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some positions occur, which the church considers untenable, particularly those in the first part, concerning the effect of personal sins upon the validity of the sacred functions of Christian ministers: on which subject he pursues a line of argument that militates against the tenets of the twenty-sixth article of the church of England.

In the autumn of the year 1661 the bishop, foreseeing a vacancy in the deanery of Connor, wrote to Cambridge for some able person, who might fill that dignity. And the propo sition being made to Dr. George Rust, at that time a fellow of Christ College in that uni versity, he gladly accepted it: the situation being more valuable, in his estimation, by the intercourse that it would give him with the

incomparable person, with whom the offer "had originated." Dr. Rust hastened his journey into Ireland, and arrived in Dublin about the month of August.

The bishop, who knew how to value a person of his worth, received him "with much "respect and kindness;" and he was preferred to the Deanery, as soon as it was vacant, which was shortly after.

Thus a friendship commenced between these two great men, which continued with mutual warmth and admiration, till it was interrupted by death.

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Gratifying as this friendly intercourse evidently was to Dr. Rust, it must have been equally pleasing to the bishop; for the dean was, in every respect worthy of his regard. Joseph Glanvil, who knew him well, describes him as a man of a clear mind, a deep judg"ment, and searching wit: greatly learned in "all the best sorts of knowledge, ancient and "modern, a thoughtful and diligent enquirer, "of a free understanding, and vast capacity, joined with singular modesty, and unusual "sweetness of temper, which made him the

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darling of all that knew him he was a

person of great piety and generosity; a hearty lover of God and man; an excel

d See Rust's Sermon at Taylor's Funeral.

Rust was first of St. Catherine's Hall in Cambridge, and was a member of that Society, when he took his degree of Bachelor of Arts: which was in the year 1646. But he had removed to Christ's before he commenced Master; as appears from the register of the University, copied by Baker in his MSS. notes to Wood's Athen. Oxon. in which George Rust is entered "Art. Mr. Coll. "Chr. 1650."

"lent preacher, a wise governor, a profound

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philosopher, a quick, forcible, and close rea"soner, and above all, a true and exemplary "Christian. In short, he was one who had "all the qualifications of a primitive bishop, “and of an extraordinary man.”

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This, Mr. Glanvil said not out of kindness to his friend, but out of justice to a person of whom no commendation could be extravagant. Whilst Dr. Rust lived in Christ's College, he was highly esteemed for his eminent learning and virtues; he was one of the first that surmounted the prejudices of the system that was adopted in education during the unhappy times in which he resided in the university. He had too great a soul for the trifles of that age, and saw early the nakedness of phrases and fancies. He outgrew the pretended orthodoxy of those days, and addicted himself to the primitive learning and theology, in which he even then became a great master.

In the latter end of the year 1662, or beginning of the year following, Taylor published three sermons, which he had preached at Christ's church, in Dublin. The subject of the first is, "The Righteousness Evangelical describ

ed;" the second shews, "The Christian's "Conquest over the body of Sin ;" and the third developes "Fides formata, or Faith work

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ing by Love." These he dedicated to the Duchess of Ormond, who had been one of the congregation at the time the first was delivered, and had requested him to distribute it in print. She was the daughter of Richard Lord Dingwell and Earl of Desmond in Ireland; and is described as a lady of zeal, piety, and charity. She was at that time resident at Dublin in consequence of the appointment of the Duke her husband to the vice-regal government, on the 4th of October, in the year 1661: an appointment that was received with great joy. Kennet records that his Grace "landed at Houth on Sunday the 27th of

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July of that year, with the Earls of Ossory "and Anglesea, and a noble retinue:" the House of Lords expressing their joy for his arrival, by the Lord Primate their Speaker; the Commons, by their Speaker, Sir Audley Marvin; the Lower House of Convocation, by Dr. Mossom, their Prolocutor; the University by their Vice-chancellor, the Bishop of Down and Connor; and the Mayor and

f Regr. p. 733

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City, by their Recorder, who in testimony of their affection, presented his Grace with a bowl of gold, of the value of four hundred pounds, and the freedom of their city in a golden box.

About this time the bishop sent into the world his χρισις τελειωτιχη, A discourse of confirmation; to which he prefixed an epistle dedicatory to this nobleman, and thus represents the state of religion in Ireland at that time. "Our churches are demolished, much " of the revenues irrecoverably swallowed by "sacrilege, and digested by an unavoidable impunity; religion is infinitely divided, and

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parted into formidable sects; the people "are extremely ignorant, and wilful by inheritance; superstitiously irreligious and incapable of reproof."

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The discourse itself is divided into seven sections, with an introduction. The first section treats of the divine original, warranty, and institution of the rite of confirmation. In the next he contends that this rite is a perpetual ministry. The third shews that imposition of hands for the giving of the Holy Spirit, or Confirmation, was actually continued

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