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come out, giving an Account of the Bishops and Deans of London and St. Asaph, from the first Foundation of thofe Sees to the Year 1540. His Account of which may perhaps by fome be thought Small, and the Performance not confiderable; tho to them who know how very little the Helps in Such Matters are, and the many tedious Hours it must coft even to fearch them out, it will, I doubt not, appear to deferve another Sort of Judgment, and the Confideration thereof reflect a due Commendation upon his unwearied Endea

vours.

He intended the like for all the other Sees, if God had granted Life; but the infinite All-seeing Wisdom hath otherways difpofed of him, and in the midst of his great Designs called him to Himself, to receive an early Reward for his welldeferving Labours.

In 1693, he put out Venerable Bede's Commentaries on Genefis, and on the Song of Habacuc, together with Aldhelmus his eloquent Book of the Praise of Virginity.

There are feveral other Pieces for which the World is in fome measure, and upon fome Account indebted to him. As the Life of Cardinal Pool. The Difceptation between the Embaffadors of England and France, in the Council of Conftance about Precedency. Mr. Stripe's Life

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of Archbishop Cranmer, which he reviewed, adding fome critical Obfervations thereon in a large Postscript. With fome others also.

But that which he himself more especially rejoiced in, and which, to use his own Words, he accounted the most fortunate Transaction of his whole Life; was the Honour which his late Lord, the moft Reverend Archbishop Sancroft did him upon his Death-bed in committing to his Trust the Papers of that Blessed Martyr Archbishop Laud, and to his Care the Edition of them. The most confiderable among which (containing the Troubles and Tryal of that great Perfon) he publifbed in the Year 1694.

These were the Works of Mr. Wharton, which the Author of this Account has thought fufficient almost barely to Name, without pretending to pass any Judgment concerning the Performance; for that indeed is render'd altogether needless by the universal Approbation and Applaufe wherewith they were conftantly received, as well in Foreign Countries as in our own; by the Engagements which they always drew upon him from the greatest and most Learned, of entring upon fomething else as foon as any one was finished; and Laftly, by the Esteem and Value they procured to him from Perfons of all Degrees and Qualities.

Befides

Befides those which he published in his Lifetime, he has left feveral Pieces hehind him, both Manuscript and others, about which he has beftowed great Pains. Among the former are feveral English Historians never as yet published; which he hath with exact Care and Faithfulness tranfcribed and collated with the Originals, fitting them for the Prefs, and which possibly sometime or other may be made publick, viz.

Benedictus Abbas de Geftis Henrici Secundi Regis Angliæ, A. D. 1170.

Chronicon Nicolai Tribetti (vulgo de Trebeth) Dominicani, ab An. 1136. ad An. 1307. Chronicon Petri Ickham, Compilatio de Geftis Britonum & Anglorum.

Stephani Birchington Monachi Cantuarienfis Historia de Regibus Angliæ poft Conqueftum.

Liber Nonus de Miraculis Anglorum.

In fome of them are contained vaft Collections out of Ancient and Modern Records relating to Church Affairs.

As to his Sermons, which are here presented to the Reader, there is one thing which he is defired to take Notice of. There was a Sermon, which ought to have accompanied these; to wit, that Preacht before her Majefty Queen Mary of Bleffed Memory; but being by fome accident left a 3

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imperfect, it has not been thought fit to be Printed among the rest, which 'tis hoped will be entertain'd with no lefs Applaufe now appearing together in publick, than the Satisfaction they were heard with when deliver'd apart in private Auditories. So much however happily remains of that aforeSaid imperfect Sermon, as is Jufficient to declare what Worthy Thoughts he had of the Government, and thereby clear his Memory from the unjust Afperfions of fome, who have been pleas'd to reprefent him as one who had not a fincere Affection for it. In one Place he has thefe Words; If to defend the Fatherlefs, Orphans and Widows, be fo acceptable to God; how noble an Act must it be accounted, to vindicate a whole Nation from Injustice and Oppreffion, to defend and maintain the Cause of the Church of God? In another Place thefe; It is undeniable that the Profeffion of the true Religion is maintain'd in this Nation under the happy Government of Their Majefties, as well as it was of old among the Jews in the Reign of Hezekiah. In another Place he speaks thus, which are most remarkable. But that other Part of the Promife, for my Servant David's fake, never had any People greater Reafon to apply to themselves, than we of this Nation, at this Time, have. God hath Blessed us with Princes of eminent Vertue and Piety; who, not content

content to employ their Authority in the fupport and defence of Religion, endeavour to retrieve the Power of it in the Lives of their Subjects by the Luftre of their own Example; who have delivered this National Church from the Oppreffion of her profeffed Enemies, and the apparent Danger of fudden Ruin, and have thereby become to us what Conftantine was to the whole Catholick Church, in the early Ages of Christianity, and what Queen Elizabeth of Bleffed Memory was to this particular Church in the laft Age. God hath bleffed us with a King, who to complete the Deliverance which he wrought for us, and to fettle us in Peace and Tranquility, hath spared no Pains, and continually hazarded his own Royal Perfon; and is at this Day acting with unwearied Vigour and Courage against the Common Enemy of our Nation, and the Oppreffor of the Chriftian World, for the Vindication of Justice, the Relief of afflicted Innocence, the Security of this Church and Nation.

But among his Manuscripts, there is one efpecially, which ought by no means to be past by in filence, as giving fuch an Inftance of his wonderful Diligence, as cannot easily be parallell'd; which is his Account of the Manufcripts in Lambeth Library; Wherein, befides giving a most exact a 4 Cata

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