I.

To Dr. Hickes.

Dur. June 10th, 1707.

"MOST DEAR AND HON. MR. DEAN,

“I have the ffavour both of your kind letter to me and very acceptable present to our Rev. Brethren, who returne you their thanks with very particular respect. I have not yet perused it all through, but that part that vindicates the Apostolick Order of Episcopacy, the proper sacrifice of Christian Priests and Alter I have read with much satisfaction, containing ffully the sentiments I always had of them, and I believe received from you, or your direction of my studies. Only there is one notion of our Christian Eucharisticall sacrifice, as a Peace-Offering annexed to the Grand Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross, I have not yet met with in this excellent book, but is contained in a Sermon of your's I many years ago had a copie of, and from thence often made use of that notion in my sacramentall Sermons. You have done justice to Dr. Outram's and Dr. Cudworth's notions upon that point: And it is upon such learned mens' wrong notions, through their greater accuracy in Rabinicall learning than of the primitive writers of the Church, that the contempt both of the Christian Priesthood, Alter, and Sacrifice has been grounded by our owne and fforeign Reformers.

"But indeed this is oweing more to particular cellebrated writers than to any publick acts of our Church, as you have very well shewed out of the Rubricks and substance of our first and succeeding Liturgies. But, indeed, our general neglect of the Rubricks is one great reason of the rise of such sleight if not profane notions, and contempt of ye sacred Oblation, two whereof are very notorious:

The ffirst is, that the preparation of ye Oblation is generally left to ignorant and slovenly, called parish, Clerks, but are but Laymen, and so placed on ye H. Alter in a rude and inde

cent maner.

The other is, that it is placed on the H. Table before the time of the Offerings against a plain Rubrick of our Book, and all ye primitive (I believe) and am sure both ye Oriental Liturgies, as well as Occidentall. It is immediately before ye Prayer ffor the state of Christ's Church.

"And when there is a Com" the Priest shall then place upon the table so much bread and wine &c. after wch done the Priest shall say :"

But now this is not so much as observed in Cathedrall Churches, I ever was at the com" of, ffor want of which being gravely and reverendly performed, has much helped I doubt not to raise such unsound notions, and to make ye table of the Lord ye Offering of ye Lord and ye Priests

VOL. II.

P

of ye Lord contemptible, as ffully described by the Prophet Malachi.

It is against ye Order described by Justine Martyr, and that described in the 19 can" of the Con' of Laodicea. But is that will be restored with great difficulty: nor can be done without Arch-BB. and BPS. commanding a strict conformity to the Rubricks.

I should be glad to hear your sence of the Geneva Epistle, you may remember it was ye general sence of ye ffrench Protestance when we were together there, wch was the reason we communicated with ym. And I remember Mons. Claud frequently professed the same to us: and Mons. Tranchin of Geneva did the same to me when I return'd out of the Levant yt way. They appeal to travellers you see, and if something were out upon that point, it might do good. I am sorry to find you have bene so ill: that it may please God to be both your's and your Ladies, are the sincere wishes and constant prayers of

your

Most affectionate pupil, ffriend,

and humble servant,

GEO. WHELER.

I humbly thank you for your Ladies prayers,

and beg your continuance of them.

II.*

Houghton, Oct. 11, 1713.

"SON GEORGE,

"I had sooner answered your letter, but the contents of it required some consideration and leasure to consider of it, and I conceived no great haste required in the premises.

As to your boarding, your reasons are good if your intentions are sincere, and it be not to hide some sinister designe for your greater real disadvantage. But if you stay at Westminster, you must lodge, with whom and where Q.

The price you mention for boarding is very extravagant, and I think much out of the com

mon way.

I do believe with good husbandry you may eat cheaper then you can board, especially in term-time, at a cook's shop; but Mr. Arguis and my designe of your boarding in an honest and

* In a previous letter, as the son (who had been placed, much against his inclination, in an Attorney's office in Westminster) complained, that his 'sedentary occupation gave him the stone and gravel,' Sir George with parental tenderness had written a prescription of marshmallows, and had requested his master to spare him occasionally an hour or two from business to exercise in the park. How this young man profited by seeing the gay world, may be inferred from the letter here printed. Most of his letters to his son, it may be remarked (for several are still extant) are written in a strain of great affection; and his reproofs appear to be characterised rather by the necessary firmness of a father, than the patruæ verbera linguæ.

reputable house was, that your conversation might be sober and honest, and would be a guard upon you to live so as to preserve a reputation and reall virtue, as I hope.

As to allowance, I think twenty-ffive pounds a year will be sufficient, unless you spend too much in extravagancy of cloaths, which I perceive you are too fond of; great white peruques *, silver swords, a laced hat, and the like, does not become your calling; whatever young idle extravagant ffops do, it is not, nor shall not be your example by my allowance. A good plain sute, and a carefull ffollowing your business with wisdom and honesty, will be more for your reputation, and consequently get you more business, than all ye ffoppish ffinery you can observe in your equall butterflies.

As to a summe of money, though I think you may have employment in business if you be honest without it, yet I will venture some such summe in your hands as moderate as you desire, but so as if you mispend it you must expect no more ayd ffrom me. Therefore look to yourselfe, ffear God, and be wise. Had you not displeased your master, and squandered away your

* From the great_white peruque, it seems the flaxen wigs of Louis XIV's Court [the Chevelure Blonde, so often mentioned in the comedies of Moliere as the distinction of a beau] had found their way to England, and still continued in fashion.