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ridiculous story, and the effect of spleen and melancholy. For my own part, I must acknowledge myself one of those who believe it, having not met with any thing yet sufficient to invalidate it. As to the little sceptical objections that are generally used upon this occasion, they seem to be very weak in themselves, and will prove of dangerous consequences, if applied to matters of a more important nature. I am, dear Sir,

Yours, most sincerely,

J. HUGHES.

Mr. Turner is very well, and I hope in a fair prospect of a

fellowship.

SIR,

LETTER III.

Mr. Turner to Mr. Bonwicke.

Cambridge, Jan. 21, 1706-7.

THERE is a circumstance relating to the story of the apparition, which adds a great confirmation to it; which I suppose Mr. Hughes did not tell you. There is one Mr. Cartwright, a Member of Parliament,† a man of good credit and integrity, an intimate friend of Mr. Shaw's, who told the same story with Dr. Groves (which he had from Mr. Shaw) at the Abp. of Canterbury's table: but he says further, that Mr. Shaw told him of some great revolutions in state, which he will not discover, being either obliged to silence by Mr. Shaw, or concealing them upon some prudent and politic

reasons.

Mr. Bennett is publishing a book in vindication of set forms of prayer, where he proves that the primitive Christians never had any but precomposed set forms: and he advances one paradox, that those very arguments which the Dissenters use for a separation are great reasons why they should conform.

* Of Aynho.

+ For Northamptonshire.

This was printed at Cambridge, in 8vo. 1707, and entitled "A brief His tory of the joint use of precomposed set Forms of Prayer," &c. Mr. Bennett published many other theological, tracts. He was then rector of St. James's, in Colchester, and had been Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge. His son Thomas, LL.B. died some years ago one of the Esquire Redels of that University; and his grandson, John Bennett, Esq. (now living,) is of Rothamstead, in Hertfordshire.

*

Mr. Whiston preaches Boyle's lectures; he has lately put out a comment upon the Revelations, from whence he proves that the Turks shall never make war with the emperor, or any other Christian prince, or at least, if they do, they must meet with a terrible defeat; and that the pope (the whore of B.) must tumble down in a few years. I wish, Sir, you would write a letter to Mr. Brown, to make him warm and vigorous in my interest. I do not in the least question his friendship, but I believe a letter from you would be of great force with him; or if you would procure a letter from Mr. Nelson to Mr. Roper, it would be a great kindness; but whether I succeed or no, you may certainly expect me (setting aside accidents, which I cannot arm against) immediately after the election.

Your humble servant,

R. TURNER.

SIR,

LETTER IV.

Mr. Turner to Mr. Bonwicke.

Cambridge, Feb. 22, 1706-7,

Mr. SMITH, one of our fellows, a camp chaplain, lately sent to our master § an account of a letter from the master of Malta to the French King, which is as follows: "We, the great master of St John's of Jerusalem, and great Duke of Anciterre, have received information from our ambassadors at Babylon, that in that kingdom, at a village called Fusboyn, there was brought-to-bed a woman of extraordinary beauty (the father not known) of a son more inclined to black than white, his neck short, his head sharp, long teeth, his nose flat, he spoke distinctly, and walked when he was but eight days old: he said he was the Messias, the son of God, in whom alone we must believe; our ambassadors have both heard and seen him with a great deal of wonder: at the day of his birth were seen most amazing signs in the skies, a vast eclipse of the sun at noon, a dragon carrying in his mouth a lance of fire, two griffins tearing to pieces an old man, an eagle carrying a child upon his wings, and a great

Essay on the Revelation of St. John.
The celebrated Robert Nelson, Esq.
Fellow of St. John's.

§ Dr. Jenkin.

many other frightful sights; the rivers overflowing, the house where he was born seemed all on fire, and then disappeared and this child, being asked the reason of these prodigies by our ambassadors, answered "it was to warn the world of the traverses and eternal torments that would fall upon all that would not believe in him." On the day he was born, was found an earthen statue, with this inscription, "You may here see the day of his birth." This child has raised the dead in the presence of our ambassadors, has given sight to the blind, made the deaf to hear, and the lame to walk, and cures all sorts of diseases. The people of that country adore him, the wise men believe in him, all that refuse are massacred without mercy; there was heard, 300 leagues round, the voice of angels, who sung these words prepare to receive that son who was promised you." All doctors and reasonable people in this country certainly believe him to be the real Antichrist, and prove it to be so by the New Testament; he understands all sorts of languages, and disappears very often, and raises himself in the air quite out of sight. Before we would believe the strange news, we had a convocation of our clan, and by their advice we wrote to our ambassadors at Babylon, who confirmed all that was writ to be true, and added several things not here inserted."

