John Milton : his life and times : religious and political opinions : with an appendix containing animadversions upon Dr. Johnson's Life of Milton, etc., etc

Front matter

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Preface

The unceremonious manner in which Milton has treated the episcopal bench will probably be disliked by some readers, as unnecessarily severe, and extremely uncourteous. Let such persons, however, recollect the unconstitutional and persecuting practices of Laud and some of his brethren in the Star.chamber, and their servile compliances in supporting arbitrary power in Charles I., and they may perhaps be inclined to moderate their censures, if not to change their opinion.

As to the determined efforts of Milton to prevail with the Parliament to abolish tithes, and to leave the established clergy to depend for support upon the voluntary contributions of their respective parishoners, his reasoning has a better prospect of being regarded at the present than at any former period since his treatises were published. It may probably too give weight to his recommendations, that Ms remarks applied to Presbyterian, and not to Episcopal " hirelings." His objection was to the system of tithes, because he considered it directly opposed to the genius of Christianity, and as being injurious to the spiritual interests of the nation.

An earnest desire that the religious and political sentiments of Milton should be justly appreciated, led the writer to undertake this work ; and also that his Christian integrity, manifested under all the changes through which he passed from 1640 to 1674, on account of the extraordinary revolutions of that period, should be held

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up as an example worthy of univers^ imitation. It will however be found, that the veneration which he entertains for the character of Milton, has not led him to overlook his faults, nor to palliate his errors.

Another reason which prevailed with the writer was, that the Lives of Milton have usually been so large and expensive, that they have been placed out of the reach of the generality of readers ; he therefore hopes that a small volume, comprising every thing of importance respecting this noble-minded and gigantic man, will not be unacceptable nor unprofitable to the bulk of his countrymen.

The writer cannot anticipate that the sentiments stated in his work will be universally acceptable ; but if they be approved by that large body of Britons who contend for liberty as their birth-right, and especially by Protestant Dissenters, it is as much as he can expect. It is a little singular, that no writer of the latter class has ever published the life of this early and powerful defender of their principles, notwithstanding it is to his powerful advocacy that they are indebted, more than to any other writer, for all the civil and religious privileges which they now enjoy. From his Memoirs having been written by Churchmen, who must have necessarily disapproved of his opinions, it is not wonderful that he should have been charged with employing " coarse and intemperate," <' rude and insulting language." Let the reader how-

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ever recollect the period at which his treatises were written, when polemics where not remarkably nice in their selection of epithets ; and let him consider too the extreme importance of the subjects of which they treat — ■ the welfare of the church of Christ, and the deliverance of the nation from civil and religious tyranny — and he may probably be inclined to judge more favourably of the strong and caustic terms which he has sometimes employed for the purpose of satirizing and exposing gross impositions and oppressive corruptions. His blunt and biting style exposed him to great opposition and reproach ; but he evidently indulged self-gratulation, from the reflection that he had always accustomed himself to what he called "this just ond honest manner of speaking." The following beautiful description of Truth is a specimen : —

In his ^'Areopagitica," published 1644, he says : "Truth, indeed, came once into the world with her Divine Master, and was a perfect shape, most glorious to look upon ; but when he ascended, and his apostles after him were laid asleep then strait arose a wicked race of Deceivers, who,as that story goes of that wicked Typhon with his conspirators, how thej dealt with the good Osiris, took the virgin Truth, hewed her lovely form into a thousand pieces, and scattered them to the four winds. From that time ever since, the sad friends of Truth, such as durst appear imitating the careful search which Isis made for the mangled body of Osiris, went up and down, gathering up every viu \j^. PREFACE.

limb still as tbev could find them. We have not vet found them all, Lords and Commons, nor ever shall do till her Master's second coming. He shall bring together every joint and member, and shall mould them into an immortE^l feature of loveliness and perfection-"

In the " Animadversions upon Johnson's Life of Milton" in the Appendix, there will be found a degree of severity merited, the writer thinks, by an author who suffered his ultra-toryism and bigotry so to blind his understanding as to use his pen for distorting the features of a character which he was incapable of delineating. The writer would not have considered these remarks to have been required so long after the death of the calumniator, had not the obnoxious work formed part of that standard pubUcation, " The Lives of the British Poets." The amiable poet, Cowper, has justly designated Johnson's Life of Milton as ^^ unmerciful treatment."* Again, " In the last leaf of Murphy's Essay," says Hayley, " on the Life and Genius of Johnson, he wrote the following most deliberate censure : ' Let all that is said against Milton in the conclusion of this book pass undisputed, and Johnson's is a most malignant life of Milton.' "f

The writer has also taken the liberty to copy into the

* Sketch of the Life of Cowper, prefixed to his posthumous poems, p xxxiii.

t Latin and Itahan Poems of Milton, translated by Cowper, Preface and Notes by W. Hayley, Esq.

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Appendix, from the Rev. Mr. Todd's ." Account of Milton," &;c. published in 1828, the Extracts from the Council Book while Milton was Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and which will throw considerable light upon several events connected with his history.

Imploring the blessing of the Great Head of the Church to rest upon this humble effort to subserve His glory, by causing it to promote the cause of truth and righteousness, the writer, with much respect, dedicates it to the rising generation in Britain ; earnestly praying they may prove themselves a superior race to their most distinguished progenitors, whether of genuine patriots, unsophisticated Protestants, or real Christians, and thus contribute towards promoting the prosperity of their country in its highest and most essential interests — a country respecting which in many respects, it might be said, as it is of ancient Israel, "The Lord hath not dealt so with any

PEOPLE."

J. I.

1, Devonshire Street, Queen Square, Dec. 2lst, 1832.

