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THE

ORTHODOX

CHURCHMAN'S MAGAZINE,

For OCTOBER, 1802.

A deficiency of zeal indeed in religious concerns does not always proceed; either in the clergy or laity, from a want of knowledge: fenfual appetites, ungoverned paffions, worldly customs, all combine together in making men languid in the performance of even clear and acknowledged duties; yet it must be confeffed, that a firm belief in the truth of Christianity refulting from a comprehenfive view of the proofs by which it is established, is the most probable mean of producing in all men integrity of life; and of animating, efpecially, the minifters of the gospel, to a zealous and difcreet difcharge of their· paftoral functions. BP. WATSON'S Preface to his Tracts.

THE LIFE OF JAMES BONNELL, Esa. [AMES BONNELL, Efq. was born at Genoa, November 14, 1653. was Samuel Bonnell, merchant of Leghont, where the great trade he carried on, his fweet and obliging behaviour, but especially the piety and integrity of his life, procured him great credit and esteem : his mother was Rebecca, daughter of Thomas Sayer, Efq. who refided near Norwich.

In 1655, Mr. Bonnell, the father, removed with his family into England: where, upon the restoration of the royal family, the fervices he had done them, procured him a patent to be accomptant general of the revenue of Ireland his fon's life being included in the patent with his own. He did not long poffefs it; for he died in 1664, leaving his fon and one daughter to the care of his wife, a lady of fingular piety and prudence : graces, which the well employed in the education of her fon, by giving a right tincture to his mind, and feafoning it early with the love of virtue and religion.

He received the firft rudiments of his learning at Dublin; after which he was fent to Trim fchool, and committed to the care of Dr. Jenifon, under whofe tuition he improved in every valuable accomplishment.

He was early pious. The firft books he read with pleasure were those of devotion. Thus fet forward betimes in the way to heaven, he persevered in it with indefatigable diligence to the last.

At fourteen he was removed from Trim fchool to a private one in Oxfordshire but the great remiffness of the conductors there, in point of religious œconomy, foon difgufted our young ftudent.

Therefore, from Oxfordshire he was fent to Catherine-hall in Cambridge; where, under the learned Dr. Calamy, his advancement in learning kept equal pace with his improvements in piety and years. Vol. III, Churchm. Mag. Oct. 1802. B b

After

After taking up his degrees he removed into the family of Ralph Freeman, Efq. of Hertfordshire; and there undertook the education of that gentleman's eldest son. It was happy for Mr. Freeman to find for his fon fo good an inftructor, fo ineftimable a friend: Mr. Bonnell had great sweetness of temper, joined to a found and penetrating judgment; a fedate gravity to command refpect; an eafy cheerfulness to engage love; an happy mode of explaining the difficulties of learning; clear notions himfelf, of what he would render intelligible to his pupil; a noble genius, and a lively fancy, tempered with prudence and difcretion: more than all thefe, he poffeffed great ftrictnefs of life, and had the happy art of recommending piety to the practice of young minds.

During Mr. Bonnell's ftay in Mr. Freeman's family, he had frequent attacks of ficknefs; his conftitution being tender and eafily injured: it appears by the meditations he compofed about that period, that his body was an uncomfortable companion to his mind; and frequently disturbed him in his religious courfe. He complains of himself for being fometimes uneafy under the load of fickness, and withing its removal with too much eagerness. Had we room to infert here these meditations written in his twenty-feventh year, it would doubtless give our readers great fatisfaction : they well delineate his happy progrefs in piety, and how bravely he encountered the difficulties he met with from infirmities, which all mankind more or less experience, and are not to be entirely conquered while we are in this world. In one of them particularly he very pathetically expreffes the great benefit of thefe fevere trials, and his thankfulness to his God for impofing them.

Here it is proper to obferve, that Mr. Bonnell very early began a useful practice, which he continued during his whole life it was his cuftom, upon every return of the holy facrament, to put down in writing those thoughts which moft affected his mind: many of thefe remarks were penned betwixt his twenty-firft and twenty-feventh year; a time of life too commonly otherwife employed. Here we fee a young man, instead of indulging himself in his folly, bemoaning his fins, praying for grace to refift every temptation, and taking more pains to fit his foul for appearing at the Lord's table, than others at that age ufually do to adorn their bodies.

