nell; enjoy the prefent pleasures of his virtues, and be entitled to their exceeding great reward; than act one of the most busy parts of human life; than poffefs whatever the most boundless ambition can crave; than make the greatest noife and figure in the world? For what is this fhort life, and all its poor concerns? It appears, and is gone; flies like a fhadow, and vanishes as a dream. Who then that is truly wife, would lofe the fubftantial joys of a good confcience; that peace, those comforts which religion gives; and chiefly, thofe enlivening hopes of immortality and glory, which are the happy confequents of piety: To glitter awhile in the world, be the fubject of talk, and gazed at by the multitude; to ftrike our fellow-creatures with terror, and gratify our pride and vain glory? how quickly does a death-bed cure us of these follies; give us a new taste and relifh of things, take off the thick fcales which ftick to our eyes, and the falfe colours of worldly glory; till it ap pears in its native littlenefs and deformity, and at laft vanishes into nothing? Then shall we be convinced, (O why are we not before?) that there's no wifdom like fecuring our eternal intereft ; nor madness, like lofing our fouls, though we got the whole world in exchange.

But fuch a life as Mr. Bonnell's was, brings every day new delights to the foul: the pleasures it gives increafe with time, improve upon enjoyment, and leave no ungrateful relifh upon the mind. A foul fo refigned

to God, is calm amidst all the ftorms of fortun, and disorders of the world, is not afraid of men, nor difturbed at evil tidings; but goes quietly through a world of noife and vanity; knowing that it is under the care of infinite power and wisdom: and ftill has heaven in its view heaven! that end of all labours! and fanctuary from trouble and fin! that eternal retreat from grief, from mifery and pain! the refidence of God, and angels, and happy fpirits! a foul firmly fixed upon heaven and heavenly things, pities the vain defigns and reftless pursuits of mankind; and wonders that fo much time and labour fhould be thrown away, upon what can never profit, and very imperfectly pleafe; which, well employed, might fecure prefent tranquillity and peace, with a happy reverfion of endless joy and glory. Such a happy foul knows and confiders, that most of these restless and afpiring mortals, shall be snatched away in the midst of their projects and hopes; and then, full of anguifh and vain remorse, fhall fadly wish, that they had minded this world less, and the other more.

If then the cafe be really fo; if religion be our only happiness, and piety our trueft wifdom: The ufe we fhould make of this great example of all thefe is, to bewail the imperfections of our graces, the coldness of our devotions, and the many defects of all our religious performances; when compared with his exalted piety, his deep humility, his flam

M 6

ing

ing zeal and love. This confideration fhould check our towering thoughts, and keep us from over-rating our own worth, which falls fo vastly short of his; who yet was as low in his own efteem as he was high in that of others. But chiefly, his example should enflame our zeal, and fet every faculty in motion; should make us earnest in our prayers for his graces, and in our endeavours to imitate his virtues ; that we may at laft fhare in his reward.

And fince angels rejoice at the converfion of finners; and fince Mr. Bonnell's zeal for fouls was fo great in his imperfect state and no doubt is now refined into a feraphic flame : we cannot but hope, that if either his writings or his life, be inftrumental in turning one finner from his evil ways; or confirming any in their good purposes and actions; it will add to his joy, and improve his glory in heaven.

And we need not queftion, but we shall partake in his happinefs; and join for ever with him in that work of praife, which was his most delightful exercife below, and is a great part of his reward above: if with his diligence and care, we watch over our hearts, our tongues, and steps: if with the fervours and humility of his foul, we pray for grace and ftrength from God to walk in the Divine Laws and commandments: and particularly, to "be kept" (as he in one place expreffes it) "from speaking a vain or proud thing, doing an unjust thing, or thinking an impure thing."

In fhort, if, like him, we would be happy, like him, we must be wife. Not according to the mistaken "wifdom of this world," which is" foolifhnefs with God" but that wisdom which is from above; which defcends from the Father of lights, and God of all grace. And St. James's defcription of that wisdom, gives us Mr. Bonnell's character in very few words: "For he was pure and peaceable; gentle, and easy to be entreated: full of mercy and good fruits; without partiality, and without hypocrify." Jam. iii. 17.

THE END.