LIFE

OF

DR. JAMES USHER,

ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH.

"WHEN first," says Plutarch, "I applied myself to the writing of these lives, it was for the sake of others; but I pursue that study for my own advantage, availing myself of History, as of a mirror, from which I learn to adjust, and regulate my own conduct; for it is like living and conversing with these illustrious men, when I invite and receive them, as it were, one after another, under my own roof; when I consider how great and illustrious they were, and select from their lives the most glorious and memorable circumstances; a greater pleasure than which," continues he, "the Gods can scarce grant us, or a more effectual method for the regulation of our morals.”—If a Heathen could find such powerful incentives to morality in the lives of illustrious Pagans, how much stronger inducements must the examples of departed Christians afford to their surviving brethren, to walk worthy of their high vocation. The dangers they escaped, the opposition they met with, the difficulties they encountered, the numbers, if ministers, they were the means of rescuing from eternal woe, the city of habitation, whither, free from all care and toil, and trouble, they have been at length safely conducted by the Spirit of the Most High, and the witnesses they thence are to the truth, and faithfulness of Jehovah, are so many motives to make us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily besets us, and to induce us to run with patience the race set before us, looking unto Jesus who is the author and the finisher of our faith. Tis only he who has planted it in so unkind a soil, who can cause that faith to flourish. The followers

of the Lamb have so many principles in common, that those of one age appear closely connected, and intimately acquainted with those of each preceding, whose biography they have learned. They seem, while eating the same spiritual food at the banquet of everlasting love, and drawing the waters of refreshing grace, from the inexhaustible fountain of eternal life, to be living and conversing with one another though separated by centuries, and tongues, and nations. They will always find something to interest, to animate, to sympathize with; nay, to instruct, to edify, to encourage them in the lives of those especially who were eminent in the Church of God. The Poet finds every thing to interest him, in Homer, Virgil, and Milton; the Limner in Apelles, Raphael, and Reynolds; the Statesman in Pericles, Mecenas, and Chatham: the Warrior in Alexander, Cæsar, and Wellington ; and will it be too much to add that the Christian should be animated, encouraged, and improved by forming himself upon the model of the distinguished Prelate who is the subject of these memoirs; of the Doctors of the Reformation, and of the noble army of martyrs, none of whom "counted their lives dear unto themselves, that' they might finish their course with joy, and the ministry which they received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the Grace of God."

To select then the most memorable circumstances of his life, we commence according to custom, with the birth of Archbishop Usher, which took place in the Parish of Saint Nicholas, in the City of Dublin, on the fourth day of January, A. D. 1580-a day much to be prized, as on it, Heaven gave to earth, one of the most valuable and useful characters that ever graced our orb, a day more worthy of grateful, and religious obser vance than many which have been appointed in our Calendars, to be kept boly. His father, Arnold Usher, who was descended from an English family of the name of Neville, which had long since emigrated to Ireland, was one of the six clerks in the Irish Chancery, a man of talent also, and of learning. One of his ancestors had been Usier to King John, from which situation, as was customary then, he derived that name, which afterwards continued as the distinctive appellation of the family. His mother's father, James Stanihurst, was three times Speaker of the House of Commons in Ireland, Recorder of Dublin, and Master in Chancery; he was also the first who had the honor of moving in Parliament for the foundation of an University in Dublin. To this Bill Queen Elizabeth readily assented, and gave her royal patent to effect the execution of the design. From this University, while yet in its infancy, founded by the exertions of his Uncle, our Author shone forth as a star of the first magnitude, a brilliant omen of its subsequent renown in the annals of literature. He learned the rudiments of his native tongue, and how to read it, from two maiden aunts, who were blind from their youth. While they were thus engaged in instructing their nephew, in the principles of language, they did not omit to bring before his infant mind, those

