that it is impoffible for any, who did not fee it often, and the ftrange effects it produced, to have any juft notion of it. Such force there is in prudent and well managed zeal; fo different, both in value and fuccefs, from the infolent reproofs of the violent and haughty; which only expofe fuch foolish reformers, and harden finners in their crimes. But his charity was not fo His charity entirely confined to men's fouls, to the poor. as to neglect their bodies; great was his concern for both and by his bounty to the one, he often made way for fuccefs to his charitable endeavours on the other. By the exacteft computation his most intimate friends, who were beft acquainted both with his fortune and charity, could make; he gave away the eighth part of his yearly income to the poor. And fome years when objects were numerous, he faved nothing at all. His private papers fufficiently fhew, what a Chriftian feeling he had, of the sufferings and neceffities of the poor; and there are feveral meditations in them, to move us to compaffionate and relieve them. And in one place he prays for charity in this manner:

Give me faith, that will make me dare to be charitable, without fear of wanting myself, by what I lend, or give away: that will make me freely commit all my worldly concerns to God, and truft him with my fortune, my reputation, and life itself: that fo I may fee myself his care; and under the conduct of

his providence, ordering and over-ruling my whole life, and every circumftance of it.'

He never heard of any in want, but he generously relieved them; and frequently defired his friends to find out for him poor housekeepers, and fuch as were ashamed to beg; for fuch he esteemed the fittest objects. of his charity. And to feveral, he gave yearly penhons; that they might not only be comforted with prefent relief, but the prospect of future fupply and left inftructions in his will for the continuance of those penfions; and ordered a confiderable fum of money to be laid out in charity for ever.

Nay, his bounty to the poor was fo great, and built on fuch right principles, that neither his being of a fickly conftitution, and confequently needing more to fupport him than if he had been healthy, nor yet the apprehenfions of lofing his employment in the late King James's reign, were the least restraints upon his charity, as may appear by the following meditation, written in the year 1688, and during a fit of fickness.

'My God, I am unworthy of the leaft of all thy mercies, much more of these comfortable conveniences which thy fatherly • tenderness provides for my repofe, while • thou thinkeft fit to lay thy hand upon me. How doft thou afflict us in measure? Shall then the confideration of my ficklinefs, • that I cannot fhift fo well, nor live on fo little as I might do if I were well, difrourage

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'courage me from imparting of what I now have, to those that need it, (though I have 'reason to fear the lofs of all I have,) when I fee how tender thy goodness and care is in providing for me according to the "condition thou putteft me in; and that thou doft not lay on us many troubles, nor at any time more than we are able to bear: it fhall not hinder me, O Lord, by the aid of thy grace; but as I have freely received, fo will I freely give; and do thou deal with me as feemeth good to thee. Amen.'

to enemies.

But fo great, fo generous was His charity Mr. Bonnell's charity, as to extend even to injuries and enemies; infomuch that, I believe, few ever more fully obeyed the command, or imitated the example of our Lord, in loving his enemies, and praying for his perfecutors. When he heard that any had spoken reflectingly of him, he was hardly ever known to refent it. And though human nature is hardly ever more provoked, than by injurious or reproachful words; yet fo much had grace with him got the mastery of nature, that the ufe he made of flanders and reflections, was, to examine himself, "If he had never been guilty of detraction towards others; or at least heard them cenfured, without ftriving to justify them if he had, then he hoped what he then fuffered, was all the punishment God defigned him for it: if fo, he cheerfully embraced it."

And

And when immediately after the late Revolution, an attempt was made to deprive him of his employment; a gentleman having, made great intereft for it; and when things were brought to that pafs, that both he and his friends looked upon the employment as loft; yet he was rarely known to speak an angry word againft his fupplanter. And. when others, who were concerned for Mr. Bonnell, would exprefs themselves with fome heat against that gentleman; he commonly pleaded for him, and faid every thing that could be offered in his favour. Thofe defigns indeed mifcarried, but Mr. Bonnell's charity was ftill the fame. And how little fuch an. attempt difcompofed him, the following: meditation, compofed upon that particular occafion, will fhew.

O my God, I have often folemnly offered up to thee my place; thou now takeft me · at my word: ought I not to rejoice and be fatisfied, that thou accepteft of any thing from me? For me now to be any way troubled or repine at it, would be a childish act between man and man; much more, finful, between a creature and its God. I bless thee for the entire readiness which thou haft put into me heretofore to offer it up to thee: for this gives me now the greatest comfort, in thy taking it from me.

How happy am I, in having difengaged myfelf from this world before this difficulty! How gracious has my God been to me, in • having

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having led me to it by the hand: that might be light and free from all incum'brances, to follow his bleffed will without uneafinefs! I thought to have paft out of the world, into a nearer attendance on thy fervice, with cafe, joy, and triumph. Thy wifdom hath over-ruled my foolish measures: • thou haft thought fit, that this change fhould not be without fome hardship. But fhould I think worfe of it for that? Are not the greateft things brought about by conflicts? To filence all the reft, was not the redemption of the world brought about by the bitter agony of thy dear Son? Shall I be afraid to follow his fteps, or think it less leads to a glorious iffue, because thou leadeft me to it through trouble?'

And what pains he took to arm himself with this divine charity to enemies; and what his thoughts of injuries and refentments were, the two following meditations will convince

us.

" O my God, I am thy creature; 1690. and if I may have leave to say, • Thou art my God; all is well, and I am happy. Two things I have always dreaded, difgrace and enemies; left I fhould not be able to bear the one or forgive the other. How great is thy goodness to me, in leffen,ing the dread of both! He is happy, not who enjoys eafe, but who can bear uneafinefs. A bishop of general esteem and repute, who could bear being whipped in the