io6 IZAAK WALTON AND HIS FRIENDS 



sisteth not in knowing many things, nor even in 

 knowing them thoroughly ; but in choosing and in 

 following what conduces the most certainly to our 

 lasting happiness and true glory. And this wisdom, 

 my Lord of Verulam, cometh from above." 



On his death-bed Hooker said : "I have 

 lived to see this world is made up of perturba- 

 tions, and I have been long preparing to leave 

 it, and gathering comfort for the dreadful hour of 

 making my account with God, which I now appre- 

 hend to be near : and though I have by His grace 

 loved Him in my youth, and feared Him in mine 

 age, and laboured to have a conscience void of 

 offence to Him and to all men; yet if thou, O 

 Lord, be extreme to mark what I have done amiss, 

 who can abide it? and therefore when I have 

 failed, Lord, show mercy to me, for I plead not 

 my righteousness but the forgiveness of my un- 

 righteousness for His merits, who died to pur- 

 chase pardon for penitent sinners." 



And now, says Walton, in exquisite language, 

 "Let me here draw his curtain, till with the most 

 glorious company of the Patriarchs and Apostles, 

 the most Noble army of Martyrs and Confessors, 

 this most learned, most humble holy man, shall 

 also awake to receive an eternal tranquillity, and 

 with it a greater degree of glory than common 

 Christians shall be made partakers of." 



Hooker's papers and manuscripts were left, it 



