(Vol. iii., p. 496.)
In reply to your correspondent C. PAINE, JUN. I beg to say that this
University has recently requested me to undertake the completion of
Ussher's works. Dr. Elrington has left about half the fourteenth volume
printed off: but I have found considerable difficulty in ascertaining
what he intended to print, or what ought to be printed, in the remaining
half. The printed portion contains the archbishop's Theological
Lectures, in reply to Bellarmine, never before published.[2] I have
found amongst Dr. Elrington's papers a volume of sermons (a MS. of the
latter half of the seventeenth century), which are attributed, in the
MS. itself, to Ussher; but the authenticity of these sermons is, it
appears to me, very doubtful. I therefore hesitate to print them.
[Footnote 2: Elrington's Life of _Ussher_, p. 26.]
I am anxious to find a treatise on the Seventy Weeks, by Ussher, which I
have some reason to think once existed in MS. This tract, with another
on the question of the Millennium, from Rev. xx. 4., formed the
exercises which he performed for the degree of D.D., at the commencement
of the University in 1612: and I remember Dr. Elrington telling me (if I
did not mistake his meaning), that he intended to print them in the
fourteenth volume. My difficulty is, that I cannot find them amongst
Ussher's MSS., and I do not know where they are to be had. Some
imperfect fragments on the Seventy Weeks are preserved in MS. in Trinity
College Library, in Ussher's autograph; but they are far too crude and
unfinished for publication.
The _Bibliotheca Theologica_, a work on the same plan as Cave's
_Scriptores Ecclesiastici_, exists in MS. in the Bodleian Library, and a
copy from the Bodleian MS. is in Dublin. This work has not been included
in Dr. Elrington's edition; and I remember his discussing the subject
with me, and deciding not to print it. His reasons were these:--1. It is
an unfinished work, which the archbishop did not live to complete. 2. It
is full of errors, which our present increased materials and knowledge
of the subject would easily enable us to correct; but the correction of
them would swell the work to a considerable extent. 3. The work was
used, and is frequently quoted by Cave, who seems to have published the
most valuable parts of it. Its publication, therefore, would not add
anything to our knowledge, whilst it would probably detract, however
unfairly, from the archbishop's reputation: for the public seldom make
allowances for an unfinished work. 4. It would probably make _three_, if
not _four_ volumes; and Dr. Elrington did not think its publication of
sufficient importance to warrant so great an addition to the cost and
bulk of the Works.
The _System of Theology_ having been disclaimed by Ussher himself
(although it is quoted as his by the Committee of the Privy Council in
their decision of the "Gorham Case"), has not been included by Dr.
Elrington in the collection of Ussher's works.
I shall be much obliged to MR. PAYNE, or to any other of your
correspondents, if he will give me any information respecting the
treatises on the Seventy Weeks and on the Millennium, or any other
advice which may assist me in the completion of the fourteenth volume.
I may add, that it is my intention, with the able assistance of my
learned friend Dr. Reeves, of Ballymena, to print a complete index to
Ussher's Works, which will be compiled by Dr. Reeves, and is now in
active preparation. The references to the more important works, such as
the _Primordia_, and _Annals_, will be so contrived as to be applicable
to the old editions, as well as to Dr. Elrington's edition. This Index
will form the seventeenth volume of the Works.