so strong and furious as to be able to ruin and destroy the shepherd as well as the sheep, I see no reason why a good shepherd may not, with prudence and conscience also, withdraw out of his reach, and reserve himself for better times, if it shall please God to send them. What permission our Blessed Saviour was pleased to grant in this case, may be inferred from that passage of his to his own Apostles, If they persecute you in one city, flee ye to another: Mat. x. 23. He, that would see more of this matter, may consult The State of the Protestants in Ireland under King James's Government *.'

"This pious Bishop having thus escaped with his life, and, by the great dangers of the seas, the worse storms which at that time raged on land in that kingdom, came to London in the year 1688: where remaining a while, to see if that dreadful hurricane that raged there would at length abate, but after all finding it to continue longer than was expected, he thought of betaking himself to some employment proper to his function in that great city; being very desirous, wherever he came, to the utmost of his power to be carrying on of his Master's work. And it was not long ere the good man met a happy opportunity of improving his talent according to his wishes for the parish of St. Mary Aldermanbury, in London, being void by the removal of Dr. Stratford to the Bishopric of Chester, he was, by the parishioners thereof, elected their minister, in the month of September 1689. Being thus settled, we might have thought

* Printed in 8vo. 1692, p. 259.

any

† Athen. Oxon. quo prius. [This election appears to have taken place in consequence of the ensuing Order of Vestry, by which Dr. Stratford was obliged, upon his promotion, to vacate his situation in that parish: "That the minister chosen, upon his acceptance of other living or promotion, whereby his personal attendance, to officiate as a minister of the said parish, cannot be effectually performed, that, within three months after such acceptance, he shall resign to the parishioners of the said parish his right, title, and pretence to the incumbency, to the said parish." It does not appear

him safe for many years; but such was the pleasure of Almighty God, that he did not continue long in this station for, in about eight months after, much broken by the public as well as his own private calamities, (that being none of the least of them, that his son had entered himself of the Roman Catholic army in Ireland *) he yielded to fate, and gave up the ghost.

Having thus brought this Reverend Prelate to the grave, the house appointed for all living, give me leave that I, who personally knew him and had the honour of some acquaintance with his Lordship, may here lay before you a true character of so worthy a person; drawn, not according to mine own observation only, but especially that of the learned Dr. Richard Tenison, Bishop of Clogher, who preached his Funeral Sermon ́; and was pleased to oblige me with the account he then gave of him, with this liberty, That I should dispose of it as I thought fit †, and add what other remarks I should judge necessary, to perpetuate the memory of this excellent Bishop."

As the preacher's character of his friend is printed in the Funeral Sermon, I shall give this character in his own words, and add what further remarks Mr. Prince has made on that subject.

certain whether he was appointed Minister or Lecturer, as Mr. Malcolm observes, that the inattention of the Vestry Clerks of that period disabled him from making out a regular series of Curates; as the minutes of their election are so blended with those of the Lecturer, under the undistinguishing term of Minister, that it is hardly possible to separate them. See Malcolm, ub. sup. Though our author accepted the charge of St. Mary Aldermanbury, he retained his bishopric. Wood informs us, that Dr George Walker (the heroic defender of Londonderry) was designed to succeed him; but he dying of wounds received in passing the Boyne when William III. went with his army to encounter James II. in the beginning of July following, the bishopric was conferred by William, in the beginning of December, on Dr. William King, Dean of St. Patricks. See Wood's Athen. Oxon. vol. ii. p. 1174. J. P.]

[* This contradicts Mr. Nichols's assertion, in his account of Mr. Charles Hopkins, that he "exerted his early valour in the cause of his country, religion, and liberty." See p. xxxvii. J. P.]

+ His letter from Belturbet, in Ireland, dated Aug. 25, 1694.

