These confusions kept increasing, under different forms, each more ridiculous or more horrid than the other, till this miserable nation, now become the scorn and opprobrium of the whole earth, at length grew tired, rather than ashamed, of its repeated follies. In this temper they hastily recalled the heir of the monarchy: and as the cause of all these miseries had been their insisting on unreasonable conditions from the crown, they did like men driven out of one extreme, who never take breath till they have plunged themselves into another, they strove to atone for their unjust demands upon the virtuous father, by the most lavish concessions to his flagitious son: who succeeded to the inheritance with all those advantages of an undefined prerogative, which an ambitious prince could wish for the foundation of an arbitrary system: A sad presage to the friends of liberty, that their generous labours were not yet at an end! Indeed, within less than half a century, the old family projects, taken up again by the two last princes of this line, revived the public quarrel. But it was conducted under happier auspices, not by the assistance of SECRETARIES, but by the NATIONAL CHURCH; and concluded in the final establishment of a free constitution. BISHOP WARBURTON. ADVERTISEMENT. THE Life of Bishop Sanderson, written by Isaac Walton in the eighty-fifth year of his age, is here printed intire from the third impression, prefixed to his Sermons, and bearing date 1686. It was first published in a somewhat less correct state, in the year 1678, and was then accompanied by some short Tracts, written by Sanderson, and by a Sermon of Richard Hooker's, found in the study of bishop Andrews; circumstances which it is proper to mention, for the purpose of explaining some passages in the following Preface. TO THE RIGHT REVEREND AND HONOURABLE GEORGE, LORD BISHOP OF WINCHESTER, PRELATE OF THE GARTER, AND ONE OF HIS MAJESTY'S PRIVY COUNCIL. MY LORD, IF I should undertake to enumerate the many favours and advantages I have had by my very long acquaintance with your lordship, I should enter upon an employment, that might prove as tedious, as the collecting of the materials for this poor monument, which I have erected, and do dedicate to the memory of your beloved friend Dr. Sanderson. But, though I will not venture to do that; yet, I do remember with pleasure and remonstrate with gratitude, that your lordship made me known to him, Mr. Chillingworth, and Dr. Hammond; men, whose merits ought never to be forgotten. My friendship with the first was begun almost forty years past, when I was as far from a thought, as a desire to out-live him; and farther from an intention to write his life: but the wise Disposer of all men's lives and actions hath prolonged the first, and now permitted the last; which is here dedicated to your lordship (and as it ought to be) with all humility, and a desire that it may remain, as a public testimony of my gratitude. My lord, Your most affectionate old friend, And most humble servant, IZAAC WALTON. PREFACE. I DARE neither think, nor assure the reader, that I have committed no mistakes in this relation of the life of Dr. SANDERSON; but am sure, there is none that are either wilful, or very material. I confess it was worthy the employment of some person of more learning and greater abilities than I can pretend to; and I have not a little wondered that none have yet been so grateful to him and posterity, as to undertake it. For as it may be noted, that our Saviour had a care, that for Mary Magdalen's kindness to him, her name should never be forgotten: so I conceive, the great satisfaction many scholars have already had, and the unborn world is like to have, by his exact, clear and useful learning; and might have by a true narrative of his matchless meekness, his calm fortitude and the innocence of his whole life; doth justly challenge the like from this present age; that posterity may not be ignorant of them and it is to me a wonder, that it has been already fifteen years neglected. But, in saying this, my meaning is not to upbraid others (I am far from that) but excuse myself, or beg pardon for daring to attempt it. This being premised I desire to tell the reader, that in this relation I have been so bold, as to paraphrase and say, what I think he (whom I had the happiness to know well) would have said upon the same occasions; and if I have been too bold in doing so, and cannot now beg pardon of him that loved me; yet, I do of my reader, from whom I desire the same favour. And, though my age might have procured me a writ of ease, and that secured me from all further trouble in this kind; yet I met with such persuasions to undertake it, and so many willing informers since, and from them and others, such helps and encouragements to proceed, that when I found myself faint and weary of the burthen with which I had loaden myself, and sometime ready to lay it down; yet time and new strength hath at |