Rev. J. Barrow, Lopham R. Norfolk. Rev. J. W. Darby, Wicklewood V. Norfolk.

Rev. R. Davies, Stanton R. Gloucestershire.

Rev. G. Gunning, Deeping R. Lincolnshire.

Rev. Patrick Keith, Ruckinge R. Kent. Rev. Mr. Latey, Doynton R. Gloucestershire.

Rev. J. Mayo, Avebury V. Wilts. Rev. J. S. Phillott, Farmborough R. Somersetshire.

Rev. J. Pratt, Fordham C. Norfolk. Rev. J. Relph, Exford R. Somerset. Rev. T. Stacey, Boath V. co. Glamorgan. Rev. G. Trevelyan, jun. M.A. Milverton Prima V. with Longford Budville, annexed, Somersetshire.

Rev. C. R. Sumner, and the Rev. Dr. Hugh Pearson, to be Chaplains in Ordidinary to his Majesty.

Rev. Thomas Calvert, to the Wardenship of the Collegiate Church of Manchester.

Rev. W. Acton, LL.B. Ayott St. Laurence, R. Herts.

Rev. J. Bluck, Grays Thurrock V. Essex.

Rev. W. Burgess, Kirby, Walton, and Thorpe-le-Soken, consolidated V. Essex. Rev. Charles Chichester, B. D. West Worlington R. Devon.

Rev. W. W. Greenaway, Newbold Verdon R. and Shackerstone V. Leicestershire.

Rev. John Jenkins, Knill R. Herefordshire.

Rev. J. Lempriere, Newton St. Petrock R. Devon.

Rev. W. Moggridge Stawell, Filleign and East Buckland united RR. Devon.

Rev. John Nelson, Mileham R. Norfolk. Rev. Hugh Owen, LL.D. (Master of Beccles School) Beccles R. Suffolk.

Rev. J. W. Peters, Quenington R. Gloucestershire.

Rev. Jermyn Pratt, Bintry and Tremil thorpe united RR. Norfolk.

Rev. F. S. Trotman, Dallington V. Notts, and Stoke Goldington and Gayhurst, Bucks.

Rev. R. P. B. Henshaw, Chaplain to Marquis of Salisbury.

Rev. Allan Macpherson, Domestic Chaplain to Marquis of Tweeddale.

Rev. H. N. Pearson, D.D. to the Dean

ery of Sarum, vice Talbot, dec.

Archdeaconry of Hereford, vice Jones, dec.

.

Rev. R. G. Baker, Springfield R. Essex. Rev. H. Bishop, Great Clacton V. Essex. Rev. T. Bowens, Brampton Prebend in the Cathedral of Lincoln, vice Talbot, dec.; also, Stoke Hammond R. Bucks, vice Gardner, dec.

Hon. and Rev. Frederic Pleydel Bouveries, Stanton St. Quintin R. Wilts.

Rev. W. Browne, B.A. Marlesford R. Suffolk.

Rev. J. D. Coleridge, St. Kenwyn and Kea VV. Cornwall.

Rev. C. C. Davies, Flint Perp. Cur. Rev. C. Elers, Bickenhill V. Warwickshire, vice Bree, dec.

Rev. W. R. Gilby, St. Mary's R. Beverley.

Rev. C. Henley, M. A. Wantesden Perp. Cur. Suffolk.

Rev. R. J. B. Henshaw, Hungarton with Twyford V. co. Leicester.

Rev. C. B. Henville, Portsea V. Hants. Rev. Mr. Hoblyn, Mylor and Mabe VV. Cornwall.

Rev. Oswald Leicester, Carrington Chapelry, Cheshire.

Rev. Matthew Marsh, B. D. Beaminster Prima Prebend in the Cathedral of Sarum.

Rev. G. Moore, Cromby R. Lincolnshire.

Rev. J. T. Nottidge, Old Newton V. Suffolk.

Rev. E. P. Owen, Wellington V. Salop. Rev. W. Owen, Ryme Intrinseca R. Dorset.

Rev. W. M. Pierce, Burwell and Golceby VV. Lincolnshire.

