fuch Reflections as thefe, which fhewed the Temper of his own Mind, and which, I dare fay, will be agreeable to the Reader to have recited. "I have had an Account "of an Affair, by which I am like to be a great Lofer. It hath pleafed God to "cut short my fmall Fortune, by one "Stroke after another, fo that I am deprived of the greatest Part of my worldly "Substance. What a poor Condition "fhould I be in, if I had no higher or "ftabler Portion! I have had great Ex

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perience in my own little Affairs of the

Vanity and Uncertainty of all worldly "Goods, that they are fleeting and tranfi"tory Things. And if this do but make "me more defirous, and earnestly induftri

ous to fecure to myself a better, and a "more enduring Subftance, I shall then "be a Gainer by the Lofs. As I believe "that the Disappointments I have met

with, are all under the wife Ordination "of Divine Providence, fo I am perfuaded "that it is for wife and righteous Ends "that they have been permitted and or"dained. I find it hard to fupprefs in"ward Uneafinefs, and anxious Cares, "which are apt, on fuch Occafions, to "rife up in my Breaft. But bleffed be "God, who hath given me greater Strength "of Mind to bear up under fuch outward

Evils, than I have fometimes had, and hath, I hope, formed me to a Sub"miffion

"miffion to his Will, and an Acquiefcence "in his Difpofals. It is my earnest Defire, " and fhall be my Endeavour, that no worldly Croffes shall break the Harmony of my Spirit, or interrupt the Peace and good Order of my Soul, which were it ἐσ to depend meerly on external Accidents and Circumstances, would be the most precarious and uncertain Thing in the World. A Man's Life, that is, the Happiness of his Life, doth not confift "in the Abundance that he poffeffeth. I "fee many, who have a large Affluence "of worldly Riches, who yet have fo

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many Things to render them uneafy, and "have fo little Satisfaction in the Frame "and Temper of their Minds, that they "deserve to be pitied rather than envied: nor would I, if it were left to my own "Choice, change Conditions with them, " even in this World. And, on the other Hand, I fee many that are in poor Cir"cumstances who yet are easy and con"tented: and why may not I be so too? "I have still something left, which though "but little, is more than many others enjoy. I have not been afflicted with pinching Penury and Want. I have ftill enough to furnish me with the Ne"ceffaries and many of the Conveniences "of Life. I have Peace and Satisfaction "in my own Family. God hath restored

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me to a greater Measure of Health than "I had Reason to expect. And I am not "without fome Degree of Reputation and

•

Acceptance in the World. But, I hope, "God hath done far more for me than' "this. That he hath bleffed me with fpiritual Bleffings, of an infinitely more glorious Nature than any worldly Advantages whatsoever; that he hath by his Spirit drawn my Heart to the fincere prevailing Love and Choice of him for my God, and hath given himself to me to be mine, my God, my Father, my "Portion and Felicity, in a new and everlafting Covenant, and hath, I trust, raised me to the lively Hope of a glorious Immortality. And if I have an Interest in fuch Privileges and Benefits, and am made Partaker of fuch fublime Hopes, why fhould I fret and repine that I have but a small Portion of the Riches or Affluence of this prefent World? Lord, I would not prefcribe to thy "Wisdom. If it feemeth fit to thee, that 66 my Condition here on Earth fhould be 66 but poor and mean, thy Will be done. "I leave it to thee to order my outward "Affairs and Circumftances according to

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thy own good Pleasure: But what I would "moft earnestly defire is, that whatever "Station or Circumftances I am in, I may

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be enabled to serve and glorify thee in

5

"that

"that Station, and in those Circumstances. "Let me but be an Inftrument for fhew

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ing forth thy Praises in the World, and "promoting the Good of Mankind, as far "as the Sphere of my Ability reacheth; "let me but grow in the amiable Graces " and Virtues of the Chriftian Life, and "have an inward Peace of Confcience, "and a Senfe of thy Love and Favour, and "I fhall be comparatively little concerned "about my external Circumstances in this "tranfitory World." In this manner did this pious Man submit to all the Appointments of infinite Wisdom and Goodness in all the diftreffing Scenes of Life. Indeed the whole of his Temper and Conduct was regulated by the Principles of that Religion, which he fo well knew how to defend. And his strongest Defire was to approve himself to his great Master and Lord.

In private Life he was most regular and circumfpect. Though he had a natural Warmth of Temper, yet, by maintaining a ftrict Discipline over his Paffions, he never fuffered it to appear in any improper Conduct and he was temperate in all Things.

In discharging the Duties of focial Life, all, who had any Connection or Intercourfe with him, will bear Witness, how faithful and upright his Behaviour was; how hu

mane and compaffionate, how friendly and kind, how well difpofed to do Good, and to perform kind Offices to all, according to his Ability and Opportunity.

And in the nearer Relations of Life, how tender and affectionate a Husband, how loving a Brother and Uncle, how faithful a Guardian and Friend he was, they who ftood in thefe Relations to him, have cordially acknowledged and will gratefully remember.

In more extenfive Relations alfo, he was actuated by the fame Goodness of Heart, and Benevolence of Affection.. The Welfare of his Country lay near his Heart, and whatever concerned its Intereft much affected him. As he had enlarged Views of the highest Concerns of Mankind, and of the Importance of Virtue and Religion to promote their Happiness; fo with an unceafing Affiduity, he was ever ready to do his utmost in fo worthy a Caufe. The Sentiments and good Difpofitions of Heart, with relation to this Subject, are moft feelingly and pathetically expreffed in his Conclufion of the View of the principal Deiftical Writers, &c. which is an Address to Deifts, and profeffed Chriftians; and in the Appendix to that Work, which contains Reflections on the prefent State of Things in these Nations.

By a happy Fortitude and Firmness of