Inftructor, and fo Faithful a Friend, might have preferv'd many Men (had they been so happy as he was) from those Fatal Miscarriages which have ended in their Ruine: And that therefore he lies under particular Obligations to God, for fo Diftinguishing a Mark of his Favour and Goodness; which I am perfwaded, he will always anfwer, by following the Inftructions, and imitating the Life of his Excellent Friend.

Were the Generality of our Gentry, Bless'd with Inftructor's of Mr. Bonnell's Temper and Piety; his Gravity, Prudence, and Holy Life; with those who are acquainted (as he was) with the Methods of Gentile Converfation; can Dive into a Young Gentleman's Genius, and rightly form his Mind; we fhou'd foon fee a happy Change in their Principles and Lives: Religion would have their firft and Principal Regard; and it would be no part of their Character, to be Vicious or Prophane. Such ought to be Enquir'd after, for this Noble Truft, who are not narrow in their Fortunes, nor fervile in their Natures, and have had a Generous Education Themfelves; fuch whofe Prefence carries Awe along with it, and whofe Lives are fit to be made Patterns to their Pupils. And when fuch excellent Perfons are found, they are to be Treated in fuch a manner, as may bring both their Perfons and Employments into Efteem and Credit; as may plainly fhew, that They and their Labours are highly Priz'd and Valu'd. By this means the greatest Trust in the Common-Wealth, and

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upon which moft Depends, would not be put (as it too often happens) into the worst Hands; who for want of Right Qualities, are neglected by thofe, whose Business it is to Secure them from Contempt, and whofe Example Influences Others, till they lose all Authority, even with those who are under their Care, and confequently all Capacity of doing them Good. But with Mr. Bonnell, 'twas entirely Otherwife; He was every way Qualify'd to gain Efteem, His Learning and Prudence, his Behaviour and manner of Life commanded juft Refpect; His Fortune fecur'd him from all Temptations to mean Compliances, (for on that alone he could have Subfifted) and the great severity of his Life, Exacted Reverence from all he Convers'd with.

During Mr. Bonnell's ftay in Mr. Freeman's Family, he had frequent Returns of Sickness and Pain; his Conftitution was Tender and eafily Injur'd: And I find by the Meditations he then Compos'd, That his Body was an uncomfortable Companion to his Mind; and that he was frequently Disturb'd in his Religious Courfe, by Bodily Disorders. He complains with great Paffion of himself, for being fometimes Uneafy under a load of Sickness, and wishing its removal with too much eagerness. One or two of thefe Meditations Written in the Year 1680, in the Twenty Seventh Year of his Age, will give the Reader a View of of his happy Progress in Piety, and how Dravely he encountred the Difficulties he met with, from the World and Himself; from a

Diftemper'd Body, and thofe other Infirmities which all Mankind feel, and are not to be entirely conquer'd while we are in this World.

Thus in one place he confeffes his Weaknefs to God, and Prays for his Help. O my 'God! What shall I think of my Self? What 'fhall I fay to Thee! What am I but a Sinful 'Difcontented Creature, whose Obedience has at best been very Imperfect! Thou haft long Afflicted me with a Lingring Sickness in the Flower of my Life; and haft added (because I have not duly Improv'd by this) other Chastisements befides, and which I hope have not wanted their Effect upon my Soul. Thou Lord art Wife, and thy Wif dom is deeply to be ador'd by us, which I humbly defire to do. But ah! Lord had my Wisdom been to choose my Chastisement, I would have had lefs of a Painful Sickness, ་ and more of fuch other Afflictions, as thou layeft upon Men; and this, not to please my "Flesh, but for the Good of my Soul; having found by fo much Experience, that this is not fo proper to kill our Sins, and turn our "Hearts to thee; not fo mortifying to the 'Pride or Discontent of our Minds; not fo quickening to Repentance, and other Chriftian Graces, as the lofs of Eftate, and difpleasure of Men; the falfeness of Friends,and injuries from Others. True indeed, when once Thou didst raise my Sickness fo, as to 'confume my Body, and make even my Life Dangerous, through the Blefling of Thy C

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Grace, it had a faving Effect upon my Soul: "But in all other times, the Natural Effect of it has been, to make me Intermit my Devo

tions, and Difturb my Pious Thoughts; to 'make me Uneafy and Discontented with my 'Condition, and Impatient after Change. 'But in other Afflictions, while the Health of Body remains Entire, the Heart is Humbled, "our Devotions are Quickned, and we Fast and Pray to good purpose, till our Soul is brought over to Thee, and confirm'd in thy Ways. If I now faft, it is not only all the time in Pain, but ends in more, by Encreasing my Distemper, and Indifpofing my Mind for the Exercises of Religion; the constant Praatice of which alone maintains the Life of my Soul. And yet Thou chooseft thus to Afflict me still! However Lord, I will Fast, and O! that I may never omit to Pray. And do Thou, O Lord, Fortify my Soul I befeech Thee, that in That I may ever Perfevere: Let me..confider that the Life of my 'Soul is above the Health of my Body, how6 ever I find it daily to Decay.

'Upon the whole, O my God, I am weary 6 of being Difcontented and Murmuring against Thee. I humbly confefs, that I have found in the Depth of my Heart, that my 'Prayers to Thee, for making me Contented with my Condition, have had too often this meaning, that Thou should't make my Condition fuch as I might (vouchfafe to) be con tented with; and that when I have refolv'd to fubmit my felf to Thee, and be contented,

it has been with a profpect, or fecret hopes, after fuch a Condition; and that therefore, when Thou haft difapointed thefe wilful and groundless Hopes, I have refum'd my former Impatience: This, Lord, upon a Serious Review, has been too often the Sense of my 'Heart. But behold, I am truly Difpleas'd at my Self, and both Weary and Alham'd of my Impatience; and therefore do defire most humbly to Return unto Thee, and with Thee, to Condemn my Self. Thou haft vouchfafed often, to enlighten and quiet my Soul, who have not deferved that favour from Thee: And this one Confideration fhall fatisfie me, as it has done, that Thou only know'ft the time of my Life here, and C how to make a fuitable Provifion for that time. Yet, O Lord, I groan under the Burden of an Aking Flesh, and many (tho' not Extream, which is thy Mercy) never intermitting Pains. My Sins indeed deferve this, and more: But might I choose for the good of my Soul, as I faid, (which I know thou doft favour,) I fhou'd with Submission to thy Wisdom, defire fome other kind of Chaftifement and take leave to wonder at thy Difpenfation to me. But I am abundantly fatisfy'd, and affur'd in my felf, from thy immenfe • Wisdom and exceeding Love, to which I heartily and cheerfully refign up my felf, that even this is best for my Soul, however unlikely it seems to me. Thy Wisdom is above my Shallow Comprehenfion, and there•fore to Thee I Sacrifice thefe Glimmering C 2

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