This Sermon was preached June 24, 1699, from Col. iii. 14, at the Church of St. Mary Aldermanbury. Having spoken of Christ's and our resurrection, he proceeds:

"This was the doctrine of the Apostles, and the faith of the Primitive Christians. This faith animated them against the fears of death, and enabled them to meet that king of terrors with undaunted resolutions: and it is this, which still buoys up the sinking spirits of believers. It was this, which comforted this Reverend and Learned Prelate, whose funerals we now solemnize. This supported him in his late troubles and afflictions, in his greatest pains and sharpest agonies. He often discoursed with me on this subject. He fixed his thoughts upon the glorious resurrection, and set his affections on the things above; and, with the joyful hope and expectation of them, he was enabled to bear the torments of his body with great patience and wonderful magnanimity; and was not in the least terrified with the thoughts of death. It was not oрWV POCεpoTato to him: he spoke of it without concern; and welcomed it as a joyful messenger, calling him to his dormitory till the resurrection. And he died full of this faith; and did, with Job, say, Though his body were destroyed with worms, it should rise again to a blessed immortality, and in the same flesh he should see God; and, through the merits and intercession of Christ, he doubted not to partake of the things above.

"But you expect I should say more of him. And, indeed, he highly deserves it; and much, very much, is due to the memory of such an excellent prelate; who, for learning and piety, for wisdom and courage, for humility and meekness, for charity and hospitality, was one of the greatest ornaments of the Church and Nation wherein he lived. But, unless I had his own eloquence, I should not attempt it. A sorrowful heart, a thick pencil, and a trembling hand, will but overshade

and darken the lines of so far a piece; and therefore I must beg of you, who knew him in Oxford, in Hackney, in Exeter, and in this City, where he was so much followed, applauded, and admired, to set him in his true light to the world, and give him that great character which he so justly deserved, while I only mention the great honour and veneration we had for him in Ireland; in which kingdom he soon made himself famous; and, for a learned and elegant sermon, which I heard him preach at his first coming, (and which was afterward printed) I saw him embraced by the greatest prelates, and courted to stay in that country, and was soon after made Dean, and then Bishop of Raphoe, and afterward, most deservedly, translated to Derry. In the first of which bishoprics, as I am informed, he spent about a thousand pounds in buildings, and other improvements; and, in the last, he was at a very great expence to beautify and adorn his cathedral, and in furnishing it with organs and massy plate; and, in both, he was a great precedent of piety and holiness. He was a burning and shining light. He knew that μόνος εσι πείθων τε λεγοντος τροπος και μη λογος, and did therefore preach loudly by example. His actions were instructive sermons, and his strict life and unblameable conversation had great influence on all about him.

"At his table he was piously pleasant and religiously ingenious, and doubly feasted all who did eat with him: for he had a clear head and solid judgment, a quick fancy and a flowing wit; and was every way accomplished for address and for discourse, and was so courteous and affable, so gentle and so obliging, so instructive and communicative, that all, who conversed with him, loved and admired. And, though he kept a very noble and hospitable house, yet was it famous for regularity and order: and, in the midst of the greatest plenty, gravity and sobriety were most strictly observed. It was indeed a temple and an oratory, for

in it prayers and praises, catechising and reading the Scripture, were never omitted. He constantly expounded it to his family, explained some part of the lessons, and made short, but rare observations upon them; and, beside the public prayers, he was very often at his private devotions, and spent much time in divine meditations. Thus did he behave himself in his House: thus did he instruct his family, and bring his children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

"And, if you follow him to the Pulpit, you will find him there constantly, once a Sunday, while his health permitted it. And, surely, all who heard him will say, his sermons were learned and eloquent, pious and methodical; and, as his motto was, Aut suavitate aut vi, he, either by sweet discourses and charming exhortations, or by strength of reason and powerful arguments, drew many to Christ. He never omitted that duty, but

preached in his throne when he was not able to ascend the pulpit. And, for his excellency in that noble faculty, he was celebrated by all men. He was followed and admired in all places where he lived, and was justly esteemed one of the best preachers of our age. And his discourses always smelt of the lamp: they were very elaborate and well digested. He had a noble library, and delighted in it; and was, as Tertullian says of Irenæus, Omnium doctrinarum curiosissimus explorator. He was a good linguist, and excelled in polemic and casuistical divinity. Many flocked to him to have their doubts resolved: and he gave light and comfort to clouded and afflicted consciences; and was admirably accomplished with many other parts of human learning.

"And, if you consider him as a Bishop, you will own, that God had blessed him with wisdom and sagacity, with zeal and courage, with temper and moderation, and all other necessary virtues for a governor and ruler in the Church. And, surely, none was mote