Appleton 
 Faithful and wise Servant
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 Commodore Byron McCandless
 
 
 Mr. 
 
 DIS COURSE 
 
 i 
 t Qccalioned by the DEATH of 
 
 . . 
 
 Dr. Wigglefworth*

 
 A faithful and "Wife Servant, had in 
 Honour, throughout the Churches. 
 
 DISCOURSE 
 
 Occafioned by the much lamented DEATH 
 OF THE 
 
 Rev. EDWARD WIGGLESWORTH, D.D, 
 
 H DLL is Profeffor of Divinity in HARVARD 
 College, Cambridge; 
 
 Who departed this Life, January 16. 1765. 
 In the 73d Year of his Age. 
 
 Having faithfully and laudably difcharged the Office of 
 PROFESSOR, for more than 42 Years. 
 
 By NATHANIEL ATTLETON, A.M. 
 
 Paftor of the fir ft Church in CAMBRIDGE. 
 
 Forafmuch as an excellent fpirit, and knowledge, and 
 
 underftanding, and {hewing of hard fentences, and 
 
 diflblving of doubts, were found in the fame Daniel. 
 
 And they that be wife fhall fhine as the brightnefs 
 
 of the firmament. The Prophet DANIEL. 
 
 BOSTON, NEW-ENGLAND: 
 
 Printed by RICHARD and SAMUEL DRAPER, 
 and THOMAS and JOHN FLEET, 176;,
 
 .
 
 Funeral SERMON 
 
 ON THE 
 
 Rev. Dr. WIGGLESWORTR 
 
 2 CORINTHIANS, VIII. 18. 
 
 The Brother^ -whofe *Praife is in the 
 ) throughout all the Churches. 
 
 AS we are not told who this brothei was that 
 the apoflle fent with Titus on a fpecial 
 occafion to Corinth ; fo there can be only 
 conjecture about the matter. Several names arc 
 mentioned, fuch as Barnabas, that fon of confolation, 
 and Silas, and Apollos, and Mark ; and efpecially 
 Luke, who wrote the gofpel which goes by his name, 
 upon the account of which gofpel he became fa 
 mous in all the churches. The extraordinary 
 chara&er here given of this brother might be as 
 defcriptive of him, and as clearly point him out at 
 that day, as if he had been exprefsly mentioned 
 
 by 
 
 956?
 
 6 A Funeral Sermon on the 
 
 t 
 by name. But it is not material, nor to our prefent 
 
 purpofe, to know who he was : For all that we have 
 to do is with the ihort, but high commendation 
 which is given of him. 
 
 AND here we may obferve firft of all that he 
 is fliled a brother ; by which is underflood not merely 
 a chriftian brother, a believer, and brother in Chrifl : 
 But a brother and companion in the gofpel miniftry; 
 a fellow -worker unto the kingdom of God: Equally 
 engaged and concerned with the other minifters, 
 kl eftabliihing and promoting the gofpel. 
 
 IN the next place, we may obferve the commen 
 dation thar is given of this brother minifler. > 
 
 He was had in pralfe and high commendcition. 
 
 There were excellent accomplifhments, and ami 
 able qualities in him, which flione forth fo con- 
 fpicuoufly, that he was highly efleemed and greatly 
 jefpe&ed. We may fuppofe he was in high repu 
 tation for his eminent gifts of knowledge, \vifdom, 
 filth, zeal, and fledfaftnefs, with which he was 
 endowed by the fpirit of God. 
 
 FURTHER, let us confider the extenfivenefi of 
 this high efteem and reputation he was in. \Vhofe 
 praife is throughout all the churches. Which is to 
 be underflood not only of the members ; but of 
 the minifters of the churches. His gifts and ac 
 compli fliments were fo fuperiour and exteiifive, that 
 they were not confined to any particular church, 
 or to any private- and retired corner of the vineyard, 
 
 \vherc
 
 Rev. Dr. WIGGLESWORTH. 9 
 
 where his gifts and graces would be out of general 
 view, and very much buried in obfcurity : But God 
 fo ordered it that his rare accompliftiments ftiould 
 be publickly known and acknowledged. We may 
 fuppofe his preaching, his writings, and other mi* 
 niflerial fervices^ rendered him very famous even 
 in all the churches. Very likely he was well 
 known to the apoftles, and other miniflers of Chrifl 
 in general, who difcerned the excellent qualities 
 he was endowed with ; and gave forth fuch high 
 commendations of him, as fpread his fame through 
 all the churches ; fo that they were all filled with 
 the high praifes of him. 
 
 AGAIN, let us confider the particular point rot 
 which he was more efpecially had in fuch high 
 reputation : And that was with reference to the 
 gofpel. Wbofepraife is in the GOSPEL ; or for the 
 gofpel. Whatever his knowledge and accomplifh- 
 ments were as to other things ; yet it was for his 
 knowledge of Chrift, and of the great things of the 
 gofpel, that he became fo famous in the churches. 
 He was well inftru&ed, and, we may fuppofe, 
 eminent for his knowledge, in the things of God 
 and the diilinguilhing points of chriftianity. And 
 if this brother was Luke the evangelift (which was 
 the prevailing opinion of the ancients) he was emi*- 
 nently inftructed in the gofpel hiftory ; and fo ift 
 the .do&rines and principles of chriftianity. We may 
 well fuppofe him to be mighty in the fcriptures ? 
 and that he, like the great apoflle Paul, reafoned 
 with the people out of the holy fcriptures, opening 
 
 anil
 
 8 A Funeral Sermon on the 
 
 and alleging that Jefus was the Chrift. A&s xvii. 
 2, 3. His difcourfes on thofe points were highly 
 efteemed ; and great weight was laid on his 
 judgment in difficult points of the gofpel, in 
 matters of controverfy, or of doubtful difputation. 
 
 BUT then we may conclude further, that his 
 praife in the gofpel, throughout all the churches, 
 was for the known ftedfaftnefs of his faith, and the 
 uniformity of his temper and behaviour with this 
 gofpel he profeffed, preached up, and recommended 
 to others. His knowledge and faith, his temper 
 and manner of life, were all of a piece, and accord 
 ing to the gofpel : Without which we cannot 
 fuppofe that his praife would have been in all the 
 churches. 
 
 LASTLY, I would obferve the emphatic article 
 that is here affixed to this brother. The brother. 
 It is not faid we have fent with Titus a brother, but 
 the brother, by way of diflinftion, and eminency 
 above the other brethren in the miniftry : And as 
 one peculiarly fitted for the fervice upon which he 
 was fent. He was pitched upon as the brother, 
 the very man above all the reft to be employed in 
 the fervice he was fent upon. No man like minded, 
 no man fo eminently fitted for the bufinefs he was 
 employed in. 
 
 AFTER fuch a large opening the text (by which 
 the fuitablenefs thereof to the prefent difpenfation 
 of Divine Providence may very obvioufly appear 
 to every one) I proceed for the further illustration 
 of the fubjeft toconfider. ift,
 
 Rev. Dr. WIGGLESWORTH. 9 
 
 I ft, Some of tbofe gofpel qualifications which de- 
 (ervedly intitle a man to uni'verfal praife ; to the 
 praife of all the churches. 
 
 2diy, To fet forth what a diftinguijhing favour 
 and blejjed attainment it is, to be juftly intitled 
 to univerfal praife. 
 
 3dly, Make feme proper improvement, fuitcd to the 
 folemn and forrowful o^LJion that leads us to 
 thefe meditations. 
 
 I. LET us confider fome of thofe gofpel qua 
 lifications, -which defervedly intitle a man to uni- 
 verfal praife ; the praife of all the churches. 
 
 AND here I will begin with 
 
 i ft. Exlenfiue knowledge in the great things of the 
 
 gofpeL 
 
 KNOWLEDGE is an efTential article in a great 
 and good man. For the foul to be without knowledge, 
 it is not good.* And there is no knowledge fo 
 fublime, fo enlarging, and enobling to the foul, as 
 the knowledge of God, and the things of God ; 
 the knowledge of Chrift, and the way to falvation 
 by him : And this is life eternal, to know thee the 
 only true God, and fofv.sChrift whom thou. haftfent.\ 
 The learned and great apoflle Paul, who mufi 
 be allowed to be a good judge of knowledge and 
 B learning, 
 
 * Prov. XIX. 2. f John XVII. 3.
 
 to A Funeral Sermon on the 
 
 learning, as to the excellency and ufefulnefs of it, 
 declares that he counted all things but lofs, for the 
 excellency of the knowledge of Chrifl Jefus his 
 Lord.* In the chriftian fcheme of falvation, which 
 is contained in the holy fcriptures, are hid all the 
 treafures of divine wifdom and knowledge ; confe- 
 quently it mud needs be a very laudable attainment, 
 to have a good and thorough acquaintance with 
 the holy fcriptures, thofe oracles of divine truth : 
 To be able not only tcrf|ecite the words of the holy 
 fcriptures ; but to fee and underftand the meaning 
 of the fame. It is very praife-worthy to be able 
 fo to fearch the fcriptures, as to compare tranfla- 
 rions \vi;.h the original ; and to compare fpiritual 
 things with fpiritual ; one portion of fcripture with 
 another ; fo as, inftead of being carried away with 
 the found of words, to gain the true fenfe and 
 meaning of the feveral places ; and thereby to gain 
 a clear and comprehenfive view of the gofpel fcheme 
 of falvation ; and fo of the various truths and duties 
 therein contained. 
 
