were

And fince I have your promise to hear mewith patience, I will take a liberty to look back upon an obfervation thathath been made by an ingenuous and learned man, who obferves that God hath been pleased to allow those whom he himfelfe hath appointed, to write his holy will in holy Writ, yet to exprefs his will in fuch Metaphors as their former affections or practise had inclined them to; and he brings Solomon for an example, who before his converfion was remarkably amorous, and after by Gods appointment, writ that The CanLove-Song betwixt God and his Church.

And if this hold in reafon (as I fee none to the contrary) then it may be probably concluded, that Mofes whom I told you before, writ the book of Job) and the Prophet Amos were both Anglers, for you shal in all the old Teftament, find fifh-hooks

but

ticles.

4

but twice mentioned; namely, by meek Mofes, the friend of God; and by the humble Prophet A

mos.

Concerning which last, namely, the Prophet Amos, I shall make but this Observation, That he that shall read the humble, lowly, plain ftile of that Prophet, and compare it with the high, glorious, eloquent ftile of the prophet Isaiah (though they be both equally true) may eafily believe him to be a good natured,plaine Fisher-man.

Which I do the rather believe,by comparing the affectionate, lowly, humble epiftles of S. Peter,S. James and S. John, whom we know were Fishers, with the glorious language and high Metaphors of S. Paul, who we know was not.

Let me give you the example or two men more,that have lived nearer to our own times: first of Doctor Nowel fometimes Dean of S. Paul's,

(in which Church his Monument ftands yet undefaced) a man that in the Reformation of Queen Elizabeth (not that of Henry the VIII.) was fonoted for hismeek fpirit,deep Learning, Prudence and Piety, that the then Parliament and Convocation, both chofe, injoyned, and trusted him to be the man to make a Catechism for publick use, such a one as fhould stand as a rule for faith and manners to their pofteritie: And the good man (though he was very learned, yet knowing that God leads us not to heaven by hard questions) made that good, plain, unperplext Catechifm, that is printed with the old Service Book. Ifay, this good man was as dear a lover, and constant practicer of Angling, as any Age can produce; and his custome was to spend (besides his fixt hours of prayer (thofe hours which by command of the Church were enjoined the old Clergy, and volunta

rily dedicated to devotion by many Primitive Christians:) befidesthofe hours,this good man was observed to spend, or if you will, to bestow a tenth part of his time in Angling; and alfo (for I have converfed with those which have conversed with him) to bestow a tenth part of his Revenue, and all his fish, amongst the poor that inhabited near to those Rivers in which it was caught, faying often, That Charity gave life to Religion and at his return would praise God he had spent that day free from worldly trouble,both harmlesly and in a Recreation that became a Church-man.

My next and laft example shall be that undervaluer of money, the late Provost of Eaton Colledg, Sir Henry Wotton, (aman with whom I have often fish'd and converf'd) a man whofe forraign imployments in the service of this Nation, and whofe experience, learning,witand

cheer

cheerfulness, made his company to be esteemed one of the delights of mankind; this man, whofe very approbation of Angling were fufficient to convince any modeft Cenfurer of it, this man was also a most dear lover, and a frequent practicer of the Art of Angling, of which he would say, "["Twas an imploy"ment for his idle time, which was "not idly spent ;] for Angling was after tedious study "[A reft to his "mind, acheerer of his fpirits, a di"vertion of fadness, a calmer of un"quiet thoughts, aModerator of paf"fions,a procurer of contentedness, "and that it begot habits of peace "and patience in those that profest "and practic'd it.

Sir, This was the faying of that Learned man; and I do eafily believe that peace, and patience, and a calm content did cohabit in the cheerful heart of Sir Henry Wotton,' because I know, that when he was