WHAT time he had to fpare from attendance on his Master's Bufinefs, was very much spent in the best Exercises. In Reading ufeful and good Books, and looking into the ftate of his Soul, both which his Collections and Manufcripts fhew he took great pleafure in. He was fometimes fo very much affected in his retired Devotions, as to be over-heard; tho' none more careful to get into fecret than he when thus engag'd..

HE was a great lover of Family Prayer, and when very young, has been obferv'd to rife from Knees, with Eyes that difcover'd how he had been concern'd all the while.

HE was very strict in obferving and keeping holy the Lord's-Day and with a becoming ferioufnefs would reprove, or admonish thofe that he faw finned it, and idled it away. He was a diligent Pious Attender on Public Worship; and had fuch a value for Sermons, and love to 'em, that he did not reckon hearing enough, but has thought it worth his while to write thofe that he found moft Benefit by; fome twice, fome thrice over.

As his Education had been amongst the Baptifts, fo he had not been Baptiz'd in his Infancy. The first thing he came to Converfe with me about, was concerning the nature of this Ordinance, and what was needful to prepare an adult Perfon for it. My time, and other circumftances forbid a relation of what paffed on this Head. It is enough to publish, that the Refult of all was an earnest defire to comply with the Inftitution; and to have it done as fpeedily as might be. Going into the Country foon after, I advised him to confult with his Father about it, which after he had done, upon his return to London he renew'd his Requeft; and with great Solemnity

and

and entire Satisfaction he was Baptiz'd *, which I here mention as an undoubted Evidence, and proof of his Uprightness and Sincerity; in not being willing to omit, or go on in the neglect of any thing which he was convinc'd was a Duty.

ALL this while Religion lay warm at Heart; and he was better in Reality, than in Appearance. He was a true Lover of thofe he faw Piously inclin'd; making it his great Concern to Imprefs all his Intimates with a Senfe of the Weight, and Importance of the great Truths of Chriftianity. There is more than one in this Place that have reafon to blefs God for their Acquaintance with him.

THIS is the promising Youth that's taken from amongst us; and concerning whom, after all that has been faid, it must now be added He is Dead. But the confideration of his peaceful End, and now happy Condition, fhould check our Grief and Lamentations. This leads us to give fome account of,

II. THE End of this Perfon. Here I can only relate what I have from those that were about him, and converfed with him in his Sickness: The Nature of his Diftemper being fuch, as rendred it altogether improper for me to vifit him. Tho' at first he was very defirous to have seen me, and often mentioning my Name; yet was very well fatisfied in my Abfence, when he was told the Reafon : It may be I might have been able to have faid fomething more on this Head, if I could have attended him, than now I can; but fcarcely to have remem

*By Mr. Gravenor. The Small Pox.

bred

bred better what did pass than the Perfon to whom I am, beholden for the Relation. And we have enough to confirm the Truth of all the aforemention'd Obfervations upon the peaceful Death of a Good Man, in his Happy End.

HE had great Comfort in Reviewing a past Life. He had indeed a deep Senfe of his Sin and Imperfections; but a true peace in the Thoughts of what God had done for his Soul, and what he had been enabled to do for God: The Blood of a Redeemer was what he depended upon; and the Righteousness of Chrift what he only trufted to for his Acceptance with the Father: Which having before by Faith apply'd to himself; and by unfeign'd Repentance laid hold on; he told thofe that were ftanding over him His Work was done; and he thanked God he had not then to prepare to Die. He expreffed a great deal of pleasure in thinking of the Time he had spent in the Service of God; He would frequently be fpeaking of God's Goodness and Mercy towards him.

HE had alfo a fettled peace in looking to the Life to come. When a Friend, with whom he used to talk freely about his Future State, ask'd him what he thought then of an Eternal World? He told him, That it feemed more awful at the near views he then had of it, than ever it did in a time of Health; but he was well fatisfied of his entring into a fafe and happy State and that he trusted the God whom he found fo gracious before, would not then leave him.

HE had a remarkable Compofedness, and eafinefs in the frame of his Mind under his Diftemper, tho' very uneafie, and reftlefs in his Body: and was intirely refign'd to the Pleasure of God; and if at any time Nature feem'd to reluctate, and grow fretful, he would prefently fupprefs its rifings in the Words of an Agonizing Saviour, Father thy Will be done.

HE

HE could look to every thing about him with Peacetoo. As for the Pleafures and Enjoyments of the World, he was fo far from being difturbed at the parting with thefe, that he declared. He faw nothing defirable here. He fent for his Bed-fellow, and Fellow-Apprentices, when he thought himself near his Departure, and thus took his leave of them. The firft (with whom he was more peculiarly Intimate, and to whom he had rendred himself, very valuable) he fpoke to in fuch Words as thefe, I am just a going, O endeavour to improve the Opportunities which you may still Enjoy: And think of the Pious Converfation we have had together. When this Perfan was before fpeaking how Melancholy he fhould be after his Death, he had told him, That he needed not be concerned for that, and that in a little time they should meet again.

THE Apprentices he fingly spoke to, calling each by their Names; but what he faid to the latter, feemed to be only a Repetition of what he had directed to the former; and the very words as near as can be remembred were these. I am now a Dying Man, let my Words therefore the more be taken notice of. Labour to get an Intereft in Chrift before it be too late. Defer not your Repentance to a Sick Bed? How unfit am I for that now? Be perfuaded to think there is more in Religion than a Show, and an outward Profeffion. O feek after the Power of Godliness. Thefe Admonitions were his Farewel. God grant they may be thought on, and improved by the Parties fo nearly concern'd in them.

HE charged his Friend to let his Father and Mother know he was gone before them. The best Tidings he could have fent from a Death-Bed; and a very

great

.

great Confolation it fhould be to them, to think that their Son is not loft, but gon before *.

NOW to draw to a Conclufion of this Difcourfe, as fast as he did to the Conclufion of his Life. When he was Speechlefs, one that ftood by him, defir'd him, if Sensible, and if his Peace and Comfort yet remain'd, that he would lift up his Hands; which he immediately did as high as he could, and decently continu'd lifting up one of them till he expir'd, which was on the nineteenth day of November, 1707. being but in the Twentieth Year of his Age.

* Non amiffu, fed præmiffus.

THE