blow up their Treacherous trains and expose and defeat their malice This therefore is very good service to the Church both as it is a means to secure what She hath already gotten and also to enlarge Her conquests And surely then such Holy Warriours may with good reason be styl'd as we see they are The chariots of our Israel and the horsemen thereof They fear not the utmost malice of the world In the thickest of the Enemy they stand invulnerable and secure Their breastplate of Urim and Thummim soundness of Doctrine and integrity of Life is proof and an impenetrable defence against all the fiery darts of Men or Devils Thus was Elijah clad thus armed he contended earnestly and successfully for the Faith His conversation was in Heaven long before he himself ascended thither He liv'd a great pattern of holiness to his Age His very actions whilst his tongue was silent were so many rebukes to that apostatized people For even by his refusing to comply with them He upbraided and rebuked their abominations The terrour of Death from the bloody hand of Tyranny did make him fly indeed but could not shake his Integrity This his constancy in the Faith and Worship of God gave as great Testimony to the Truth as his Preaching did so that Elijah taught by his deeds as well as by his words and edifi'd the Church both by his Doctrine and his Example And did not our Holy Prelate so too Did not He shew his Faith by his Works Ye are witnesses and God also how holily and justly and unblameably He behav'd himself among you that believe For ever blessed be our Gracious God who to the great advantage of his Spouse the Church and the publick Good did furnish this his servant with such large measures of his holy Spirit and all Heavenly graces that He became a burning and a shining light and could not be more admirable for his extraordinary parts and vast improvements then He was truly venerable for exemplary Piety and Holiness of life Had I not already very much transgressed the limits of my time I would boldly inlarge on this Head as I easily might secure and fearless of seeming to any of you to say to much or being too lavish in the commendations of the Holy man It is a Theme scarce capable of Figure or flattery His very enemies could not but acknowledge the uprightness of his conversation even when He stood before a Committee of them impeach'd and arraign'd for his Loyalty and Religion They could find no occasion tho' diligently sought for against him except in that which concern'd the Law of his God They granted He was a man of Good Life but that they said made him the more dangerous for that such men did all the mischief A good testimony from the mouth of the Enemy of what I was before saying that nothing confounds them more then the unblameable Lives of such as profess and pretend a regard to Religion and obedience to the Church When they could not censure his practice they would needs question his Sermons nay rather then fail pick quarrels with his very Texts as they did with his choice of one that it seems had too much Loyalty in it for their purpose and that was some of the first Verses of the thirteenth Chapter to the Romans to which their Venerable Prisoner appositely replied that He was come prepared to justifie his Sermon but did not expect to be call'd upon to answer for his Text But it seems in the afternoon He had chosen a more innocent piece of Scripture for the subject of his Discourse and that was the Benediction of the Peacemakers Blessed are the Peacemakers But when it was alledged by his accusers that He had observ'd that League-makers were not Peacemakers this Text could no more excuse his Sermon then the other Sermon his Text. This Pastour certainly if any was an Example to his flock 1 Pet. 5. 3. in St Peters Phrase to the believers in St Pauls and that in all the particulars there mentiond 1 Tim. 4. 12. In word in conversation in charity in spirit in faith in purity That He was a faithfull Minister of Christ a conscientious dispenser of the Word and Steward of the Mysteries of God You have heard already under another Head and knew it well before by your own observation and experience Acts 11. 24. He never shunn'd to declare unto you all the Councel of God For he was a good man that I may apply the Character of St Barnabas to this Saint of ours and full of the Holy Ghost and of Faith and added much people unto the Lord. Very much pains He took to convince and reclaim Recusants of all sorts He invited them to frequent conferences in meekness instructing those that opposed themselves answering their arguments resolving their doubts removing their scruples and silencing all their Cavils against the established Doctrine and Discipline of the Church and this he did oft-times with most happy success For the Word of God in his mouth was quick and powerfull But O how sincere and great was his joy when He found God had made him an instrument of bringing back a wandring and a lost sheep How did his humble gratitude issue forth of his very eyes discovering to all that saw and observ'd him his religious soul triumphing in the spiritual victory and at the same time heartily ascribing it unto Heaven But when overgrown and stubborn prejudices pride obstinacy or stupidity made his charitable endeavours ineffectual 't is true the Good man seem'd troubled He sigh'd and prayed and sent many a pittying and lamenting look after the hardned and unrelenting wretch but for all that knew how to be content and tho' He might say as the Prophet in the person of our Saviour I have labour'd in vain Isa 49. 4. I have spent my strength for nought yet withall He could comfortably add that which immediately follows my judgement is with the Lord and my work with my God His prayers and his pains were accepted by his great Master in Heaven who set him on work and from thence return'd in showr's of blessings and comfort on his head and into his own bosome But when this was done when to the Laws and the weighty considerations of publick safety and quiet common utility and general experience of the mischievous effects of the separation all which pleaded strongly on his side I say when to these He had added his own publick and private endeavours to remove all if there were any real conscientious scruples and difficulties in the case He was far from thinking it an Usurpation upon consciences to remit refractory persons to the Civil power to be proceeded against by legal prosecutions the likeliest means then remaining not only to prevent the increase of their numbers but to bring themselves to Church and thereby give them opportunity to hear and hearken to further instructions more attentively and effectually then otherwise they
