The works of the Reverend and learned John Lightfoot D. D., late Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge such as were, and such as never before were printed : in two volumes : with the authors life and large and useful tables to each volume : also three maps : one of the temple drawn by the author himself, the others of Jervsalem and the Holy Land drawn according to the author's chorography, with a description collected out of his writings.

XV. His Temper and Spirit, Piety and Vertues.

AND thus having gone through the most remarkable stages of his Life and labours in an historical way; let us now stop a little, and by way of reflection look back upon the Man, the subject of this long discourse, and take some notice of his Temper, Course and manner of Life. He was of a comly Person, and a full and sizable propor∣tion, of a mild and somewhat ruddy Countenance, and a most strong and hail constitu∣tion: good signatures of his mind. Easie of access, grave, but yet affable and courteous in his deportment, and of a sweet, obliging innocent and communicative conversation. And though he was plain and unaffected, yet there appeared somewhat of a becoming gentility in his behaviour. When he light into company of ingenious and good Men he was free and discoursive; but if he happened to be present, where rude, idle or debauch∣ed talk was, he was silent and most uneasie, and would take his leave as soon as he could. He was very temperate and abstemious in his diet, the noblest part of Physick, as Queen Elizabeth used to call it: his Food was plain, and coarse; Wine he altogether abstained from, and likewise from Beer and Ale abroad, drinking only Water; except he were at home where he had his Beer brewed for him, which was very small; and that he delight∣ed in, drinking it also very new. He eat seldom above once a day, namely, a Dinner on the week days, and a Supper on Sundays. Whereby he redeemed the more time for his Studies, and preserved himself in such a constant good plight of health. He was of a Genius more curious than ordinary, affecting an inquiry into hidden things, and to tread unbeaten ways: as may be sufficiently judged by the Studies that he followed. He seemed to be inquisitive into the nature of Spirits, and concerning the apparitions of de∣ceased persons. There was a long account of the appearance of a Spirit in Driffeild a Town in Yorkshire, which was sent to Dr. Burton, when fellow of Magdalen College in Cambridge by a friend of his, formerly his Collegian, he receiving the Relation from the Woman her self, to whom this Spirit often appeared. This Letter Dr. Burton communicated to our Doctor, who transcribed it with his own Hand, though it filled almost a sheet of paper, as not only pleasing his curiosity, and satisfying him of the Truth of apparitions, but also surprizing him by the various and strange discourse that that Spirit used: too long here to be repeated. He was of a very meek and tender spirit, easily discouraged, often melting into tears. I have been told, that being to give a publick Admonition to a lad of his College for being guilty of some high misdemeanors; The College Bell being rung, and the Students met together in the Hall, the Master gave the Scholar his admonition with much gravity, and with as much compassion, tears being observed to stand in his Eyes while he did it. This soft disposition made him easily dis∣couraged. I know not to what better to attribute that passage, whereby the World had almost been deprived of his excellent Tract of the Temple: Which was this (as he him∣self tells it) That going that very morning that he began his Description of the Temple, to see a piece of Land, but a mile off from his House, which he had been owner of ma∣ny years, but never saw, he chose to take direction, and so to go alone by himself for meditation sake. But in fine mist his way, and lost himself. Here his Heart (he said) took him to task, and called him fool, so studiously to search into things remote, and that so little concerned his interest, and so neglective of what was near him in place, and that so particularly concerned him: and a fool again, to go about to describe to others places and buildings, that lay so many hundred miles off, as from hence to Canaan, and under so many hundred years ruines; and yet not able to know or find the way to a field of his own that lay so near. And this so far prevailed upon him, that it put him upon a resolution to lay by that work; and so he did for some time, till afterward his Bookish mind made him take it in hand again. So easily, and upon such little accidents are gene∣rous Spirits sometimes daunted. No Man was more sensible of favours than he, and none more apt to pass by injuries: being of a calm, settled and undisturbed Spirit.

