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antiquities, particularly to those difficult sciences which made the ancient Chaldeans, Egyptians, and other nationsso famous; tracing them, as far as he could have any hight to guide him, in their oriental schemes and figurative expressions, as likewise in their hieroglyphics; not forgetting to inquire also into the oneirocritics of the ancients, because of the affinity which he conceived they might have with the language of the prophets. He was a curious and laborious searcher into antiquities relating to religion, Pagan, Jewish, Christian, and Mahometan: to which he added other attendants, necessary for understanding the more difficult parts of Scripture.

In 1618 he took the degree of bachelor in divinity, but his modesty restrained him from proceeding to that of doctor. In 1627, a similar motive induced him to refuse the provostship of Trinity-college, Dublin, into which he had been elected at the recommendation of archbishop Usher, who was his particular friend; as he did also when it was offered him a second time, in 1630. The height of his ambition was, only to have had some small donative sinecure added to his fellowship, or to have been preferred to some place of quiet, where, retired from the noise and tumults of the world, and possessed of a competency, he might be entirely at leisure for study and acts of piety. When, therefore, a report was spread that he was made chaplain to the archbishop of Canterbury, he thus expressed himself in a letter to a friend: that "he had lived, till the best of his time was spent, in tranquillitate et secessu; and now, that there is but a little left, should I," said he, "be so unwise, suppose there was nothing else, as to enter into a tumultuous life, where I should not have time to think my own thoughts, and must of necessity displease others or myself? Those who think so, know not my disposition in this kind to be as averse, as some perhaps would be ambitious." In the mean time, though his circumstances were scanty, for he had nothing but his fellowship and the Greek lecture, his charity was diffusive and uncommon; and, extraordinary as it may now seem, he devoted the tenth of his income to pious and charitable uses. But his frugality and temperance always afforded him plenty. His prudence or moderation, either in declaring or defending his private opinions, was very remarkable; as was also his freedom from partiality, prejudice, or prepossession, pride, anger, selfishness, flattery, and ambition. He died Oct. 1,

1638, in his 52d year, having spent above two-thirds of his time in college, to which he bequeathed the residue of his property, after some small legacies. He was buried next day in the college chapel. As to his person, he was of a comely proportion, and rather tall than otherwise. His eye was full, quick, and sparkling; his whole countenance sedate and grave; awful, but at the same time tempered with an inviting sweetness: and his behaviour was friendly, affable, cheerful, and upon occasion intermixed with pleasantry. Some of his sayings and bon mots are recorded by the author of his life; one of which was, his calling such fellow-commoners as came to the university only to see it, or to be seen in it, "the university tulips," that made a gaudy shew for a while; but, upon the whole, his biographers have made a better estimate of his learning than of his wit. In his life-time he produced three treatises only the first entitled "Clavis Apocalyptica ex innatis & insitis visionum characteribus eruta et demonstrata," Cant. 1627, 4to; of which he printed only a few copies, at his own expence, and for the use of friends. To this he added, in 1632, "In sancti Joannis Apocalypsin commentarius, ad amussim Clavis Apocalypticæ." This is the largest and the most elaborate of any of his writings. The other two were but short tracts: namely, "About the name Ovσiangiov, anciently given to the holy table, and about churches in the apostles' times." The rest of his works were printed after his decease; and in the best edition published by Dr. Worthington, in 1672, folio, the whole are divided into five books, and disposed in the following order. The first book contains fifty-three "Discourses on several texts of Scripture:" the second, such "Tracts and discourses as are of the like argument and design" the third, his "Treatises upon some of the prophetical Scriptures, namely, The Apocalypse, St. Peter's prophecy concerning the day of Christ's second coming, St. Paul's prophecy touching the apostacy of the latter times, and three Treatises upon some obscure passages Daniel" the fourth, his " Letters to several learned men, with their letters also to him" the fifth, "Fragmenta Sacra, or such miscellanies of divinity, as could not well come under any of the aforementioned heads."

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A vast collection of his letters is in the British Museum, Harl. MS. No. 389, 390. See a notice of them by Dr. Birch in Maty's Review, vol. V. p. 126, &e.

These are the works of this pious and profoundly learned man, as not only his editor calls him in the title-page, but the best divines have allowed him to be. His comments on the book of Revelation, are still considered as containing the most satisfactory explanation of those obscure prophecies, so far as they have been yet fulfilled: and, in every other part of his works, the talents of a sound and learned divine are eminently conspicuous. It is by no means the least considerable testimony to his merit, that he has been highly and frequently commended by Jortin; but the writer of our times who has bestowed most pains on the character and writings of Mr. Mede, and who has done the most honour to both, is the late learned bishop Hurd. This prelate has devoted the greater part of his tenth sermon "On the Study of the Prophecies" to the consideration of the "Clavis Apocalyptica." It would be superfluous to extract at much length from a work so well known; but we may be permitted to conclude with Dr. Hurd's manner of introducing Mr Mede to his hearers. Speaking of the many attempts to explain the Apocalypse, in the infancy of the reformed church, he says, "The issue of much elaborate enquiry was, that the book itself was disgraced by the fruitless efforts of its commentators, and on the point of being given up, as utterly impenetrable, when a SUBLIME GENIUS arose, in the beginning of the last century, and surprized the learned world with that great desideratum, a Key to the Revelations'."!

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A Life prefixed to his works. Biog. Brit.

INDEX

TO THE

TWENTY-FIRST VOLUME.

Those marked thus are new.

Those marked † are re-written, with additions.

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