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examples of great loofenefs and immorality; ⚫ and hindered him from running into many mischiefs he fhould hardly otherwise have avoided: that when he was abfent from him, he conftantly reminded him by letter, • of his former good inftructions; which had the greater impreffions on him, as knowing they were meant in great kindness."

And, no doubt, Mr. Freeman will always reflect with pleasure, on the advantages he enjoyed by Mr. Bonnell's conversation and example fo many years; will confider how invaluable a bleffing that was, and what reason he has to praife God for it; fince fuch an inftructor, and so faithful a friend, might have preferved many men (had they been fo happy as he was) from those fatal miscarriages which have ended in their ruin: and that therefore he lies under particular obligations to God, for fo diftinguishing a mark of his favour and goodness; which I am perfuaded he will always anfwer, by following the inftructions, and imitating the life of his excellent friend.

Were the generality of our gentry bleffed with inftructors of Mr. Bonnell's temper and piety; his gravity, prudence, and holy life; with thofe who are acquainted (as he was) with the methods of gentle conversation; who can dive into a young gentleman's genius, and rightly form his mind; we thould foon fee a happy change in their principles and lives: religion would have their firft and principal regard; and it would be no part of their character, to

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be vicious or profane. Such ought to be enquired after for this noble truft, who are not narrow in their fortunes, nor fervile in their natures, and have had a generous education themselves; fuch whofe prefence carries awe along with it, and whofe lives are fit to be made patterns to their pupils. And when fuch excellent perfons are found, they are to be treated in fuch a manner, as may bring both their perfons and employments into efteem and credit; as may plainly fhew, that they and their labours are highly prized and valued. By this means, the greatest trust in the commonwealth, and upon which moft depends, would not be put (as it too often happens) into the worst hands; who, for want of right qualities, are neglected by those, whose bufinefs it is to fecure them from contempt, and whofe exampleinfluences others, till they lose all authority, even with thofe who are under their care, and confequently all capacity of doing them good. But with Mr. Bonnell, it was entirely otherwife; he was every way quali fied to gain efteem; his learning and prudence, his behaviour and manner of life, commanded juft refpe&t; his fortune fecured him from all temptations to mean compliances, (for on that alone he could have fubfifted) and the great feverity of his life, exacted reverence from all he converfed with.

During Mr. Bonnell's ftay in Mr. Freeman's family, he had frequent returns of ficknefs and pain; his conftitution was tender,.

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and eafily injured: and I find by the meditations he then compofed, that his body was an uncomfortable companion to his mind; and that he was frequently difturbed in his religious courfe, by bodily diforders. He complains with great paffion of himself, for being fometimes uneafy under a load of fickness, and wifhing its removal with too much eagernefs. One or two of thefe meditations, writ ten in the year 1680, in the twenty-feventh year of his age, will give the reader a view of his happy progrefs in piety; and how bravely he encountered the difficulties he met with, from the world and himself; from a distempered body, and thofe other infirmities which all mankind feel, and are not to be entirely conquered while we are in this world. Thus in one place he confeffes his weaknefs to God, and prays for his help. O my God! what fhall I think of myself? What 'fhall I fay to thee! What am I but a finful 'discontented creature, whofe obedience has at best been very imperfect! Thou haft long afflicted me with a lingering fickness, in the flower of my life; and haft added (because I have not duly improved by this) other chaftifements befides, and which I hope have not wanted their effect upon my foul. Thou, Lord, art wife, and thy wif 'dom is deeply to be adored by us, which I humbly defire to do. But ah! Lord, had my wildom been to choose my chaftifement, I would have had lefs of a painful fickness,

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and more of fuch other afflictions as thou layeft upon men ; and this, not to please my flefh, but for the good of my foul; having found by fo much experience, that this is not fo fo proper to kill our fins, and turn our hearts to thee; not fo mortifying to the pride or difcontent of our minds; not fo quickening to repentance, and other Chrif tian graces, as the lofs of eftate, and difpleasure of men; the falfenefs of friends, and injuries from others. True indeed, when once thou didst raife my fickness fo, as to confume my body, and make even my life dangerous, through the bleffing of thy grace, it had a faving effect upon my foul: but in ⚫ all other times, the natural effect of it has been, to make me intermit my devotions, and disturb my pious thoughts; to make me uneafy and difcontented with my condition, and impatient after change. But in other ' afflictions, while the health of body remains entire, the heart is humbled, our devotions are quickened, and we faft and pray to good purpose, till our foul is brought over to thee, and confirmed in thy ways. If I now • fast, it is not only all the time in pain, but ends in more, by increafing my diftemper, and indifpofing my mind for the exercifes of religion; the conftant practice of which alone maintains the life of my foul. foul. And 6 yet thou chooseft thus to afflict me ftill! However, Lord, I will fast, and O! that • I may never omit to pray. And do thou,

• O Lord,

O Lord, fortify my foul, I beseech thee, that in that I may ever perfevere: let me 'confider, that the life of my foul is above the health of my body, however I find it daily to decay.

• Upon the whole, O my God, I am weary " of being discontented and murmuring against thee. I humbly confefs, that I have found, in the depth of my heart, that my prayers to thee, for making me contented, with my condition, have had too often this meaning, that thou fhouldeft make my condition fuch as I might (vouchfafe to) be contented with; and that when I have refolved to fubmit myfelf to thee, and be contented, it has been with a profpect, or fecret hopes, after fuch a • condition; and that therefore, when thou haft disappointed these wilful and groundless hopes, I have refumed my former impatience: This, Lord, upon a serious review, has been too often the fenfe of my heart. • But behold, I am truly displeased at myfelf, and both weary and afhamed of my im'patience; and therefore do defire moft humbly to return unto thee, and with thee to condemn my felf. Thou haft vouchsafed often to enlighten and quiet my foul, who have not deferved that favour from thee: and this one confideration fhall fatisfy me, • as it has done, that thou only knoweft the time of my life here, and how to make a fuitable provifion for that time. Yet, O Lord, I groan under the burden of an aching • flesh,

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