 MOREOVER, this knowledge of ihe gofpel that 
 ii truly laudable, and would recommend to public 
 efteem, is a good acquaintance with the various 
 fenfes that have been put upon places of holy fcrip 
 ture; and fo the various fentiments, fyftems and 
 principles of chriftianity, that have or do prevail in 
 the world, whereby they may be able to put a mark 
 upon dangerous errors, which have been broach 
 ed by ignorant men, who have wrefted the holy 
 fcriptures; and to point out the truth as it is in, Jefus. 
 
 FURTHERMORE* 
 * Phil. in. g.
 
 Rev. Dr. WIGGLESWORTH. n 
 
 . FURTHERMORE, another very laudable point 
 of knowledge in the things of God, is to underhand 
 the ground and foundation of our holy religion j 
 and to get acquainted fo far both with the internal 
 and external evidence of the divine authority of the 
 holy fcriptures, and fo of the truth of chriftianity, 
 as to be able to convince gainfayers, and to vindicate 
 the glorious truths of the gofpel from the captious 
 cavils, or mere fubtle obje&ions ftarted by men of 
 corrupt ?ninds y given to perverfe difputings, and dejli- 
 tide of the truth : And to be able to fet in a ftrong 
 and convincing light, the arguments to prove the 
 holy fcriptures to be given by infpiration of God ; 
 and confequently that the gofpel fcheme of falva- 
 tion is built upon a fure foundation, upon which we 
 may fafely venture our fouls and the eternal concerns 
 of them. 
 
 Now, fuch an extenflve knowledge of the 
 gofpel, and fo of the foundations of our holy religion, 
 is fuch a neceflary and excellent attainment, that 
 thofe who make a laudable proficiency herein, 
 merit highly of the .church of God. Such men 
 have been in one age and another the pillars of 
 the church ; the external props by which the 
 church . has been kept from finking into utter igno 
 rance and infidelity. 
 
 sdly. Soundnefs of -principles ; adhering dofely to 
 the gofpel, 'without adding thereto, or diminijbing, 
 or varying therefrom, is very fraife-ivorthy. 
 
 B 2 FOR,
 
 12 A Funeral Sermon on the 
 
 FOR, altho' orthodoxy, or fcundnefs of principle?, 
 may be an uncertain phrafe, inafmuch as the va 
 rious fefts that are' in the world, lay claim to this 
 character ; yet, as chriftians of all denominations 
 profefs the gofpel to be the only fure and unerring 
 rule of faith and manners ; fo thofe principles 
 mutt be founded, which come the neareft to the 
 flandard. Confequently, thofe perfons who not 
 only profeffedly, but really endeavour to fquare 
 their faith and practice by the doctrines and pre 
 cepts of the gofpel, are to be had in honour. And 
 where this evidently appears to be the care and en 
 deavour of any perfons, fo as neither to preach, 
 publifh or vent any thing as a neceiTary article of 
 faith, but what is plainly demonflrated by the word 
 of God; it muft needs recommend them to the 
 church of God, which is built upon the founda 
 tion of the apoftles and prophets, Jefus Chrift being 
 the chief corner flone.* And therefore thofe 
 teachers who have fo much knowledge, wifdom 
 and humility, as not to be wife above what is 
 written, and make this their ccnflant inquiry, in 
 all their fearches after divine truths, what faith 
 the fcripture? and whenever they fpeak in away 
 of teaching, fpeak as the oracles of God ; and ap 
 peal to thofe written facred oracles, according to 
 the true genuine meaning of the fame, for the truth 
 of what they alTert, .are highly to be commended, 
 and deferve the praifes of all the churches of Chrift : 
 Which will appear by confidering the dreadful 
 errors, fuperftitions, corruptions, and idolatries, the 
 church fell into, when they departed from this 
 
 only 
 
 If, 39.
 
 Rev. Dr. WIGGLESWORTH. 13 
 
 only unerring rule, and fee up an infallible head 
 on earth ; and taught for do&rines the traditions 
 and commandments of men. 
 
 AND how well did thofe glorious worthies de- 
 ferve of the church of Chrift, who boldly and 
 courageoufly began a reformation, and ftrenuoufly 
 endeavoured to reduce the church to its original 
 foundation, the holy fcriptures? And howjuftly 
 are the names of thofe firfl reformers handed down 
 with honour throughout all the proteftant churches 
 in the world ? But, inafmuch as even the reformed 
 churches have not gotten fo compleatly upon the 
 original bafts as is to be defired ; it mud needs be 
 very praife-worthy for thofe who are fet up to be 
 teachers of others, to labour to fix them more and 
 more upon the gofpel foundation, without the par 
 ticular fchemes, fyftems, or inventions of men j or 
 indeed fo much as the expreffions of men in fuch 
 grand myflerious points, wherein ive know not bow 
 to order our fpeecb by reafon of darknefs. 
 
 . The gift of opening the holy fcriptures ; fet ting 
 forth the truths and duties contained therein, in 
 a true, diftintt and dear light, is what recom 
 mends teachers to the churches of the Lord Jefus. 
 
 THIS implies a capacious mind, a clear head, 
 extenfive knowledge, diftinft ideas, and reach of 
 thought, obtained, or improved, by much reading 
 and ftudy, a careful weighing matters, and laying 
 ihem together. And fcirely fuch natural endow 
 
 ments,
 
 14 A Funeral Sermon on the 
 
 ments, improved by clofe application to meditation 
 and reading, juftly claim the high efteem of the 
 churches of Chrift. And fuch will be refpe&ed 
 and honoured by all the lovers of truth, and the 
 diligent fmcere inquirers after it. How are perfons 
 inftrucled, and greatly edified, who let at the feet 
 of fuch learned doctors whofe ideas lie clear and dif- 
 tinct ; and what benefit have the written labours of 
 fuch men been to the chriftian world ? And how 
 have their learned cxpofitions, wherein they have 
 unfolded the holy fcriptures, and their other inge 
 nious and judicious difcourfes, brought and preferred 
 light and knowledge in the church ? And how have 
 the names and memories of fuch learned authors 
 been handed down and fpread abroad in the chrif 
 tian church, with high honour and efleem ? 
 
 ^thly. THE gift of confirming divine truths and 
 enforcing duties, in a flrong, convincing and 
 moving manner, jultly claims the praifes of all 
 chriilians. 
 
 THIS is a gift as ufeful and necefiary, in irs place, 
 as the former, for the church of Chrilh It is not 
 fufficient to fet truths and duties before perfons, 
 merely to enlighten their underftanding?, and en 
 large their minds ; but, as all divine truths have 
 reference to practice, to which there is a natural 
 backwardnefs, and great oppofition, from the world, 
 the things of the world, the corrupt cuftoms of the 
 \vorlJ, the enticements and the examples of finners ; 
 
 fo
 
 Rev. Dr. WIGGLESWORTH, 15 
 
 fo ihere needs \varm addrefTes to the confcience, 
 to the paffions and afFeclions of the foul, yea to all 
 the fprings of action. People need, not only to be 
 told their duty, and fhown what it is ; but to be 
 urged to it, and in a moving manner be expoftu- 
 lated with about it. Confequently, the compleat 
 preacher, or teacher, will have his eafy, clear and 
 plain inftru&ions warnTd and animated, as if his 
 tongue had been jufl touched with a /he coal from 
 of the altar. His writings will be pungent, as well 
 as clear and pertinent ; and all the great arguments 
 of the gofpei for a chriflian temper and practice, 
 will be fet in fuch array, as may ferve not only to 
 excite and engage the attention, but to roufe the 
 confcience, to enkindle the affections ; yea, and 
 with the concurring influence of the divine fpirir, 
 to perfuade the will, and convert the man. And 
 Oh ! how much is the church of God obliged to 
 fuch awakening preachers; and for fuch practical 
 and pachetic writings of theirs which are extant, 
 and lodged in chriftian families ! And what a multi 
 tude of precious faints will rife up at the judgment 
 and call fuch preachers and authors blefled, for the 
 blefled effects of their faithful labours upon their 
 fouls ? And with what refpeft and affection are 
 fuch faithful fervants of Chrift fpoken of among 
 the people of God, and how are their practical 
 Writings recommended, fpiead, and handed down 
 from one generation to another ? 
 
 5thly. A fpecial gift of difcerning of fpirits ; 
 accurately diflinguifhing between truth and 
 
 error ;
 
 1 6 A Funeral Sermon on the 
 
 error ; between greater and lejjer matters of 
 chriftianiry ; between things clear and plain, 
 and thofe that are doubtful ; between ejjentiah 
 and circumftantials'm religion. 
 
