Laws of it He encouraged him in it he desired his Friendship and protected both him and many others by an interest that he had gained and made use of chiefly for such purposes 13. How he demeaned Himself then is known in both Vniversities where he governed with praise and left a very gratefull Remembrance behind him How in the next Times since is well known in London And having named this City and the two Universities I think he could not be placed in a better light in this Nation There were enough that could judge and he did not use to disguise himself I appeal to you that conversed with him in those dayes what zeal he hath exprest for the Faith and for the Unity of the Church How he stood up in defence of the Order and Government How he hath asserted the Liturgy and the Rites of it He conformed himself to every thing that was commanded beyond which for any Man to be vehement in little and unnecessary things whether for or against them he could not but dislike and as his free manner was he hath oft been heard to call it Fanaticalness How this might be misrepresented I know not or how his Design of Comprehension might be understood 14. Sure I am that since he came into the Government of the Church to which he was called in his Absence he so well became the Order that it out did the expectation of all that did not very well know him He filled his Place with a Goodness answerable to the rest of his Life and with a Prudence above it considering the two extreams which were no where so much as in his Diocese Though he was as before very tender to those that differ'd from him yet he was as before exactly conformable himself and brought others to Conformity some eminent Men in his Diocese He endeavoured to bring in all that came within his reach and might have had great success if God had pleased to continue him But having given full proof of his Intentions and Desires it pleased God to reserve the Fruit for other Hands from which we have cause to expect much Good to the Church 15. He was in perfect Health in all other respects when a known Infirmity from an unknown Cause that had been easier to cure then it was to discover stole upon him and soon became incurable He was for many dayes in a prospect of Death which he saw as it approached and felt it come on by degrees Some dayes before he dyed he found within himself as he often said A sentence of Death In all this time who ever saw him dismaid who ever found him surpriz'd or heard a word from him unbecoming a wise man and a true Christian At the times I was with him I saw great Cause to admire his Faith towatds God his Zeal for his Church his Constancy of Mind his Contempt of the World and his chearfull Hopes of Eternity That the Memory of this Worthy Prelate may not be abused I declare and that upon most certain Grounds That he dyed in the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ and in the Communion of the Church of England as it is by Law established 16. He dyed only too soon for the Church and for his Friends but for Himself he had lived long enough He has lived long enough that dies well As for us we must submit to the Will of God Our Comfort is that we shall follow and come together again in due Time Doctor Edward Reynolds Lord Bishop of Norwich Obiit 1676. From Mr. B. Riveley VIr nec tacendus nec dicendus A Man of whom I can't be silent without detriment to the Church and dishonor to God and yet a Man of whom I can't speak without loss to his Merit and diminution to his Worth 1. He was a Good Man He was of a most sweet and obliging temper of great Candor and Integrity He had a comely Countenance a gentle Disposition a pleasantness of Conversation Reason sat as Queen in his Soul Passion and Appetite were as Handmaids 2. He was a Good Christian Revelation was a great Mistress with him and he was a great Adorer as well as Practicer of the will of God Religion sanctifyed his Reason and Grace his Nature and of all Accomplishments he accounted it his Glory to be a Disciple of Christ The Fear of the Lord was to him the top of his Wisdom He endeavoured that his ways might be found perfect before God He was carefull to maintain good Works I speak it knowingly as the necessary Fruits of Christian Faith and such Works as are due to Men as well as those that have a more immediate respect to Cod. To honour his King to speak well of his Superiors to be obedient to Laws in Church and State to govern his Tongue to love his Neighbors and to take the worst Enemies he had in the world into the number This was his Religion 'T was a piece of his Conscience to do these things as well as to preach and to pray and to frequent the worship of God 3. He was a good Minister of the Gospel For this he had a great name all his undignified time and when he came to the high place he did not make an end of prophecying He was built and framed on purpose to be an Instructor and Curate of Souls For he was sober and wise able to salve difficulties to determine cases to quiet consciences He was an Interpreter one of a thousand another Apollos mighty in the Scriptures He was of a sedate mind of a tender Compassionate Spirit heartily desirous of Mens eternal Good and not only his Industry but his delights run out that way how to bring it about 4. He was a good Bishop There are two sorts of People and they differ among themselves toto coelo that can hardly allow him to have been a good Bishop The one sort think him not good because a Bishop at all making those terms Good and Bishop inconsistent but these are absurd and unreasonable Men and their tongue is no slander and I trouble my self no further with them the other can't afford him to be good in his capacity because he was not so much a Bishop as they would have had him that is to say because he would not drive their pace he would not govern by their Rules not execute censures at their heights nor interpret Canons in their sense What truer Indication would you have of wise and good Government then from its natural and proper effects And for that matter I dare appeal to your own observation whether in any Diocese in the Kingdom caeteris paribus there be to be found a more sober regular and loyal Clergy a more conformable People more decent and well repaired Churches and a greater alteration both of Judgment and Manners of Men since the late Times of Anarchy and Confusion which is especially visible in matter of the Sacrament then in this Diocese Resolve this into the
