He continu'd in a Marri'd ftate Five Years, and Five Months; but the latter part of that time, it pleas d God to allow him but little Health; the laft Year especially, when his Disorders return'd more frequently, and with greater violence than before. Those Bodily Distempers fhock'd his Refolutions of entring into Holy Orders, at least thus far, that if he fhou'd take that facred Character upon him, he would apply himself to the Duties of it fo far as he was able, but without undertaking a Parochial Cure: For thus I find him expreffing himself, fome Years before his Death. If my want of Health fhould hinder me from taking a Cure which I very much apprehend, I cou'd contentedly Spend my time in the most profltable manner I was capable of, for the good of the Church, particularly in devotional things which feem to be my Talent, and in which without much more Study I might hope to fucceed. And fuch high Thoughts had he, of the extent and difficulty of the Paftoral Duty, that he esteem'd his frequent returns of Sickness, equivalent to a declaration of Providence, that he was not defign'd for the more laborious performances of it, tho' the Bent of his defires was continually that way. But even these Defires were at laft inter- His Sickness rupted, by that Fatal Sickness which brought and Death him to his End. For in April 1699 he was feized with a Malignant Fever, which about that time reigned very much in Dublin; by it, his Head was fo much affected, that he had not a conftant command of his Thoughts, nor nor that unifturbed Exercise of his Faculties which all Men defire in thofe Extremities. For fome Days of his Sickness, his Reason was clear, and to the laft, he had frequent Intervals of perfect Understanding. And then 'tis impoffible to conceive One in the greatest Pain and Anguifh, more Submiffive, more Patient, more Refign'd to the Will of God: Then Prayers and Praifes were his only Language, or calling upon others to Pray for him. But no Murmur, no Complaint, came out of his Mouth. And tho' no doubt he had all the Comforts of a good Conscience, and powerful Supports from God, in that great conflict of Nature, yet he express'd himself with all that Humility and awful Concern which becomes a Sinner, when he Reflected upon that Pure and Holy God, at whofe Bar he was foon to be Try'd. Now (fays he) muft I ftand or fall before my great Fudge. And when it was anfwer'd that no doubt he wou'd stand firm before him, through the Merits of our Crucified Saviour: His Reply fhews, upon what a firm Foundation, he built his Dependance and Hopes: It's in that (says he) Itruft; he knows it's in that I truft. And his laft Moments of Reason, were spent in those Heavenly Exercises, wherein every good Man wou'd defire to breath out his Soul; and which to him, no doubt, were the happy beginnings of endless Praises above. He Dy'd the Twenty Eighth Day of April 1699, in the Forty Sixth Year of his Age; and his Body lyes Interr'd in St. John's Church in Dublin. Of Three Three Children (Two Sons and a Daughter) wherewith God had Bleffed him, the Daughter only Surviv'd him. And he left behind him a truly afflicted Widow, who, I am perfwaded, will perfevere to fhew the World, How justly the priz'd his excellent Qualities and tender Love; and who has spar'd no Pains to get his Life and Character publish'd, that fo fome Justice may be done to his Memory, and the World benefited by his Example. And even that Child which did furvive him, has fince followed her Father, after having liv'd fo long as to fhew that the Inherited his Virtues, the sweetness of his Temper, his Devoutnefs and Patience, so that had it pleas'd God to have continued her in the World, fhe promis'd to have been a very fhining Example of Piety and Goodness. And indeed both from what I faw in her my felf, and from the Informations of others upon which I entirely depend, I have been strongly Inclined to mention fome of her particular Sayings and Actions, and to have given Instances of her Piety and Patience at Four, Five, and Six Years Old. But they are fo extraordinary, that I choose to fupprefs them, because they would hardly obtain belief. I fhall only obferve from what I knew of that Child, that Parents don't begin time enough to form their Childrens Minds to Religion. Sin gets the first Poffeffion of their Hearts,and they are taught Lying and Vanity much fooner, than to Love God or pray to him. Whereas Whereas if the fame early Care was us'd with the generality of Children, as was taken with her, to give them fuch Apprehenfions of God, of Sin, of Truth, of Heaven and Hell as they are capable of, tho' the Succefs would not in many be equal to what it was in her, few having fuch natural Difpofitions to Goodness as appeared in her, yet wou'd it be fuch, as wou'd go a great way in Reforming the world, and making the next Generation Good and Virtuous. PART F HA PART II. Aving thus gone through the most remarkable Passages of Mr. Bonnell's Life, and withal given the Reader fome general view of his Piety and Virtue, I fhall now enter upon that part of this Work, for the fake of which the reft was put together, and without which the World is not much con cern'd to know his Story: And that is, particularly to describe his Character and Excellencies; to recommend him as a Pattern worthy our Imitation, in all the duties of the Christian Life; and to fhew from him, how Beautiful Chriftianity is, when reduc'd to Practice; when it becomes a rule of Life and Manners; and not, as it is with most Men confin'd to the Thoughts, and made an unactive Notion of the Mind. As to his Perfon; He was Tall,well Shap'd, His Perfon, and Fair. His Afpect was Comely, and fhew'd Temper and great sweetness, mix'd with Life and Spright- Accomplishlinefs. There was a venerable Gravity in his Look, a natural Modefty, and fincere O- and ments, |