the Holy Spirit and the blessing of him that teacheth man knowledge and conducteth the pious enquirer into all Truth That otherwise it was in vain to rise up early or to sit up late Therefore like Daniel Dan. 10. 12. He set his heart to understand and chasten'd himself before his God and his words were heard or as the Psalmist Psal 138. 3. He call'd upon God and he heard him and endued his soul with much strength Thus was our Holy Bishop made wise unto salvation and profitable to his Generation for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness In a word as it follows in the place to which I allude 2 Tim. 3. 17. A man of God perfect and throughly furnished unto all good works And you have heard and seen his wisdom and his worth and not you alone but many thousands of others all people and places whereever and with whomsoever He had converse can bear true testimony that He gave as freely as He had received and like a Scribe instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven was continually spending and pouring out his inexhaustible Treasures of Sound Doctrine and Edifying Knowledge to the unspeakable delight and advantage of those that came to be instructed by him And they came in great numbers not of this Nation only but from abroad and remoter Countreys For that which He did in the Church was the least part of the pains He took and of his labouring in the Word and Doctrine But this is no time and place for a particular account of such matters It is well enough known that his house was rarely without some Foreign Visitant led thither by the far-spread fame of the Renowned Bishop Scholars from almost all parts of the Christian world Greeks and Latines flock'd to him whom they found like a true Apostolical Bishop Given to hospitality and apt to teach 1 Tim. 3. 2. His doors and his purse were open to receive and relieve them that were in want and his heart and mouth always ready to instruct those that desired to be informed A great part of his time was spent in explaining and justifying to strangers and others the regular and Catholick constitution of the Church of England and in asserting Her Doctrine and Discipline and whole entire frame against the opposition of Her Adversaries the Romanists and all other Recusants of various denominations amongst our selves And these unwearied endeavours of this Holy Man God has been pleased to crown often with good success Many thereby have been confirmed in the Communion of the Church with whom Bigots of Rome or other Zealots of the Schism had been dangerously tampering Several quite spirited away by such Emissaries and Agents He retriev'd and brought back again to their Reason and Religion Foreigners have parted from him not only fill'd with admiration of his own worth but also highly satisfied with the excellent Frame and Order of this Church which had before been ignorantly or maliciously represented to them And the report which they have accordingly made to their own people at their return home has rebounded back and been brought hither again to the great praise and honour of this Christian Catholick Church so happily establish'd in this Land These I say are things well known to many but not to be by me at present branch'd out into any of their many great instances or expanded to their due advantage That if done according to the dignity of the subject and the great abundance of the matter it affords would be a more proper Theme for a just volume then the few narrow Pages of a popular Sermon It sufficeth me to have said enough on this Head to shew that this Prelate was a worthy Champion of our Faith and an able Defender of the Church and therefore very capable of such a compellation as Elisha on the account of the like excellencies gave to Elijah The chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof THE last thing I shall insist on as a reason or justification of that great Title is the great good that is done and the mighty advantage that accrues to the Publick from the Lives and Examples of Good and Holy men especially those of a Sacred Character Certain it is that men are generally convinc'd and guided more by their Eyes then Ears Precepts and Exhortations affect the mind but slowly and weakly whilst Actions and Examples move strongly and with power so that if they be but advantagiously represented and duly attended to they are winning and perswasive and have a very quick and almost irresistible influence and efficacy in soliciting the consent of the will and prompting it to imitation For virtue moves practically as Plutarch expresseth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Peric moralizing the beholder and as it were transforming him into its own likeness It draws him to imitation neither able nor willing to resist that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the same Authour well stiles the influence of a Good Example Our Blessed Saviour himself tho' anointed to preach the Gospel by the Holy Ghost which He received without measure and tho' assisted with all the powers of the God-Head Col. 2. 9. which dwelt bodily in him tho' God immediately from Heaven in an audible voice bespoke and prepar'd for him and his Gospel attentive Audience dutifull Reception and Universal Obedience and Conformity as to the words and will of the declar'd Son of God Mat. 17. 5. in whom He was well-pleased And tho' He himself taught with Authority and spake as never man did John 7. 46. according to the frank confession of his most bloody Enemies and all wondred at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth Luke 4. 22. Yet would He not rely on that voice from Heaven or his own Divine Rhetorick on Earth for the Success of his undertaking without the assistance of a further Testimony and demonstration of the Excellency of his Doctrine and that was his own Example Therefore He appeals and refers them to what He did as a confirmation of what He taught Mat. 11. 29. Learn of me saith He for I am meek and lowly of heart And when He had given them a manifest proof of that virtue stooping to so low and mean an Office as the washing of his Disciples feet He tells them He had given them an Example that they should do as He had done John 13. 15. Nay this Divine Preacher sent from God and descended from Heaven even in his farewell Sermon would not trust to the efficacy of those his last words without adding the further and more powerfull argument of his Example Matt. 15. 9 10. teaching his disciples obedience to himself by his own obedience to his father and Love for one another by his own Love to them Which argument St Paul not able to find a better repeats and urges when He would enforce the same duty walk in Love Ephes 5. 2. saith He as
