for

thers, fhall grow brighter in Proportion to Your Power and Opportunities the Path of the fuft is as the Shining Light, that shineth more and more unto a perfect Day. The great Honours and Revenues, still annex'd to some few Stations in the Church, are the chief Mark which Impiety, Envy, and Sacrilege aim at; and much they have to say, why Religion fhould be stripp'd of these fuperfluous and unprofitable Ornaments. But Malice it self is difarm'd, and all Objections are filenc'd, when those Rewards are beftow'd

ftow'd on Men, who by their Birth, and Virtues, and Experience, are every way qualify'd for them; whofe Hereditary Fortunes, and Noble Natures fet them above all mean Defigns of diverting the Patrimony of the Church to improper Ufes; and who are ready,therefore, to reflect back upon Religion the Advantages they derive from thence, and to abound in all the Offices of Hofpitality and Charity, in proportion to what they enjoy. I need not fay, how far thefe Excellent Qualities belong to Your LORDSHIP,

and

and are a confefs'd

part

of

Your Character.

When we compare the Good which You have done, MY LORD, with that which You have receiv'd, it brings to mind the Appofite Paffage of the Prophet: The Liberal devifeth Liberal things, and by Liberal things fhall be be eftablished. Your LORDSHIP is an Illuftrious Inftance of this Truth; for the Bleffings, You have fo plentifully fcatter'd on those beneath You, have been multiply'd on Your own Head from above; and You have reap'd the Benefits of a most generous

and

and firm Friendship, in like manner as You fow'd them. You have given, my Lord, and it hath been given unto You; good Meafure, preffed down, Jhaken together, and running over: for with the fame MeaJure, which You meted withal, bath it been (and may it ever be) measured to you again. Your Happiness, LORD, is now as compleat as all the Profperous Circumftances of Life can make it; and Your Private Domeftick Felicities (a Cafe rarely known) are no ways inferiour to those of a more Publick and Splendid Nature.

My

For

For You are happy in the beft of Ladies, as She is in the Tendereft of Husbands; You have the best of Brothers, and the best of Children; those Arrows in the Hand of the Mighty Man, which are both his Ornament, and Defence: God be thanked, Your Quiver is full of them! And He amongst them, who is to inherit Your Ample Fortunes, doth, by his Early Love of Learning, and moft Vertuous Difpofition, promise, that he will one day do Honour even to that Honourable Stock from which he fprings.