to be, to the End of the World, and daily add to our Holiness, and his Happiness.

AMONG many Instances that might be given of this happy Succefs, I have now one before me in a Relation of the Behaviour of one of this vigilant Pa ftor's Flock, in his laft Sickness, as it is Attested by Eye-witnefs of it, I will not trouble the Reader with the Particulars; the fum is, That this pious Gentleman, with his laft Breath, expreffed fo much Refignation to God's Will, and fo little fear of Death, fuch Com fort in reflecting upon the bet ter part of his Life, efpecially his Charity to the Poor; and fo much Zeal in recommending that Du ty to thofe about him; and a bove all, fuch an Anticipation of thofe Extafies of Joy and Happi nefs which he was going to in another

another World, and so uncommon and enlarg'd an Understanding of the great Myfteries of Religion; that if, in the midst of these Holy Raptures, he had not own'd his great Obligations to Dr. Beveridge, for thefe Spiritual Bleffings, yet we might have cafily judged that fo great a Proficient in the School of Religion, could be indebted, under God, to the Care and Inftru ction of no lefs a Mafter for fuch extraordinary Acquirements.

AND, with respect to that Good, which it is pioufly hoped this great Prelate's Works have done fince his Death, and may continue to do daily; it has been obferv'd by fome devout Perfons, that fince the Publication of them, our Churches have been generally fuller than they us'd to be to which, as nothing would contribute more, than that Spirit of Devotion

and

and true Piety, which in all his practical Writings this Holy Man both expreffes himself, and labours to create in others: So, if after all thefe Pious Endeavours to Cul tivate and Promote it in the World, we are fenfible of the leaft growth of it, I know not why we may not afcribe fo good an effect to the Bleffing of God upon fo probable a Caufe.

HOWEVER, if the Piety of fome among us, which we hope increafeth, be not a fufficient Argument of a probable increase of true Re, ligion, to be expected from the Influence of this great Man's Works, yet I am forry to fay, that the Wickednefs of others does abundantly make up that Defect; I mean the reftlefs En, deavours of all the Enemies of

God and Religion, to Difcredit and Defame them; if by any means

they

they could be able to ward fuch a Blow to the Kingdom of Darknefs, as they feem to apprehend from his pious Labours. And what wonder if those who mock God, and would bring Religion itself into Contempt, use their utmoft Endeavours to blast the Reputation of an Author, whose Writings are fo eminently ferviceable to Religion, and tend fo much to advance the Glory of God? All their Attempts of this Nature, are fo many Arguments of the Excellency of what they would decry; they are the Teftimonies even of Enemies, in behalf of thofe admirable Books which they pretend to Ridicule : And all the Scorn and Contempt they express upon this Occafion, reflects more Honour upon. Bifhop Beveridge and his Works; I had almost faid, even than the Approbation and Eftcem of all his

and

and Religion's Friends. So much Good does God in his Infinite Wifdom and Mercy produce out of the greateft Evil, by turning all the Wit and Malice of thefe Reprobates against themfelves, and making them, even against their own Wills, Inftruments of founding forth the Praifes of this Excellent Writer, at the fame Time, and by the very fame Means, that they vainly attempt to Difhonour and Reproach him. As the Devils themfelves were fore'd to own our Bleffed Saviour, though they knew he came on purpofe to deftroy them. It were only to be wifhed, that in this, as in moft other Instances, those Children of this Word were not in their Generation, so much wiser than the Children of Light. Tis true, we may as well fear, that Dogs should bark out the Moon, as that the utmost Malice of these Enemies to

Truth,