the church and the clergy of that age. He wrote also, beside what has already been mentioned, and some Latin Letters to Erasmus, A Monition to a Godly Life;' and Daily Devotions, or the Christian's Morning and Evening Sacrifice.' Some manuscript commentaries likewise on St. Paul, and on the Apostolical Epistles, were found in an obscure corner of his study, but written in characters so illegible that they were totally useless. *

The person of Dean Colet, as described by Erasmus,† was tall and comely, and he was blessed with an easy polite address, which gave a grace to every thing he said or did. His learning was uncommon for the age in which he lived, his piety exemplary, his sense solid, his philanthropy universal, and his public spirit in the pulpit unprecedented: but his salutary reproof of vice in high stations was conveyed in such strong arguments, untinctured with pride or moroseness, that it procured him advance. ment even under the reign of a prince, who put many of his subjects to death for having merely presumed to arraign his conduct. Naturally lively, sanguine, and irascible, he was obliged to combat his temper not only by considerations of piety and philosophy, but also by the physical aid of watchings

* In all probability they were the notes, from which he had read his public lectures at Oxford.

†This celebrated man, who did Colet the honour to call him his master, has given us a hint of his religious sentiments in his famous colloquy entitled, Peregrinatio Religionis ergô,' in which Colet is the person meant under the name of Gratianus Pullus. (Granger.). In a letter also to Jodocus Jonas, he composed his eulogium; characterising him as possessing a largeness of mind, a solidity of judgement, and a freedom of thought and speech far beyond most of his contemporaries.

and fastings, which might probably produce the tædium vitæ ascribed to him in his declining years. As a preacher, he was in the selection and distribution of his matter, in his turn of remark, and in his manner of elocution peculiarly impressive: so that his sermons, though purposely adapted to vulgar capacities, were agreeable to men of wit and learning, and in particular were highly admired by, no mean judge, Si: Thomas More. In a word, he was one of the brightest ornaments of his country and his generation; and he must be remembered with gratitude, as one of the chief instruments in the hands of Providence for accomplishing the Reformation: his bold discourses on the abuses which had crept into the church, and the scandalous lives of the clergy, having opened the eyes of the nation; and his happy example in founding a seminary for youth having given birth to that astonishing increase of those foundations, which took place during the thirty years immediately preceding that memorable event.

EXTRACT

From his Convocation Sermon of Conforming and Reforming.

II. OF REFORMATION.

But be ye reformed by the renewing of your mind. The second thing that St. Paul commandeth is, That we be reformed by the renewing of our mind, that we may prove what is that good will of God, well-pleasing and perfect. Let us be reformed

in those vices, which be in us contrary to those virtues I mentioned even now; that is, to meekness, to sobriety, to charity, to spiritual occupation, that (as the said St. Paul writeth unto Titus) denying all ungodliness and worldly lusts, we may live soberly, righteously, and virtuously in this present world.

• This reformation and restoring the church's estate must needs begin of you our fathers, and so follow in us your priests, and in all the clergy. You are the heads, you are an example of living to us; upon you we look, as upon marks of our direction; in you, and in your lives, we desire to read (as in lively books) how and after what manner we ought to live: wherefore if you will consider, and pull out the motes that be in your eyes; 't is an old proverb, Physician, heal thyself; let me beseech you, spiritual physicians, first to take yourselves this purgation of manners, and then afterward offer us the same to take.

'Now the way whereby the church may be reformed into a better fashion is, not to make new laws; there be already laws enow, if not too many. Nothing is new under the sun, as saith Solomon, Eccles. i. 9. For the evils, that are now in the church, were before in times past; and there is no fault committed among us, for which our forefathers have not provided very good remedies against them in the body of the canon law. It is not needful then, that new laws and new constitutions be made, but those which are made already be well kept and put in execution: wherefore, I pray you, let those canons and laws, which are made, be called for and rehearsed before you in this assembly; those canons,

I mean, that restrain vice, and those that further virtue.

Let those canons be rehearsed, that do learn (teach) you, O fathers, not to lay hands suddenly on any man, not to be too facile in admitting into holy orders; for here lies the original and spring-head of all our mischiefs, that the gate of ordination is too broad, the entrance too wide and open; every man, that offers himself, is admitted every where without putting back. Hence comes it, that we have such a multitude of priests, who have little learning and less piety. In my judgement it is not enough for a priest to construe a collect, to put forth a question, to answer a sophism: but an honest, a pure and holy life is much more necessary, approved manners, competent learning in Holy Scripture, some knowledge of the sacraments; but, chiefly and above all things, the fear of God and love of heavenly life.

'Let the canons be rehearsed, which command that benefices of the church be given only to those that are worthy; and that promotions be made by the right balance of virtue, not by nearest kindred, or carnal affection, or acception of persons: whereby it happeneth now-a-days that boys, and fools, and ill-livers, do reign and rule in the church, instead of old men, and wise, and good.

To this end let the canons be rehearsed, which forbid and oppose the dirt of simony: which corruption, which infection, which cruel and detestable pestilence, doth now creep abroad like a canker in the minds of priests; so that in these days many are not afraid, by entreaty and servile attendances, by rewards and promises, to procure to themselves great dignities.

• Let the canons be rehearsed, that command per sonal residence of curates* in their churches: for of this many evils grow, because all offices now-a-days are performed by vicars† and parish-priests; yea, and those foolish and unmeet, often times wicked, that seek nothing among the laity but filthy lucre, whereof cometh occasion of evil heresies and ill-christendom in the people.

'Let the canons be rehearsed, which concern the lives of you fathers, and the honesty of us priests; which forbid a clergyman to meddle in merchandise, that he be no usurer, no hunter, no common gamer or player, that he bear no weapon: the canons, that forbid clergymen to haunt taverns, that forbid them to have suspected familiarity with women: the canons that command sobriety, moderation in apparel, and temperance in adorning the body.

"And to, my Lords, these monks, prebends (prebendaries) and religious men, let the canons be rehearsed, which command them to go the strait way that leads to heaven, leaving the broad way of the world; which command them not to turmoil themselves in business, neither secular nor other; which command, that they do not sow in princes' courts for earthly things: for it is decreed in the first council of Chalcedon, § • That monks ought only to give themselves to prayer and fasting, and to the chastising of the flesh and observing of their rules.'

* Above all things let the canons be rehearsed, that appertain to you, my Reverend Fathers and Lord Bishops; laws concerning your just and canonical

* Meaning, beneficed clergy having cure of souls. + Vicarii deputati.

+ Lay plots.

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§ Προσέχειν μονη τη νησεία και τη προσευχής και το λο