He continued in Mr. Freeman's family till 1678, and then went with his pupil into Holland; ftaying almoft a year in Sir Leohine Jenkins's family at Nimeguen, very much to his fatisfaction. From thence he went, in the ambaffador's train, through Flanders and Holland, and fo returned to England. From that time he continued with his pupil till 1683, when Mr. Freeman was fent into France and Italy. In 1684, Mr. Bonnell went and met him at Lyons; and in his company vifited feveral parts of France. So great was his tenderness for the young gentleman, that he being taken dangerously ill of the fmall-pox, at Tours, Mr. Bonnell conftantly expofed himself to that diftemper, though it was what he never had; and fo foon as he found him able to use them, fupplied him with many excellent meditations; and often joined with him in prayers and thanksgivings for his recovery.

In the year 1684, Mr. Bonnell, leaving Mr. Freeman in France, came directly from thence to Ireland, and took his employment of accomptant general into his own hands; which, fince his father's death, had been managed by others for his ufe. This is an office of much bufinefs and

high truft; and he was fo remarkably diligent and faithful in the difcharge of it, fo dextrous in difpatch, fo ready to oblige, that he foon equally gained the efteem of the government, and the love of all who were any way concerned with him.

But as religion had ever the principal fway in his affections, fo a zeal for that, a contempt of this world, and a mind raifed above it's perishing concerns, had before this period given him ftrong defires of quitting all fecular employments, and dedicating himself entirely to the service of God. It could be no worldly confideration which fuggefted that thought to him; for the temporal advantages of his office were greater than what he could have expected in a long time from any ecclefiaftical preferment; and his ftation was besides of fufficient dignity and credit. Nothing hindered him from actually entering into holy orders, but the confideration that his employment was a great truft, of which he must render an account to God, not only for his difcharging of it, but for those hands into which he fhould place it; a man of knowledge and fufficient skill, but chiefly who had established a character of piety, was what he wanted. Such a one in 1688, he apprehended he had found, and had actually agreed with upon the subject: but the news of the revolution, which then took place, changed the gentleman's thoughts, and broke Mr. Bonnell's meafures.

His defires of entering into the miniftry appear to have been of a very early date; for feveral attempts were made by his friends during his refidence in England to procure him a fettlement in the Church there; fome of which might have fucceeded, had he not been averse to the seconding their zeal by any endeavours of his own: nay, when his friend, Mr. Freeman, defigned to have purchased, and prefented him to the advowfon of a benefice, Mr. Bonnell himself was the only person who opposed it, and thereby disappointed the intentions of his friend.

This conduct, which may seem somewhat extraordinary, was owing to an opinion be had conceived, that it was improper for interest to have any fhare in the difpofal of spiritual employments.

During King James's reign, Mr. Bonnell difcharged his office himself. Though he was one whom the then ruling party could never hope to bring over to their interefts; yet, fo fully were they convinced of his abilities and integrity, that they never thought of removing him from his employSuch an openness and fincerity fhone in all his actions, fuch unfhaken fidelity was his rule and guide, so known an enemy was he to faction and intrigue, that he was not only free from blame, but even suspicion; and the enemies of his religion reverenced his person.

ment.

Dangers, however, feemed evidently approaching. He faw them, and accordingly employed his thoughts in arming himself againft, and preparing for the fevereft trials. His private papers at that period are full of excellent prayers, and meditations proper for a devout Chriftian in times of difficulty and diftrefs. He feems to have laboured then more than at any time of his life before, to difengage his affections from this world, and bring his mind to an utter indifferency for it. In short, it was his daily work to fortify his foul with a noble faith in God, with true Christian courage, and the firmeft refolution of facrificing all to God and his duty, fhould he be called to it. By fuch exercifes as thefe, he was well prepared for whatever might befal him; nor was he lets earnest in his prayBb 2

ers

ers for the removal of thofe calamities he faw falling upon the community, than careful to fit himfelf for bearing his own fhare of them.

As thus he faw danger coming on with a compofed mind, fo his apprehenfions did not increase at its near approach. When the kingdom was univerfally alarmed at the report of a maffacre, defigned to have been perpetrated on Dec. 9, 1688, the news, as may well be supposed, astonished the Proteftants in all parts, particularly in Dublin, from whence great multitudes fled in confufion to the sea fide, to make the best of their way for England. What share Mr. Bonnell had in these fears, and how quickly he got the better of them, the following extract from one of his memorandums will beft fhew, written on that very day of terror and diforder, when the impreffions which a common danger is apt to make upon the beft refolved minds were moft probably the strongest.