matters he judged so well that he was not usually surprized with events He pursued his Intentions with such Equalness of Mind that he was never carried beyond the calmness of his natural Temper except through his zeal for publick good or where his Friend was concerned 2. What he was in his Studies I have reason to know that have often been tired with studying with him He was indefatigable and would have worn himself out if he had not been relieved with multiplicity of business However he impaired by it a Body which seemed to have been built for a long Age and contracted those infirmities that hastened his Death The effect of his Studies in his Preaching and Writings are sufficiently known and would have been much more if God had given him Time 3. As for his Preaching it was sometimes Famous at St. Laurence London though he sought rather the Profit than the Praise of his Hearers He spoke solid Truth with as little shew of Art as was possible He exprest all things in their true and natural Colors with that aptness and plainness of Speech that grave natural way of Elocution that shewed he had no design upon his Hearers His Plainness was best for the instruction of the Simple and for the better sort he applyed himself rather to their Understanding then Affections He saw so much of the Beauty of Goodness himself that he thought the bare shewing of it was enough to make all Wise Men as it did him to be in love with it 4. In his Writings he was judicious and plain like one that valued not the Circumstances so much as the Substance And he shewed it in whatsoever Argument he undertook sometimes beating out new untravel'd ways sometimes repairing those that had been beaten already No subject he handled but I dare say is the better for him and will be the easier for them that come after him 5. If in these he went sometimes beside his Profession it was in following the Design of it to make Men wiser and better which I think is the business of Vniversal Knowledge And this he promoted with much zeal and sincerity in hope of the great Benefit that may accrue to Mankind It was his aim as in all things so especially in that which I conceive is much more censured than understood I mean in the design of the Royal Society He joyned himself to it with no other end but to promote modern knowledge without any Contempt or lessening of those Great Men in former times With due Honor to whom he thought it lawful for others to do that which we have no reason to doubt they themselves would have done if they were living 6. His Prudence was great I think it never failed in any thing to which he applyed himself And yet he wanted that part which some hold to be essential he so wanted Dissimulation that he had rather too much openness of Heart It was Sincerity indeed that was natural to him he so abhorred a Lye that he was not at all for shew he could not put on any thing that look't like it and presuming the same of other Men through excess of Benignity he would be sometimes deceived in believing they were what they seem'd to be and what he knew they ought to have been 7. His Greatness of Mind was known to all that knew any thing of him He neither eagerly sought any Dignity nor declined any capacity of doing Good He lookt down upon Wealth as much as others admire it He knew the Vse of an Estate but did not covet it What he yearly received of the Church he bestowed in its service As for his Temporal Estate being secured against want he sought no farther he set up his rest I have heard him say often I will be no Richer and I think he was as good as his Word 8. As for Revenge how could it enter into the Breast of him that hated nothing but that which makes us hatefull to God I say not but he had a sense of Personal Injuries and especially of those that reflected upon his Name when they proceeded from those that had good Names of their own What others said de despised but by those he would often wish he had been better understood That he was not he bore as his misfortune He would not requite them with the like but mention'd them with all due respect and was always ready to oblige them and to do them good 8. Yet it was not so desireable to be at those terms with him as to be his Acquaintance or Friend They that were never so little familiar with him could not but find as well benefit as delight in his Conversation His Discourse was commonly of usefull things it never caused trouble or weariness to the Hearer Yet he would venture to displease one for his good and indeed he was the Man that ever I knew for that most needfull and least practiced point of Friendship He would not spare to give seasonable reproof and wholsome advice when he saw occasion I never knâ—w any that would do it so freely and that knew how to manage that freedom of Speech so inoffensively 9. It was his way of Friendship not so much to oblige Men as to do them good he did this not slightly and superficially but like one that made it his Business He durst do for his Friend any thing that was honest and no more He would undertake nothing but what well became him and then he was unwearied til he had effected it 10. It hath been spoken by some that he had not that zeal for the Church that they would seem to have that object this He seemed to look upon Dissenters with too much favour to their persons and wayes 11. As for the Persons no doubt that Goodness of Nature that true Christian Principle which made him willing to think well of all Men and to do good or at least no hurt to any might and ought to extend it self to them among others But besides he was inclined to it by his Education under his Grandfather Mr. Dod a turly pious and learned man who yet was a Dissenter himself in some things Not that he had any delight in contradiction or could find in his heart to disturb the Peace of the Church for those matters He was so far from it that when some thought their dissents ground enough for a War Mr. Dod declared himself against it and confirmed others in their Allegiance professing to the last a just hatred of that horrid Rebellion Now his Relation to this Man and Conversation with those of his Principles might encline him to hope the like of others of that way and vehemently desire to reduce them to the Vnity of the Church in which his Grandfather lived and dyed 12. As for himself He was so far from approving their Wayes that in the worst of Times when One bewailed to him the Calamities of the Church and declared his Obedience even then to the
