Blair Worden - A Book of Friendship

BLAIR WORDEN - A BOOK OF FRIENDSHIP

it pleased God, by the Churches’s care, to put into my hands a fit forme of devotion, Ps[alm] 27. The Lord is my light and salvation, etc. , fit to inspire courage, and to bring to my ears the eleaventh of the Hebrews, concerning the mighty power of faith: of all things most seasonable for my consideration, who am, I feare, notoriously peccant in not exercising and imploying my faith. 43 The correspondence between Granville and Locke had run its course. Granville acknowledged that ‘my violence in soe hotly pursuing’ a friendship with Locke was excessive and ‘the vehemency of my desires’ was waning. 44 Perhaps both had realised how much they differed, or possibly the realities of partisan English politics had intruded, but while there can be no conclusive interpretation of their interaction, two readings suggest themselves. Granville wanted specific help. Teach me, he implored Locke, ‘some art either to stop the mouth of my clamorous Conscience, or helpe mee up to that pitch of Christian and ministerial Duty, which it requires of mee.’ 45 Granville’s problem, replied Locke, was an excessive scrupulosity: he should settle himself in ‘a few good principles’. Locke did not believe ‘that there is always some action always so incumbent upon a man, so necessary to be done preferable to all others’ that if it’s omitted he fails in his duty. ‘Love to god and charity to our selves and our neighbours are noe doubt at all times indispensibly necessary. But whilst wee keepe these warme in our hearts, and sincerly practise what they upon occasions suggest to us I cannot but thinke God allows us in the ordinary actions of our lives a great latitude.’ 46 This anodyne reassurance fell flat. Granville ‘was never well satisfied with Dr Lock’s answere, but believed that tho’ (humane frailty considered) he could not always doe what was best yet that he was always bound to endeavour so to doe’. 47 ‘Endeavour’ again. Granville had a clear grasp of what was ‘best’ in religion, it was doing it that was the problem. Perhaps the archdeacon had misphrased his challenge: ‘Reason mee therefore I pray, Sir, (I must repeat my old request) either into more vertue, or into more quiet’. 48 Locke could not do this. Despite his initial hopes, Locke famously failed to demonstrate

43 Remains (1865), pp. 41-2 (original in MS Rawl. D 852 fos 282v-284). 44 Locke, Correspondence , ii. 127. One more extant letter from Granville dated 23 December 1679 invited Locke to Durham for Easter 1680: ibid., ii. 142.

45 Locke, Correspondence , i. 640. 46 Locke, Correspondence , i. 556. 47 The judgement of John Proud, Granville’s steward at Durham: MS Rawl. D 849, fo. 142. 48 Locke, Correspondence , i. 636.

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