 THIS is a mod ufeful and even neceffary gift 
 for preachers and teachers of the gofpel ; and the 
 want of it has caufed the greatefl difturbances and 
 confufions in the church. Truth and error, altho' 
 eflenrially different from each other, yet oftentimes 
 pur on fuch fimilar appearances, that it requires a 
 {harp and penetrating eye to difcern the difference, 
 fo as to diftinguifh the truth from the error. 
 Error is oftentimes gilded over with fuch fpecious 
 and plaufible arguments, and communicated in fuch 
 artful and equivocal terms, that minifters, as well as 
 others, have fwallowed them down as truths ; and 
 only fome fingular gift of difcerning has been able 
 to difcover the error, and the danger thereof that 
 was couched therein^ 
 
 BUT then again, what fevere contefts have there 
 been among the churches of Chrifl ; and how have 
 they been thrown into feuds and quarrels ? How 
 have they loft their charity one for another ? 
 How have they feparated and withdrawn commu 
 nion from each other ? Yea, how have they in 
 their turns perfecuted one another even unto death ? 
 And al! this for want of difcerning between the 
 greater and the lefler matters of the gofpel, the 
 eflemials and only circumftantials of religion ! But 
 now, when God endows any of his fervants with 
 
 an
 
 Rev. Dr. WIGGLESWORTH. 17 
 
 an eminent fpirit of difcerning in thefe matters, fo 
 as to fee what faith that is which was once deli 
 vered to the faints, to be contended for ; and what 
 are matters of lefs importance, and not worth con 
 tending about ; what matter is this of thankfgiving 
 to God ? and how highly do fuch deferve of all 
 the churches, who give them to fee that the matters 
 in which they differ are not worth driving or 
 breaking charity about; and who are inflrumental 
 of perfuading chriflians, notwithflanding the little 
 differences in opinion and practice, to maintain cha 
 rity and communion one with another ? How de- 
 fervedly are they in the praife of all the churches 
 within their knowledge and influence, who are 
 able in any meafure, with the wifdom and difcerning 
 of the aportle Paul, to conciliate them in matters 
 of difference about leffer things, as he did, Rom. xiv. 
 about eating, or not eating certain meats, or ob- 
 ferving, and not obferving certain days ; concerning 
 which he advifes not to judge nor to defpife one 
 another ; but, being fully perfuaded in their own 
 minds, he would have them charitably to believe 
 as to each other, that they did what they thought 
 moil pleafing to Chrift. He that eateth, eateth to 
 the Lord ; for he gheth God thanks : He that eateth 
 nof, to the Lord he eateth nof, andgiveih God thanks, 
 
 6th ly, Zeal for the great truths and duties of 
 chriftianity ; but duly tempered with charity 
 and prudence, challenges high honour and refpeft 
 from the churches of Chrift. 
 
 C
 
 :8 A Funeral Sermon on the 
 
 . ALTHOUGH there is a blind furious zeal about 
 matters comparatively fmall, which is to be dreaded ; 
 yet there is a zeal that is truly laudable. // is good 
 to be zealoufly affeEled always in a good thing?* 
 And Chrift purifies to himfelf a peculiar people, 
 zealous of good works. \ How commendable muft 
 it be for teachers and preachers, who are fet for 
 the defence of the gofpel, to appear zealous, bold 
 and courageous for the truth, fo as to defend it 
 againft all the daring attempts of deifts and infidels, 
 and fuch like vile oppofers of chriftianity P Surely 
 the church of God is greatly indebted to thofe 
 chriftian heroes, who inftead of being aftiamed of 
 the gofpel of Chrift, or afraid to appear in his caufe, 
 have openly profeffed him before perfecuting kings 
 and emperors, and have facrificed their very lives in 
 the caufe ; and fubmitted to the moft cruel tortures 
 that men or devils could invent, rather than re 
 nounce the chriftian caufe ? Thefe glorious mar 
 tyrs are defervedly had in praife throughout all the 
 churches ; and their names had in everlafting re 
 membrance, whofe zeal and courage conquered the 
 heathen rage, and can fed the gofpel fo to fpread, 
 that it became a general obfervation that the blood 
 dj the riUitiji's ^as the feed of the church. 
 
 AND as to thofe who have not been called to 
 refift unto blood ; but yet have had a zeal to appear 
 openly in the defence of chriftianity, and of any of 
 its important truths and duties, they deferve very 
 highly of the church : For if it had not been for fuch 
 
 zealour 
 
 * Gal. IV. 18. f Tit. II. 14.
 
 Rev. Dr. WIGGLESWORTH. ly 
 
 zealous and careful watchmen upon the walls, ro give 
 faithful and feafonable warning, the church would 
 have been robbed of one important truth and duty 
 of chriftianity after another, till it would have been 
 ftript of every thing that is purely chriftian, and 
 carried back to the religion of the heathen, or 
 fomething worfe. 
 
 BUT then, a zeal that is truly commendable 
 will not be fevere and cruel, though it fhould have 
 power in its hand ; but is regulated by charity and 
 goodnefs. It is not a zeal that rafhly thinketh or 
 fpeaketh evil of others ; but being qualified with 
 love and charity, don't allow itfelf to think any 
 evil, without fufficient foundation for it; but hopeth 
 all things, and believeth all things it pofllbly can, 
 upon any good foundation, in favour of them ; 
 ready to put as favourable contractions upon their 
 fentiments and ways as they will poffibly bear; 
 This zeal is allb dire&ed by wifdom and pru 
 dence, carefully avoiding all rafhnefs and precipi 
 tancy, and every thing that is fierce and cruel, 
 which fiery zeal prompts to ; but wifely confiders 
 the perfons with whom it has to do, and the times and 
 
 circumflances of things. And now how much are 
 
 the churches indebted to fuch who though zealous 
 for God and his caufe, are candid and charitable, 
 prudent and cautious in all their meafures ? And 
 how are uproars in towns and churches flilled, 
 party rage and fury allayed, and all things brought 
 to peace an$ kept in it, by the happy influence of 
 fuch a temper . p 
 
 C 2 ythly.
 
 2o A Funeral Scrmvn on the 
 
 7th!y. Stedfaftnefs in the truths and ways of God 
 is highly commendable. 
 
 BY which I mean not a rigid fixednefs or inflexi 
 bility againft arguments fufficient to change our 
 minds ; for this would be obflinacy and perverfnefs, 
 rather than a rational or gracious ftedfaitnefs ; which 
 fledfaftnefs is oppofite to that ficklenefs of temper, 
 and wavering difpofition, that keeps men fo loofe 
 and unhinged, that they hardly know their own 
 minds, much lefs may others depend upon them. 
 
 Now fuch unflable fouls, liable as the weather 
 cock to be turned by the wind, and fo to be like 
 children toiTed to and fro by every wind of doc 
 trine, very much difparage their character. U ' nftablt: 
 as water ,t hey Jhall not excel!.* 
 
 WHEREAS the ftedfaft man is he, who having ex 
 amined the ground of his faith and praHce,and find 
 ing himfelf upon a good foundation, remains fixed 
 and fteady. He is not fuddenly moved by fophiftical 
 and fubtle arguments, or plaufible appear.mces of 
 things; but will examine and obfcrve things care-' 
 fully ; and not change his mind or conduct, till upon 
 a careful and thorough weighing of the matter, he 
 finds it reafonable. 
 
 AND furely it mud be highly to the commenda 
 tion of fuch as are appointed the guides and 
 inflru&ors of others, that they be firm and fleady 
 in their principles, and able to defend them. And 
 
 theft: 
 t Ccn. XLV. 4.
 
 Rev. Dr. WIGGLESWORTH. 21 
 
 thefe churches are greatly indebted to fuch fteady 
 and faithful guides, to whom, under God, it is 
 very much owing that they have hitherto been 
 preferred upon their foundation ; when they have 
 been fo vehemently aflaulted by ignorant and 
 illiterate intruders, who have thrown many of the 
 churches into confufion, and threatned their over 
 throw. If it had not been for a number of 
 fteady chriftians, minifters and fpiritual guides (of 
 whom the late deceafed among us was an eminent 
 one) thefe churches would have been much fhaken, 
 if not overthrown ; therefore fuch juftly claim a 
 praife thro' all the churches. 
 
 otbly. I may add that diligence, conflamy and affi* 
 vity are very recommending qualities. 
 
 THESE added to the forementioned qualities, 
 render a man very illuftrious, and fpread his name 
 and fame throughout the churches, far and near. 
 It was by the diligence, the activity, and the abun 
 dant labours of fome upon facred, and others upon 
 ecclefiaftical record, that they have rendered them- 
 felves famous in all ages of the church, even to this 
 day. But I may not enlarge. Therefore, 
 
 pthly. Sincerely aiming to honour God with all his 
 gifts, and carefully endeavouring to exemplify 
 all the graces and virtues of the chrijtian in his 
 own life, mufl needs recommend to the praife 
 of all the churches wko Jball fee and hear of 
 the fame. 
 
