land they were leaving; when we are to put 6 our lives into our hands, and not love them · to death and this time is, when fuch a cafe

happens, as we find mentioned in the 13th ' of the Revelations, when we have our choice 6 to worship or die; no way to escape death, but by a finful compliance; when none but they "whofe names are written in the book of life, and have ears to ear, of all that dwell upon the earth, fhall refufe to worship the beaft, or its image. When power is given to it, to fight against the faints, and to overcome them: then is the time for the patience and faith of the faints." This is a time when there is to be no par6 leying with the world; it must not come into our thoughts; we muft either refift bravely, and fave our lives by lofing them, or die ‹ for ever.

We may obferve more fevere and lively expreffed punishments denounced against fuch finful compliance, than against all the immoralities and fins reproved in holy writ. Thus Rev. xiv. 9, 10, 11. "If any man worship the beaft and his image, the fame fhall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture, in the cup of his indignation; and he • fhall be tormented with fire and brimstone, in the prefence of the holy angels, and in the prefence of the Lamb: and the smoke ' of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever; and they have no reft day and night :" and the reafon is, because the temptation is

6 greater

C greater to this than any other fin; and there fore it is balanced with greater terrors, to arm us against it. The difpute here is not • about refifting fome little temptation, from which we might hope to recover ourselves again, and repent: but about resisting a fin, that can never be repented of; about parting with life and all at once, or falling for ever. And on the other hand, as the terror is great; fo God ftands by, heartening his own foldiers, and encouraging them to quit the world refolutely, and die bravely. Ver. 12, 13. Here is the patience of the faints, here are they that keep the com• mandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. “And I heard a voice from heaven, faying unto me, Bleffed are the dead that die in (or for) the Lord, even fo faith the Spirit, for they reft from their labours, and their works fhall follow them. And they fing the fong of Mofes, and the fong of the Lamb." Chap. xv. 3. The triumphal fong after the overthrow of Pharaoh, and the Lamb's triumphal fong after his glorious. refurrection, when he ceafed from his labours, and all the fons of God fhouted for joy.'

By fuch exercifes as thefe, Mr. Bonnell was very well fitted for whatever could befal him; and he took the true way to make dangers not only tolerable but eafy, by flying to him for fuccour, who can either give fafety, or enable us to bear trouble; can remove the rod,

rod, or fweeten its pains. Nor was he lefs earnest in his prayers for the removal of thofe calamities he faw falling upon the Church, than careful to fit himfelf to bear his own fhare of them. And we have reafon to blefs God, that he (among other religious perfons) was then devoutly employed in fervent addreffes to God for his church and our holy religion, fince we may reasonably believe that their pious interceffions fhortened our troubles, and preferved us under them. Such public bleffings are the devout and religious, fince to their prayers, even the wicked owe their peace and fafety.

And how conftant, how earneft his prayers in thofe days of trouble were, the following meditation will fhew.

Novem

ber, 1687.

If it fhould pleafe God to let, this ftorm blow over us which now hangs fo black, and turn his judgments into a bleffing; I fhould not be capable of any comfort from fuch a happy day, if I fhould reflect that I had not performed my part in praying earnestly to God for fuch a bleffing. They only that fow in tears fhall reap in joy: if I have no part in that holy fowing, I fhall look upon myself to have no fhare in that happy harvest. fhall be like the fullen Samaritan lord, who • would not believe the prophet's word. I fhall fee the plenty with my eye, but not be fuffered to tafte of it. If perfons join together for an adventure, and put in their

I

• ftocks;

ftocks; furely the gain, when it returns, fhall be divided between them, and a stranger fhall not intermeddle with their profit. Good 'people are now ftirring up themselves to join earneftly together in prayer, for a removal of the judgments that threaten us; and furely if I join not with them with my humble prayers, I fhall fee a bleffing falling into their bofoms; I fhall fee it, and look fad, ' and go away empty.'

His Beha

viour upon

the break

ing out of

the late troubles.

And as Mr. Bonnell faw danger coming on, with a very composed mind, fo his apprehenfions did not grow greater at the near approach of it. For I find in his private papers, an account of his behaviour, when this kingdom was univerfally alarmed at the report of a maffacre, defigned to have been acted upon the ninth of December, 1688. This news aftonifhed the Protef tants every where, particularly in Dublin, and great multitudes fled in confufion to the feafide to escape, as they beft could, for England. What fhare Mr. Bonnell had in these fears, and how quickly he got the better of them; what now follows will best shew, writ that very day of terror and diforder, when the impreffions, which a common danger might raise in the best refolved mind, would probably be strongest.

December 9, 1688.

How inconftant are human things: bleffed is the foul that has his hope fixed on thee, O Lord.

Laft

Laft Thursday the letter threatening a maffacre of all the Englifh on this day, came, to town; and people not receiving fuch fatiffaction from the Lord Deputy as they expected, began to think of England, and multitudes flocked away. I went myself to 'Ring's-end, thinking if there were any alarm, I was nearer to take fhipping; I had the duties of my place upon me, and no leave to go therefore I would not go, unless in cafe of extremity, when no duty could be • attended on. If I defired to follow the di<rection of God, and to watch and obferve the guiding of his providence in every leffer affair of my life, furely I fhould do it in the most important one, my life itself; for if I may prefume any thing relating to me to be his care, this no doubt is. Now the index of his will is his providence; and ' of his providence, is my duty: this is the ftar that points out to me the course I 6 am to take. If I am discharged from my duty, I may expect God's protection in going from hence; if not, in ftaying here. While I waited at Ring's-end, uncertain in my refolutions, I remembered a verfe of the firft leffon at laft night's prayers, which then I took notice of, but forgot it in the hurry of going away, Ifai. xxx. 15. returning and reft fhall ye be faved, in quietnefs and confidence fhall be your ftrength." God requires of us a confident reliance on him, in the ftation wherein he D

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“ In

fets