This story meets with very little credit among us; and some are of opinion that it is forged by Jesuits, on purpose to remove Antichrist from Rome to Babylon.

The Oxonians have received a letter from the Geneva divines, in which they complain of a great many unchristian calumnies and black aspersions thrown upon their church by the English: they little expected (they say) such severe usage from our church, of which their two great founders, Calvin and Beza, had so venerable an esteem, and whose constitution they think is pure, primitive, and apostolical: it is not their choice, but their misfortune, that their ecclesiastical constitution is not the same with ours; but, if ever their circumstances will permit a reformation, it shall be after the model of the English church: they lament that they have no bishops in their church, and despair of ever having any, because a monarchy in church would naturally introduce one in state, which will never agree with the republic of Geneva: they are ashamed that our dissenters should take shelter under them, and draw an argument from the example of the church of Geneva to vindicate their separation from the church of England; they account our dissenters black schismaticks; and for that reason, when any

VOL. III.

from Geneva come to England, they always communicate with our established church, and never with the separate congregations.

This letter we expect will be printed very shortly, with

an answer to it.

There has been a quarrel at Caius college, between the master, Sir John Ellis, and the fellows, about the power of the master in elections: he challenged a negative voice from a dubious clause in one of their statutes, which is this. "The seniors shall elect a fellow with the consent of the master" but at last he confirmed the election the seniors had made, and so the breach was made up.

We hear Sir W. Dawes is to be Bishop of Chester. I have but little hopes of a fellowship, for there are so many candidates my seniors, that nothing will do but a singular interest and very meritorious qualifications.

I am, your very humble servant,

R. TURNER.

Mr. Nailor had the character of a downright, honest, goodnatured man, and a good scholar. He drank a glass of claret pretty frequently, yet I believe very rarely to excess.

LETTER V.

Mr. Hughes to Mr. Bonwicke.

DEAR SIR,

Jesus College, Aug. 14, 1707.

1 HAVE been a long while in your debt; so long, that I am afraid by this time you imagine I have quite forgot you. Indeed you had heard from me sooner, but that I have all along entertained thoughts of making a step to London; and then I fully intended to wait upon my good friends at Headly. But since I find that my affairs will not permit me to come to London this summer, I immediately thought of writing to you. Mr. Bennet was in Cambridge last week, and I had the happiness to enjoy a large share of his conversation. His book about set forms of prayer will come out about Michaelmas. He there asserts, that not only the primitive church constantly used set precomposed forms of prayers, but that even our Blessed Saviour and his apostles never joined in any public prayers but such as were precomposed. This is more than any patron of set forms has ever ventured to assert, and which many worthy persons and

great friends to a liturgy are amazed at. You very well know that it has been ever granted by the greatest of our disputants, that in the primitive church there were Xagiopara poosus (gifts of prayer,) which are now no more to be expected than the power of working miracles. It is very remarkable that St. Chrysostom is the first author that mentions this χαρισμα προσευχης, and which later writers have blindly borrowed from him without examining into the rea sons of the thing. I have frequently talked with Mr. B. upon this subject, and have seen some of the sheets; and I am verily persuaded that he will be able to establish his point against all opposition" of the priesthood."--I have been at last prevailed upon to undertake an edition of St. Chrysostom weps iepwouvns; * and I would beg the favour of you to send me your octavo edit. I want a small volume to lay by me, and the Latin version may be of some service to me, if I correct the interpretation of Fronto Ducæus. I will take particular care of your book, and return it with interest.-Bishop Wake is in a very ill state of health, and is come to Cambridge to his sister's for the better convenience of having the doctors about himt. I saw Mr. Archbold about a fort night ago, who was then very well.

This is all the little news that Cambridge affords at present, and therefore I am obliged to be shorter than other wise I would, for want of materials. I question not but this letter, as short as it is, will find a kind reception, when you consider that it comes from one, who is, with the utmost sincerity,

Dear Sir,

your very much obliged,
and humble Servant,

LETTER VI.

J. HUGHES,

Mr. Bonwicke to his Wife.

MY DEAREST,

YOU were thinking, quickly after dear Ambrose's death, that an account of his life might be of some benefit to the

* A second edition of this was published at Cambridge, in Greek and Latin, with notes, and a preliminary dissertation against the Pretended Rights of the Church, &c. in 1712. A good English translation of St. Chrysostom, On the Priesthood, was published by the Rev. John Bunce, M. A. in 1760.

↑ He lived, however, to be Archbishop of Canterbury, and till the year 1737,

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