"How inconftant are human things! Bleffed is the foul which hath its hope fixed on thee, O Lord! Laft Thursday the letter threatening a maflacre of all the English on this day, came to town:-people began to think of England, and multitudes flocked away.-I went myself to Ring's End, thinking if there were any alarm, I was nearer to take shipping. I had the duties of my place upon me and no leave to go; therefore I would not go, unless in cafe of extremity, and when no duty could be attended. -The index of [God's] will, is his providence; and of his providence, is my duty; this is the ftar that points out to me the courfe I am to take.— God requires of us a confident reliance on him in the station wherein he fets us a quiet difcharge of our duty; and he promises his fafeguard to fuch; Ifaiah xxx. 15. In returning and rest fhall ye be faved, in quietnefs and confidence shall be your strength.-I thought therefore I would return :-Behold I am come, O my God! hide not thy felf from thy fervant in the day of danger: O thut not out thyfelf from me :-I have deserved, I moft humbly acknowledge, that thou fhouldeft withdraw thy grace and favour from my foul. But caft not away, O Lord! all thy past favours, and let them not be loft upon me.-Lord, thou loveft to fuccour in diftrefs: nothing is fo pleafing to generous love, as to rescue from danger those whom it is pleafed to favour. What fentiments doth this awaken in an ingenuous heart! Who can but adore that watchful love which feasonably comes in to its prefervation! This, O Lord! is my humble confidence in thee: I not only hope deliverance from thee, but that thou wilt make this deliverance a means to my foul of returning thee love and praises for ever. We are not to think but that even this terror is a judgment from thee. O pardon, gracious Lord, the fins which have more immediately provoked it; even our not having laid to heart, fo much as we thould, the terrors of foul, O moft gracious Lord Jefu, which thou didft undergo for our fakes; when thy foul was exceeding forrowful even unto death, and thou criedft out, Father! fave me from this hour: By thy terrors, O Lord! fanctify this thy judgment; and may we ever love to meditate on thy agony for our fakes.' Amen.

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Hence the devout reader may difcern how a fincere Chriftian, by a firm confidence in God, could fecure the peace of his own mind amidst a scene of general diforder; and may learn, at the fame time, the way to be equally fafe, ferene, and happy, fhould it please God to fend the like caJamities upon us.

Left any inward remorfe might fhock his dependance, Mr. Bonnell was

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about the time juft mentioned particularly diligent to conciliate himself with his God, as the only true foundation of confidence in private troubles. This is evident from the following meditation written on the morning of Christmas-day in that year of confufion.

"God hath faid, In quietness and confidence fhall be your firength. But who can have confidence in God?-St. John hath told us, he whofe heart condemns him not*. And who is the happy man whose heart condemns him not? St. Paul, by a reasonable inference, tells us, he who alloweth not himself in any thing which he condemneth: happy is he who condemneth not himfelf in that thing which he allowetht. And again, Where there is remiffion of fins, we have boldness to enter into the Holiest by the blood of Jefus ; becaufe the blood of Jefus Chrift cleanfeth us from all fins§. So then the pardon of fins gives us this confidence in God. Come, oh my foul! let us go to the blood of Jefus, that we may be cleansed by it; that our bodies may be made clean by his body, and our fouls wathed by his precious blood: that we may obtain this confidence, our only means of ftrength and support in this time of danger."

Thus armed with confidence in God, Mr. Bonnell waited the issue: and as he put himself into his hands, fo from him he had fafety and deliverance. He was continued in his employment without defiring it. It was happy for many Proteftants that he was fo: fince whatever he received out of it, he distributed amongst them with a liberal hand. He fought out opportunities of relieving his needy brethren, and went about doing good to the neceffitous and oppreffed. He boldly pleaded for them to those who were in power; and ventured to the expending his neceffary fubfiftence, to get the injured Proteftants relieved: indeed, though none were more induftrious to conceal it, bounty to the poor was one of his moft diftinguishing characteristics.

When, in the progrefs of the war, the proteftants in Dublin were denied the exercife of their religion; their churches turned into prifons, and their ministers confined; Mr. Bonnell deeply lamented those fins which he accounted the fevereft of God's judgments; and endeavoured to fupply the wants of the church's public prayers, by the greater conftancy of his private devotions.

But thefe calamities were foon over, and fucceeded by all that joy, which long-wifhed for liberty, fafety, and peace could give: and, as Mr. Bonnell had always expreffed his forrow in fervent prayer to God, so now his joy turned all to praises. The mutual careffes of the proteftants, on this occafion, he improved to the nobleft purposes; thence to raise his mind to heaven, and contemplate thofe endearments, that feraphic love, and perfect blifs, which fhall fill the fouls of the faithful in the realms of eternity.

But his fhare in the general joy was foon abated from two causes: the death of his mother, which he heard about this time, filled his heart with true religious forrow; he bore her the tendereft refpect, and the greatest affection fhe had done every thing for him which nature or religion could fuggeft; and he was gratefully fenfible of all his obligations to her: his meditations upon her death, too long to be inferted here, thew a spirit truly afflicted for his lofs; yet fubmiflive, without murmur, to the will of

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