The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 10Dryden, John
Religion
The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 10
Dryden, John
English literature
[Footnote 23: The freaks of these unhappy enthusiasts may be seen in
the histories of the time. Hacket, a man of some learning, had his
brain turned by enthusiasm, and seduced Coppinger and Arthington, two
fanatic preachers, by his example and exhortation, to sally forth into
the streets of London, where he proclaimed himself to be the Messiah,
and Coppinger and Arthington, his prophet of mercy, and his prophet of
judgment. As they continued to utter the most horrible blasphemies,
and to exhort the citizens to take arms, to further the reign of
Hacket, who, they said, was come with his fan in his hand to purify
the discipline of the church of England, they were seized and lodged
in prison. Hacket was executed, though fitter for Bedlam, persisting
to the last in the most insane blasphemy. The discipline of the prison
restored Arthington to his senses, and he published a recantation,
expressing great remorse for his errors. Coppinger starved himself to
death in jail. This explosion of madness took place in 1591. Hacket is
stated by Camden to have been a determined enemy to Queen Elizabeth,
and to have stabbed her picture with his dagger.]
[Footnote 24: The birth-night of Queen Elizabeth was that which the
Whigs chose to solemnize, by their grand pope-burnings and processions;
considering her as the patron of the Protestant religion. Yet Queen
Elizabeth was very severe against the Puritans, and passed several
statutes against them.]
[Footnote 25: See the notes on "Absalom and Achitophel," Vol. IX.
pages, 280, 404.]
[Footnote 26: Lewis Maimbourg, a secularized Jesuit, wrote a History of
Calvinism, in which he charges upon the Huguenots the principal share
of the guilt of the civil wars of France. He charges them particularly
with the conspiracies of Amboise and Meaux against the crown; and
alleges, it was their intention, by the assistance of England, and the
Protestant states of Germany, with whom they corresponded, to establish
a republic in France. His arguments are controverted in an "Apology for
the Protestants of France, in six letters." London, 1683.]
[Footnote 27: Pere Richard Simon was an excellent Orientalist. He was
an oratorian priest, and published, besides the work here mentioned,
"A critical History of the New Testament," and a new Version of it,
which was censured by Cardinal de Noailles, Archbishop of Paris, and
opposed by Bossuet, the learned Bishop of Meaux. Pere Simon was an able
biblical critic, an excellent scholar, and one of the most learned
divines of his age.]
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