>

subjects which were of the most momentous consequence to his imperishable soul. Being themselves, enabled by the grace of God, to behold wonderful things out of his law, they felt exceedingly desirous that he also should perceive them. Dr. Parr has recorded of these women, that they possessed such incomparable readiness in the divine oracles, that they were either of them able on a sudden to repeat any part of the Bible"-so great was their love of that inestimable volume, altho' deprived of sight! Usher remained under the tuition of these excellent instructresses until he arrived at the age of eight years, at which period he was sent by his father to a school then opened by Mr. James Fullerton, and Mr. James Hamilton -These gentlemen having been sent over by King James, to secure his interest here among the Protestant Gentry, thought it necessary to assume the profession of School Masters, to conceal their real purposes. They were both in time knighted for their services, and Hamilton created Viscount Clandebois. From these extraordinary teachers he obtained a much better education than what his countrymen were then accustomed to receive, as learning was so much neglected from the convulsed state of the country, during so long a period. He hence esteemed the arrival of these persons in Ireland as a eircumstance most providential for him, and often referred to it as a signal instance of the loving kindness of the Lord. To them he truly owed all that extensive learning, which he afterwards found so effectual and powerful a weapon in his polemical contests, He made now a very rapid and uncom mon progress in Latin, Rhetorick and Poetry, and was considered by his masters the best and most promising pupil under their care. So exceedingly captivated was he by the poetic muse in his youth, that it was then imagined he would have remained her constant votary. But he soon found it impractica ble to remain in her service, and attain that proficiency in useful learning, which he deemed it necessary to acquire. Although he thus repressed his propensity for the refined flights of Poetry, "as not suitable to the great end of his more resolved, serious, and profitable studies, yet", continues Dr. Parr, "he always loved a good Poem that was well and chastly writ." In admiring those poems only, which were recommended by their chastity as well as by their talent, his example ought surely to be imitated. It is a sad reflection that so much talent has been perverted, so much time sacrificed, and so much wit exerted to adorn obscenity, lasciviousness, and immorality with all the bewitching graces of abused Poetry,

While we thus trace, in the intellectual firmament, the incipient dawnings of one, who afterwards completed his course with such splendor, we should not forget to mark the first promise of his no less brilliant appearance in the moral-heavens. We are informed by Dr. Bernard, that his conversion to God took place at the age of ten years through the instrumentality of a Sermon, which he heard preached from the first verse of the twelfth chapter of the Romans; "I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God, that

you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." It may appear strange to those, who are themselves strangers to the covenant of promise, to hear the conversion of a child spoken of; when, according to their apprehension, he was innocent; but when, according to Revelation, he in common with every other son of the fall" was shapen in iniquity, and conceived in sin." They doubtless are ignorant of this important truth of revealed religion, that "unless a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of Heaven" unless a new creation of the whole man take place within him, removing the natural enmity of his heart against the divine Being, correcting the evil propensities of his nature, and enabling him to accept the free, unmerited salvation propounded in the Gospel.

Some manuscript notes of Master Perkins, which have since been printed, on the sanctifying of the Lord's Day, made so powerful an impression on his mind, that during the remainder of his life it was his constant care to observe it as he ought. About this time he read in Latin Saint Augustine's meditations (those rather which are attributed to him,) which so exceedingly affected him that he often wept as he perused them. So great a loss as Satan had sustained in him, could not long be brooked without some attempt åt rescue-he accordingly exerted every nerve to effect this diabolical purpose-every means was resorted to, to bring him back to his allegiance to the "Prince of the power of the air"-and every attempt made to suppress the growth of this tender plant, as well when the shades of night caused its head to droop, as when the returning sun again invigorated its suspended charms. Not only were various modes of terror invented to affright him in the course of his daily avocations, they were suggested even in dreams by night. The ardor, with which he had embraced the pursuit of godliness, it was thus hoped, would be early checked, and his timid mind be dissuaded from a course, which however pleasurable, appeared to them to be only encompassed with danger. Notwithstanding all these wiles, he remained stedfast and immoveable. Persuaded, that he was unable of himself to overcome the adversary, he applied, by prayer, to that glorious being, from whom cometh every good and perfect gift; and he found grace, proportioned to his need. He who is mighty to save, delivered him in his distressthe attacks of his enemy were violent and frequent; but they were opposed by invincible power-they soon ceased-the storm subsided-a welcome calm succeeded, and an unusual degree of comfort and support was administered from on high. This circumstance continued indelibly impressed upon his mind, as might well be supposed, during his whole life.

When the Evil One found his machinations were unsuccessful, and that thẹ young christian warrior could not be intimidated by the sudden terror, which cometh by night, as the Almighty One was his detence, his shield, and his strong tower round about him; he endeavoured once more to allure