Omnia te Christi vita docere potest.
Filius ipse Dei sua nunquam vota secutus.
Ut mea vota Deo mactarem, se duce, lætus
Sponte sua summo paruit patri inter olivas.
Ne dapium ventrisque tui mala gaudia quæras;
Mens tibi pura nequit saturato ventre vigere.
Cibus enim nimius Divinæ particulam auræ
Certo affigit humi Cœlique afflamine privat.
Seu risus hominum titulos et prædia sola;
Pauper cum Christus vilique a plebe jocatus
In turpi ligno vitam componat amaram.
Hunc tunc haud dubio Christo auxiliante fugabis.
Ne ruas in vetitum, brevis est et fluxa Libido:
Sperne Voluptatem, dirum ponè linquit acumen.
Crede mihi, Satanæ minimam ne cedito partem;
Fortiter ac subito plagam repelle priorem.
Numinis auxilium precibus rogato benignis.
In cruce pro culpis morientem cernito Jesum.
Cœlestes palmas, et Tartara dira memento.
Offert judicium cita mors, hilaremque triumphum.
Viribus indomitis, rigidisque resistito membris
Dæmonis impetibus; Christus hunc appage vicit.
Vivida sit fides, te certa corona manebit.
There is no need either to point out, or to apologize for, the shortcomings of Fletcher's Latin verses. They are little more than private memoranda for use in prayer and meditation, written in Latin, perhaps, as a kind of cipher. The following resolutions are interesting:
"Hæc Deo juvante facere decerno.
3 edere die. quod ubi primum violaverim, pauperibus b. asses dandi et venia per horam petenda erit, nullo fulcro utens.
Pueros nunquam ob doctrinam castigare, sub eâdem pœnâ.
Precans nunquam jacere, sed stare vel genu flectere."
This may be translated:
These things, God helping me, I determine:
To take food three times a day; for a breach of this rule, twopence to be given to the poor, and pardon to be implored for an hour, using no bodily support.
Never to punish the boys for their lessons, under the same penalty.
Never to lie down while engaged in prayer, but stand or kneel.
Heureux qui se fait violence,
Qui se prive des vains plaisirs,
Et se plaît dans la dépendance.
Heureux l'homme de bonne foi,
Simple, sage, plein d'innocence,
Qui, toujours sévère pour soi,
Pour son prochain est rempli de clémence.
Qui ne parle que utilement,
Et se repose uniquement
Sur la Divine Providence.
L'expose au ciel incessamment,
Et qui de son Dieu seulement
Attend toute son assistance.
Heureux qui n'a rien d'affecté,
Heureux l'homme sans volonté,
Et qui, vide de lui même,
Est tout plein du vrai Dieu qu'il aime.
Lui partage son cœur, son Esprit, et son pain.
Heureux celui qui l'édifie.
Heureux celui qu'on humilie,
Et qui sait profiter de ses abaissements.
Heureux qui n'a jamais de vertus chimériques,
Et qui chérit ses domestiques
Comme s'ils étaient ses enfants.
Heureux qui ne va point par des routes obliques,
Heureux, plus heureux qu'on ne croit,
Qui marche constamment dans le chemin étroit.
Heureux qui par ses soins, par son économie,
Sait amasser pour l'autre vie,
Et ménager si bien ses précieux moments
Qu'il n'en pert pas un seul en vains amusements.
Heureux qui se voit sans attache,
Qui se fait petit, qui se cache,
Et qui ne suit jamais ses propres mouvements.
Heureux qui sur la grace uniquement se fonde,
Qui sait, et ne croit rien savoir.
Qui peut, et qui n'a du pouvoir,
Que pour obliger tout le monde.
Heureux celui qui du Sauveur
S'Efforce d'être la copie.
Heureux celui de qui le cœur
Goute la parole de vie.
Heureux qui sait aimer, craindre, croire, espérer,
Comme le fait un vrai fidèle.
Heureux qui sait persévérer,
Et soumettre a l'esprit une chair si rebelle.
