THE LIFE OF GILBERT BURNET. GILBERT BURNET, bishop of Salisbury in the latter end of the seventeenth century, was born at Edinburgh, in 1643, of an ancient family in the shire of Aberdeen. His father, being bred to the law, was, at the restoration of king Charles II., appointed one of the lords of session, with the title of lord Crimond, in reward for his constant attachment to the royal party during the troubles of Great-Britain. Our author, the youngest son of his father, was instructed by him in the Latin tongue. At ten years of age, he was sent to continue his studies at Aberdeen, and was admitted M. A. before he was fourteen. His own inclination led him to the study of the civil and feudal law; and he used to say, that it was from this study he had received more just notions concerning the foundations of civil society and government, than those, which some divines attain. About a year after, he changed his mind, and began to apply to divinity, to the great satisfaction of his father. He was admitted preacher, before he was eighteen; and Sir Alexander Burnet, his cousin-german, offered him a benefice; but he refused to accept it. In 1663, about two years after the death of his father, he came into England; and after six months' stay at Oxford and Cambridge, returned to Scotland; which he soon left again to make a tour for some months, in 1664, in Holland and France. At Amsterdam, by the help of a Jewish Rabbi, he perfected himself in the Hebrew language; and likewise became acquainted with the leading men of the different persuasions, tolerated in that country; as Calvinists, Arminians, Lutherans, Anabaptists, Brownists, Papists, and Unitarians; amongst each of which, he used frequently to declare, he met with men of such un-feigned piety and virtue, that he became fixed in a strong principle of universal. charity, and an invincible abhorrence of all severities on account of religious dissensions. Upon his return from his travels, he was admitted minister of Salton; in which station he served five years in the most exemplary manner. He drew up a me morial, in which he took notice of the prin In cipal errou rs in the conduct of the Scots bishops, which he observed not to be conformable to the primitive institution; and sent a copy of it to several of them. This exposed him to their resentment : but, to show, that he was not actuated with a spirit of ambition, he led a retired course of life for two years, which so endangered his health, that he was obliged to abate his excessive application to study. 1669, he published his "Modest and free Conference between a Conformist and a Non-conformist." He became acquainted with the duchess of Hamilton, who communicated to him all the papers belonging to her father and uncle; upon which he drew up the "Memoirs of the dukes of Hamilton." The duke of Lauderdale, hearing he was about this work, invited him to London, and introduced him to king Charles II. |