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THE EDITOR'S PRELIMINARY REMARKS.

DR. ZOUCH says, that Dr. Covel, with equal modesty and learning, has discussed all the positions advanced in the "Christian Letter" (p. 309.). This is not saying much for the ability or success of the "Defence." But another D.D. has assumed a higher tone, and moves with a loftier bearing; he says, speaking of the "Letter," "This book is one of the earliest productions of those malcontents, who were afterwards called Doctrinal Puritans:" and he adds, that he believes the work is deserving of notice, "as exhibiting the earliest example, both in matter and manner, of the argument of those numerous publications in which some Calvinistic writers have thoughtlessly and intemperately indulged themselves, from the days of this 'Christian Letter.'"

Anon, he proceeds thus: "Can it be believed, the Authors of the Letter in question tax the meek, the wise, the virtuous, the saint-like Richard Hooker with betraying and renouncing the doctrines to which he had solemnly subscribed. They charge him with designs of bringing back Popery. They accuse him of a wanton attack on the memory of Calvin. They condemn him of unsoundness of doctrine respecting Grace, and Free Will, and Justification, and Predestination, and the conditions of the Christian Covenant, and the Sacraments of the Christian Church. It is curious to see the Thirty-nine Articles, the Liturgy, the Homilies, Bishop Jewel's Apology, Dean Nowell's Catechism, and the writings of many others of Hooker's Protestant predecessors, solemnly cited against him, and confronted in due form with extracts from the Ecclesiastical Polity, for the purpose of convicting him of deserting and denying the principles of that Church of which he was a Minister, in whose cause he toiled day and night, and in the defence of which I believe, it may be truly said, that it was God's good pleasure that he should die."-Eccles. Biog. by C. WORDSWORTH, D.D. Edit. 2, 1818. Vol. IV. p. 269, 271.

Dr. W. concludes without a word to characterize the performance of Covel, from whom he merely extracts what Hooker's "answer would have been” if he had not been "loth to intermeddle with so weak adversaries," which nevertheless, Covel says, having taken it in hand, his urgent and greater affairs, &c. would not give him time to see it finished." (See inf. p. 464).

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Are not these the expressions of decided partisans whose accommodating optics do not permit them to see blemishes among themselves, nor excellencies in others? The whole contents of these rare Tracts, the "Christian Letter" and the "Defence," are in the Reader's possession; he need no longer, therefore, to be influenced respecting those works by the sentiments of any man however distinguished by talents and station. The "Letter" is no ordinary production for vigour of style, and the insight it gives into the latent principles, errors, and mistakes, or whatever they may be called, of the great Hooker; who is encountered by talents which he dared not to disregard, and which must have awed and unnerved him for the remainder of his undertaking.

Whatever the merits of the "Defence" are, as they have not been characterized by those who have had the opportunity, so they will now appear more capable of being duly estimated: for the bulk of this Tract consists of only the repetition and in some instances the accommodation of Hooker's very words and sentiments, which Covel had but rarely distinguished from his own, and would be taken by the casual reader for the Doctor's own style and reasoning. In this edition, however, many passages have been traced, and the usual quotation marks and references applied to them. It remains to be seen, Whether Hooker's partisans can content themselves with this "Defence;" or Whether they must not again investigate the whole argument! B. H.

THE ARTICLES HANDLED IN THIS BOOK.

I.

Of the Deity of the Son of God.

II.

Of the Coeternity of the Son, and the Proceeding of the Holy Ghost. III. Whether the Holy Scriptures contain all things necessary to Salva

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VII.

VIII.

Whether God allow more than he commandeth?

Of the Virtue of Good Works.

IX. None free from every Sin; how from all?

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XI. Whether the Church of Rome be any part of the visible Church? XII. Of Preaching and Sermons.

XIII. Of the Minister's office.

XIV. Of the nature of the Sacraments.

XV. Of Christ's institution of the Sacraments.

XVI. Of the Necessity of Baptism.

XVII. Of Transubstantiation.

XVIII. Of speculative doctrine, or sentences mistaken.
Of Calvin and the Reformed Churches.

XIX.