Rev. Dr. Povah, St. James's R. Duke's place, London.

Rev. G. Schobell, D.D. Henley-uponThames R. vice E. Townshend, dec.

Rev. J. S. Sergrove, St. Mary Somerset and St. Mary Mounthaw, RR. London. Rev. J. Smith, Kirkby cum Asgarby R. Lincolnshire.

Rev. F. R. Spragg, Combe St. Nicholas V. Somerset, vice Waren, dec. Rev. John Steggall, Ashfield Magna Pern. Cur. Suffolk.

Kev. J. M. Sumner, Sutton R. Essex. Rev. John Swire, Manfield V. Yorkshire, vice Cochrane, dec.

Rev. Lord John Thynne, Kingston Deverell R. Wilts.

Rev. William White, Stradbroke V.

MEMOIR OF BOSSUET, BISHOP OF

MEAUX.

(Continued from p. 207.) It is difficult to fix the precise period at which the acquaintance of Bossuet and Fenelon commenced; but this occurrence probably took place some time before the year 1680. The Marquis de Fenelon, when about to introduce his young nephew to some of the most distinguished characters of the age, was not likely to overlook a man, such as the Bishop of Meaux, who stood in the first rank of eminence, both for moral and intellectual endowments. There was a great disparity in their ages, Fenelon being the younger by more than twenty years: yet he soon attached himself to Bossuet with marked preference; so much so, it appears, as to excite something like jealousy in the mind of Harlai, Archbishop of Paris, who had conceived a strong friendship for the young Abbé, and treated him with the most flattering attention. Bossuet, likewise, seems to have been fully sensible of the merits of Fenelon. He received him, at all times, with marked kindness and esteem, condescending to advise and direct him in his studies, and evinced a concern for his improvement that was at once respectful and paternal. The lovely disposition of Fenelon was a magnet which powerfully attracted every object that surrounded him, within a certain distance; and the penetrating judgment of Bossuet could not fail to discover in him that classical purity of taste, that elegant sprightliness of imagination, that sublimity of poetical genius, and that, warmth and clevation of CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 257.

moral principle which shine forth with so much taste in his Telemachus, and render that production, notwithstanding its occasional tediousness, always attractive and profitable to the youthful reader. Bossuet seems, however, not to have formed a sufficiently accurate opinion of his young friend's character, with regard to some other particu lars.

Bausset, in his life of Fenelon, relates, that both these eminent men were permitted to deliver a sermon in public, at the early age of fifteen; and that both performances were attended with great success. If this story respecting Fenelon reached the ears of the Bishop of Meaux, as it probably did, he must have been forcibly struck with the coincidence, and must have perceived in the young Abbé one who was likely to prove a dangerous rival in talents and celebrity.

The connexion, thus formed between these two illustrious characters, rapidly grew up into intimacy, notwithstanding the great difference of their ages, and lasted for several years, apparently without the smallest abatement of friendship on either side. Fenelon was gaining continually fresh stores of knowledge and mental improvement from his familiar intercourse with Bossuet; and Bossuet, we would hope, was acquiring, not only profit and delight from the conversation, but spiritual edification from the temper and manners, of Fenelon. He sometimes sought a retreat from the bustle of public life, at his country house at Germigny; and thither his young friend was invited to accom

2 N

After the cruel revocation of the edict of Nantes, Louis the XIV. was advised to dispatch a certain number of missionary pastors into those provinces of the kingdom which most abounded with Protestants; and which were now left, through the operation of that decree, "as sheep having no shepherd." The business of these "home missionaries" was both to confirm the faith of those who had returned into the bosom of the Romish church, and to exert themselves in bringing over others to a similar conformity. Upon this occasion, Bossuet advised the king to employ Fenelon in the missions of Poitou and Saintonge. In so doing, he laid the foundation of his friend's promotion in the church, little foreseeing that the period would arrive, when he would labour, with all his might, to discredit and degrade the very individual whom he now cherished with the highest sentiments of admiration, and the warmest feelings of regard.

