and can only fay, that I would to God that SERM only I, but all those that hear me this Day, XIV. were altogether fuch as he was.

But why

do I tell you of these things? You are beforehand with me in all this, and can testify the Truth of what I fay, and a great deal more; for, lo! the one half of his virtuous Qualities has not been told you.

As for you, if any fuch are here prefent, who had not the Happiness to know him, I will tell you how you may know him yet; Think of every thing that is virtuous, lovely, and of good Report; abftract in your Minds all the amiable and defirable Qualities of a just and good Man, like the Rays of Light collected into a Point, and shining with the greater Lustre. Think of every thing that is apt to captivate the Affections, and to get irresistibly the Dominion of every Heart: In fhort, think of every thing that is good, and that was he.

Thus have I given you, tho' very imperfectly, the Character of this extraordi→ nary Person, and fhewn you with how much Luftre he fhined in every Part of Life, with how much Honour he filled every Station of it. Some Acknowledgment indeed was paid to his Merit when he was advanced to a Dignity in the Church; and

tho'

:

SERM. tho' he was not at all fond of Honour and
XIV. Greatnefs, yet every one was convinced that

he deserved much greater Things, and that
he would have done Honour to the higheft
Station of Life in which he could poffibly
be placed. And I believe by this time you
are fatisfied that he has fought a good Fight,
in overcoming the World by a happy and
heavenly Temper, and that he has finished
his Courfe in all the Capacities of a good
Christian and a Divine, and that he kept
the Faith pure and entire. For he never
handled the Word of God deceitfully, nor
of Men fought he Glory. And you may
be
also certain, that henceforth there is laid up
for him a Crown of Righteousness, which
the Lord, the righteous Fudge, shall give
him, as a Reward for all his Labours.

I fee I need not ask your Tears, Sorrow hath filled your Heart, and fad Affliction hangs upon your Countenances, like the Believers, who at St. Paul's Departure from them, wept bitterly, forrowing most of all, that they should fee bis Face no more. But I forbear to open that Stream of Affliction that flows fo freely of itself. what fhall I fay to comfort you?

And now

You have

nothing left to do now, I think, but to confider which Way you may best do Ho.

nour

nour to his Memory; which, I think, will SERM. be in following his Example, and making XIV. that glorious Character, which I have been imperfectly defcribing, fhine forth in every Action of your Lives.

You, who loved him (and who, that knew him, did not ?) fhould make it appear by your endeavouring to be like himYou, who were his Flock, would do well to obferve all the good Inftructions he gave you. Let all his good and feasonable Admonitions fink deep into your Hearts; and remember the Words which he fpake unto you while he was yet with you. And let us all endeavour to improve fuch Providences as these to our Advantage: Let it ferve to fhew us, that neither Wifdom nor Goodnefs can keep a Man from the Grave, nor cut off the Entail of Death. There is no Truft to be put even in the Lives of Kings, nor any Confidence in Princes, but all muft fooner or later shake off this earthly Tabernacle And then to whom fhall we fly for Succour but to God, who is both able and willing to prepare a Place of Happiness for all fuch as put their Truft in him; and to grant, that after we have paffed through all the Changes and Chances of this mortal Life, and that when this Corruption hath

SERM. put on Incorruption, and this Mortal hath XIV. put on Immortality, we may all meet to

gether in Heaven, and enjoy the unspeakable Pleasures of that celeftial Paradife?

Till which happy Time, adieu thou good and pious Man! adieu thou lovely Difpenfer of God's Word! adieu thou faithful Friend! the Delight of Men, and the highly favour'd of God! Thou art gone to happier Climes, to taste of the delightful Rivers. of Pleasure, while we are left behind to lament thy Absence from us. We have thy Memory, and we give thee back our Tears. Thy Example shall always keep thee alive in our Hearts, and nothing fhall blot out thy delightful Image there; but, in fpite of Death, thou shalt ftill live in our Affections, till by walking in the pleasant Path which thou haft marked out to us, we come at last to behold the Face of thee and thy God in the Kingdom of Heaven, and join with thee in finging Hallelujahs to him that fitteth upon the Throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever. Amen.

SER.

SERMON XV.

ACTS viii. part of the 31ft Verfe.:

And he faid, How can I, except fome Man
Should guide me?

T

HESE are the Words of a Man SERM. of great Authority, under Can- XV. dace Queen of the Ethiopians, who had the Charge of all her Treafure, and had come to Jerufalem to worship; and the Occafion of them was this: As he was returning and fitting in his Chariot, he read Ifaias the Prophet. Then Philip, who had been directed by the Angel of the Lord to go towards the South, unto the Way that goeth down from Jerufalem unto Gaza, was order'd by the Spirit to go near and join himself to the Chariot: Accordingly he ran thither to him, and heard him read the Prophet Ifaias, and faid, Underftandeft thou what thou readeft? And he faid, How can I, exQ1 2 cept