Chapter I. 1608—1640

Milton's parents.— Bom in London.— His^tutors.— Incredible advances in learning.— Sent to Cambridge.— Early productions.— Obtains a degree.— Leaves the University.— Returns to his father's house.— PubUshes a Latin Elegy. — ^His Comus and Lycidas published.— Loses his mother.— Resolves to make the tour of Europe.— Introduced to persons of distinction.— Visits Rome and Naples.— His Protestant zeal.— Returns to Rome.— Danger from English Jesuits.— Visits Galileo in the Inquisition at Florence.— Arrives at Venice and Geneva. — Returns to England on account of the Civil War.— State of the Church under Laud, and persecution of the Puritans. Page 17—26.

Chapter II. 1640—1644

Milton's arrival in London.— Commences schoolmaster. — Reproached on that account. — Vindicated by Toland. — Inconsolable because of the death of Diodati.— ^Writes against the Bishops. — Two Books on the Reformation from Popery .--Prayer to the Trinity in Uniity. — Declaration of his motives in writing. — Conduct of the Bishops. — Admiration of the Reformation. — Appeal to the united EngHsh and Scotch nations, — Origin of Antichrist. — Publishes on Prelatical Epis-

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copacy against Usher. — Reason of Church Government urged against Prelacy. — Animadversions on a work of Bishop Hall. — Sentiments respecting Liturgies. — Church corrupted by Constantine. — His opinion of the Fathers — and of Tithes, — A tale of the Head and Wen. — Replies to a Libel. — His contempt for the Bishops. — Remarks. •> Page 27—50.

Smollett's* Account of the origin or the Civil War. — A different Account by Mrs. Lucy Hutchinson. — State of the Prelates. — Origin of Congregational Churches in London. — Notes. — Dispute between the House of Lords and commons respecting the Prelates. — Bishops excluded from their seats in Parliament. — Milton publishes his Areopagitica. — Charged with printing scandalous books. — ^Persecuting spirit of Presbyterian Assembly. — Eloquent description of the Liberty of the Press. — He is married. — Left by his wife. — Publishes four Tracts on Divorce. — They are reconciled. — Remarks on his conduct and principles. — Bishop Hall's opinion. — Note. — Milton belonged to the Baptist Denomination. — Sonnet. — Death of his father. — Re- \wes his Academy. — Sonnet. — Appointed Latin Secretary. — Satirical Poem addres sed to the Presbyterians. Page 51 — 98.

Chapter IV. 1648—1653

Presbyterians oppose the execution of the King. — Testimony of Neale. — Mistake corrected, (note) — Milton pubUshes Tenure of Kings and Magistrates after the death of Charles I.— His description of the Presbyterian magistrates, and ministers. — Enemies to liberty of Conscience. — House of Lords voted to be useless. — Office of King voted to be dangerous to liberty. — Council of State. — Milton commences the history of England. — Appointed Latin Secretary to the Council. — Publishes his Eiclonocastes. — Eikon Basilike an im-

* The writer, by mistake, has in "this Cliapter used the name of Hume instead o( Smollett.

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posture. — Milton publishes a reply to the Irish Presbyterians. — Writes a reply to Salmasius. — Publishes his Second Defence. — Reply to Peter Du Moulin, who had reproached him on account of his blindness. — Sonnet on his blindness. — Letter on the same subject to Leonard Philarus. — Lines addressed to Cyriac Skinner. — He defends himself against Morus. — Appointed Latin Secretary to the Protector. Page 98— 13i.

Chapter V. 1653—1660

Oliver Cromwell appointed Lord Pi'otector. — Milton's reason for approving Cromwell's conduct. — Sonnet on his character. — Protector's principles as to liberty of conscience, Note. — Milton's eulogy on his character. — Loss of his two wives. — Sonnet. — Publishes his Treatise of Civil Power in Ecclesiastical Causes, and Considerations to remove Hirelings, &c. — Death of Oliver Cromwell. — Publishes on the Ruptures of the Commonwealth ; and the ready and safe way to establish a free Commonwealth. — Letter to General Monk. — Brief Notes upon a Sermon entitled, ' The fear of God and the King.' Page 132—166.

The Duke of Savoy persecutes the Waldenses. — Cromwell's noble conduct. — Milton's Sonnet. — Cromwell's intention to found a Protestant Council.— Milton's State Letters: — The Protector to the Prince of Tarentum, to the Duke of Savoy, to the Prince of Transilvania, to the king of the Swedes, to the States of the United Provinces, to the Evangelick States of Switzerland, to the King of France, to Cardinal Mazarine, to the King of Denmark, to the Senators of the City of Geneva, to the Cities of Switzerland, to the King of the Swedes, to the States of the United Provinces, to the King of the Swedes, to the King of Denmark, &c., to the Landgrave of Hesse, to the King of the Swedes, to the heir of Norway, to the Marquis of Branden- 2

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burgh, to the King of France, to the Cities of the Switzers, to Cardinal Mazarin — Richard, Protector, to the King of the Swedes. — The Parliament to the King of the Swedes, to the King of Denmark. Page 167—117,

Restoration of Charles II. — Milton secretes himself. — ^Sonnet. — Anecdote. — Two of his works burnt. — Secured by act of Oblivion. — Exemplifies the Character of Abdiel. — Marries his third wife. — Removes to Chalfont. — Thomas Elhvood and Paradise Lost. — Extracts from that inimitable Poem. — Anecdote of Milton. — Anecdote of the Duke of York. — Paradise Regained. — Samson Agonistes. — Letter to Peter Heimbach. — His Treatise on True Religion. — Andrew Marvell. — Respect shown to Milton. — His death and funeral. — His person and character. — His will.— His widow and daughters. — Original Letter of Mr. George Vertue. — Monuments. — Treatise of Christian Doctrine. — Extracts. — Remarks. — List of works. Page 21S,