In 1689, Fenelon became preceptor to the grandson of Louis XIV. under the Duke of Beauvilliers, who was governor to the young prince. This event drew a letter from Bossuet, addressed to the Marchioness of Laval, in which he speaks of his friend's appointment in terms of the highest encomium, with reference both to his splendid talents, and his unobtrusive modesty. It is well known what a surprising change the discipline of Fenelon produced in the temper and manners of his pupil, the Duke of Burgundy, independently of the general success of his education with regard to knowledge and literary attainments. Bossuet, after obtaining a private interview with the prince, expressed his admiration of the united talents and industry of the preceptor. This testimony, however, appears to have been given with some little reluctance, and to have been in some degree extorted

from him by the force of ocular demonstration. His own methods, in the tuition of the elder dauphin, had been highly and deservedly extolled; but, for want of a subject of equal promise to work upon, they were certainly not followed by those signal and striking results which attended the education of the younger prince. Admiring, as I own I do, the general character of this great man, I am far from wishing to treat his failings with undue severity. But it seems not improbable that a lurking jealousy of the growing reputation of Fenelon might, even at this time, have begun to disturb that unruffled stream of tranquil happiness which had long distinguished their friendly intercourse. Fenelon had been hitherto a submissive disciple. He was without at all intending it, springing up into something of the nature of a rival.

now,

'We now come to the affair of Mad. Guyon, a brief account of which may be necessary to refresh the memory of the reader.

This lady was born in 1648, of a respectable family, in Montargis. She was married when very young, and was left a widow at the age of twenty-eight years. Her early life had been distinguished by sentiments of unfeigned piety and an elevated spirit of devotion. But even piety will take, in some measure, its cast and direction from the characteristic qualities of the recipient. Fancy greatly prevailed over, or rather excluded judgment in, the mental constitution of Mad. Guyon; and her sprightliness of imagination was combined with great warmth and tenderness of heart. These circumstances united gave to her religious sentiments and practice a character of mysticism and abstraction which appears neither recommended by the precepts of Scripture, nor suitable to the present condition of human nature. chose for her spiritual director a person of the name of La Combė, a member of the religious order of

Barnabites, or regular Clerks of St. Paul. She had met with him in the neighbourhood of Geneva, whither she had retired, by the invitation of M. D'Arenthon, the titular bishop of that place. This bishop had been struck with her piety and indifference to the world; but he afterwards found it necessary to withdraw his confidence and protection, in consequence of her enthusiastic and irregular proceedings. She appears to have been misled by the idea that she was destined to discharge some extraordinary ministry. She held frequent conferences with piously disposed persons of both sexes in her neighbourhood, labouring with much zeal to bring them over to her particular views respecting the nature of true and acceptable devotion. This she certainly made to consist, far too exclusively, in the musings of solitude; in the raptures of silent contemplation; in a total abstraction of the thoughts from external objects; and in such a seraphic love of God as bears reference only to Himself and his perfections, without being at all mixed up with motives of self-love, or personal considerations of hope and fear. In consequence of some mutual discontents, she separated from the community at Geneva, and followed La Combe to Thonon. She afterwards visited Grenoble, where she held public disputations. The cardinal le Camas, bishop of that city, disapproving of her doctrines, obliged her to quit his diocese. About this time, she published two treatises in support of heropinions; one, "Le Moyen court et tres facile pour faire Oraison;" the other, "Explication mystique du Cantique des Cantiques." She returned to Paris in 1687; and, still persisting in the propagation of her principles, without any abatement of zeal, or dread of consequences, she was silenced by Harlai, the archbishop, who procured an order from the king to confine her in a convent, She found means, however, to gain the ear

of Madame de Maintenon; and, through her influence, speedily obtained a release. Under such pro- . tection, she was emboldened to visit Versailles, and there became acquainted with the Abbé Fenelon, at that time preceptor to the Duke of Burgundy. Fenelon was very far from giving credit to the visions and revelations, in which the too elevated