true Reason and continue malevolent to the Memory of him that is gon if you can I pass on to his Learning Writing Preaching Living 1. He was an excellent Scholar He had a great stock of natural Parts and endowments to which he added an indefatigable Industry and God gave a plentiful Benediction His skill in the Greek Tongue got him his Fellow-ship in Merton College in Oxford in Sir Henry Savils time And what a rare Humanist he was and how well vers't in the Polite parts of Learning his juvenile piece upon the Passions abundantly testifies 2. And indeed he was an admirable Writer for wit judgment and fancy of all which there seems to be a curious mixture in his Books 3. Moreover he was a Great Divine and in his Time a most celebrated Preacher For his Divinity I need only say He was a true continuer of the name of Reynolds in the Church of England and for his Sermons they met with the Approbation both of Prince and People Scholars Gentlemen and Citizens all ranks of Men have given their honorable Testimony to them He was a Man of God throwly furnished to every good word and work He had the Art of saving Souls if ever any had 4. But above all I must not forget the Virtues and Graces wherein he did excell For he was as good a Liver as he was a Preacher or a Writer All his other good qualities were adorned and both greener and riper years were seasoned with the Piety of a Saint His youth was not observ'd to be stain'd with the vices of that Age and when the Church brought him her Miter God had Crown'd his Head before according to that of Solomon The hoary head is a Crown of Glory if it be found in the way of righteousness But more particularly his Humility Meekness Patience Charity are remarkable in him 1. He was cloathed with Humility and 't was his upper Garment and cover'd all the rest of his Accomplishments He had mean thoughts of Himself and was content that others should have so of him too and though his face shone yet he would not know it There was no leven of Pride or ill Humour or Surliness or Ambition in him no difficulty of access nor affectation of distance if you had but the face of a Gentleman or the habit of a Clergy-man all Ceremony must be laid aside in order to Converse Doubtless he was a great Judge of Learning and yet the most candid Auditor of Sermons in the World he was never heard to censure any body though he himself has not been spared 2. Neither was there wanting in him the Ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit whereby he became a true Copy of the Grand Exemplar and Bishop of our Souls 'T is an usual saying among some such a thing would vex a Saint but truly what would vex or ruffle or discompose this holy Man was a hard matter to determin 'T is scarce remembred that ever he was seen in Passion For forty nine years together wherein He and his Consort liv'd in married state not many words worthy of the denomination of Angry have been observed to drop from him This I can assure you He had his share both of Injuries from Men and of Afflictions from God and he was sensible of them always with the preservation of his Religious Integrity and the exercise of Meekness towards Men and of Patience towards God 3. And I may truly say that in him Patience had her work Though toward the latter end of his Life his days were full of pain nights of weariness yet he knew that by Patience he was as well to wait as to endure and that he was to honour the Soveraign of his Life and Death as well by tarrying his leisure as by bearing his hand His repeated Prayer to Heaven was that in his utmost Extremities he might not be provoked to speak dishonorably of God and when through some fierce exacerbation of his disease he was constrain'd to make some noise and outcry he would presently subjoyn Though he did roar he did not murmur 4. As the Complement of all the rest His Vniversal Charity to the Persons and Souls of Men was so conspicuous that the world could not deny it but was forc'd to call it Compliance All the doubt may be concerning his Charity to the Poor and Needy because the excellency of this Virtue lies in the secrecy of its Practice Dayly and hourly were the Emanations of his Charity while he liv'd but most of them running like streams under ground til he was dead Many were the Gifts he scattered to the bringing up of poor Children at School to the maintenance of poor Scholars in the University to the supportation and encouragement of ancient foundations of Piety and Learning to the relief of visited places in his Diocese to the supply of the wants of poor Ministers Widows to the Augmentation of small Vicarages in his Gift Add the several shares that Southampton the place of his Birth Merton College the place of his first Preferment Northhampton the place of his first Ministerial Employment Norwich where he departed had you cannot want a sufficient evidence of his abundant Charity Lastly God was pleased to do him an extraordinary kindness an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a gentle Death the last sand in the Hour-Glass falling with no less difficulty than wherewith he expired IV. Sir Thomas Adams Alderman of London Obiit 1667. From Doctor Hardy 1. THere is no less then a Three-fold obligation laid upon us of publishing the excellencies of those who have done worthily and been Famous in their Generations Hereby we glorifie the Lord in his Servants and that is Piety we honor the Dead in their Memory and that is Equity we benefit the People by their Examples and that is Charity I shall not say more of this Worthy Person then what not only very credible Information but for the most part my own personal knowledge will warrant me having had the honor of more than Twenty Years acquaintance with him Fifteen whereof he was the Chief Inhabitant of that Parish wherein I was an Unworthy Laborer 2. His very outward aspect was amiable nay venerable and his presence as the appearance of some bright Star having a pleasing influence upon all that looked upon him But could you have viewed his inside beheld that virtuous Soul which inhabited his comely Body how would it have ravished you and yet though we could not directly we might reflexively and that both from his words and works The Lips of the Righteous feed many to wit with wholsome Counsells and Comforts keeping as it were an open Table for all Comers such were his Lips with which as well nay better than with his Bountiful Table he fed not only his Children and Servants but all who conversed with him Among whom I can truly say I never went to him but I did or might come away better'd by his gracious and prudent discourse Nor