 THIS
 
 22 A Funeral Sermon on the 
 
 THIS is the crowning point of any great man's 
 character. It is THIS that makes the man's face 
 to flitne. It is THIS that puts a luftre upon all 
 the rich endowments of nature, or of education. 
 It is THIS that adorns the man in every office, in 
 every ftation and relation of life. It is THIS that 
 puts a glofs, yea a real beauty and excellency upon 
 all performances. Then it is that minifters and 
 other do&ors of divinity recommend their difcourfes, 
 and fet forth the beauty and excellency of divine 
 truths, and give a certain force and energy to them, 
 viz. when they exemplify their do&rines and their 
 counfels in their own temper and carriage. When 
 minifters and fpiritual guides live as the gofpel 
 teaches them, and as they teach others from the 
 gofpel, evcnfoberly, and righteously, and god/y,'m the 
 world : Then, I fay, they do in an eminent man 
 ner adorn the dodtrine of God our Saviour. THIS 
 will caufe their lights to Jbine before men ; and 
 others feeing and hearing of their good 'works ; of 
 their exemplary piety, holinefs and goodnefs, will 
 not only have them in great reputation and honour, 
 but will be induced to be followers of them ; and 
 from their bright example to glorify our Father 
 which is in heaven. 
 
 II. LET us now proceed to confiderwhat a diftin- 
 
 gui/bing favour and blefjed attainment it is, to 
 
 have fuch endowments, natural or acquired, and 
 
 fuch a gracious temper and behaviour, as juftly to 
 
 claim the praifes of all the churches. 
 
 IT
 
 Re*u. Dr. WIGGLESWORTH. 23 
 
 IT is an high commendation which is here given 
 of this brother minifter in the text, That his praife 
 in the gofyel 'was throughout all the churches, inti 
 mating hereby that there was fomething uncommon 
 in him ; and that God had enabled him, in a very 
 diftinguilhing manner, to recommend himfelf to 
 the high efteem and praife of all the churches ; 
 which fuppofes the forementioned, and fuch like 
 accompliiliments, in an eminent degree, were found 
 in him. His praife in all the churches, is not to be 
 underflood as if he was only a very popular man, 
 who by voice and gefture, and flow of words, gained 
 the vulgar popular applaufe ; but that he had fuch 
 real excellencies and accomplishments as recommend 
 ed him to the apoflles and minifters, and to all the 
 wife and underftanding and judicious among them ; 
 who were able to difcern the things that differ. 
 
 AND that it is a diftinguifhing favour and 
 bleffed attainment to have fuch endowments of 
 mind, and fuch other good qualities, as juftly re 
 commend to the high efleem of all wife and good 
 men, will appear, if we briefly confider a few things. 
 
 i ft. That they are only great and good qualities 
 which 'will recommend to the efteem and refpeft 
 of wife, great and good men. 
 
 THE. illiterate vulgar and weak people maybe 
 carried away with noife and {how, and fome little 
 popular arts, without any thing fubftantially good 
 and excellent. The brother in our texc was 
 
 not
 
 24 -d Funeral Sermon on the 
 
 not fuch an one : But his qualifications were fuch 
 as recommended him to the wife and the belt 
 judges of true worth : Confequently, there mult 
 have been excellent endowments and fuperiour 
 qualities found in him, to recommend to univerfal 
 
 efteem. And now it muft needs be a great 
 
 favour and fpecial blefling, to be fo richly endowed 
 as to gain, and that very defervedly, an univerfal 
 efteem. Every good gift, and every perfect gift, 
 is from above, and cometh down from the Father 
 of lights. He is the former of our bodies, and the 
 Father of our fpirits ; and he forms and unites 
 them together in a manner we know not how ; 
 from whence arife the various capacities, geniufes 
 and inclinations among the children of men. And 
 he who has the difpofing of all things in providence, 
 orders out the various advantages, and gives the 
 various inclinations to improve the fame, for the 
 enlarging the mind, and enriching it with a greater 
 variety of ufeful knowledge. And whenever their 
 natural powers and acquired knowledge are fancti- 
 fied, and converted to the greateft and beft pur- 
 pofes, it is by the grace of God. And therefore 
 when there are fuch diftinguifliing endowments of 
 nature, providence, and grace, found in any, as 
 give them a diftinguifliing efteem among the wife 
 and good, it muft be looked upon as a diftinguifli 
 ing favour to fuch, and ftiould be acknowledged by 
 them and their friends to the glory of God. For 
 what haveany which may claim diftinguifliing efteem, 
 but what they have received ? and therefore, whilfl 
 fuch receive honour and praife of men, they ihould 
 give the glory to God. sdly.
 
 Rev. Dr. \VIGGLESWORTH. 25 
 
 idly. It is a rare thing to have thefe good qualifies 
 fo united in the fame fubj eft, and info confpicu- 
 ous a manner as to gain univerfal ejleem and 
 reputation. 
 
 THOSE good qualities which deferve commen 
 dation and praife, are for the moft part difperfed 
 among the children of men. To this man is given 
 one eminent gift, to that man is given another. Some 
 have iuperiour natural powers ; but no education to 
 cultivate and enlarge them. Others have good na 
 tural powers, and good education ; but they have 
 violent paffions, fuddenly moved and carried to great 
 excefs ; befides other bad natural tempers. Others 
 again have all thefe advantages, good capacities, 
 good temper, good education to the great en 
 largement of their minds ; but no grace to fanftify 
 them, and fit them for their mafler's ufe ; and 
 fo they cannot be in that high efteem in the 
 churches, and with the faithful in Chrifl Jefus. 1 
 But then again, fuppofmg the man excellent for nar 
 tural powers and for great improvement of his mind 
 by education, and a good natural temper, and all 
 fan&ified by divine grace ; yet, alafs ! how often has 
 the chara&er of fuch an one been ilurred by fome 
 fin or folly that he has fallen into . p which has been 
 as the dead fly in the ointment of the apothecary t 
 that fendeth forth a ft inking favour, and brings a 
 blot and difgrace upon him that is in reputation for 
 ".vifdom and honour* 
 
 LA STL Y here, There are fome excellent perfons 
 who upon all accounts deferve and have the high 
 D commendations 
 
 * Ecclsf. x. i.
 
 26 A Funeral Sermon on the 
 
 commendations of all who are acquainted with 
 them : But they are not much known ; their light 
 is as it were put under a buftiel ; their lot is in fome 
 remote and retired corner of the vineyard j and fo 
 they live and die pretty much in obfcurity. So that, 
 upon the whole, to have perfons of fuch fuperiour 
 accomplishments, fan<ftified and adorned by divine 
 grace, free from any blot or blemim in their cha- 
 rafter, and thefe placed as a city fet upon a hill, to 
 be feen and known of all men, is a very rare thing, 
 and confequently to be taken notice of and acknow 
 ledged as a diftinguiihing favour and bleffing. 
 
 jdly. It is a fpecial favour, as it gives to fuch 
 great advantages for being eminently ufeful in 
 the 'world. 
 
 REPUTATION and efteem give a man great 
 advantage for doing good ; and the higher and 
 more extenfiVe his chara&er rifes, fo much the 
 greater opportunity it gives him of being ufeful 
 to mankind. The fentiments of fuch a man will 
 be much regarded ; his judgment will be highly 
 efteemed ; his counfel will be fought after and 
 hearkened unto ; his advice on particular points 
 of difficulty will come with weight ; and his ex 
 ample will be very influential ; and being graci- 
 oufly inclined to do all the good he can, it is not 
 eafy to think how extenfively ufeful fuch a man is 
 to the family, to the town, and to every fociety with 
 which he is connected ; yea, and to the church of 
 
 God in general. And now the more ufeful God 
 
 make*
 
 Rev. Dr. WIGGLESWORTH. 27 
 
 makes us in the world, fo much the more favour he 
 ihows to us, and fo much the more honour he 
 confers upon us. 
 
 4thly. As the man highly and defervedly efteemed 
 implies the faithful and the wifefervant ; fo he 
 will receive the diftinguiflnng rewards cffuch. 
 
 WE are fpeaking of men who are defervedly 
 efteemed and honoured as the faithful fervants of 
 Chrift; and as fuch they will be not only efteemed 
 and praifed through the churches of Chrift, but 
 they fhall have the high approbation of their judge; 
 and from high efteem among the faints on earth, 
 lhall be received to glory, honour and immortality 
 in heaven ; and by how much they have diftin- 
 guifhed themfelves, according to their abilities and 
 opportunities, in the ferviceof God, tor the honour 
 of Chrifl and the good of men, fo much the 
 greater will be their reward in heaven ; and fo 
 much more open and abundant entrance {hall be 
 miuiflred to them into the everlafting kingdom. All 
 which ferves to iliow what a fpecial favour it is to 
 have fuperiour abilities, fo fanftified and faithfully 
 improved, as fhall be not only with reputation and 
 honour in the church of God j but with the appro 
 bation of our judge. For this is the way to have that 
 bleiTed euge full of honour, comfort and happinefs 
 pronounced upon us : Well done good and faithful 
 enter Into the joy of thy Jjord,* 
 
 D 2 LET 
 
 Matt. XXV. 21.
 
 A Funeral Sermon on the 
 
 LET us now proceed to make fome improvement 
 and application of thefe meditations. 
 
 I ft. WE learn from what has been faid that God 
 is thankfully to be acknowledged by all whom 
 he largely endows with fuch gifts and graces t 
 as deferi>edly give them great efteem and an 
 high character in the church of God. 
 
