him, yet he had no small sense of his own unworthiness, when he set himself in the light of God's countenance, beheld his purity, and thought on his infinite goodness and mercy to him in Jesus Christ, (about which his thoughts were frequently taken up). O! how deeply was he humbled under the sense of his sinfulness and ingratitude, and the little returns he had made to such undeserved goodness! When we are in a total darkness, we cannot discern one thing from another; and an ordinary light will discover to us the grosser lineaments, and more remarkable differences of things: but some beams darted in from the sun, will shew us much impurity and foulness, where we thought all to have been pure and clean. And, O! with that seriousness and simplicity did this enlightened soul express the sense he had of the sinfulness of his nature, and the worthlessness of his person! Almost the very last words he spoke were to this purpose, uttered with an extraordinary devotion of spirit. After having witnessed his resignation to the will of God, and his humble hopes in his mercy and goodness: but, says he, when you have the charity to remember me in your prayers, do not think me a better man than I am; but look upon me as indeed I am a sinner. A most miserable sinner! O! if the Righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the wicked and ungodly appear!

But I forbear to mention any farther the graces and virtues which shined forth in the life and spirit of our friend. The experience which many of you have had of them in his conversation, will furnish you with a better sense of them than all I can say. As to the particular instances I have given, there are more than one or two here present who can bear witness to the truth of them: and I hope there are none here that will think me guilty of so much impudence, as to utter falsehoods of him in a place where he was

so well known, and where there are so many so well acquainted with most of the important and private passages of his life: No: I know you are sensible how far short all I have said comes of his true worth. He had need be endued with the same spirit, that would speak aright of him; and true goodness cannot be expressed, but felt.

Give me leave only to join in with your meditations, and to think with you on the lessons we may learn from the present dispensation, according to our different relations and circumstances.

And now, good people, let us consider his example, and our early loss of him. O! that we would once learn to be wise, and to live like Christians! You are all sensible what an eminent example he hath given us; and, alas! what hinders that we should not be followers of him, even as he also was of Christ? How may we see in him all our little pretences and prejudices against piety and goodness dashed and confounded? Where is the man that will say, he tastes as much solid pleasure in his jollity and cups; that his lusts and vices create in him as great a serenity of mind, afford him as much comfort, dispose him to as much patience and contentedness in any condition, as were always seen to be the reward and blessing of the innocence and goodness of his life? When did ever such universal esteem and love wait upon a bad man to his grave, as we see hath accompanied the piety and virtue of one who was ambitious of nothing less than the glory of men; while yet all mouths are opened in his praise, every man speaks good of him, and persons of all sects and persuasions amongst us, lament his loss, and bedew his hearse with tears? O! how peaceful and resigned do we see the death of the righteous! and how unlike must ours' be to it, if we will not live their life! What an uniformity is there in the virtue and innocence of that life that springs from true goodness, and

the love of God? And, O! how void must we be of it, how palpable our hypocrisy, if our actions contradict one the other; if we bless God, and yet curse and do evil to our neighbour; if we confess and beg pardon for our sins, and yet breathe and meditate revenge against others; and if we have not a respect to all his commandments! If we must needs look upon the saints and holy men of God, in old time, as if they had been creatures of another nature, and consider their example as disproportioned to our condition; yet here we have seen one conversing amongst us, like unto ourselves, subject to the same passions, temptations, and infirmities, and yet conquering all these, through Christ that strengthened him and why should we turn off all serious thoughts to old age, as if we were then only fit for God, when we were fit for nothing else! May not the piety and innocence of his youth, shame us into a better mind, and more Christian lives? For honourable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by length of years. But wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age. Thus the righteous that is dead, shall condemn the ungodly which are living: and youth that is soon perfected, the many years and old age of the unrighteous.

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And, O! what shall we say of that divine Providence, which has taken this light from among us? The ways of the Lord are wonderful, and his judgements are made a great deep. One who was so great an example of piety, an ornament to his country and the church, is quickly removed from us in his youth; and many, who are a reproach to religion, the scandal of the world, and the shame of human nature, are left to old age; whether to fill up the measure of their sins, or to lead them to repentance, God knows. He whom God had blessed with so much light to instruct us, and virtue and zeal to direct us; who was so helpful to enlighten us, by his sermons and discourses, and to edify us by his

example, is suddenly snatched away from us. O that we may hear the rod, and him who hath appointed it! When we make no use of God's talents, (such are the instructions, and counsel, and example of good men), he takes them from us. Alas! what an ill

account can we render of this? Could we almost imagine sermons more serious, affectionate, and heavenly; and yet wherein have we been prevailed with to better our lives, to forego one vice we were otherwise inclined to, or to do that good we were averse to? All the use we make of his example is, to seem to approve and commend it; but wherein do we imitate it? Do we think that other helps would do better, that other means and circumstances would have more influence on our lives? Alas! my brethren, they that will not hear Moses and the prophets, neither would they be persuaded though one should rise from the dead. But we are usually most sensible of the worth of wordly blessings; and most thankful for them, when God takes them from us : and O that our appetite may be thus at least quickened for spiritual blessings! O that our present loss may have this influence upon us, that we may be truly sensible of God's goodness in bestowing this blessing so long upon us; that we may adore his providence in depriving us of it; and that the impressions he hath left on our minds of his life and spirit, and the seed of the gospel he hath sown in our hearts, may, by God's grace, yet bring forth fruit in us. Finally, my brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, &c. Those things which ye have both learned and received, and heard and seen in him, do; and the God of peace shall be with you.

And you, my friends, who were his more peculiar care, his children, of whom he travailed in birth till Christ should be formed in you, whom he was so solicitous to have fitted for the service of Jesus, and the care of souls; alas! who can blame your

tears, or withhold your grief? My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. It is not possible for me to express the blessing you had in him: I know your own hearts are sensible of it, beyond all I can say. O! what an useful guide and director was he! How dear were you unto him! How unaffectedly humble and ingenuous in his conversation! How wise and pious were his instructions and advices! How much were his thoughts taken up about you, making them all serve for his great design of fitting you for the holy function! And how great and unspeakable is your loss! O! let us adore, and submit to the divine providence! Search and try your hearts, and consider your ways, and reckon what fruit you have brought forth, worthy of such a blessing; and, whether you have not deserved the removal of that light, while you have been so little careful to be enlightened by his instructions, or warmed by his piety and zeal. God withdraws from us such useful blessings, to stir us up to shake off our sloth, and a more ardent care and endeavour for the enlightening of our minds, and the purifying of our hearts, for which his life and spirit would have been so useful to us. If you would let the world see what esteem you had for him, if you would not be guilty of the abuse and misimprovement of one of the greatest blessings you ever had, remember his instructions, follow his advices, and study to be what, of all the world, he was most desirous you should be: make it appear, that his labour is not in vain. You have known his doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, and patience. You may remember how he behaved himself among you what, and how, he instructed you. You know how desirous he was, both to have you good men, and well fitted for the holy ministry. Consider how, above all things, he directed you to the purifying of your hearts, and the exercises of