Heureux l'homme nouveau, qui souvent dans son cœur
Trouve une utile, douce, et sainte solitude,
Et qui fait toute son étude
De la croix de son Rédempteur.
Heureux le grand sans tyrannie;
Heureux le petit sans envie;
Heureux l'homme toujours égal,
Qui ne pense d'autrui ni ne dit aucun mal.
Heureux qui gémit et qui prie
Pour le prochain comme pour soi,
Et qui sent pour le vice une horreur infinie.
Heureux qui se fait une loi
De son devoir qu'il aime, et qu'il veut toujours suivre.
Heureux qui souffre tout et ne fait rien souffrir;
Heureux celui qui sait bien vivre,
C'est le moyen de bien mourir.
Butler & Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London.
MEN WORTH REMEMBERING:
A Series of Popular Biographies.
Price 2s. 6d. each, Handsomely Bound in Cloth.
NOW READY, THE NEW VOLUME
By F. W. Macdonald.
FLETCHER OF MADELEY.
Contents.—Early Life.—Settles in England.—His Connexion with Wesley and the Methodists.—Spiritual Discipline.—Enters the Ministry.—First Years at Madeley.—Difficulties and Discouragements.—Controversy and Correspondence.—Trevecca College.—The Calvinist Controversy.—Wesley's Proposal.—Failing Health.—Residence in Switzerland.—Return to England.—Marriage.—Last Years.
In the same Series.
I.
WILLIAM WILBERFORCE.
By John Stoughton, D.D.
"This series of biographies has a distinct aim, and occupies a distinct place. It purposes to record the lives of men eminent for religious character or service. The series is well begun by Dr. Stoughton's excellent memoir of Wilberforce, which is done with equal literary skill, sound judgment, and good taste. It is admirable in feeling, and from beginning to end full of interest."—British Quarterly Review.
II.
HENRY MARTYN.
By Charles D. Bell, D.D., Honorary Canon of Carlisle, and Rector of Cheltenham.
"A worthy record of a noble life."—Whitehall Review.
"In every way a most delightful volume."—Rock.
III.
PHILIP DODDRIDGE.
By Charles Stanford, D.D.
"The story of the life and life-work of Doddridge is told by Dr. Stanford with felicitous grace and extraordinary animation. The romance and the conflict of the life, the delicate culture and high breeding of the man, and the various results of his sanctified intelligence and consecrated sense, are delineated with subtle tact and fine feeling."—Evangelical Magazine.
IV.
STEPHEN GRELLET.
By William Guest, F.G.S.
"The singularly adventurous history of Grellet, a son of noble parents established at Limoges, in France, who yet became one of the most distinguished American Quaker preachers, is not wholly unknown even beyond the Society of Friends. Mr. Guest necessarily condenses his facts, but his little book nevertheless presents many scenes of striking interest."—Daily News.
"If it were in our power, we would induce every one of our readers to invest his first spare half-crown in this book, and then we would persuade him to read it through and through."—Sword and Trowel.
"A marvellous story of adventurous mission and extraordinary acceptance."—Evangelical Magazine.
V.
ROBERT HALL.
By E. Paxton Hood.
"Whatever thou art, orthodox or heterodox, send for the Life of Robert Hall."—Bulwer Lytton's "The Caxtons."
"Mr. Paxton Hood's brilliant pen has given us a sketch of Robert Hall worthy to rank beside Dr. Stanford's 'Philip Doddridge.'"—Christian.
"We have not often taken up a more interesting biography."—Record.
"Mr. Hood has delineated Robert Hall very successfully. A wide range of knowledge, a fine instinctive perception, and considerable literary aptitude, make this memoir about the best delineation of the great preacher that we know."—British Quarterly Review.
VI.
THOMAS CHALMERS.
By Donald Fraser, D.D.
"Characterized by a true appreciation of Dr. Chalmers' character and work, and is written in a vigorous and interesting manner."—United Presbyterian Magazine.
"Dr. Fraser has evidently found the subject a congenial one, and he has treated it in a skilful and effective manner."—Rock.
VII.
WILLIAM CAREY.
By James Culross, D.D.
"The work has a special value in recording an important chapter of Anglo-Indian history. It seems to us very well written."—Academy.