 THE gifts of nature, even all the powers of the 
 mind, with the natural genius, difpofition and tem 
 per ; and all the advantages for improvement and 
 enlargement ; and all that virtuous and gracious 
 turn of mind, with good behaviour ; and all the 
 laudable aftions and performances, whereby pcrfons 
 recommend themfelves to the high efteem of others, 
 are from God even from the very firft to the 
 laft : And that very honour and efteem that arifes 
 from hence comes of him ; and is a favour of divine 
 providence thankfully to be acknowledged to God's 
 glory, and improved to his honour. 
 
 GOD'S giving a man high efteem and reputation, 
 gives him great advantages of doing much for the 
 honour of God and the good of mankind : And in 
 this way he is to exprefs his thankfulnefs to God 
 for any fuchdiftinguifhing favour. The fentiments, 
 the principles, the counfels, the admonitions, the 
 examples of fuch will be weighty and influential, 
 in proportion to the character they bear, and the 
 efteem and honour they are had in, among mankind. 
 Surely then it concerns fuch to fhow their thank- 
 
 fylnefs
 
 Rev. Dr. WIGGLESWORTH. 29 
 
 flilnefs to God for his diltinguilhing favours to 
 them ; by being fo much the more careful in all 
 their fayings, and in all their writings they fend 
 forth into the world : And fo much the more cir- 
 cumfpeft in all their conduct, becaufe the eyes 
 of people naturally fix upon them : Nothing is 
 more common than for perfons to defend themfelves 
 in that which is ill, and unguarded, and fo cannot 
 otherwife be excufed; by faying it is no more 
 than fuch and fuch who bear the beft of characters 
 have faid or done. Confequently fuch men whom 
 God favours with high reputation and character, 
 cannot better (how their gratitude to him for the 
 fame, than by a mod guarded, circumfpe<ft, exem 
 plary converfation, diligently employing their gifts, 
 and improving their intereft in men's hearts for the 
 honour of God, the increafe of religion, and fo 
 the befl good of mankind. 
 
 2dly. THE fubjeft before us teaches us That it is 
 but a laudable ambition, to endeavour jujlly to 
 deftrve a unroerfal good characler. 
 
 THE apoflle fpeaks of it as a high commenda 
 tion of the brother in our text, that he was had in 
 praife throughout all the churches, and confequently 
 it was to his honour, that he laboured fo to acquit 
 himfelf as to merit fuch univerfal praife. 
 
 THE love of fame or praife is a natural paffion 
 formed in man to ferve fome great nnd good pur- 
 pofo, and to prompt men to labour to excell in. 
 
 things
 
 go ^4 Funeral Sermon on the 
 
 things great and good : And this paflion under due 
 regulation ferves as a noble and powerful fpur to 
 great and good, but difficult and dangerous enter- 
 prizes. But this as well as the other ufeful pafllons 
 of the foul is degenerated and corrupted j and fo is 
 apt to run into extremes. 
 
 WITH fome this laudable ambition degenerates 
 into fordid meannefs, and a criminal dif regard of 
 character ; they are carelefs what men fay or think 
 of them j and are fo negligent of the good opinion 
 of others, that they will do nothing to deferve their 
 good efteem ; and fet fo light by a good name 
 (though it be better than great riches) that they 
 will facrifke it, and expofe themfelves to the con 
 tempt of all wife and good men, for the fake of 
 gratifying fome filthy and brutifh luft. 
 
 THE other extreme is, when this laudable Am 
 bition degenerates into pride : Some men are more 
 concerned to have praife and honour than to deferve 
 it; and indulge fuch an exceilive love of fame as 
 to take iinjuftifiable methods for the gaining it. 
 Inftead of obferving the wife man's rule,* Let ano 
 ther man praife thee, and not thine own month ; a 
 ftr anger, and not thine own lips, they will praife 
 themfelves ; and will do every thing in an oftenta- 
 tious vain-glorious manner, that they may have praife 
 and glory of men j to the neglect of fuch duties 
 and fervices as are out of the fight of men ; they aim 
 only at the appearance and not the reality of good- 
 nefs ; and will vilify others to exalt themfelves, 
 and fecretly wound other mens characters to ad 
 vance their own. 
 
 B'JT 
 
 * Frov. XXVII. 2.
 
 Rev. Dr. WIGGLESWORTH. 31 
 
 BUT now happy is the man, who has wifdom 
 and grace to fteer between thefe two extremes ; 
 who has a due regard to character, but endeavours 
 to deferve it, as well as hav.e it; who defires 
 and feeks no further praife or commendation than 
 he has juft claim to ; and who endeavours to acquit 
 himfelf faithfully in every office and relation of 
 life he fuftains, and leaves it with God to give or 
 with-hold the praife. 
 
 3dly. What a great blejjlng to a people, thankfully 
 to be acknowledged, when God raifes up perfons, 
 and qualifies them after fuch a manner as t9 
 deferve the praifes and high commendations of all 
 the churches ; even of all wife, ferious and 
 good men. 
 
 THESE are indeed the excellent ones in the earth. 
 They are the fa It of the earth. Thefe arc the 
 light of the world. They are the pillars of the 
 churches, and the glory of Chrift ; and the means of 
 preferving the churches from finking into ignorance 
 and degenerating into corruption. It is by fuch 
 men's being raifed up in one age of the church, 
 and another, that the truths and principles of 
 chriflianity, according to the fcriptures, have been 
 preferved, and even refcued and feparated from the 
 dregs of ignorance and corruption, which the 
 church in fomc former ages was funk into ; and 
 the truth as k is in Jefus, and in his gofpel, made 
 to {hine forth, with fuch a degree of clearnefs as 
 
 now
 
 32 A Funeral Sermon on the 
 
 now it does. Surely the churches of God are 
 greatly indebted to fuch able and faithful men. 
 But O ! what obligations are chriftians under to 
 God, and to the Lord Jefus Chrifl, who has, from 
 time to time, raifed up fuch men, and enriched 
 them with fuch excellent gifts ! Surely it becomes 
 chriftians to be thankful for the gifts beftowed 
 upon others, as well as upon themfelves : For fu- 
 periour gifts beftowed upon any perfons are for 
 the public good ; and therefore we fhould all re 
 joice in them, and be thankful for them. 
 
 4thly. CONSEQUENTLY, the death and departure 
 of perfons of difli nguijhing 'worth and character 
 ought to be taken notice of as a public lofs, and 
 the hearts of people duely affetted therewith. 
 
 As for thofe whofe praife is in all the churches, 
 when God takes them away by death, it becomes 
 churches to be humble under his holy hand ; and 
 I believe you will every one agree that God is 
 calling us at this time to take a folemn and hum 
 ble notice of fuch a difpenfation of his holy provi 
 dence the laft week, in the death and departure of 
 the Rev. Dr. WIGGLES WORTH, Hoi/is Profeffor 
 of Divinity in the College, whofe remains were 
 interred the laft evening. The juft claim he had 
 to the high commendation and character in my 
 text, led me to the fubjecl: ; he being a reverend 
 brother, whofe praife in the gofpel is defervedly 
 had throughout the churches ; yea, we may apply 
 
 the
 
 Rev. Dr. WIGGLESWORTH. 33 
 
 the character of Demetrius unto him, of whom it 
 is fa id, That he hath good report of all men, and 
 tf the truth itfelf.* 
 
 THE great former of all things, who defigned 
 him for a very important ftation of life, relating 
 to his gofpel kingdom, formed him originally with 
 many very fuperiour powers of the mind, diflin- 
 guifhingly fitted for fiich a fervice. Akho' God 
 gave him but a {lender conftitution of body, yet he 
 was very liberal to him in the various faculties of 
 his foul, which perhaps were promoted and brought 
 forth to greater advantage by the tendernefs and 
 delicacy of his bodily frame. So that in his very 
 make and conftitution there was fuch an extenfive- 
 nefs and reach of thought, (pch a quicknefs and 
 clearnefs of apprehenfion, fuch a foundnefs of judg 
 ment, fuch an acutenefs and ftrength of reafoning, 
 fuch accuracy of expreffion ; and all thefe accompa 
 nied with fuch a calm, fedate and difpailionate temper 
 as are rarely to be met with in the fame fubjecl:. 
 
 HAVING had the advantage of a liberal edu 
 cation, he enlarged and ftorcd his mind with trea- 
 fures of ufeful knowledge. And as he purpofed, 
 by the will of God, to employ his life in the 
 gofpel miniitry, fo divinity, and the things of the 
 gofpel, and thofe which would ferve to illuftrate 
 and confirm the fame, were the fubjecls that he 
 chiefly employed his mind hi the ftudy of. And 
 altho' he flood candidate for the gofpel miniftry, 
 and went on in occafional preaching for fome years; 
 E in 
 
 * III. Ep. John 12 ver,
 
 in which he gave to all, but efpecially to the 
 more learned and judicious, very ample tokens of 
 his fuperiour abilities and thorough acquaintance 
 with facred things ; yet it appeared in a little time, 
 by the courfe of providence, that God had another 
 and very important bufmefs in referve for him : 
 Namely, that inflead of being confined to teach 
 and minifter to one fmgle congregation of common 
 chriflians, he fhould be an inftruftor of all the 
 young candidates for the gofpel miniftry, and train 
 them up in the great doftrines and principles of 
 chriftianity ; and fo form and fit them to go forth 
 into the feveral congregations of the Lord, and 
 preach the pure truths of the gofpel to them ; and 
 fo to have it as his fpecial bufmefs, to teach thofc 
 who were to be teacjiers and preachers to others. 
 
