"tion; for with fuch facrifices, thou, O “God, art well pleased; and I will pay "them."

Thus did the joy and gratitude of this good man's heart break forth; and it is obfervable, that as the invitation to this flander was his meek behaviour and dovelike fimplicity, for which he was remarkable; fo his chriftian charity ought to be imitated. For though the spirit of revenge is fo pleafing to mankind, that it is never conquered but by a fupernatural grace, revenge being indeed fo deeply rooted in human nature, that, to prevent the exceffes of it, (for men would not know moderation,) Almighty God allows not any degree of it to any man, but says, Vengeance is mine: and though this be faid pofitively by God himself, yet this revenge is so pleasing, that man is hardly persuaded to fubmit the manage of it to the time, and justice, and wisdom of his Creator, but would haften to be his own executioner of it. And yet nevertheless, if any man ever did wholly decline and leave this pleafing paffion to the time and measure

of

of God alone, it was this Richard Hooker, of whom I write: for when his flanderers were to fuffer, he laboured to procure their pardon; and when that was denied him, his reply was, "That however he "would faft, and pray that God would "give them repentance, and patience to

undergo their punishment." And his prayers were fo far returned into his own bofom, that the firft was granted, if we may believe a penitent behaviour, and an open confeffion. And it is obfervable, that after this time he would often fay to Dr. Saravia, "O with what quietness "did I enjoy my foul, after I was free "from the fears of my flander! And "how much more after a conflict and "victory over my defires of revenge!"

About the year 1600, and of his age forty-fix, he fell into a long and fharp fickness, occafioned by a cold taken in his paffage by water betwixt London and Gravesend; from the malignity of which he was never recovered; for after that time, till his death, he was not free from thoughtful days and reftlefs nights: but a fubmiffion to his will

that makes the fick man's bed easy, by giving reft to his foul, made his very languishment comfortable: and yet all this time he was folicitous in his ftudy, and faid often to Dr. Saravia, (who faw him daily, and was the chief comfort of his life,) "That he "did not beg a long life of God for any "other reason, but to live to finish his "three remaining books of Polity; and "then, Lord, let thy fervant depart in "peace;" which was his ufual expreffion. And God heard his prayers, though he denied the Church the benefit of them, as completed by himself; and it is thought he haftened his own death, by haftening to give life to his books. But this is certain, that the nearer he was to his death, the more he grew in humility, in holy thoughts, and refolutions.

About a month before his death, this good man, that never knew, or at least never confidered, the pleasures of the palate, became first to lose his appetite, and then to have an averfeness to all food, infomuch that he feemed to live fome intermitted weeks by the fmell of meat only,

only, and yet ftill ftudied and writ. And now his guardian angel feemed to foretel him, that the day of his diffolution drew near; for which his vigorous foul appeared to thirst.

In this time of his fickness, and not many days before his death, his house was robbed; of which he having notice, his question was, "Are my books and "written papers fafe?" And being anfwered, that they were; his reply was, "Then it matters not; for no other lofs can trouble me."

About one day before his death, Dr. Saravia, who knew the very secrets of his foul, (for they were fupposed to be confeffors to each other,) came to him, and, after a conference of the benefit, the neceffity, and safety of the Church's abfolution, it was refolved the Doctor fhould give him both that and the Sacrament the day following. To which end the Doctor came, and, after a fhort retirement and privacy, they two returned to the company; and then the Doctor gave him, and fome of those friends which were

with him, the bleffed Sacrament of the body and blood of our Jefus. Which being performed, the Doctor thought he saw a reverend gaiety and joy in his face; but it lafted not long; for his bodily in firmities did return fuddenly, and became more visible, infomuch that the Doctor apprehended death ready to feize him; yet, after fome amendment, left him at night, with a promise to return early the day following; which he did, and then found him better in appearance, deep in contemplation, and not inclinable to difcourfe; which gave the Doctor occafion to require his present thoughts. To which he replied, "That he was meditating the "number and nature of angels, and their "bleffed obedience and order, without "which; peace could not be in Heaven; " and oh! that it might be so on earth !” After which words, he faid, "I have "lived to fee this world is made up of "perturbations; and I have been long preparing to leave it, and gathering "comfort for the dreadful hour of mak"ing my account with God, which I

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now