XX. Of Schoolmen, Philosophy, Reason, &c.

XXI. Of the style and manner of Mr. Hooker's writing.

TO THE

MOST REVEREND FATHER IN GOD, MY VERY GOOD LORD,

THE

LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY HIS GRACE,

PRIMATE, AND METROPOLITAN OF ALL ENGLAND.

THREE HREE principal causes, Right Reverend, have moved me to offer this small Labour to your Grace's view: First, the just respect of my particular duty; which challengeth all parts of my labour, as a most thankful acknowledgement of that service which I owe unto you. Secondly, the Form of our Church-Government, which imposeth a submitting of our labours to the censure and allowance of those to whom, by right, that charge belongeth; wherein seeing your authority and care, next unto our dread Sovereign, is, and is to be esteemed, greatest, I desire you to vouchsafe to give that allowance, which your Grace in your wisdom shall think fit. The last reason, is the person of him, who (whilst he lived) was advanced, honoured and esteemed by you; and now being dead, his learning, and sincerity, against the false accusations of others, challengeth a Defence at your Grace's hand: for doubtless it is more right to virtue, to defend the deceased, than to advance those that are living. This, as reason ever expecteth at the hands of virtue; so especially then, when men of worth, of desert, of learning, are mistaken and accused, by those that do want all. I crave to the rest of all your Grace's favours, that this last may be added, That whatsoever my imperfections are, in this Just and Temperate Defence, they may no way diminish the honourable remembrance of him, whom I do defend: all allowance is his due; the faults are mine; for which in all humility, I crave pardon. Your Grace's to be commanded,

W. COVEL.

TO THE READER.

SEEING we are all bound, in the dutiful respect of a common just cause, even to defend those who are strangers to us; it cannot seem unfit to any, if we afford them so much favour, whose persons and deserts are very well known. There is no better contentment for

our labour past, than in the assurance from our conscience, that it is well employed: for, doubtless, the spurning at virtue giveth a greater stroke to the doer, than to him that suffereth; and yet even that religion, that commandeth patience, forbiddeth not the just defence of ourselves in a good cause; especially then, when by wronging a particular man, there may be some hazard of the Truth itself. Our Church hath had some enemies more openly discontent, in the case of Discipline, than they now appear; whom to satisfy with reason, Master HOOKER endeavoured with much pains: that which might have contented all, was in divers, a spur to a more violent choler: for medicines, how profitable soever, work not equally in all humours. From hence proceedeth a desire in some, to make question of things whereof there was no doubt, and a request for "resolution," of some points, wherein there was no danger: to this end, "a Letter" (which here is answered) was published by "certain Protestants" (as they term themselves), which I hear (how true I know not) is translated into other tongues; this, they presume, hath given that wound to that reverend and learned man, that it was not the least cause to procure his death. But it is far otherwise; for he contemned it in his wisdom (as it was fit) and yet in his humility would have answered it, if he had lived. Surely for mine own part, I never thought it convenient that the gravity of this present business, and the reverend worthiness of him that is accused, should not be answered with gravity both of person and speech; and my witnesses are both in heaven and earth, how justly I can excuse myself, as Elihu did : 'Behold, I did wait upon the word of the ancient, and hearkened for their knowledge:" "I stayed the time,"* and a long time, until some elder and of riper judgment, might have acquitted me from all opinion of presumption in this cause; which being not done by them, whom many reasons might have induced to this Defence, I could not for that part which I bear in that Church, whose Government was defended by Master HOOKER, with patience endure so weak a "Letter" any longer to remain unanswered. And herein I have dealt as with men (although to me unknown) of some learning and gravity, to whom peradventure in many respects I am far inferior; and yet for any thing that I know, or appeareth in this "Letter," they may be clothed with the same infirmities that I am. But if this had been by himself performed (which I hear he hath done, and I desire thee to expect it) thy satisfaction, gentle Reader, would have been much more, yet vouchsafe in thy kindness, to accept this.

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*Job xxxii. 11, 16.

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