 To bring about this important event, be 
 hold! at that very time, God raifed up a mod 
 generous benefactor to the college, viz. the late 
 worthy Mr. THOMAS HOLLIS, merchant, of 
 London ; who among his many pious and charitable 
 benefa&ions to the college, founded a profeflbrfhip 
 for divinity ; making the fame known to the cor 
 poration, defiring them to name fome perfon to him 
 proper for that fervice. Accordingly, the diftin- 
 guifhing abilities of Mr. Wigglefworth were fo 
 confpicuous, that he was unanimoufly nominated 
 and appointed to that office ; in which he has, 
 thro' the great goodnefs of God, very laudably, 
 yea with diftinguifhiug honour, officiated for more 
 than forty two years ; and fo has abundantly an- 
 fwered the high recommendatory character given 
 
 of
 
 Rev. Dr. WIGGLESWORTH. 35 
 
 of him by one of the corporation, and in their 
 name, to his worthy patron. # 
 
 AND by fuch a faithful and acceptable difchargc 
 of this office it is more efpecially that his praife comes 
 to be in all the churches : For, altho' his occafional 
 preaching and his printed works have fpread his fame ; 
 yet it was by the conftant attendance upon the duties 
 of his office, that his praife has been diffufed thro' 
 E 2 thefe 
 
 * " There is but one thing more, Sir, which I have now to 
 add, but it is a very great one ; the nomination of a per- 
 fon to you, to be your firft profefTor. There is lately 
 returned to, and is now reliding in the college, a very 
 accomplifhed perfon for the office, in our joint opinion 
 and judgment, Mr. Edward tt'igglefworth, who in the 
 year I7iopaffed his firft degree with us, and has ever 
 fmce diligently applied himfelf to the learned ftudies, 
 and to the ftudy of divinity more efpecially. He is a 
 perfon of known and exemplary virtue, piety, literature, 
 modeity, meeknefs, and other chriftian ornaments. His 
 public exercifes in the pulpit difcover a Iblid judgment, 
 a clean Itile, a clear method, a bright and llrong thought, 
 and a facility or aptnefs to teach : And it now appears 
 to us as if Providence may have referved him for fuch a 
 fervice as this now before us ; which we apprehend may 
 fuit him in all refpects, excepting his low opinion of 
 himfelf; yet neither is he wanting in gravity, wifdom, 
 and a fpirit of government and authority, which may be 
 neceflary to command the reverence of others to him, in 
 any office he may be called to." 
 
 Vid. Life and Charatle r of Dr. Colman, p. 54,55. 
 
 Betides the profefforfhip of divinity, the above named Mr. 
 Hollis founded a profeflbrlhip of mathematicks, of natural 
 and experimental philofophy; eftabliihed ten fcholar- 
 fhips ; furniflied the college with a coftly and valuable 
 apparatus ; and fome or other of that worthy name and 
 
 family
 
 3 6 -^ Funeral Sermon on the 
 
 thefc churches : For he being continued, by the 
 great goodnefs of God, in the profeffor's chair for 
 fo many years, mod by far of ihe miniflers of this 
 and of fome neighbouring provinces, have been 
 trained up in their theological ftudies by and under 
 him ; who, I doubt not, do with one confent agree 
 to do him honour, as he who by his public and 
 private lectures, and perfonal conferences, has given 
 great light to them in the things of the gofpel ; 
 and done a great deal to edablifli them in many 
 important points of chriflianity. So in this way 
 his eminent gifts became of public ufe, and are as 
 it were, by their miniflry, tranfmitted to the feveral 
 churches of the land. And I believe his praife is 
 fo in thefe churches, efpecially with the minifters 
 of them, that they would with one voice declare 
 that they knew not any, who would have more, if 
 fo compleatly, filled that chair as he did. 
 
 IF we confider him in the government of the 
 college, and confulting for its welfare, he was a 
 
 very 
 
 family have, from time to time, for more than forty years 
 paft, been teftifying their pious and generous regards to 
 the college. And the prefent worthy Mr. Thomas Hollis, 
 of London, pofTcffed abundantly of the fame excellent fpirit, 
 and kind regard to the college, which recommended and 
 endeared his great uncle to us, has fmce the late deltruc- 
 tion of the library and apparatus by fire, fent towards the 
 reparation of that lofs, a very large collection of valuable 
 books, to the amount of fome hundreds flerling. 
 The Lord be praifed for that compaffionate, benevolent, and 
 liberal fpirit he has ftirred up towards the college of late ; 
 And may all its kind and generous benefactors, whether 
 in Great- Britain or amongft ourlelves, be abundantly re 
 warded with the bleffings of divine providence and grace.
 
 Rev. Dr. WIGGLESWORTH. 37 
 
 very ufeful member, not only confidered in his con 
 nection with the prefident and tutors, in the imme 
 diate government of the fludents ; but as one of the 
 corporation of the college. For, altho' his hardnefs 
 of hearing was a great difficulty to him when debates 
 were carried on, yet things being made known to 
 him (to have his thoughts upon them) there always 
 appeared in him fuch an accuracy of thought, fuch 
 a wifdom and judicioufnefs in his obfervations, as 
 were ever of great weight with us. Which I am 
 able to fpeak from my own obfervation, having had 
 the honour and pleafure of fitting with him at thac 
 board for more than forty years. 
 
 AND fuch was the efteem the learned had of 
 his knowledge, fagacity, and foundnefs of judgment, 
 that he was much confulted in doubtful and difficult 
 cafes ; and we never thought a controverfy in 
 better hands than when he was perfuaded to un 
 dertake it. And altho* he was for defending and 
 fupporting the truth, and had an acutenefs, whereby 
 he could be keen in expofing the weaknefs of his 
 oppofers; yet chriftian candour and charity was 
 his fliining character ; who went great lengths in his 
 charitable opinion of thofe who were fincere and 
 honed in their differing fentiments from him. 
 
 IN his family relations he was very exemplary: 
 He was a tender and careful husband j a wife as 
 well as affectionate father ; and a kind matter. God 
 vifited him with fore afflictions in his family, in 
 many forrowful deaths, and in fore fickneffes and of 
 long continuance. But during fuch a feries of 
 
 troubles. God enabled him to exhibit a bright ex- 
 
 
 
 amnle
 
 38 A Funeral Sermon on the 
 
 ample of patience and humble fubmiffion to the will 
 of God; and even fo much fedatenefs and com- 
 pofednefs of mind, that any one coming in to dif- 
 courfe with him upon any point, would hardly 
 perceive by him that there was any trouble' in his 
 'houfe. And he found it was good to hope, and 
 quietly wait for the falvation of God : For God 
 has been pleafed of late to Ihift the fcene, and re- 
 ftore the voice of health and falvation, in a good 
 meafu r e, to his children; which I doubt not they 
 take notice of with thankfulnefs ; and efpecially 
 that their tender father lived to fee them under fuch 
 comfortable circumflances before he left the world. 
 
 HE was a prudent, peaceable, friendly and kind 
 neighbour; ready to every good work of piety and 
 charity, as the poor and others can teftify : And we 
 all are witneffes, and God alfo, how holily, and 
 juftly, and unblameably, he behaved himfelf thro 1 
 the Xvhole courfe of his life among us. 
 
 AND now mark the perfefl man, and behold the 
 upright ; for the end of that man is peace. His 
 death, like his life, was fedate and calm, without 
 any furprize or agitation of fpirit. He manifefled 
 to me, the day before he expired, " That if God 
 " had any further fervice for him to do he fhould 
 " be glad to live : But he was refigned to the will 
 " of God.'* And when I aiked him, whether his 
 faith and hope remained flrong and fteady ? he 
 anfwered me to this purpofe, " He thought he 
 " could fay that in fome good meafure he had 
 " walked before God in truth and with a perfeft 
 " heart : And altho' there had been many defeats 
 
 " and
 
 Rev. Dr. WIGGLESWORTH. 39 
 
 " and failings in his life, yet he hoped and believed 
 " that thro' Chrifl he ihould be accepted." And 
 fo we all believe, and are perfuaded concerning him. 
 
 AND now what belongs to all of us, but to labour 
 to be duly affe&ed with the death of an eminent 
 faint, and of fuch a diilinguiflied character ? 
 
 SURELY 'the college has great reafon to lament 
 the death of fuch a worthy, well accompliftied and 
 faithful profeflbr. 
 