He was also wary, and discreet in his purposes, duly weighing circumstances, and peircing into the consequences of things. This appeared in the Arguments he made use of against certain City Ministers many years ago, more zealous, than wise, and some of them Assembly Men, who earnestly advised to lay aside the Celebration of Christmas day; When besides reasons taken from Religion; as that the thing was in it self lawful, and that our Saviour preached at the Feast of Dedication, which had an humane Original: he urged the inconveniences of it in point of prudence; as That it would bring an Odium upon the Assembly, That it would certainly breed a Tumult: and that it would be safer to let such things alone to Authority, than for them to meddle in. Which be∣spake him to be a well advised Man, as well as one not affecting novelties. And another

thing shewed his acuteness as well as his prudence. That it being moved in the Assembly, that when any went out of the Assembly before all rose, he should solemnly make his obeysance (that the better notice, I suppose, should be taken of such as went out) this being even ready to pass, our Doctor desired, that they might not leave it upon their Re∣cords to posterity, that this Assembly had need to take order for common Reverence and Civili∣ty. Upon which it was laid by, and the Order reversed.

But his spiritual endowments, as he was a Minister and a Christian, rendred him more illustrious, than all his natural and acquired. These made him beloved of God, as the others valued and admired of Men. He took a good course at first for the better prepa∣ring himself for the Ministry. For after his departure from Cambridge having spent two or three years in the County, where he made an entrance into his Hebrew studies, he re∣solves to come up to London to take the opportunity of the Divinity Library there: thereby to furnish himself with a good stock of Reading and Learning, proper to the holy Employment he had undertaken, before he engaged himself further in it. Here he lay for some years close and private, and read over the Fathers, and many other Books tending to the furthering his Divinity studies. He preached then indeed but seldom, or not at all, his business now being something else. But when some, who had a mind to have themselves eased by his labour, charged this upon him, as a crime of idleness; to clear himself of that imputation, he published his first Book, to let the World see he was not idle, though he preached not. He never cared to be accused of idleness: and his own conscience cleared him of that (as he tells us before that Book) though he con∣fessed, that he was not so hasty, as many be, to intrude himself where there is no necessity. But when he had taken the charge of Souls upon him, in all the parts of the Ministerial Function, he was very diligent: A constant Preacher, resorting to his Parish Church, which stood a mile distant, every Sunday, Winter and Summer, wet and dry, unless abroad, or hindred by sickness. He failed not to visit the sick, whensoever sent for, compassionating their condition, and administring wholsom counsils and comforts to them. He was a great enemy to Schism and Faction, and uncharitable separation from the Church; and did use to press Communion both in his Sermons and ordinary discourses. And it may not be amiss to mention the notable argument he used to manage in the be∣half of holding Communion with the National Church: which was our Lords Example. This he often and convincingly urged in this case: and particularly, but some few months before his death, in one of his ordinary Sermons he had these words. Let me ask them (meaning the neglecters of the Publick Worship) do they think that our Saviour ever let Sabbath day pass in all his time, while here, but he was present at the Publick Service, either in the Temple or in the Synagogue. Look the Gospel through, and see by the current of the story there, whether ever he absented himself from the Publick Congregation on the Sabbath day. Read that Luke IV. 16. (To spare more) He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and, as his custom was, went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read. It was his custom to go to the Synagogue, to the Publick Service and Congregation on the Sabbath day, and he never failed of it. And he stood up for to read in his own Town-Synagogue, as owning himself a member of that Congregation. For it is not recorded that he read in any Synagogue beside. It was his Custom to go to the Publick Congre∣gation on the Sabbath day: it is these Mens custom not to come there. He never absented himself from the Publick Meeting, these Men account it Religion to absent themselves ever. Is our Publick Service more corrupt than theirs was then? If it be, let them shew it. If it be not, let them give a reason, why they go so directly contrary to our Saviours own practice. Generally his Sermons were very plain, as preached to a Country Auditory, and practi∣cal, recommending above all things piety and a good life; and if he chanced to fall up∣on controversial points in the course of his Sermons, he would strive in few words to pass over the controversie, and while he was upon it, to render it as useful and service∣able to pious ends, as he could. His Sermons always carried a sweet and easie strain with them; a Rhetorick peculiar to himself, notably raising attention, and making a quick impression upon the Affections. Insomuch as he seldom failed of a great Auditory: having scarce one in his Parish, that absented from his Ministery. And another qualifi∣cation he had of a good Clergy-man, and that was his Charity: which was free and large. His House was a continual Hospital; none went away thence unrelieved, which was so well known, that he had a more than common charge at his Door. For such was his compassionate Spirit, that all sorts of comers, pretending need, partook of his libe∣rality: and he would frequently bring poor people within Doors to his fire, to warm them as well as feed and cloth them. Besides he used in the Winter seasons to find work for the poor of his Parish, as spinning, &c. Whereby at once industry and labour might be encouraged, and poverty succored. And his secret charities are supposed considerable. For he had 300 l. per annum; and no charge, nor visible expence, and yet spent all.

