Archbishop Usher

Usher, afterwards Archbishop of Armagh, was very zealous against the Roman Catholics, and averse to their toleration. He once preached before the officers of the Irish government, from the text in Ezekiel, "And thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days; I have appointed thee each day for a year."

In the course of his sermon, he made an application of the text which was remarkable. "From this year (1601)," said he, "I reckon forty years; and then those whom you now embrace shall be your ruin, and you shall bear their iniquity." The apparent accomplishment of this prediction in the Irish rebellion of 1641, was a singular concurrence, and in the opinion of many, perhaps in his own, was regarded as an indication of his prophetic spirit.

When this eminent prelate was deprived of his benefices, he sought leave to preach publicly in London. Through the friendship of Mr. Selden, he became preacher to the Society of Lincoln's Inn, which afforded him a maintenance; but being obliged to relinquish it on account of the loss of his sight, his salary was curtailed, and he lived in poverty the remainder of his life.