LITERARY HISTORY OF PARNELl's ' HERMIT.' 149 



faithful piece of gratitude I could do to one that had used 

 us so humanely and kindly as that gentleman did. For 

 this man, who, by the appoiutment of his master, was so 

 officious to us as to show us the way, intended this very 

 night eusuing to let in a company of rogues into his master^s 

 house to rob him of all that he had, if not to murder him 

 and his family.' And having said thus, he vanished. But 

 the poor Eremite, transported with joy and amazement, 

 lift up his hands and eyes to heaven and gave glory to God 

 who had thus unexpectedly delivered him from any farther 

 anxiety touching the ways of Providence, and thus returned 

 with cheerfulness to his forsaken cell and spent the residue 

 of his days there in piety and peace." 



Indeed, in the seventeenth centui'y it had become a 

 commonplace with which theologians might " point a moral 

 or adorn a tale.'' Thus Thomas White, a Puritan divine, 

 writing in 1658, says : — 



" There is a famous story of Providence in Bradwardine 

 to this purpose : — A certain Hermit that was much tempted 

 and was much unsatisfied concerning the providence of 

 God, resolved to journey from place to place till he 

 met with some that could satisfie him. An Angel in the 

 shape of a man joyned himself with him as he was journey- 

 ing, telling him that he was sent from God to satisfie him 

 in his doubts of providence. The first night they lodged 

 at the house of a very holy man, and spent their time in 

 discourses of heaven and praises of God, and were enter- 

 tained with a great deal of freedom and joy. In the 

 morning when they departed the Angel took with him a 

 great cup of gold. The next night they came to the house 

 of another holy man who made them very welcome and 

 exceedingly rejoyced in their society and discourse'; the 

 Angel notwithstanding, at his departure, kill'd an infant 

 in the cradle, which was his only son, being many years 



