430 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. Usher was compiling his " Chronologia Sacra," lie applied to Mr. Mede for assistance, saying, " I have entered upon the determination of the controversies which concern the chronology of sacred scripture, wherein I shall in many places need your help."* Mr. Mede, furnished with these endowments, was a most accomplished tutor. It was his constant custom to require the attendance of his pupils in the evening, to examine them relative to the studies of the day ; when the first question he proposed to each was, " What doubts have you met with in your studies to-day ?" For he supposed that to doubt nothing, and understand nothing, was nearly the same thing. Before he dismissed them to their lodgings, after having solved their questions, lie commended them and their studies, by prayer, to the protection and blessing of God. Some of his pupils afterwards became distin- guished ornaments both for piety and good literature. He was a most laborious student ; and, on account of his habitual propensity to be among his books, he called his study his cell. Yet he was far from affecting an unpro- fitable solitude. No man was more free and open in con- versation, especially among ingenious and inquiring scholars. In such company, he would with the greatest pleasure, and to the utmost of his ability, communicate whatsoever was useful. He was a person of most exemplary candour and moderation. He would not love a person the less, who differed from him in matters of sentiment. These were some of his favourite expressions : " I never found myself prone to change my hearty affections to any one, for mere difference of opinion. There are few persons living who are less troubled than I am, to see others differ from them. If any man can patiently suffer me to differ from him, it doth not affect me how much or how little he may differ from me." Though he was a most celebrated scholar, and his writings were highly admired among learned men, both at borne and abroad, he had a very low opinion of himself and his own performances. He was always troubled to hear himself or his productions extolled. He would merely own some diligence, and a portion of study, with freedom from prejudice, as his best endowments. Hewas aman of a most amiable and peaceable spirit ; and his thoughts were much employed on the generous design Life of Mr. Mete prefixed to his " Works."
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