the family, he often retired to his private prayers, usually four times in the day, and sometimes more, to which he joined reading the Holy Bible, or some other good book. Part of the business of that day likewise was, writing into a paper-book he kept for the purpose, what he remembered of the sermon, either preached at church, or read to him at home. This exercise he had been a good while used to while at school, and continued it at the University on holidays, not having leisure for it on Sundays, as he had in the country. And he left behind him four volumes of such abstracts of sermons, beginning July 1, 1705, and ending with two resurrection scrmons on Easter Monday and Tuesday 1714, as preparatory to his own dissolution. In this he was arrived to a wonderful perfection, being able to write down the main of the sermon, not only as to the matter, but even the very words of it, with which on Sunday evenings he entertained the family, and set a noble example for the young gentlemen to imitate, by which some of them improved to a very great degree, though they were never able to equal it.

While he was preparing himself for the Holy Sacrament on Christmas-eve, he wrote in a loose paper the examination of his whole life, beginning it thus: "When I consider my life, I find a continual wonderful providence and care of God over me in every stage of it; and therefore the greater ingratitude in me, in that, &c." And this memorandum in his Officium Eucharisticum, Dec. 24, 1713: "It will be useful at all times to avoid doing what I have once condemned, till I am fully satisfied to the contrary; and to be constant in Friday's examinations, especially in the country, unless great necessity hinder; not to put off noon devotions, nor lazily mis-spend spare times, and not trust too much to my present thoughts."

A little before his return to Cambridge on Jan. 21, in the parish of Great Bookham, not far from his father's, there was a great quantity of Roman coins

found.

found. As the countrymen were ploughing, the plough struck against a large urn, and broke it, and discovered the coins. They were about half a peck of them, all copper. As soon as his father and he heard of it, they went to view the place, and get what they could of them. There were none among those that they saw older than Gallienus, or later than Dioclesian. The little while he staid after this, when the toil of the day was over, he assisted his father in cleansing those coins they had procured, discovering the impresses, and in reading and transcribing the inscriptions. Feb. 8, being ShroveMonday, he walked to Epsom, in order to go from thence by coach to London; his father accompanied him part of the way, acknowledging the good service he had done him, and thanking him for it, and at parting, with his blessing, gave him two kisses, little thinking they were the last he should give him in this world. He went to church that evening at London, and so morning and evening constantly as formerly, till he left the town. He gave his father an account of his safe arrival at Cambridge in a letter by his brother, who hastened to supply his place at Headley; and acquaints him that the lads of his year, being apprised of his return, quickly took care that he might not lose his turn of disputing and declaiming; and, what he knew would be very grateful, that his brother brings along with him a coin of Constantine's, with a fair reverse,

SOLI INVICTO COMITI.

He had received no letter from Headley in above a month's time after he had left it, which gave him great uneasiness, of which he complained thus to his father *.

*"HONOURED SIR,

March 15, 1713-4.

"AFTER a very tedious expectation, and many disappointing negative answers from the buttery-men, I received my brother's last Friday. Though I was in great hopes my brother would have given me an account how he performed his journeys, what success you had in getting more coins, &c. before the month was out; yet I bore being balked pretty well till Sunday

was

The time now drew near that the Lord would take him to himself; and as the philosophers have discovered an acceleration of the motion of heavy bodies in their descent towards the earth, the same may we suppose in the ascent of a pious soul towards heaven; the nearer it approaches to it, the more powerful is the attraction, and the more vigorous the motion. The Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesnesday in the Holy Week he eat nothing till suppertime, only once a few figs in the afternoon; Thursday, being the feast of the Annunciation, he dined as well as supped, and then watched with his Saviour the night that he was betrayed; in part of which he wrote the articles of his belief, and the resolutions that day and the next.

Both Good Friday and Easter-eve he fasted till the evening, and on the latter of these days he rose

was sevennight. I had then been within a day of a month from Headley, without any letter, and could not help being uneasy from that time till Friday; because you were pleased to promise me at parting, that I should never wait longer than a month for a letter. Mr. Roper asked very frequently after you all, and wondered my brother sent no account, &c. When I reflect on what I have wrote, I almost fear you will think me too bold, in taking notice of that which I am sure your forgetfulness only of the exact time, or your depending upon my brother to observe it, was the cause of. Only this I know, you will put the best interpretation on my words, and judge (which is really the truth) that my desire of often hearing how you do, especially at my first being separated from your company after so long an enjoyment of it, makes me watch the time so exactly, and consequently so soon observe any failure in that respect.'

