Lieut. 7: Conyers

1770...

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PREFACE

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IVES are ufually Read with a greater Pleafure and Application, than any other kind of Writing; and it must be own'd, that when rightly chofen, they give us the most useful views of Humane Nature, and the jufteft Reprefentations of Virtue and Vice, with their different Consequen ces and Effects.

But then it's obfervable, that the World is chiefly fond of knowing their Story, who have Acted the most Embroy'd and Bufie Parts of Life; have Commanded Armies, or manag'd Surprizing Turns of State; have by Policy or War made themfelves Famous, the Subject of common Obfervation and Difcourfe; or Hurry'd on by Ambition, and other Destructive Paffions,have laid Countries Waste, and done fatal Mischiefs to Mankind.

And So far have Mens Inclinations been Gratify'd and Encourag'd that the World is dailymore and more over-stock'd with this fort of Lives, which, as commonly written have a Fatal Influence upon our Minds, and prove very Pernicious to Religion. They give a dangerous

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dangerous Turn to our Thoughts, and Infect the Soul with wrong Notions of things. The little regard that's had to Justice and Piety, in the Characters of Princes and Warriours; And the Praifes that are given to all their Successful Actions, however violent and bloody; the Magnificent Defcriptions of Armies and Battles, with the Glory that fill Surrounds the Head of the Fortunate and Bold: All these Inflame thofe Paffions in us, which our Religion requires us to Subdue. A wild Ambition Fires the Mind, and drives it furiofly on, in pursuit of mistaken Honour, untill at last the true Temper of Chritianity is quite deftroy'd; that Humility and Meekness, that Deadnels to the World, and Submiffion to the Will of God; with that Juftice and Charity to Men,which make up fo great a part of the Chriftian Life: For will be hard to perfuade Mankind that violence and Injuftice are Crimes, while thofe who committed them are applauded in Story; or that to Be Meek and Lowly, are neceffary Duties, while even in Chriftian An-. pals, the Cruel ond vain-Glorious make the greatest Figures, and are the conftant Subject of Panegyrick and Praife.

To remedy thefe Mifchiefs in fome meafure, It were greatly to be defir'd, that the World were furnish'd with a fufficient number of another kind of Lives; of those who

have been Great in Religion and Goodness; and study'd to Conquer their Corruptions as their most Dangerous,if not only Enemies; who have spent their Lives in the fervice of God, and made it their conftant Business to do Good to Mankind.

Such Lives as thefe, we might reasonably hope, wou'd very much ferve the Interests of Religion, by proving an Antidote to the Povson of those other Hiftories, which are so Destructive to it. They wou'd reprefent Piety, not in Notion but in Life, with all its Charms about it; and fhew not only the Pol fibility, but Delightful Eafiness of a Religious Conversation. The Pleafure of Narrative wou'd fill engage our Attention, and prevent a Weariness, which few can escape, when only Books of Reasoning and Argument are before them. And bright Examples of Holiness faithfully Reprefented, cou'd hardly fail of awakening good Thoughts in our Minds; of touching us with fad Reflections upon our own Behaviour, fo different from what we Read of others; and exciting strong Defires of following fuch Patterns.

This is the End propos'd in Publishing the following Life. It is hop'd that the Character of One, in whem every Christian Grace did fo eminently shine, may contribute fomewhat towards raising a Spirit of true Religion in this Age; that the confi

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deration of his Early Piety, may Animate the Youth among us; of his conftant Devotions, may quicken our Zeal; of his Justice, his Charity, and univerfal Goodness, may ftir up lafting Refolutions in our Minds, of following fo great an Example of these through all the Parts of Virtue and Holinefs.

And fo well was the Character of that Excellent Perfon establish'd and known that he was very few days laid in his Grave,when feveral good Men, without being acquainted with one anothers Thoughts, confpir'd in Opinion, that a faithful Account of his Life and Virtues was what might benefit the World; which they accordingly at several times propos'd, to a Perfon nearly concern'd in his Memory; and who they believ'd wou'd be most Zealous to have fuch a work undertaken.

Nor wou'd thefe Hopes have appear'd in the leaft Ill grounded, had Mr. Bonnell's Life been the work of a Pen, which 'twas once expected, or rather defir'd, wou'd have been employ'd in it; which cou'd have fet his Virtues in their true Light, and drawn his Character with all its juft Advantages. But fince thefe expectations have fail'd,the world must be fatisfi'd with this Work, as 'tis now Publish'd; of which I can only fay, that I have put the Informations, which were gi ven me, faithfully together; for tho' I was

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