12 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 



published after his death, in the third volume 

 of his sermons, which entirely consists of dis- 

 courses of this sort. 



He had begun from the year of his admission 

 to take down the substance, and sometimes 

 entire passages of such sermons as he heard 

 preached at the University (and herein his short- 

 hand served him to better purpose than it had 

 formerly done at Bradford). Whenever he met 

 with any critical explanation of scripture, or 

 clear solution of any difficulty, or any thing 

 remarkable or subservient to the study of theo- 

 logy, he was sure to book it, and preserve it by 

 him for future examination and use. 



In 1663, he began to read books in divinity, 

 and applied himself close to the study of Dr. 

 Lightfoot's Harmony, and Grotius upon the 

 Gospels ; the advantage of which, especially the 

 latter, he often afterwards acknowledged. In 

 the same year he performed all his exercise for 

 his bachelor's degree, and commenced the win- 

 ter following. 



He had no college preferment till his fourth 

 year, and then he was made scholar of the 

 house. He never desired any thing so earnestly 

 as he did a fellowship ; but his county ren- 

 dering him incapable, he could not obtain one, 

 though the master and all the fellows (as he 

 thought) were his friends. And, indeed, he had 



