393G Silvester, Jenks, 1656?-1714.
An essay upon the art of love, containing An Exact Anatomy of Love and all the other Passions which attend it.
[London?] : [s.n.], Printed MDCCII. [1702] Price $1,100
Duodecimo 5 X 2 3/4 inches Signatures: A-M12,N6 First edition This is a very nice copy bound in contemporary calf.
Jenks was educated at Douai College, where he was professor of philosophy from 1680 to 1686. He was later a preacher in ordinary to James II. At the Revolution of 1688 he fled to Flanders. On his return to England he laboured as a missionary in or near London and was appointed by the chapter Archdeacon of Surrey and Kent.
Jenks, Sylvester, bishop-elect of Callipolis in partihtu, He was a Catholic non-juror in 1717. At an early age, Sylvester Jenks was sent to Douay College, where he took the missionary oath, in the name of Medcalfe, Aug. 15, 1675. Lady Yate, of Harvington Hall, Worcestershire, undertook the principal part of the expense of his education. He progressed rapidly in his studies, and, having completed the course of divinity, publicly defended his tlieses on July 12, 1680. Dr. Edward Paston was moderator, and the occasion was honoured with the presence of Guido de Save, bishop of Arras, to whom the young divine dedicated his theses. He was then appointed professor of philosophy in the college. In the meantime he was ordained priest, Sept 23, 1684, and, after teaching philosophy for six years, was sent to England, Sept. 23, 1686.
His first mission was Harvington Hall, the seat of his great friend and patroness, Lady Yate, widow of Sir John Yate, of Buckland, co. Bucks, and eldest daughter and co-heiress of Humphrey Packington, Esq. The quiet life which he-enjoyed there, however, was soon exchanged for more active scenes. James II., in his progress through the country, being made acquainted with his abilities, called him up to London, and appointed him one of his preachers in ordinary. It was but for a short time that he held this honorary position, for the revolution of 1688 necessitated his flight, and for some time he resided in Flanders. Subsequently he returned to England, and apparently was stationed in or near London, for he was appointed by the chapter archdeacon of Surrey and Kent In one of his letters he refers to a journey to his native county, Shropshire, which he commenced on June 18, 1706, but it would seem that it was only for a visit to his relatives and friends. His time in London seems to have been much occupied with matters of private controversy, his clear judgment being constantly called in requisition.
His abilities and his strictly religious life were so highly appreciated by his brethren that he was proposed by Bishops Giffard and Witham for the vicariate of the northern district, vacant by the death of Bishop James Smith in 1711. In a particular congregation, held Aug. 13, the Propaganda unanimously elected Sylvester Jenks to be vicar-apostolic of the northern district, and the Pope gave his consent on Aug. 22, 1713. On the following Nov. 13, the agent in Rome for the English clergy applied to the Propaganda in congregation for faculties for Monsignor Jenks, Bishop of Callipolis in partibiis, and vicar-apostolic of England. In another particular congregation, held Feb. 4, 1714, it was reported that the arrival of the brief, sent in August, 1713, had not been notified to the Propaganda. It had been sent to the internuncio of Flanders through the Propaganda secretariat. In the congregation held on the following July 3, a letter was laid before the Propaganda, written on April 15, 1714, by Bishops Giffard and Witham, to thank their eminences, the cardinals of the congregation, for the election of Mr. Jenks, whom they had proposed for the northern vicariate. They at the same time mentioned, in excuse for Mr. Jenks, who had not himself written to Propaganda, the circumstance of his having been seriously ill. They added their opinion that it would be wise to defer his consecration until the dissolution of the English Parliament, in order to avoid disturbance.
Dodd says that Mr. Jenks, out of humility, was averse to the acceptance of the dignity, though earnestly pressed to it by the internuncio at Brussels. It appears, however, that the illness referred to by Bishops Giffard and Witham proved of a fatal nature, and he died before his consecration, about the beginning of December, 1714, aged 58.
He was possessed of singular qualifications, says Dodd, but most especially was he remarkable for the clearness of his conceptions, his well-balanced mind, and the elegance of his language. His theological learning and abilities were most eminent, and his strictly religious life was an example of solid piety and sterling humility. To conclude, his own words may be quoted from the preface to his “Blind Obedience”:—” I keep my name to myself, and my reason is, because I love a quiet life. I ever looked upon it as the greatest blessing which a bad world can afford, and am persuaded that being private is the easiest and securest way of being quiet. Besides, I see no good there is in being talked of, either well or ill. The one is good for nothing but to make a man vain; the other is apt to make him vexed; all to no purpose.”
Dodd, Ch. Hist., vol. iii. p. 486; Mazicre Brady, Episc. Succession, vol. iii. ; Boiven, God’s Safe Way; Bcnveti, The Lavs, July to Aug. 1872, pp. 30, 36, 59 ; Jenks, Contrite and Hitmbl; Heart.
Gillow vol III page 619 #11, https://datb.cerl.org/estc/T55647
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