Let it not grieve thee to bow down thine Ear Serm. 2. to the Poor, and to give him a friendly anfwer with Meekness, Ecclus. 4. 8. And he liv'd up to this Rule; no fournefs 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 paffionate difcourfes, with matchlefs Patience and Goodness, having regard to the miseries not the frailties of those who addressed themselves to him.

Secondly, His Induftry. He had often in his Mouth that of the Pfalmift, Bleffed is he that confiders the Poor, and that of Job just now cited, The caufe that I knew not, I fearch'd out: And accordingly he did with indefatigable patience found the depths, and fathom the bottom of every caufe; and then he did with great folicitude and earnestnefs of mind, ftudy, contrive and confult what method was most likely to prove effectual for the redress of the miserable; and when he had fixt upon it, he fet his heart fo much upon the accomplishment of his defign that there were seldom, if ever, any difficulties fo great, which he did not one way or other

Vol. I. 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 pursued them panting, and almoft breathless; 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 feveral of his last 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 prefs, which is, that he was often advised and preffed to go into the Country for his health's fake; against this,be urged many Scru ples which though they appear'd not to others of fufficient weight, yet he could never bring his mind to it; What fhall my Poor then do; faid he, 'tis even best for me to die in my Station and in my Imployment.

Such was his Vigour, fuch his Induftry. And God was pleas'd to bless him with fuitable fuccefs; fo that 'tis not eafie to express his Felicity in mollifying the

most

most obdurate Creditors, in reducing Serm. 2. them to terms of Moderation and Chari- m table compofition, in reconciling. differences, and in fweetning the moft alienated and exasperated minds.

Thirdly, His Delight. It was one of his darling Propofitions which he fet a high rate upon, That the Life of Man is to be estimated by the usefulness of it; and accordingly that portion of his Life was always moft delightful and valuable to him, wherein he was most fuccessfully active in fome design of Charity; his Spirit rejoiced within him, when God had blessed him in the accomplishment of any good work; and I may confidently fay, that never Souldier entertain'd Victory, or Trader the increase of his Wealth with a truer fatisfaction than he did the fucceffes of his Charitable Labours. I confefs, that taking notice, how much he was pleas'd with reflecting upon and repeating himself feveral of his atchievements, and with hearing the Echoes and Rebounds of them from others, I grew fometimes jealous of him, left Dead Flies fhould corrupt this Oyntment, and a filly affectation of Praise and vain glory fhould blaft his Charity and bereave him of the Fruit and Reward of it; but upon narrower Inspection into the Root

F

of

Vol. I.

of this matter, I found that this fprung from the pleasure he took in the Comfort and Happiness which he procur'd to others: his pious Soul, as it did fuffer in the mifery, fo did it exult in the Profperity of his Brother, as he was ready to weep with those that wept, fo alfo to rejoice with those that rejoiced, and fo much the more whenever God had made him the Inftrument of their Joy, fo that it was not his own praife that created his Satisfaction, but the good procur'd his Neighbour, and the honour which did from thence redound to God.

Shall I now after all, add his Justice, Integrity and Diligence in all his dealings and undertakings? His Simplicity and Candour, his Ingenuity, Meekness and Humility in all his Converfation? His Plainnefs, Sincerity and Zeal towards his Friend, fhewed it felf efpecially in his tenderness for his Eternal Intereft? The sweetness and obligingnefs of his carriage, not towards his Children only, but even towards the meaneft that had any Relation to him? Shall I add his Christian Moderation, and Comprehenfive Charity, for all peaceful, humble, and upright Christians of every perfuafion? Shall I infift upon his Purity and Heavenly mindedness, not only to an Indifference,

but

but (I may almoft fay) even Contempt Serm. 2. for the things of this World, Wealth, Power, Honour and the Oftentation of Life? Shall I finally remember his ftrictnefs and Sobriety, which was fuch, that I had much ado to remove fome Scruples out of his mind about the use of fuch things, as I judg'd neceffary to the fupport of his age, and the maintenance of his health and strength? These and other Vertues of our deceas'd Friend, I might infift upon, and in all this, I fhould have the teftimony and Approbation of all that knew him: But the time would fail me, and I have faid enough, enough to do right in fome measure to the memory of this excellent perfon, for the Righteous fhall be had in everlasting Remembrance; enough to adminifter unfpeakable comfort and fatisfaction to his Relations, and enough, I hope, to excite and ftir up all that hear me this Day to the Imitation of this good man's Vertues, especially when we fhall add the confideration in my Text, that this will fortifie us against all the Terrours of Death; this will give us comfort and affurance in the approaches of it. Then fhall we be able to affure our felves that we are the Children of God, when we imitate his goodness, and rejoyce, as he doth, in the works of F 2

Mercy