See the In- when Prudence and Goodness, Probity and fcrption of Mr. Bonnell's Piety, Meekness and Patience; when such Monument fimplicity of Manners, fuch freedom from drawn up by Faction, fuch unfhaken Fidelity, as neither the Bishop of envy or malice durft ever seem to fufpect;

Derry.

when thefe make up a man's real Character; 'tis then fit to acquaint mankind with fuch Virtues, and propofe fuch a Pattern to their Imitation, which can't be done without Praifes; fince in fuch a cafe, a bare Relation will become a Panegyrick.

I fhall conclude this Preface, with the Teftimonials of thofe Right Reverend Fathers of our Church who Perufed this Work, and Confirm all 1 have faid of Mr. Bonnell. The Lord Bishop of Killmore's Thoughts of him, the Reader will find at large in his Funeral Sermon added to the Life, and the Advertisement that goes before it.

THE

Trons, having always been found to

HE Reading the Lives of Pious Per

be of fingular Advantage, towards both the kindling and enflaming Devotion in the Hearts of the Readers, and alfo to lead them Infenfibly into the fincere Practice of it, when reprefented in its most beautiful and lovely Dress; I cannot forbear earnestly to recommend the following Life of Mr.James Bonnell, to all pioufly affected Perfons: Wherein they will find fuch a Spirit of Devotion; so many Marks of a true, fincere, and unaffected Piety; (which was difcernable in him, in his Life time, by all us who knew him) Such Ardent Breathings of his Soul to God in Secret, and such a total and entire Refignation of his Will to God's Will upon feveral Occafions; as can hardly fail of begetting the like Difpofition in the Devout Reader, who perules it with a Mind piously and devoutly inclin'd.

I therefore do approve of the Publish ing the following Life; and do pray God it may have its due Effect upon the Hearts of all its Readers: That having fo excellent a Pattern for their Imitation, they may be Transform'd into its Likeness.

Having with great Satisfaction read

Mr. Bonnell's Life and Character, (faithfully Collected and Written by the Arch-Deacon of Armagh,) I do most heartily recommend it to all pious and devout Chriftians; in which they will find an Heart fill'd with Divine Love, and Univerfal Charity, afcending to Heaven on the Wings of most conftant and most fervent Prayers; and a Life truly Primitive, adorn'd with all the Native Beauties of fincere Religion. They will alfo fee the great Bleffing of good Parents, and the vaft Advantages of an early Piety; and will I hope perfwade their nearest Relatives to dedicate and devote themselves to the Service of the Lord in their Youth, (as this Gentleman did at Ten Years Old) before they are Tainted and Infected with the Leprofie and Contagion of Sin; which will have great Influence over them all their Life after, as it apparently had on him. For as he grew in Years, he encreas'd in all Virtues and Graces; and became an eminent Prefident of uniform Obedience, profound Humility, and entire Refignation in all Conditions. He was a true Son of the Establifh'd Church, and a most exact Obferver of her Rulesand Offices: He was also exceedingly Charita

ble

ble to the Poor; and always Zealous in the Promotion of Piety, and Extirpation of Vice; in which, I befeech God to Grant, That all who Read his Life, may be his faithful Followers, and ftrict Imi

tators.

Rich. Meath.

L. Derry, Sept. 2d. 1702.

SIR,

I Underland that Brother is

to Publish an Account of Mr. Bonnell's Life, and in it feveral Meditations compos'd by that Good Man. I am of Opinion, he will find it no cafe matter to do Justice to his Memory or Character; there being fomething in him fo peculiarly fhining and attractive, that it's hard to give it a due Reprefentation in ones mind, much more to describe it fo, as to make others conceive it. I have look'd over feveral Pieces left by him, but perceive they are firft Drafts of his Thoughts; that be never revis'd them, and that they are rather Expreffions of the Devout Temper of his Mind, than Inftances of what he could have done, if he had defigned them for the Publick. For he had an Accuracy and Exalinefs in his Judgment, that few can eqnal ;

and

and was just to his Friends, when they put him to exercise it on any thing they had compos'd, but much more fevere to himself. His Taste of what was Excellent, was fo curious, that I do not remember him mistaken in any Author; or that the Excellencies or Failures of any that he read efcap'd him.

I must confefs my felf unable to undertake fuch an excellent Piece, as, I figure to my felf the just Image of Mr.Bonnell wou'd make; efpecially his Piety, Humility, and Sweetness of Temper,were fo Eminent and Singular,that he must have a very happy Pen,that can defcribe them fo,as to make the Reader apprehend the peculiar Charms and Graces that almoft ravifh'd thofe that Convers'd with him.

As to his Piety,it had a degree of Warmth and Zeal, that feem'd near Enthufiam; together with all the Solidity, Conftancy, and Regularity, that the Principles of Reason and Revelation are apt to produce,in a mind that fincerely gives it felf up to be conducted by them; the Example was most Edifying, and Airr'd up many to Imitation.

As to his Humility, and Sweetness of Temper, they were extraordinary, and made him comply with his Friends,in several Irftances that otherwife wou'd have been very uneafie to him; he feem'd to have as little of Self in bis own Opinions or Actions,as any that I ever knew; and cou'd, with the greatest Chear

fulness.