*"Good Friday, March 26, 1714. In the name of God, Amen. Being moved (I hope) by the spirit of God, and excited by read ing Bp. Beveridge's Private Thoughts, &c. after some days fasting, abstinence, watching, and praying for the particular assistance and direction of the Holy Ghost, I formed these articles of belief, from the Apostles' Creed, Bp. Beveridge, Mr. Nelson, &c. and the resolutions grounded thereupon; intending after to examine my evil ways, bewail and repent me of my sins, that so I might worthily partake of the holy eucharist at Easter, and also be enabled to lead the remainder of my life in true faith and obedience, without superstition, scruple, and doubtfulness." [For these well-digested articles and pious resolutions we must refer to the original publication.1

VOL. V.

L

about

about half an hour after five, though, as we have observed, he had not slept the preceding night. He again examined his whole life past; and, that he might do it the more exactly, he made use of the Catalogue of sins at the end of his Nelson, as well as that in his Officium Eucharisticum. And from this time to the day of his death inclusive, I find the accounts of his sacramental examinations much larger, and more exact than formerly.

Understanding his mother was to be in London in the Easter-week, he wrote to her thither on Easter Monday; and this being his last letter to her, I shall give you part of it, that you may see how he took his leave of her *.

The last letter he wrote to his father is also copied below; and on the receipt of it, his

66

* In the first place he hopes, before she leaves the City, she will trouble herself so far as to let him know how all his dear relations do; particularly how his father has borne up against the remaining part of the winter since he left him; and then, after a pretty deal of business, in which he was always very exact, towards the conclusion he proceeds thus: My business generally leading me to write to my father, but having now an opportunity to do it to yourself, I should seem unmindful of those particular and affectionate kindnesses you have been all along pleased to shew me, more especially when I was last with you, did I not return you my hearty thanks for them. Though at present I have no great prospect of it, yet I trust God will some time or other so bless with success my earnest endeavours of making myself fit for the support and comfort of my dear parents, that I may make returns of gratitude in my actions, rather than my words. But, however he pleases to order that, be assured, madam, I shall never want the will to do it, so long as any sense of duty remains in me, which, as it has had so many additional helps of kindnesses from you to fix it in my breast, will (I have great reason to hope) never be rooted out thence." + HONOURED SIR, St. John's Cam. May 2, 1714.

"UPON seeing the date of this, you will be apt to think something more than ordinary has happened, I having not used to write on a Sunday. The occasion of it is this: On Friday was sevennight, just as I was lain down in bed, before I had put out my candle, a tickling cough scized me, which causing me to spit, I was surprized to find it blood; so taking up my pot, I continued spitting in that manner and coughing, by reason of the sharpness of the taste of the blood, for a little time; designing to ask Mr. Roper's advice the first opportunity, which hap

pened

father concluded him in a very dangerous condition, and hastened away his brother to him,

pened not to be till Tuesday last, when I was taken with my coughing and spitting blood again, much more than the first time, occasioned, I believe, by winding up the clock a little eagerly. Giving Mr. Roper an account of what happened (and that, though some overstraining myself might cause this, yet no such could be the occasion of my first seizure, I being then perfectly easy, and having been sitting an hour or two in my study, and going to bed too in good time) he advised me, if I was taken thus again, to be let blood, and to take some styptic electuary, because he could not easily tell whether it proceeded from my lungs, or fell down from my head thither (which is the apothecary's opinion), and to avoid straining myself on any account. Accordingly I have since got a boy to wind up the clock for me. But on Wednesday night, with only laughing heartily and suddenly, my cough and spitting came on me again, but not so much as the night before. The next day was not thought proper to be blooded in, because of my exercise in the schools; nor Friday last, because it was very wet and cold. That night, foolishly going to help the boy in the easiest part of winding up the clock, I was, in doing it, again taken with my cough, &c. though but a little; but the same night, as soon as ever I had laid myself down in bed, which was in good time, and without any emotion or hurry, having been quietly half an hour in my study, I was seized worse than ever before, coughing and bringing up for near half an hour a great quantity of thick fresh blood; upon which I resolved next day to keep up and be blooded, as I accordingly was by Mr. Roper's advice; though the day was not so good as might have been wished, but I kept a fire in my chamber, and have staid within ever since; though I thank God I am now so well, that I believe I shall, with Mr. Roper's leave, go to chapel this evening. I did not faint in the least at bleeding, though I was somewhat afraid of it before I felt it. Mr. Roper tells me my blood is too good, yet bids me have a care of eating salt meats, or drinking strong drinks; and, by my being subject to bleed at the nose, as my brother also is, he is apt to believe we have too much blood in our vessels, which he thinks has occasioned my illness. I beg you and my mother not to be concerned, for my good friend takes as much care of me as possibly can be. He was twice with me yesterday; he tells me I should take ground-ivy-tea, and plantain, and other styptic herbs he mentioned, of which I shall have an electuary from the apothecary to take two or three times a day, and to go abroad with, which shall staunch the blood, and heal any thing that may be out of order. I hope I shall have no more returns of my spitting blood; if I have in any considerable degree, you shall be sure to hear. Mr. Roper says, I must then be blooded again, and take "P. S.

the advice of a Doctor.

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