Take him in his more private Capacity, he was a truly pious and devout Christian to∣wards God. This was his friend Dr. Castels character of him. I know no Man under Heaven, whose Voicinity would make my life more patiently tolerated, than to be near one, who hath in him so much of Heaven, as you have. On the Lords days abroad as well as at home, he always forbore eating or drinking till the Evening Service were over, that he might be the more intent upon his Devotions and Meditations in private, and the freer from dul∣ness and drowsiness in publick, a thing so unbecoming the Worship of God. Whenso∣ever he returned home from a journy, it was his manner to pass through his House, to his retirements, without saluting or speaking to any body, unless they came in his way, till he had performed his private Devotions. For his food whatsoever it was, he was always very thankful to God; never complaining of any thing at his Table; but ever expressing a thankfulness for what ever was set before him, besides his usual blessing before and after meals. He was indeed 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, an universal Good Man, which reconciled him a reverence wheresoever he came: but for some particular Virtues he deserved

—Monstrari & dicier Hic est,

To be taken notice of and admired. I will instance only in his profound meekness and humility: a Man so learned, of such great abilities beyond most Men, and yet so void of all conceit of himself, so mean, so little, so nothing at all in his own Eyes; that one would wonder to hear the expressions that he useth of himself. In his Epistle to Christs College, you have him in this strain. Cum repeto quantum sine numero, &c. When I recollect what a number, (almost without number) of learned & eminent Men Christs College hath fostered, and brought up, I call my self Dunce and Blockhead, to come from so learned a bosom, and from among so learned a Society, so unlearned, so mean, and obscure, and still so to remain. Oh! dull creature, that I have been and am, in and after so many and so great advantages, and examples of Learning. I rejoyce and triumph, Dearest Nurse, in the multitude of thy Sons, who either have been, or now are, an honour and an ornament to thee. But I am deeply sensible, how void of Learning, how ignorant, how nothing I am: I most freely confess, and lament it; and so he goes on in an elegant strain of Rhetorick to under∣value himself: And subscribes himself Indignissimus Hominum, The most unworthy of Men. Oh! how becoming was so great Learning vailed under so much modesty. And in ano∣ther Epistle to the Reader (That you may see, this was not a single transient fit of hu∣mility, but his constant tenour;) he styles himself, The least of Men and of capacities, who am nothing, and less than nothing in comparison of many thousands. And again, Heu! quam ego, cum Doctos cogito, in oculis meis non sordesco solum, sed & nihilesco. And lastly in respect of his published labours, this is the sense he had of them, and of their Author: Being most ready ever to submit to others, and to acknowledge mine own infirmities, and owning nothing in my self, but sin, weaknesses, and strong desires to serve the Publick. As he writes in the conclusion of his Epistle before the second Part of the Harmony. And this humble Spirit, methinks, I have well reserved to the conclusion of my Discourse up∣on our Doctor, being the very Crown of all his other Virtues and accomplishments. And in this he had outstripped his Masters Master, I mean, Mr. Hugh Broughton; a Man greatly Learned, but as greatly conceited, impatient of contradiction and apt to despise others, which qualities our Doctor never knew.