He was the author of "Emblems," and of other works in poetry and prose, of a moral and religious kind. He was appointed under-secretary to Archbishop Usher, in Ireland, from which country he was driven, with the loss of nearly all his property, by the rebellion of 1641: and during the civil wars in England the remainder of his property, with his books and manuscripts, became sequestrated.

As gold is purified by the fire, so were all his Christian virtues more refined and remarkable during the time of his sickness. His patience was wonderful, insomuch that he would confess no pain, even then, when all his friends perceived his disease to be mortal; but still rendered thanks to God for his especial love to him, in taking him into his own hands to chastise, while others were exposed to the fury of their enemies, the power of pistols, and the trampling of horses. He expressed great sorrow for his sins; and when it was told him, that his friends conceived he did

thereby much harm to himself, he answered, "they were not his friends that would not give him leave to be penitent." His exhortations to his friends that came to visit him were most divine, wishing them to have a care of the expense of their time, and every day to call themselves to an account; so that when they came to their bed of sickness, they might lie upon it with a rejoicing heart." And doubtless such an one was his, insomuch that he thanked God, that whereas he might justly have expected that his "conscience should look him in the face like a lion," it rather looked upon him "like a lamb;" and that God had forgiven him his sins, and sealed his pardon; and many other heavenly expressions to the like effect. I might here add, what blessed advice he gave in particular, to her about to become a widow, still to trust in God, whose promise is to provide for the widow and the fatherless, &c.

His charity in freely forgiving his greatest enemies was equally Christian-like; and when he heard that the individual whose vindictive conduct towards him had been the chief cause of his illness, was called to an account for it," his answer was, "God forbid; I seek not revenge, I freely forgive him and the rest."

66

The remainder of his time was occupied in contemplation of God and meditations upon the Holy Scripture, especially upon Christ's sufferings, and what a benefit those have that by faith could lay hold on Him, and what virtue there was in the least drop of his precious blood; intermingling here and there many devout prayers and ejaculations, which continued with him as long as his speech, and after, as could be perceived by some imperfect expressions. At which time a friend of his, exhorting him to apply himself to finish his

course here, and prepare himself for the world to come, he spake in Latin to this effect; “O sweet Saviour of the world, let thy last words upon the cross be my last words in the world. Into thy hands, Lord, I commend my spirit; and what I cannot utter with my mouth, accept from my heart and soul;" which words being uttered distinctly to the understanding of his friend, he fell again into his former contemplations and prayers, and so quietly gave up his soul to God, the 8th day of September, 1644, after he had lived fiftytwo years, and lieth buried in the parish church of St. Leonard's, in Foster-lane.

Francis Quarles in his religious principles was firmly attached to the church of England; and, when dying, he requested his friends that they would make it universally known, that "as he was trained up and lived in the true Protestant religion, so in that religion he died "."

REFLECTION.-It has been said truly and agreeably with all men's experience, that if Christians excelled in no other privilege, yet far happier are they than other men, for that their hopes are always better.

• Church of England Magazine, vol. iv. pp. 71, 72.

On the morning of his death, King Charles, according to the relation of his faithful attendant, Sir Thomas Herbert, awoke about two hours before day break, after a sound sleep of four hours. He called to Herbert, who lay on a pallet by his bed side, and bade him rise, "For," said the king, "I will get up; I have a great work to do this day. I fear not death; death is not. terrible to me. I bless God, I am prepared." Soon after the king was dressed, Bishop Juxon came to him, according to his appointment the night before. He remained an hour in private with him, when Herbert was called in, and the bishop prayed with the king, using the prayers of the Church, and then read the 27th chapter of St. Matthew, which so beautifully describes the passion of our Saviour. The king thanked the bishop for his choice of the lesson; but he was surprised and gratified to learn that it was the lesson for the day, according to the calendar.

Attended by the bishop on the one side and

Col. Tomlinson on the other, he walked out through the garden of the palace into the park, and said as he went along, "He now went to strive for a heavenly crown with less solicitude than he had often encouraged his soldiers to fight for an earthly diadem." When delayed at the Cabinet chamber of Whitehall, he offered up several prayers, and entered into religious discourse with the bishop. Herbert and the bishop were deeply affected at the signal for their final separation from their sovereign and master. The king stretched out his hand to them, which they kissed, falling on their knees and weeping, the king helping the aged bishop to rise.

I

In his address to those about him, he said, "Now to show you that I am a good Christian, I hope there is a good man, (pointing to Bishop Juxon,) that will bear me witness that I have forgiven all the world, and even those in particular that have been the chief causes of my death. pray God forgive them. But this is not all; my charity must go further; I wish that they may repent. For indeed they have committed a great sin in that particular. I pray God, with St. Stephen, that it may not be laid to their charge; nay, not only so, but that they may take the right way to the peace of the kingdom; for my charity commands me not only to forgive particular men, but to endeavour, to the last gasp, the peace of the kingdom. You must give God his due, by regulating rightly his Church, according to the Scripture, which is now out of order. I pray God it be not laid to your charge, that I am the martyr of the people. I have delivered my conscience. I pray God you take those courses that are the best for the good of the kingdom, and your own salvation.”