imagination of Mad. Guyon had indulged. He was possessed of too much discernment and too much manly vigour of understanding for this; but the character of Mad. Guyon unquestionably assailed him in the point where he was most likely to yield. He was charmed with the sprightliness of her conversation; he was delighted and edified with her piety; he had heard much of her charities and the excellence of her morals; and the kindness of his temper probably led him to regard her as the object of an unjust and unsparing persecution. Her error consisted in some mistaken and extravagant notions concerning a principle which lies at the foundation of all true religion, and without which all pretensions to scriptural godliness are vain. Her real piety, though mixed with much that was enthusiastic, could not fail of proving attractive to such a mind as Fenelon's; a mind of warm and elevated devotion. Drawn towards Madame Guyon by this partial resemblance of character, he seems to have been somewhat taken by surprise, and to have abandoned himself too incautiously to the influence of his present feelings. He appears to have drunk too deeply of her peculiar sentiments; but even supposing him not to have erred in this particular, still he was not sufficiently attentive to guard himself against the imputation of encouraging her visions, revelations, and singular proceedings, of which his sober, judgment certainly could not approve. Mad. Guyon was not a little proud of her new disciple, and is said to have called him her son. She was soon.

however, to be again under a cloud, Mad. de Maintenon withdrew her countenance, urged by the representations of several eminent ecclesiastics, and by her knowledge of the king's aversion to novelties in religion. Under these circumstances, Fenelon advised his friend to seek counsel of Bossuet, then considered almost in the light of an acknowledged umpire of controversy in the Gallican church. She complied with this recommendation, yielded to the decision of the Bishop of Meaux, and went so far as to surrender her works into his hands, to be examined and revised at his discretion. Bossuet devoted much time to the examination of her writings. In January 1694, he had a long discourse with her, for the purpose of rectifying what he conceived to be her erroneous notions; and recommended her to live in retirement in the country, without setting herself up as a public teacher of religion.. It appears that, for a season, she complied with this advice. She could not, however, long remain in silence. Irritated by some false reports concerning herself, she wrote to Mad. de Maintenon, requesting that a committee might be appointed to judge of her doctrine and her conduct. By her own desire, M. de Noailles, bishop of Chalons, and M. Tronson, were associated with Bossuet for the proposed investigation. In the mean time, the friends of Fenelon used all their endeavours to detach him from her cause, but without success. The conferences were held at Issy, in the neighbourhood of Paris; and, while the investigation was pending, Madame Guyon lived in retirement at Meaux. During this period, in Feb. 1695, Fenelon was appointed to the archbishopric of Cambrai; when it was judged proper by Mad. de Maintenon, that he should be called to assist at the conferences concerning Mad. Guyon. Upon this occasion, he was treated by Bossuet with a marked neglect; but he at length joined the three other commissaries

in signing the thirty-four articles, agreed upon at Issy, in March 1695. This, to be sure, was rather surprising, considering Fenelon's professed sentiments on the disputed points, though he afterwards justified his conduct to the satisfaction of many of his friends. Mad. Guyon was induced to sign a sort of recantation of some of her opinions, and promised to live in quiet and retirement. That promise, however, she broke; in consequence of which she was seized by order of Lewis, and closely imprisoned at Vincennes. It was a harsh and cruel proceeding to treat, as a kind of state prisoner, a pious and amiable female, whom her worst enemies could only consider in the light of a visionary, labouring under some infirmity of intellect. Fenelon knew that Bossuet had been the secret adviser of this measure, and could not but feel extremely wounded at his conduct. An open breach now ensued. Bossuet dispatched a notice to the new prelate, his old friend, requiring him to certify his entire disapprobation of the sentiments of Mad. Guyon, and his assent to the pastoral instructions which Bossuet had recently published on this subject. Fenelon refused compliance with these peremptory orders, and much correspondence passed between them on the subject. The Archbishop of Cambrai now published his "Maximes des Saints;" a work in which he endeavoured to set the religious sentiments of his friend in the fairest and least exceptionable point of light; to purge away the dross, and exhibit the gold, of her doctrine in a pure, unadulterated mass. Never before did any vo lume, with such a holy and peaceful title, produce such an explosion of angry controversy. It was immediately mentioned to the king as containing the most dangerous and heretical opinions. The king applied to Bossuet for further information; and Bossuet, shamefully *

I speak thus strongly, on the supposi tion that Bossuet was in no slight degree