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November 1687.

His Behavi

our upon the breaking out of the late Troubles.

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If it fhou'd pleafe God to let this Storm 'blow over us which now hangs fo black, and turn his Judgments into a Bleffing; I fhou'd not be capable of any Comfort from fuch a happy Day, if I fhou'd reflect that I had not perform'd my part in praying earnestly to God for fuch a Bleffing. They only 'that Sow in Tears, fhall Reap in Joy: If I have no part in that holy Sowing, I fhall look upon my felf to have no fhare in that happy Harvest. I fhall be like the Sullen Sa'maritan Lord, who wou'd not believe the C Prophets Word. I fhall fee the Plenty with my Eye, but not be fuffered to taste of it. If Perfons join together for an Adventure, ' and put in their Stocks; furely the Gain, when it returns, fhall be divided between them, and a Stranger fhall not intermedle with their Profit. Good People are now ftirring up themselves to join earnefly toge'ther in Prayer, for a removal of the Judg ments 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

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And as Mr. Bonnell faw danger coming on, with a very compos'd Mind, fo his 4pprehenfions 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 Alarm'd at the report of a Maffacre, defign'd to have been Acted upon the Ninth of December 1688. This News aftonish'd

aftonish'd the Proteftants every where, particularly in Dublin, and great Multitudes fled in confusion to the Sea fide to escape, as they best cou'd, 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 Disorder, when the Impreffions, which a common danger might raife in the best resolved Mind, wou'd probably be strongest.

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'How inconstant are humane things! Blef- December 93 'fed is the Soul that has his hope fixed on 1688. Thee, O Lord. Laft Thursday the Letter 'threatning a Massacre of all the English, on this Day came to Town; and People not receiving fuch fatisfaction from the Lord Deputy as they expected, began to think of England,and multitudes flock'd away. I went my felf to Rings-end, thinking if there were any Alarm, I was nearer to take Shipping. I had the Duties of my Place upon me, and no leave to go: Therefore I wou'd not go, unless in cafe of Extremity, when no Duty cou'd be attended on. If I defired to follow the direction of God, and to watch and obferve the guiding of his Providence in every leffer Affair of my Life, furely I fhou'd do it in the most important one, my Life it felf; 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 Pro'vidence; and of his Providence, is my Duty: 'This is the Star that points out to Me the • course I am to take. If I am difcharg'd 'from

from my Duty, I may expect Gods Protection in going from hence; if not, in staying here. While I waited at Rings end, uncer-'tain in my resolutions, I remember'd a Verse of the First Leffon at laft Nights Prayers, which then I took notice of, but forgot it in the hurry of going away. Ifa. 30. 15. In returning and reft shall ye be faved, in quietness and confidence fhall be your strength. God requires of us a confident reliance on him, in "the Station wherein he fets us; a quiet doing of our Duty, and he Promises his fafe-guard to fuch. I thought therefore I wou'd return, and put my felf into his Hands, and Endeavour quietly to compofe my felf to await his pleasure. Inftead of hurrying about to enquire of News, I wou'd retire my self to my 'God, and fettle matters between him and my "Soul. Behold I am come, O my God, hide "not thy felf from thy Servant in the Day of 'Danger. O fhut not out thy felf from me this day, when the matter in debate is my appearing before thee for ever. I have deferv'd, I must humbly acknowledge,that thou 'fhou'dft withdraw thy Grace and Favour from my Soul. But caft not away, O Lord, all thy paft Favours, and let them not be loft upon me. Pardon for thy tender Mercies, my unworthinefs of them, and awaken my "Soul to behold thee, that thy prefence may 'purifie it from all the Drofs it has contracted by converfing in the World, and fit it for ( thy felf. Lord, Thou loveft to Succour in Diftrefs; nothing is fo pleafing to generous

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Love, as to rescue from Danger,those whom ⚫ it is pleas'd to favour. For what fentiments does this awaken in an Ingenuous Heart! • Who can but adore that watchful love which feasonably comes into its prefervation! This ‹ then, O Lord, is my humble confidence in Thee; for I not only hope for deliverance from Thee, but that thou wilt make this 'Deliverance, a means to my Soul of returning to Thee love and praises for ever. But O my God, inftruct my Soul to remove all difficulties that lye in the way of Thy Mercy; that every corrupt Affection may be done away, which hinders my approach to Thee; and I may make my peace with Thee my God, by the methods Thou haft pre'fcrib'd, even Humiliation and Sorrow, and < earnest calling upon Thee. We are not to think, but that even this Terror is a Judgment from Thee. O Pardon, Gracious Lord, ઢ the Sins that have more immediately provok'd it; even our not having lay'd to · Heart, fo much as we fhou'd, the terrors of thy Soul, O moft gracious Lord Jefu, which Thou didst undergo for our fakes, when Thy Soul was forrowful even unto Death, and cry'd out, Father, fave me from this hour: By Thy Terrors, O Lord, fantify this Thy Judgment, and let us always love to meditate on Thy Agony for our fakes. Amen.

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I find another excellent Meditation of His, upon the fame Publick Troubles, Compos'd by him, December the Twenty Second 1688, when our Fears and Distractions were at the greatest

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greatest heighth; and which I fhall here give the Reader, that he may fee how Mr. Bonnell, by a firm confidence in God, fecur'd the peace of his own Mind, in that general disorder ; and may learn the way to be fafe and happy, fhou'd God fend the fame Calamities upon us. 'If.

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If. 30. 15. Thus faith the Lord, the holy one of Ifrael, in returning and reft ye shall be faved, in quietness and confidence fhall be your strength: In returning from your folicitous cares and anxious fears, and vain projectings for your escape and fafety. The time you bestow upon thefe, to how much better purpose wou'd it be laid out in waiting upon me, and imploring my aid and protection who am fo easily able to defend you? And this is the reason why in time of danger, I require your refting quietness and confidence in me; because if I think fit not to give you deliveance, this fits your Souls for my felf; to enjoy Me in a much better condition. But if I fend deliverance, this makes you know that it comes from my hand, and difpofes you to make me thankful Returns for it. They that in danger do not difpofe themselves to a dependance on God, and confidence in him, if deliverance comes, they are apt to impute it to an arm of Flefh, or to Chance, and the revolution of things. But these Souls, that quiet themselves in God, and with an humble confidence, depend wholly on his power and readiness to help them, if it be his Will, fee plainly that what delive rance they obtain is wrought by his hand

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