in a few days put a period to his life. He died in the house of his ancient and learned friend, Dr. Cudworth, Master of Christ's College, and was interred in the church of St. Lawrence Jewry.

During his sickness he had a constant calmness and serenity of mind; and under all his bodily weakness possessed his soul in great patience. After the prayers for the visitation of the sick, which he said were excellent prayers, had been used, he was put in mind of receiving the Sacrament; to which he answered, that he most readily embraced the proposal: and after he had received it, said to Dr. Cudworth, "I heartily thank you for this most Christian office: I thank you for putting me in mind of receiving this Sacrament;" adding this pious ejaculation, "The Lord fulfil all his declarations and promises, and pardon all my weaknesses and imperfections." He disclaimed all merit in himself, and declared that whatever he was, he was through the grace and goodness of God in Jesus Christ. He expressed likewise great dislike of the principles of separation, and said he was the more desirous to receive the Sacrament, that he might declare his full communion with the Church of Christ all the world over. He thanked God that he had no pain in his body, nor disquiet in his mind.

Towards the last he seemed rather unwilling to be detained any longer in this state; not for any pains he felt in himself, but for the trouble he gave his friends: saying to one of them who had with great care attended him all along in his sickness, "My dear friend, thou hast taken a great deal of pains to uphold a crazy body, but it will not do: I pray thee give me no more cordials; for why shouldest thou keep me any longer out of that happy state to which I am going? I thank

God I hope in his mercy, that it shall be well with

me."

6

And herein God was pleased particularly to answer those devout and well-weighed petitions of his, which he frequently used in his prayer before sermon, which, says Archbishop Tillotson, "I shall set down in his own words, and I doubt not those that were his constant hearers do well remember them. And superadd this, O Lord, to all the grace and favour which thou hast shown us all along in life, not to remove us hence but for all advantage of eternity, when we shall be in a due preparation of mind, in a holy constitution of soul, in a perfect renunciation of the guise of this mad and sinful world, when we shall be entirely resigned up to Thee,when we shall have clear acts of faith in God by Jesus Christ, high and reverential thoughts of Thee in our minds, enlarged and inflamed affections towards Thee, &c. and whensoever we shall come to leave this world, which will be when Thou shalt appoint, (for the issues of life and death are in thy hand,) afford us such a mighty power and presence of thy good Spirit, that we may have solid consolation in believing, and avoid all consternation of mind, all doubt and uncertainty concerning our everlasting condition, and at length depart in the faith of God's elect",""&c.

REFLECTION.—

ARCHBISHOP TILLOTSON'S "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace." Let his virtues live in our memory, and his example in our lives. Let us endeavour to be what he was, and we shall one day be what he now is-of blessed memory on earth, and happy for ever in heaven.

7 Archbishop Tillotson's Funeral Sermon on the Rev. Dr. Whichcote, vol. i. fol. 1735.

THE political circumstances which led to the untimely end of this nobleman, belong to the province of the historian. Our duty is to consider the example as affording one of the noblest instances on record of the sustaining power of religion at the close of life, and under the most trying circum

stances.

The Friday before his death being the day he had fixed for receiving the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, he determined to pass that day as he would have done the Sunday, had he lived so long. The sacrament of the Lord's Supper was given him early in the morning (his servant receiving it with him), by Dr. Tillotson, the dean of Canterbury. It appears that, in the course of his interview, the dean asked him, if he believed all the articles of the Christian religion, as taught by the Church of England? He answered, "Yes, truly." Then he asked him if he forgave all persons? "That," he said, "he did

from his heart." Then the dean said he hoped he would discharge his conscience in full and free confession. He said that he had done it. He told Dr. Burnet he could not pretend to such high joys and longings as Dr. Burton had spoken of, but on an entire resignation of himself to the will of God, and a perfect serenity of mind.

A little before he went to his supper, he said to Lady Russell, "Stay and sup with me; let us eat our last earthly food together." He mentioned several passages of dying men with great freedom of spirit. To Dr. Burnet he spoke of his own situation, and said how great a change death made, and how wonderfully those new scenes would strike on a soul. He had heard how some that had been born blind, were struck, when by the couching of their cataracts, they saw; but what, he said, if the first thing they saw were the sun rising? He prayed several times with Dr. Burnet, and afterwards with Dean Tillotson, and at intervals went into his chamber and prayed by himself. Once he came out, and said he had been much inspired in his last prayer, and wished he could have written it down and sent it to his

wife. He He gave Dr. Burnet several commissions to his relations, but none more earnest than to one of them, against all revenge for what had been done to himself; he told Dr. Burnet he was to give him his watch, and as he wound it up he said, "I have done with time; now eternity comes."

He pressed Lord Cavendish anxiously to apply himself more to religion, and told him what great comfort and support he felt from it, now in his extremity. Such was his last advice and farewell to his dearest friend. He sung within himself,

and Dr. Burnet asking him what he was singing, he said, "It was the hundred and nineteenth Psalm, but he should sing better very soon." His concluding remarks were, "I have now done with this world, and am going to a better; I forgive all the world heartily, and I thank God I die in charity with all men; and I wish all sincere Protestants may love one another, and not make way for popery by their animosities. I pray God forgive them, and continue the Protestant religion among them, that it may flourish so long as the sun and moon endure. I am now more satisfied to die than ever I have been "."

8

OBSERVATION BY DR. BURNET.- "His whole behaviour looked like a triumph over death."

ARCHBISHOP LEIGHTON.
DIED 1684. AGED 74.

DR. ROBERT LEIGHTON, Archbishop of Glasgow, was eminent for his personal piety and devotional writings. One instance connected with his death

Life of William, Lord Russell, by Lord John Russell vol. ii.