thor of this excellent Book was born the 22d of June 1656, being the Son of Mr. John Nelson, a confiderable Turkey Merchant of London, and Delicia his Wife, Sifter to Sir Gabriel Roberts, a Turkey Merchant alfo of the fame City. His Father dying when he was young, he was left to the Care of his Mother, and her Brother Sir Gabriel, who being made his Guardian, was very careful of the Education of this his Nephew, who was indeed beloved by every one, being a most beautiful Youth, and of fine natural Parts. He was for fome Time at St. Paul's School in London; but the principal Part of his Education was under a private Tutor in his Mother's Houfe, from whence he went to Trinity College in Cambridge, where he was entered Fellow Commoner. He married the Lady Theophila Lucy, Relict of Sir Kingfman Lucy, and Daughter of John late Earl of Berkeley. His Lady enjoyed but an ill State of Health; for the Recovery of it he paffed over with her into France, and went to Aix la Chapelle, where he continued fome Time, and afterwards proceeded on his Travels through France, Italy, and Germany. Never was any Englishman known to be more carefied in all the foreign Courts which he visited, as the many Letters written to him from Princes, Minifters of State, and Perfons of Diftinction, do abundantly teftify. Nor was he less esteemed in England, his Acquaintance being generally among fuch as were moft remarkable for Piety and Learning, of whom the good Mr. Kettlewell was one; I here particularly mention him, because to him, we owe Mr. Nelfon's firft engaging in this useful Work: Which whofoever reads, will find it no fmall Addition to the Pleasure and Advantage he fhall reap by it, to confider that it is the Work of a fine Gentleman, and one who never entered into holy Orders; because this will fhew what Injustice those Men do to our most Holy Religion, who reprefent it as a morofe, narrow spirited Institution, fit only to be practifed by Hermits and Reclufes. Mr. Nelfon's other Qualifications, of a comely Perfonage, a gentee! Deportment, and a fair Fortune, were fo far from being inconfiftent with that genuine Spirit of Piety which always fhewed itfelf in him, that they were no fmall Ornaments to it: Those external Endowments of Nature and Fortune served to fet off, and make his Virtue the more amiable and captivating; as his Virtue made those which are by themselves unworthy to be esteemed, appear as real Accomplishments. His Corpfe was deposited in the New Burying Ground, in Lamb's-Conduit Fields, then first confecrated on that Occafion. A fquare Monument was afterwards erected over him, containing on the four Sides of it, the following Infcription, drawn up by George Smalridge Lord Bishop of Bristol. H. S. E. ROBERTUS NELSON, Armiger, Patre ortus Johanne Cive Londinenfi, Summo amore fovit, morte divulsam Literis Quas partim in Schola Paulina, In omni fere Literarum genere verfatus, Et Religionum formas exploraverat, Beneficiis auxit, Vitâ exornavit, Scriptis defendit, Filius ipfius obfequentiffimus, Et propugnator imprimis ftrenuus. Nulla erát bonorum Virorum communitas, Aut ad augendam utilitatem publicam, Hifce ftudiis & temporis & opum Dum id fibi negotii unicè dedit, Deo ut placeret, Ad quam fe compofuit, difciplinam A 3 Suaviffima Suaviffima morum facilitate ita temperavit, In illo enim, fi in alio quopiam mortalium, Fatali Afthmate correptus Dum Chriftianum Sacrificium rite celebrabitur, Dum folennia recurrent Fefta & Jejunia, Cum nobilibus & locupletibus miscet colloquia; Multa pietate & eruditione refertis PREFACE. |