The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1863-03-17
From the Chicago Tribune.
LECTURE OF REV. w. III. MIL
BURN.
John Milton.


at BRYAN Hall, on John Milton, before large
and intelligent audience.
|, was good for us, ho said, sometimes to
step aside from our everyday walks into thnt
great house which God is building In TINS
1niverse--the house. namely, Of human his
tory. that we may become strong for our daily
struggle .-siroug in patience aud trust, In the
upholdiog consciousness that
This is not the DEVILS world, but that OF
wise, good and grecious Providence. Every
life. rood or bad, is buildcd into tho walls OF
this structure, for the great Architect upholds
all. It was not, however, TO meet his audi
ence in this great hous, of history, that Le
had evoked them together this evening" but
rather TO take them by the band as hiends'
and ccuducs them into the inner life OF the
preat-pcrbaps the greatcst--worthy OF the
Elizabeihan period of England. He alluded,
rs the title of his lecture would show, TO the
life of John Milton. H. was born at the close
of this Augus,au era, which at its prime was
full of genius in every directon-in art and
practical affairs in philosophy and poetry, in
history and navigation 1t was the time OF
Shakespeare and johnson, of Philip Sidney and
Walshipgham, Of Raleigh and Bacon, and that
immense galaxy of in,ellects which has no
paral. in he history of nations. He spoke
of Bacon in this connc ction as man with a
great heal aud a small, mean heart, who was
a mere crawling reptile iu The presence Of his
sovereign, and a miserable striver after place
and power, to which he sacrificed his honor
anil honesty.
He spoke Of Elizabeth as a true ruler, and
running from her time to that of the First
James, he characterized him as a learned,
fools pcdant, who wasted his time in hunt
ing, comforting kuighthoods, discussing points
Of divinity, and writing counter.blasts against
the delicious weed which Raleigh had intro
ducel.
His notice Of the age into which Milton
was born, and of some Of the great historica
passages Of that time, was very graphic ant
interesting.
He gave b,ief account Of Millions parent
age, and brought before our cyes, the hous'
| in Broad street, London, where the poet wa
born. The great evcnt-great to history
well as 10 literature occurred on the 9th
December, 1908 Milton inherited his low
of music from his fatber-his Puritan father
who was not only a performer on musical In
strumens-but a composer also. The ycunI
poet was encouraged BY his father to sit up
much too late at ui2hts-for tho purposes
study; and at a very early ago he was prof
Gent in much learning, and understood two
at least, Of the ancient languages. de wa
sent to Sidney College, at Cambridge, quit
early in life. and was noted there for his I'm
manners, his varied scholarship, and his almo'
womanly beauty.
Milton was puzzled what calling in life b
should follow after he lad taken bis degre
The magnificent church of England, which ha
given the prayerbook, not TO any sect but
the whole Christian world which toasted tt
long line of the Fathers-this magnificel
church was that 10 which be onco hoped
give his whole talents, and learning and ut
But fineiug that Archbishop Laud was mast
of this church, at tho time when he wou
, have entered its portels as Priest, be turn,
a sorrowfully away. What Laud taught,
could not sanction in his h art; he longed
preach the truth of Christ, and could
bring himself 10 be he mele puppet OF cer
mopIal. So he went into the country, al
there wrote II Peaseroso, L'AHegro, and son
minor pieces. He resolved to wait for {
solution of bis life problem until Gods tal
should strike the clock. He studied, al
thought, communed with God in his reti
l. ment, and presently bethought him that e
.. eigu travel would improve both his mind al
body. Acting upon this thought, he went
Italy. Whilst he was travelling abroad
heard the tidings of civil war at home, a
II. A. m NJ oil N
land, hoping bis holr Tor usefulness wo'
, come.
|, Not vet however, was ho destined TO T.
his part in the great drama Ct history.
contented himself therefore with taking
house in AIgersgste street aud opening
school. No other employment could yet
found in all England for tho greatest man
in il. lie proved himself a hard flogg
though good teacher.
- His first marriage was not happy. ]
all lady was pretty enough, but somewhat ol
,,nn hoydep, aud a aseparation eventually TOOK p'
on between them. All this time Milton was
an NJ, ,ient and studious, and at last, on the 81
4. November, l64I, God struck the long exp
on ed clock, aud Milton began 10 find his I
md work. The cligin Of the Long Parlism
On. and ts subsequent doingswere rapidly lrac
' and some Of the leading characters who
md ured in it, were drawn with skill and pov
III, His pictures of the House Of Commons at
ls time. and of John Pym impeacbiug the mig
=, Earl Of Stafford, were Iino pieces Of "
ii. painting Stafford who had been Charles
70 Fists strong Il rght arm 10 Irelands who
i'm usurped 10 his own Office aud person the Il
on lions OF government, and trampled upon
are liberty Of the people, and sanctioned and
ute yised tho tyrannies Of his Sovereign.
t. great and powerful noble, who went dow
- The Long Parliament, full Of tho conscious
OF bis strength. walking with right =
ID step. and bearing himself as ono who is s.
IRA, nl rior TO al his order, and without a CONF
Z. :--......aI...l hu q nrivafa 0onIleman