Court had taken of him, could make relation far above ordinary. Quitting both his deserts and all the opportunities that he had for worldly preferment, he betook himself to the Sanctuary and Temple of God, choofing rather to serve at God's Altar, than to feek the honour of State employments. As for thofe inward enforcements to this course (for outward there was none,) which many of these ensuing verses bear witness of, they detract not from the freedom, but add to the honour of this refolution in him. As God had enabled him, so he accounted him meet not only to be called, but to be compelled to this service: Wherein his faithful discharge was such, as may make him justly a companion to the primitive Saints, and a pattern or more for the age he lived in.

To testify his independency upon all others, and to quicken his diligence in this kind, he ufed in his ordinary speech, when he made mention of the bleffed name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, to add, My Master.

Next God, he loved that which God himself hath magnified above all things, that is, his Word: fo as he hath been heard to make folemn proteftation, that he would not part with one leaf thereof for the whole world, if it were offered him in exchange.

His obedience and conformity to the Church and the discipline thereof was fingularly remarkable: Though he abounded in private devotions, yet went he every morning and evening with his family to the Church; and by his example, exhortations, and encouragements drew the greater part of his parishioners to accompany him daily in the public celebration of Divine Service.

As for worldly matters, his love and esteem to them was fo little, as no man can more ambitiously feek, than he did earnestly endeavour the refignation of an Ecclefiaftical dignity, which he was poffeffor of. But God permitted not the accomplishment of this desire, having ordained him his inftrument for re-edifying of the Church belonging thereunto, that had lain ruinated almost twenty years. The reparation whereof, having been uneffectually attempted by public collections, was in the end by his own and some few others' private free-will-offerings fuccefffully effected. With the remembrance whereof, as of an especial good work, when a friend went about to comfort him on his death-bed, he made answer, "It is a good work, if it be sprinkled with the blood of Chrift:" otherwise than in this refpect he could find nothing to glory or comfort himself with, neither in this nor in any other thing.

And these are but a few of many that might be faid, which we have chofen to premise as a glance to fome parts of the ensuing book, and for an example to the Reader.

We conclude all with his own Motto, with which he used to conclude all things that might feem to tend any way to his own honour,

"Lefs than the leaft of God's mercies."

[NICHOLAS FERRar.]

LORD, MY FIRST FRUITS PRESENT THEMSELVES TO THEE;
YET NOT MINE NEITHER FOR FROM THEE THEY CAME,
AND MUST RETURN. ACCEPT OF THEM AND ME,
AND MAKE US STRIVE, WHO SHALL SING BEST THY NAME.
TURN THEIR EYES HITHER, WHO SHALL MAKE A GAIN
THEIRS, WHO SHALL HURT THEMSELVES OR ME, REFRAIN.

THOU

PERIRRHANTERIUM.

HOU, whofe fweet youth and early hopes en-
hance

Thy rate and price, and mark thee for a treasure,
Hearken unto a Verfer, who may chance
Rhyme thee to good, and make a bait of pleasure:
A verse may find him, who a fermon flies,
And turn delight into a facrifice.

Beware of luft; it doth pollute and foul

Whom God in Baptism wash'd with his own blood: It blots the leffon written in thy foul;

The holy lines cannot be understood.

How dare those eyes upon a Bible look,

Much less towards God, whofe luft is all their book!

B

Wholly abstain, or wed. Thy bounteous Lord
Allows thee choice of paths: take no by-ways;
But gladly welcome what he doth afford;
Not grudging, that thy luft hath bounds and stays.
Continence hath his joy: weigh both; and so
If rottenness have more, let Heaven go.

If God had laid all common, certainly

Man would have been the enclofer: but fince now God hath impaled us, on the contrary

Man breaks the fence, and every ground will plough. O what were man, might he himself misplace! Sure to be cross he would fhift feet and face.

Drink not the third glass, which thou canst not tame,
When once it is within thee; but before

Mayft rule it, as thou list: and pour the fhame,
Which it would pour on thee, upon the floor.

It is most just to throw that on the ground,
Which would throw me there, if I keep the round.

He that is drunken may his mother kill
Big with his fifter: he hath loft the reins,
Is outlaw'd by himself: all kind of ill
Did with his liquor flide into his veins.

The drunkard forfeits Man, and doth divest
All worldly right, fave what he hath by beast.

Shall I, to please another's wine-sprung mind,
Lofe all mine own? God hath given me a measure
Short of his can, and body; muft I find

A pain in that, wherein he finds a pleasure ?
Stay at the third glass: if thou lofe thy hold,
Then thou art modeft, and the wine grows bold.