after his Religion towards God, His Charity towards man. This was that in which he conceived the Imitation of God moft properly to confift, he was always wont to have in his Mouth that of the Prophet Jeremy, But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understands and knows me that I am the Lord, which exercife Loving kindneß, Judgment and Righteousness in the Earth; for in these things I delight, faith the Lord, Jer. 9.

24.

This therefore was the Vertue wherein he was Eminent and Exemplary; to this he fo wholly gave up his Heart and his Life, that I may fafely fay he did in fome degree renounce his own business and his own Intereft, that he might with less distraction and better fuccefs attend the Concerns of the poor and miferable. 'Tis true, (that I may here anticipate the Objection of fome fort of men) the Charities he undertook and engag'd himself in, were too many and too great to be carried on upon his own fingle ftock or particular fund; he had therefore affiftance many ways; and much from many good men, I believe, here prefent: but 'tis as true too, that he was not only a faithful Steward and difpenfer of other mens Bounty, but F 4 alfo

1

alfo Bountiful himself even to the dimi nution of his eftate. To go on therefore to the point feveral Hundreds of Prifoners were by him, with great travail and expence fet free; Nay, Prifons themselves were fet free from fome oppreffions and cheats that had obtain'd in them, and render'd more hofpitable and tolerable to the miserable Inhabitants, Fees being reduced to a Lower rate, and maintenance and Provifion for Prisoners much better fettled: Several entangled estates were by his care, prudence and labour clear'd and preferv'd: Many defolate Orphans found in him the tenderness and compaffion of a Father, and many defolate Widows the Care and Protection of a Husband: How tender and liberal he was to very many Relations that ftood in need of him, is well known to many here. Finally, fuch Numbers of Poor were relieved by him, that he was continually throng'd by flocks of his Clients, as he called them) and he could scarce pafs any street where the Bleffings of fome one or other fuccour'd by him, did not light upon him. Nor did his Charity exert it felf only in the Relief of the poor and needy, but also in miniftring to every fort of neceffity

and

and mifery of mankind; he comforted the afflicted, rescued the oppreffed, advised and counselled the Ignorant, and fubdued the Obftinate by the sweetness of his address, by the meekness of Reafon, and an extraordinary Spirit of Religion, which discover'd it self in all his Difcourfes In Sum, what Job faid of himself, may be with truth applied to this good man. I delivered the poor that cried, and the Fatherleß and bim that had none to help him the blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me; and I caufed the Widows heart to fing for joy. I put on Righteousneß, and it cloathed me; My judgment was as a Robe, and a Diadem: I was Eyes to the Blind, and Feet was I to the Lame; I was a Father to the poor, and the cause which I knew not, I fearch'd out, and I brake the Jaws of the wicked, and pluck'd the Spoyl out of his Teeth, Job 29. 11, 12, &c. Here I fhould have concluded with this general account, were there not in his Charity three things fo eminently and peculiarly remarkable, that they deserve never to be forgot, his Meekness, his Industry, and his Delight in doing good.

First. His Meekneß. He had a Text to this purpose which he did often repeat, Let it not grieve thee to bow down thine Ear to the Poor, and to give him a friendly answer with Meekneß, Ecclus. 4. 8. And he liv'd up to this Rule no fourness or churlishness of Speech, no impatience or infolence of Behaviour did ever imbitter his Alms or Relief to the needy: Charity was not a greater Ornament to Him, than his Sweetneß and Meekneß was to his Charity: He would often hear not only tedious and impertinent but also rude and passionate difcourfes, with matchlefs Patience and Goodness, having regard to the miferies not the frailties of those who addreffed themselves to him.

Secondly, His Industry. He had of ten in his Mouth that of the Pfalmift, Bleed is he that confiders the Poor, and that of Job juft now cited, The caufe that I knew not, I fearch'd out: And accordingly he did with indefatigable pa. tience found the depths, and fathom the bottom of every caufe; and then he did with great folicitude and earnestness of mind, ftudy contrive and confult what method was most likely to prove effectual for the redress of the miserable;

and

and when he had fixt upon it, he fet his heart so much upon the accomplishment of his defign that there were feldom, if ever, any difficulties fo great, which he did not one way or other remove or furmount: And he never thought much of the time or travail which he bestowed thus: So intent was he upon the excellent works of Charity, that he purfued them panting, and almost breathlefs; and I have fometimes heard him regret the Weakness and Infirmity of his Age, and express his Fear, left he fhould live to thofe years, wherein, through defect of Strength, he might be utterly useless. Indeed, his decay'd body was not at length able to undergo all the drudgery which fo many and confiderable defigns of Charity did require; and therefore, for several his laft years he maintain'd a Servant on purpose to receive and execute his Directions.

One paffage under this head I forgot in the Pulpit, and it deferves not to be omitted in the preß, which is, that he was often advised and pressed to go into the Country for his health's fake; against this, be urged many fcruples, which though they appear'd not to others of fufficient weight,

yet