that should be,
"Why, in whatever State I am," said he,
"I first look up to Heav'n, as well aware,
That to get thither is my main Affair.

I then look down upon the Earth and think,
In a short space of Time how small a Chink
I shall possess of its extensive Ground;
And then I cast my seeing Eyes around,
Where more Distress appears on ev'ry Side
Amongst Mankind than I myself abide.
So that, reflecting on my own Concern,
First, where true Happiness is plac'd, I learn ;
Next, let the World to what it will pretend,
I see where all its Good and Ill must end;
Last,-how unjust it is, as well as vain,
Upon a fair Discernment, to complain.
Thus, looking up and down and round about,
Right use of Eyes may find my Secret out:
'With Heav'n in view,-his real Home, in fine,-
Nothing on Earth should make a Man repine.''

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[These beautiful lines may, both from their general character and from the circumstance that the friend is twice (ll. 1 and 51) addressed as "dear Child," be surmised to have been written in Byrom's later years. He would hardly have addressed a friend of his own age after this fashion, like Horace Walpole. The theme of Resignation may be described as akin to that of Contentment, of which Byrom was so fond (cf. ante vol. i. p. 121), but more spiritual in its nature. The Second Book of Jacob Böhme's The Way to Christ Discovered (English Translation, Manchester, 1752) treats of True Resignation. Byrom's Library

(see Catalogue, p. 237) contains Dr. Worthington's book entitled The Great Duty of Self-Resignation to the Divine Will, and stated to contain the substance of several sermons on the subject delivered by the author when in cumbentof St. Bene't-Fink, including one on the example of Job, preached on the Sunday when the Great Fire of London broke out which laid this church and parish in ashes.]

D

EAR Child, know this, that He Who gave thee Breath,
Almighty God, is Lord of Life and Death,

And all Things that concern them, such as these,—

Youth, Health, or Strength; Age, Weakness, or Disease!
Wherefore, whatever thy Affliction be,

Take it as coming from thy God to thee!

Whether to teach thee Patience be its End;

Or to instruct such Persons as attend,

That Faith and Meekness, tried by Suff'rings past,

May yield Increase of Happiness at last;

1Ο

Or whether it be sent for some Defect,

Which He, who wants to bless thee, would correct,--
Certain it is, that if thou dost repent,

And take thy Cross up patiently, when sent,

Trusting in Him Who sends it thee, to take

For Jesus Christ His Son, thy Saviour's, Sake,

Wholly submitting to His blessed Will,
Whose Visitation seeks thy Profit still,--
All that thou dost, or ever canst endure,

Will make thy everlasting Joy more sure!

Take therefore what befalls thee in good Part,

As a Prescription of Love's Healing Art!
"Whom the Lord loveth He chastiseth too,"
Saith Paul, "and scourgeth with a Saving View."

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If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement,

23 seqq. "Whom the Lord loveth He he receiveth. chastiseth too," &c. See Hebrews, xii. 6-10: "For whom the Lord loveth he chastiseth, and scourgeth every son whom

It is the Mark by which He owns a Child,
Without it not so honourably styl'd.
Fathers according to the Flesh, when they
Correct them, Children rev'rence and obey;
How much more justly may That Father claim,
By Whom we live eternally, the same!
They oft chastise thro' Humour of their own,
He always for our greater Good alone,-
Chast'ning below, that we may rise above,
Holy and happy in our Father's Love.

These Things, for Comfort and Instruction fit,
In Holy Scripture for our Sakes are writ,
That with a patient and enduring Mind
In all Conditions we may be resign'd;
And, rev'rencing our Father and our Friend,

Take what His Goodness shall be pleas'd to send.
What greater Good, considering the Whole,
Than Christ's Own Likeness in a Christian Soul
By patient Suff'ring? Think what Ills, before
He enter'd into Joy, our Saviour bore;
What Things He suffer'd to retrieve our Loss,
And make His Way to Glory thro' the Cross
The Way for us; He wanted none to make
But for the poor lost human Sinner's Sake;
For them He suffer'd more than Words can tell,
Or Thought conceive. Reflect upon it well,

whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards and not sons. Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our

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profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness."

45 seqq. What things He suffer'd, &c. Cf. Hymn for Christmas, 11. 39-40 (ante, p. 22).

"Trace we the Babe Who has retriev'd our Loss

From His poor Manger to His bitter Cross!"

Dear Child, and whether Life or Death remains,
Depend on Him to sanctify thy Pains;

To be Himself thy strong Defence, and Tow'r;
To make thee know and feel His saving Pow'r!
Still taught by Him repeat, "Thy Will be done"
And trust in God thro' His Beloved Son.

A POETICAL VERSION OF A LETTER FROM JACOB BEHMEN TO A FRIEND, ON THE SAME OCCASION.

[The original of the following paraphrase will be found in the English Translation, by J. E. [Ellistone] of thirty-three of the Theosophische Sendbriefe, written by Jacob Böhme to friends during the years 1618 to 1624, and containing, together with references to his personal circumstances, much information as to the origin of his writings and the requisites for understanding him. The English Translation, of which there are two copies in Byrom's Library, bears the title The Epistles of Jacob Behmen, aliter, Teutonicus Philosophus, very useful and necessary for those that read his Writings, and are very full of excellent and plaine Instructions how to attaine to The Life of Christ. Translated out of the German Language. London, 1649; and in the copy which I have used, the following epistle, which it seems worth while to reprint verbatim, occupies pp. 123–7:

A LETTER WRITTEN TO ONE IN TEMPTATION, AND TROUBLE OF MINDE, SHOWING WHENCE IT ARISETH.

Our Salvation is in the life of Jesus Christ, in Us.

1. Dear Sir, my Fellow-member, and Brother in Christ our Saviour; my cordial wish and co-operating desire of the Divine Love and Grace premised; I desire to let you know in Christian Love, that I have considered your condition in a Christian Sympathy and fellow-feeling; and have brought it before the gracious compassion of the most high, to see what he would be pleased to let me know therein.

2. Whereupon, Sir, I must tell you, that I in the same gracious compassion obtained such an insight and Vision of your condition and Temptation, that the ground and