 AND all the churches in the land have reafon to 
 lament the death of him whofe praife has been in 
 them. And may not only the fludents who refide 
 at college, but all the miniflers thro' the land, who 
 have been trained up under him, remember how 
 they have received and heard, and hold fad the 
 faithful and the good word they have received at 
 his mouth. And may we all unite in humble fer 
 vent prayer, that the God of the fpirits of all flefli, 
 and with whom is the refidue of the fpirit, would 
 raife up and turn the eyes of the governors of the 
 college to a fucceflbr in all refpe&s fitted for that 
 important flation. 
 
 MAY the children of the deceafed be fupported 
 under fuch a bereaving difpenfation of divine pro 
 vidence ; and may a double portion of that good 
 fpirit which was in their father, and in their other 
 pious anceftors, defcend and red upon them ; and 
 may they be very eminent bleffings in the feveral 
 flations and fervices that God ailigns to them ; and, 
 if it may be the will of God, as great bleffings to the 
 college as their excellent father has been. 
 
 MAY
 
 40 ^ Funeral Sermon. 
 
 MAY I myfelf, and this whole church and con 
 gregation, be deeply affefted with the extin&ionof 
 this burning and fliining light, whofe devout pre- 
 fence has for fo many years graced this aflembly ; 
 and by whofe kind labours, inftruftive, judicious and 
 accurate difcourfes, we have been often entertained 
 and edified ; to think we fhall fee his face and hear 
 his voice no more. 
 
 MAY thofe of us who have for a long courfeof 
 years been concerned with the deceafed in tranfaft- 
 ing the various affairs of the college, deeply lay 
 to heart the great breach which by his death is 
 made upon the government of that fociety : And 
 may God appear in great mercy to be. the fpeedy 
 repairer of the breach. 
 
 FINALLY. May we all be quickened by this 
 holy providence to be up and doing ; improving our 
 time, and our various talents, to the befl advantage, 
 working the works of him who hath fent us, whilft 
 it is day ; for the night of death cometh, wherein 
 no man can work. 
 
 AND may thofe of us who are much about the 
 age of our deceafed friend and brother, be excited 
 to labour to be in a&ual readinefs for our own de 
 parture. Surely the voice of this providence is 
 the voice of Chrift to us in thofe words, Lukexii. 
 35 37. with which I conclude. Let your loins 
 be girded about, and your lights burning ; and ye 
 yourfehes like unto men who wait for their Lord. 
 EleJJed are thofe fervants whom the Lord when he 
 cometh Jball fnd watching. AM E N.
 
 IN OBITUM 
 
 EDVARDI WIGGLES WORTH, S.T.P. 
 
 Q.U A M, 
 
 APUD COLLEGIUM HARVARDINUM> 
 INTER EFFERENDUM, 
 
 HABUIT 
 
 JOSEPHUS TAYLOR, 
 
 Confultiffimus vir omnis DIVINI atque humani juris, 
 quern juvenum xmulantium ftudia coetus habuifTe conftat," 
 
 T. Livu, 1. i. 18.
 
 
 
 

 
 [ 3 ] 
 
 ORATIO FUNEBRIS 
 
 ACTUM eft! vitam perfecit WIGGLES- 
 WORTH abfolvitque mortalera ! Sic voluit 
 Pater omnipotens.- Fautores virtutis ac 
 humani generis amantes, vita defuncti, recordatione 
 uti fempiterna vigeant, a viventibus repetere prope 
 fuo jure debent. Grams quidem et animus monet, 
 inhumanum, quo tempore talium corpora terra con- 
 dantur, eodera et memoriam oblivione deleri. Hoc 
 fi debitura ulli poflulandum fuiflet, cui reftius quam 
 ei, cujus funebria jufta jam nunc facimus ? At tem- 
 poris exiguitas, rigor hiemis, atque juventus mea, 
 quo minus oinnes perpulchras viri illius venerandi, 
 cujus reliquiae fuper iftud trifle feretrum ponuntur, 
 virtutes etiam leviter attingam, aut moeftis cognatis 
 amicifque debitas adhibeam coiifolationes, vetant. 
 
 ALIIS
 
 C 4 I 
 
 ALII s liceat, aulaeis retraftis, mores in confpe&u 
 ponere fuaviflimos, qui inde ab initio eum ad finem 
 ufque vitas praeclarum reddidere. Penes alios fit 
 arbitrium illecebras depingendi eas, quce intimo 
 fermoni erant decori ; eorumque, quibufcum ipfi 
 Confuetudo erar, corda conciliarunt. Alii delineent 
 id virtumm fidus quod pe&us illuftravit : Horum in 
 munera non mihi eft in ammo irreprare ; et hanc ob 
 caufam plurima vitas omamenta filentio pra?tereo. 
 
 ECCE finis mortalium univerforum ! En viri 
 cxitus honeftiffimi integerrimique, redimitus oliva ! 
 Afpicite reliquias viri, non folum de academia, fed 
 de republica etiam optiine merjti ! quern vivum 
 omnes boni in fummo habebant honore; quern 
 mortuura fummo moerore iugem. 
 
 Quis exuvias iftius, jam quidem numero caelitum 
 adfcripti, confpicere poteft, qui non fimul in me- 
 moriam revocet, quas facukates infigues, qua^ r.obi- 
 liffima? virtutes per rotam vitam effuiferint ? Ii?, 
 qua fane doftum efHciunt, aliis fere omnibus longe 
 praeftitit. In illo acerrimum ingeniuiii, mens faga- 
 ciffima, tenax memoria, rerum re<ftifiime ccfliman- 
 darum poteflas eximie claruerunt. Omni ex parte 
 eruditus erat. Vetcrum periius linguarum. In 
 hiftoria tarn civili quam ecclefiaftic?. verfatiilimus. 
 Omnes denique, quibus vel minima cum profeinone 
 fi)4 intercept cognatio, fcicntias penitus calluir. 
 
 Vi
 
 [ S ] 
 
 Vi autem et acumine difceptandi prae caeteris eni- 
 tuit. Hac praefcrtim in re, fummo orbis literati 
 confenfu, tenuit primas, mirumque in modum re- 
 luxit. Hac vero facultate cum plurimum valerer, 
 turn minirae dogmaiicus ; neque, quas propofitiones 
 in medium protulerit, iis unquam, nifi gravibus 
 argumentis certifque fultis, aflentiri voluit. 
 
 CUM primura equidem pietate infignis atque vir 
 honeftiflimus ille Dominus HOLLIS, jampridem 
 inter cadites relatus, Theologian Profeffionera, ab- 
 hinc quadraginta amplius annis, hoc loco inftituiffet, 
 ifte doctiflimus ProfeiTor, utpote etiam turn infigniter 
 idoneus, qui tali munere fungeretur, fuit ele&us. 
 Natura, quae eum deftinaverat ad opus in quo 
 laboravit et excelluit, omnibus neceffariis, ut confilii 
 compos fieret, dotibus oraavit. 
 
 THEOLOGIAM vero profeflus efl j rebus ideo 
 tiivinis maxime ftuduit : Hie erat percupidus emi- 
 nendi ; hie eminuit. Mente igitur prsejudiciis ac 
 fuperftitione, humanitati faspe fceda, fopius fceda 
 religioni, exuta, cum omnia fedulo meditatus accu- 
 rateque fcrutatus eflet, fententiarum de facris in 
 biblia, qua? fola ad homines in rebus tanti momenti 
 airigendos data, fundamenta jecit. Confirmatis 
 demam fententiis, animum tantis doftrinse copiis in- 
 flruere, et ejufmodi corroborare argumentis, quibus 
 vires ad veritatem evangelii, adverfus malevoloruna 
 impetus, confervandanj, fuppeterent, erat curce. 
 
 C0NCIONES,
 
 E 6 ] 
 
 CONCIQNES, turn pro roftris publice pronua- 
 data*, turn literis mandatce et in lucem emiffce, ftylo 
 materias femper confoname;, argumentis omnibus 
 ornamentis, qua; vel animum feducere, vel pravam 
 propenfionem voluntati folent injicere, nudaiis, etfi 
 brevibus, nihilo tainen fecius perfpicuis, quamvis 
 elaboratis, baud eo minus fimplicibus, abfque meta- 
 phoris longe petitis, nervofis ; ordine nunquam non 
 natural! nee lucido, perpetuo documentis abundante; 
 divifionibus paucis, at femper idoneis, a fe invicem 
 ducentibus originera, et ad ipfam conclufionem, 
 crefcente vi, pergentibus ; ad maximis utilitatibus 
 ierviendum miris modis accommodate? funt. Ut 
 verbo expediam Cogitavic libere, nee de rebus 
 divinisdubitavit ; difputator, neque infidus; religioiii 
 deditus, fimyl et a fuperflitione abhorrens. 
 