imitated by it the most Apostolick and truly Catholick Constitution that did arise from it and all the happy Advantages that were obtained by that blessed undertaking to which we owe as our Bishop with much thankfullness and comfort was wont to acknowledge and avouch that at this day by a singular felicity we enjoy the envied Communion of a Church the most exactly conformable to the Primitive and purest of any other Christian Society upon Earth On the other side He knew as well how most effectually to expose the Uncatholick impositions and Anathema's of the Romish Church and to shew plainly how unlike She is become to Her First Self how prodigiously deform'd and overgrown with monstrous Innovations in Doctrine and Discipline how unchristian in Her Usurpation and in Her Tyranny insupportable To explain and maintain such Truths as these was the business of the Bishop's study spent a great deal of his Time and was some part of his daily work even to the last But all this could not secure the Good Man from the malicious and impudent Calumnies and Railing of such as were Enemies to Him because they were so to Religion and the Publick The most Heavenly Innocence is not Antidote sufficient against the venome of the Tongue that is it cannot prevent the malignant assaults of a Serpentine brood of people that will be vomiting out poison tho' they cannot hurt Malice will be gnawing at the most entire and solid Virtue which tho' it be impenetrable armour and a sure defence yet is it still the Envy and Aime of those men Psal 57. 4. whose teeth are spears and arrows and their Tongue a sharp sword All the Zealous endeavours I say of our Learned Bishop against the Romanists and his many Victories and Successes in that Cause could not hinder as doubtless you remember and not without much indignation at the very thought of it but that the Faction voted and reported this unwearied Champion of the English Church a very Papist But it was at a time indeed when it seemed very behoofull for their purposes that the best Subjects and the best Churchmen should be so reputed And accordingly it was in such good company that the Bishop suffer'd For almost all the Loyal Nobility Clergy and Gentry fell under the same injurious imputation But all that popular Madness and Malice did but serve to exercise and Illustrate new Graces in our Holy Prelate and bring still further into the light the more hidden and undiscover'd Beauties of his soul By this means it did appear how smoothly and evenly He could go through or lie under good and evil report and how perfectly He had learn'd from the Apostle both to labour and suffer reproach 1 Tim. 4. 10. All their tumult and noise was not able to discompose the sweet calmness and serenity of his mind which the inward testimony and applause of his own Conscience had made sure and perpetual to him The slanders and clamours of people against him could not rise higher and louder then his Wishes and Prayers for them He bless'd as fast as they could curse And when the rage of the Rabble began to swell high and at last became threatning and dangerous yet was He not then concern'd for any interest of his own so much were his thoughts possess'd with the generous apprehensions He had for those miserable people themselves and the fatal Mischiefs which their unbridled Fury might bring upon the Government and the Publick But I have done The time will not admit of any more I must leave both the Death-bed and the Grave of this Great Man And I am e'ne glad that I am to procede no further You could bear it seems with the prolixness of my Discourse whilst I was speaking of his Life but may not perhaps so well endure the galling of your Memories with sad Reflexions upon his Death Elisha himself could not look on with Patience when Elijah was parted from him tho He saw him ascending into Heaven Nor can you I dare say reflect upon the last Hours of your late Bishop's Life tho' they were the last of his labours too without troubled and sorrowfull hearts For it is to your almost irreparable Loss tho' to his unspeakable Advantage that He was taken from you To conclude therefore Let Virtue have its perfect work 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plut. Peric that effect I mean upon you which the Moralist tells us is natural unto it that is to dispose men not only to Praise or Admire things well done but likewise to imitate the doers of them I dare say this Holy Bishops memory is precious to you and you would do it Honour Then use your best endeavours to practice his Doctrine and imitate his Virtues Recollect some atleast of the many Divine Precepts and Rules He has often with so much Religious vehemence deliver'd explain'd and press'd upon you from this place and make conscience to put in practice those his Pious Admonitions which you know the Holy Bishop recommended both by Word and Deed. This as it will best express your esteem of him by testifying your value of his Advice and your confidence in his Abilities and Integrity So will it likewise speak your care and kindness for your selves Such practice made your Bishop Famous and Honourable here and has rais'd him without doubt to a very high degree of Glory in another world The same means will produce the same happy effects for you that they did for him Imitate I say his Excellencies all of you in your several Stations as far as they are imitable by you and persevere in well doing And then you will not fail to be made partakers of those inestimable Rewards of Glory and Immortality which God hath laid up for them who diligently seek him which that we may all endeavour faithfully and constantly God of his infinite mercy grant to whom be glory and honour and praise now and for evermore Amen THE END