"An excellent monograph on Carey. Dr. Culross has done his work well."—Athenæum.
"The little book has great literary excellence. Dr. Culross has taken no ordinary trouble in the collection of his material. He understands how to arrange it in felicitous style, and so to tell the story as to make it eminently attractive and useful to his readers."—Congregationalist.
VIII.
ANDREW FULLER.
By his Son, Andrew Gunton Fuller.
Letter from the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon to the Author:—
"Venerable Friend,—I thank you for sending me your 'Andrew Fuller.' If you have lived for a long time for nothing else but to produce this volume, you have lived to good purpose. I have long considered your father to be the greatest theologian of the century, and I do not know that your pages have made me think more highly of him as a divine than I had thought before. But I now see him within doors far more accurately, and see about the Christian man a soft radiance of tender love which had never been revealed to me either by former biographies, or by his writings. You have added the moss to the rose, and removed some of the thorns in the process. Yours most respectfully, C. H. Spurgeon."
"It is a remarkable production, when one remembers that Mr. Gunton Fuller is now eighty-two years of age, and he lost his father as far back as the year 1815. An excellent addition to Messrs. Hodder and Stoughton's series of 'Men Worth Remembering.'"—Christian World.
IX.
ALEXANDER DUFF, D.D., LL.D.
By Thomas Smith, D.D.
"Dr. Smith, who has enjoyed very intimate association with Duff, both in private life and in public work, has executed his task with much skill and fine sympathy."—Outlook.
"We heartily commend this compact and interesting little volume."—Evangelical Magazine.
"As an original study of a great man by one of his most intimate friends and co-workers, it would be impossible to speak too highly of this little volume."—Christian Leader.
X.
SAMUEL RUTHERFORD.
By Andrew Thomson, D.D., F.R.S.E., Edinburgh.
"The volume is written in a popular style, and contains all that is really needful to be known regarding Rutherford's career, character, and writings. Dr. Thomson has imparted vivacity to the narrative by visiting the localities where Rutherford lived. The author has produced a volume which, in respect at once of completeness, sustained interest, and freshness of interest, is unequalled by any preceding memoir of Rutherford."—Scotsman.
"An admirable and delightful biography, written with great literary grace and equally great spiritual sympathy. A most interesting account of religious Scotland as it was two hundred years ago."—British Messenger.
XI.
RICHARD BAXTER.
By the Very Rev. G. D. Boyle, M.A., Dean of Salisbury.
"The Dean of Salisbury has given in a popular form a trustworthy and attractive summary of a somewhat puzzling and complex personality and career. Mr. Boyle's estimate of Baxter's theological position is marked by a singular candour and liberality of sentiment. His presentation of fact is as accurate as his criticism is sound."—Academy.
"The biography of Richard Baxter by Dean Boyle is an intellectual feast. In it we have vivid pictures of the troublous times of the seventeenth century, and of course we get a particular account of the eminent Nonconformist, his religious convictions, his ministerial work, his sufferings under persecution, his trial before the terrible Chief Justice Jeffreys, the strong and the weak sides of his character, his political influence, his voluminous writings, his majestic prowess as a casuist, his yearning for a real and comprehensive unity amongst Christians, and, above all, his childlike resignation to God's will. All these topics are delightfully descanted upon by the Dean of Salisbury."—Clergyman's Magazine.
XII.
JOHN KNOX.
By Wm. M. Taylor, LL.D.
"A bold and vigorous sketch of the illustrious preacher, for whom a claim is made that 'if not pre-eminently the Scotchman of history,' he is certainly 'one of the three mightiest,' of 'the first three' of his nation."—Daily Chronicle.
"An admirable biography of John Knox. The volume forms the most compendious and trustworthy and, perhaps we may add, interesting memoir of the great reformer available to the general reader."—Liverpool Daily Post.
London: HODDER and STOUGHTON, 27, Paternoster Row.
Transcriber's Notes
Made minor punctuation corrections.
Transliterated the Greek text.
Reindexed and moved Footnotes to end of main text, before Appendix.