Blelled Souls. LONDON, Printed and Sold by Jofeph Downing in Bartholomew-Clofe near Smithfield. 1707. A N ADVERTISEMENT TOUCHING THIS Sermon and its Subject. TH HE following Sermon was Drawn up and Preach'd in much haft; My Dear Friend's Death being a great Surprise to Me, who was then but just come up from my Home, into the City, and very full of Business, which had been as Unexpected as it was of Concernment to me. From fuch haft and difcompofure it neceffarily came to pass, that I could neither do the numerous Congregation I was to Preach that Service; nor the Deceafed, that Justice, which I willingly would have done to both. But having endeavoured what I could, in thofe Circumftances, and finding my poor Performance accepted; I could not deny a Copy of it (fuch as it was) to the importunity of fame, whofe Grief and Weakness suffer d them not to be Hearers: Nor do I think it Reasonable now, at the Inftance of the fame Perfons, to withstand the Publication of it; which is but a poor Duty to, to the Memory of one, whom I Lov'd so highly, and knew fo well. I am heartily glad to see a more perfect Delineation of this great Example, from the hand of one, who had more time, and better Informations, than could then be obtain'd by me. And however fome may think, that both the Author of the foregoing Life, and my Self, have fet our Deceafed Friend's Character above what there was real ground for; I must take the Liberty facredly to Proteft, that I think we have both hitherto, come fhort of his Intrinsic Worth. Had I not had a very high Senfe thereof, I fhould not have chofen the Text I have made ufe of, for the Difcourfe at his Funeral: My First Subject would not have answered my Second: But I truly believed that if ever Soul on Earth, felt it felf United to that Glorious Company of the Spirits of Juft Men made perfect above, His Soul did. I had had for several Years,(as often as we could meet,) moft Intimate Converfation with him; and when we were diftant from one another, no lef's conftant Correspondence by Letters: And I must profefs I have often been warmed, and almoft Transported, even by his Letters, as well as his Difcourfe: Nor have I, among the many Acquaintances I have had, 'met with any of so devout and heavenly a Spirit; one Perfon only excepted, who I hope is yet in the Land of the Living; and, I pray God, he long may be fo. I can scarce think there is any ferious unprejudiced Perfon, that, but in a Tolerable Degree, knew Mr. Bonnell, who must not fay, if he |