"now apprehend to be near ! and "though I have by his grace loved him " in my youth, and feared him in mine

age, and laboured to have a confcience "void of offence to him, and to all men ; 66 yet if thou, O Lord, be extreme to "mark what I have done amifs, who can "abide it? And therefore, where I have "failed, Lord, fhew mercy to me; for I "plead not my righteousness, but the for"giveness of my unrighteoufnefs, for his "merits, who died to purchase pardon for

66

penitent finners. And fince I owe thee "a death, Lord, let it not be terrible, and "then take thine own time; I fubmit "to it: let not mine, O Lord, but let "thy will be done." With which expreffion he fell into a dangerous flumber; dangerous as to his recovery: yet recover he did, but it was to speak only thefe few words: "Good Doctor, God hath "heard my daily petitions, for I am at

peace with all men, and he is at peace "with me; and from that bleffed affurance "I feel that inward joy, which this world can neither give nor take from me:

66

" my confcience beareth me this witness, "and this witnefs makes the thoughts of "death joyful. I could wish to live to "do the Church more fervice; but cannot "hope it, for my days are paft as a fha"dow that returns not." More he would have spoken, but his fpirits failed him; and, after a fhort conflict betwixt nature and death, a quiet figh put a period to his last breath, and so he fell asleep. And now he seems to reft like Lazarus in Abraham's bofom. Let me here draw his curtain, till with the moft glorious company of the Patriarchs and Apoftles, the most noble army of Martyrs and Confeffors, this most learned, most humble, holy man fhall also awake to receive an eternal tranquillity, and with it a greater degree of glory, than common Chriftians fhall be made partakers of.

In the mean time, Blefs, O Lord! Lord, bless his brethren, the Clergy of this nation, with effectual endeavours to attain, if not to bis great learning, yet to his remarkable meeknefs, his godly fimplicity, and bis Chriftian moderation; for thefe will bring peace

at

at the laft. And, Lord, let bis most excellent writings be bleft with what he defigned, when be undertook them: which was, glory to thee, O God on high, peace in thy Church, and good will to mankind. Amen, Amen.

IZAAK WALTON

This following Epitaph was long fince prefented to the world, in memory of Mr. HooKER, by Sir WILLIAM COWPER, who also built him a fair monument in Borne Church, and acknowledges bim to bave been bis spiritual Father.

THOUGH nothing can be fpoke worthy his fame,
Or the remembrance of that precious name,
Judicious HOOKER; though this coft be spent
On him, that hath a lafting monument
In his own books; yet ought we to exprefs,
If not his worth, yet our refpectfulness.
Church-ceremonies he maintain'd; then why
Without all ceremony fhould he die?
Was it because his life and death should be
Both equal patterns of humility?

Or that perhaps this only glorious one
Was above all, to afk, why had he none?
Yet he, that lay fo long obfcurely low,
Doth now preferr'd to greater honours go.
Ambitious men, learn hence to be more wife,
Humility is the true way to rife:

And God in me this leffon did infpire,

To bid this humble man, " Friend, fit up higher."

AN

AN

APPENDIX

ΤΟ

THE LIFE

OF

MR. RICHARD HOOKER.

AND now having by a long and laborious fearch fatisfied myfelf, and I hope my reader, by imparting to him the true relation of Mr. Hooker's life; I am defirous alfo to acquaint him with fome obfervations that relate to it, and which could not properly fall to be fpoken till after his death, of which my reader may expect a brief and true account in the following Appendix.

And firft, it is not to be doubted but that he died in the forty-feventh, if not in the forty-fixth year of his age; which I mention, because many have believed him to be more aged: but I have fo examined