 I^LUM, profefforis officium pnrftantem, infpec- 
 teraus ; et quod tandem majus hoc fidelitatis exem- 
 plum ante oculos proponere queamus ? Hoc facel- 
 lum, cujus facros intra paricte; modo convetiimus, 
 obteflor, quanto cum labore hujus focietatis alumnos 
 ad Dei cuhum erudiret, ac amore virtutis accenderet ; 
 quam anxie fe ad juveniles animos contra prcrjudicia 
 armandos pararet ; neu fententias a facris literis 
 alienas, adinittercnt, propugnaret^ 
 
 HUNC fi in privata ycrf^tum vird teftrcimis, in- 
 genii virum amabilis ; animi benevolends ac large 
 eiici j allabilitatis jucu^diflim^ ; imegrum vita?, 
 
 fme
 
 [ 1 1 
 
 fine labe fcelerifque purum ; moribus ornatiim fane- 
 tiffimis; geftu gravem et venerabilem, apertum 
 tamen ac ingenuum ; omnium denique imitations 
 digniflimum ; ab omnibus, ni virtutem perofis, di- 
 le&um efle, inveniemus. Quse virtutes quidem in 
 aliis afperce atque feverce videantur, in illo fane ve- 
 nuflo renidebant decore. Peramans conjugum, 
 Parens benevolentiffimus et benigniffimus. Amicus 
 hofpitalis, munificus, conftans erat. Omnes inter 
 viciffitudines vitae, et cafus qui fibi domuiquc fuse 
 divinitus contigerunt, fatis licet in prefentia trifles, 
 tranquillus, continens, idem. 
 
 QUANTUM incommodi refpublica, quantum rea 
 literaria, et hcec praecipue focietas ; quantum amicl 
 atque familiares, hujus ex morte, fuflinuerunt ! Ubi 
 fama percrebuit, ibi capitiir detrimentum ; ubicun^ 
 que autem terrarum literati habitant, eo equidem 
 emanaverat fama. 
 
 O WIGGLES WORTH ! doftorum delicias 
 doftrinse, pietatis exemplum ! 6WiGGLEs\v 
 vixifli !
 
 The following Portrait of the DOCTOR'S 
 Charader was drawn by one of his learned 
 and much eftcemed Friends, and inferted 
 
 in the B oft on Evening- 1 ]? oft 3 No. 1533. 
 
 ' 
 
 Cambridge, January 19. 1765. 
 
 LAST \Vednefday died here, in the 73d year of his 
 age, after an illnefs of five days, the reverend and 
 learned EDWARD WIGGLESWORTH, D. D. one 
 of the Fellows of the Corporation, and HOLMS 
 Profeflbr of Divinity in Harvard College : A Gentleman 
 highly efteemed thro' life, and greatly lamented at his Death. 
 
 WE pretend not to dtiaw a complete portrait of this emi 
 nent perfon, of whom it is not eafy to fay, whether he were 
 more diftinguifhed by the vigor of his intellectual powers, 
 by the extent of his knowledge, or the height of his moral 
 attainments : We attempt only to {ketch out fome of the 
 principal lines of his character. 
 
 HE was fon of the late Rev. Michael JVigglefiuorth of 
 Maiden, who is well known throughout this country by his 
 divine poems. He received his education in Harvard College, 
 where he took his degree of Batchelor in Arts, in the yea 
 1710, and proceeded Matter in 1 7 1 3 , applying himfelf to the 
 ftudy of divinity. He preached for fome time in different 
 parities. When the late pious and generous THOMAS 
 Ho LI, is, Efq; of London founded a Profefiorfhip of Divi 
 nity in this place, the governors of the College immediately 
 turned their eyes upon Mr. WIGGLESWORTH, who was 
 chofen the firft HOLLIS Profefibr of Divinity, June 28. 1721. 
 . and having ben approved by the Founder, was publicly 
 inftalled in that office la the College-Hall, October 24. 1722. 
 G and
 
 t * ] 
 
 and was not long after chofen into the Corporation. He 
 continued to difeharge the duties of his important office with 
 fidelity till within a few days of his death. Much the 
 greater part of the MiniQers now living in this and the 
 neighbouring province, were formed under his inftructions. 
 With what perfpicuicy and iblidity he explained and 
 eftabliihed the grand doctrines <t religion, with how critical 
 an accuracy, with how Itrict impartiality and amiable candor 
 he diicufled the various points of controverfy which have 
 fo unhappily divided the chritVian world, all who have had 
 the advantage of his elaborate lectures, for more than forty 
 years part, can bear witnefs. Some of thefe difcourfes have 
 been made public for the benefit of others. They raifed a 
 great efleem of their author. His character was ftill highten- 
 ed by fome controver(ial pieces, which he publifhed as 
 occafions required. Here he diiplayed in a nervous and 
 fufficiently animated ftyle, yet in a cool and difpaflionate 
 manner, iuch clearness and itrength of argument, as left n 
 room for reply. 
 
 BEING by an uncommon degree of deafnefs in a great 
 ineafure cut off from the pleasures of focial converfe, he had 
 more leifure to turn his attention inward ;---to ftrengthen 
 the faculties of his mind and ripen his reflexions by habitual 
 meditation. This defect, as it deprived his friends of much 
 of the benefit of his converlation, fo it debarred him 
 from fome opportunities of more extenfive ufefulnefs. He 
 was for fome time commiffioner of the London fociety for 
 propagating the gofpel among the Indians, but refigned 
 about ten years ago on account of his increafing deafnefs. 
 He was chofen one of the Scotch deputation for propagating 
 chriftian knowledge, about four years fmce, but exculed him- 
 felf on the fame account. For this reafon he declined the 
 Rectorfhip of Yale-College, New-Haven, when it was offered 
 him. The Univerfity of Edinburg gave their ftrongeft 
 teftimonial of his merit, by fending himw Diploma for a 
 DOCTORATE in Divinity. It bears date June 2. 1730. 
 
 IN
 
 [ 3 1 
 
 IN his private life, the Gentleman and the Chriftiao 
 appeared to great advantage. He was of an affable, con- 
 defcending and obliging difpofition. Gentle to all, he was 
 in the higheft degree tender to his cor.forts deceafed, and his 
 children, uncfer the maladies of many years continuance, 
 with which it pleafed GOD to viftt them. During this 
 feafon of long diftrefs, aggravated too by very prefling diffi 
 culties arifmu from the narrownefs of his circtur.ftances, he 
 preferved an unruffled calmnefs, a moft exemplary patience 
 and liibmiffion to the will of Heaven. Not a repining word 
 was heard from his lips. He had a heart that felt deeply 
 for the unhappinefs of others ; and he conftantly appropri 
 ated a tenth part of his income, contracted as it was, to 
 pious and charitable ufes. On every account he was iblici- 
 tous to maintain the honor of the chriftian character. The 
 fame equable firmnefs and compofure of mind, which had 
 attended him thro' life, held to the laft ; and the ferenity 
 with which he met the approach of death, as it was fup- 
 ported by the enlivening hope of an happy immortality, 
 afforded a ftriking initance of the divine power and excellency 
 ot the chriiiian religion. " Mark the perfect man, and 
 *' behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace." 
 Pfa. xxxvii. 37. 
 
 HE was interred this afternoon with great refpect, the 
 Minifters and many other Gentlemen from the neighbouring 
 towns attending his funeral, which agreeably to his own 
 defire, was conducted in the method lately introduced. His 
 corpfe, preceded by the fcholars, was carried into the 
 HOLD EN Chapel, where a funeral oration was pronounced 
 by one of the fenior Students. 
 
 His only fon is now a Tutor in the College ; and his only 
 furviving daughter married to Mr. Senuall, lately chofen 
 HANCOCK Profeffor of Hebrew and other oriental languages.
 
 The poetical Eflay fubjoined was wrote by 
 a young gentleman, a ftudcnt in the 
 College, and publifhed in theMaffachufeft 
 Gazette, No. 3179. 
 
 Sacred to the Mercery 0/"Dr.AViGGLE.sv/OF..TH. 
 
 THE prophet's foul has bid adieu to earth, 
 Soar'd on cceleftial wings, and gain'd its home; 
 It's native home, where kindred fpirits throng, 
 To bid it welcome to the heavenly fhores. 
 Forgive my mufe, if in the general grief, 
 Which paints a iblemn gloom in ev'ry face, 
 She drops a tear o'er his black-mantled urn, 
 And mourns his exit from a weeping world, 
 
 T' eradicate the paffions from the foul, 
 To be unmov'd with depths of human woe, 
 Whate'cr the Stoicks fay, is all a dream : 
 "Who knew our frame, of man the greateft friend, 
 JESUS, by his own tears at Laz'rus' tomb 
 Mark'd the juft debt to our departed friends. 
 Roufe, roufe, my mufe, in numbers celebrate 
 The fage divine and venerable faint : 
 "Who, firm and placid, ran the earthly race, 
 His heart unmov'd, his life without a (lain. 
 
 Strong and capacious were his mental pow'rs ; 
 His judgment clear and found ; his diftion pure ; 
 His ev'ry word and line, full fraught with fenfe, 
 Deep thought befpoke and treafures all his own. 
 Great were his talents in defence of truth : 
 "Tvvas here he fhone with a difiingu/lh'd ray. 
 
 How
 
 t * ] 
 
 How would he ftrip fophiftic arguments 
 Of ev'ry fpecious glare, that leads aftray 
 From truth's unerring paths, th' unwary mind 1 
 How, with his cogent reafons, ftrongly urge 
 The grand, th' important doctrines of his Lord 
 'Till, clear'd of all obfcurity and doubt, 
 His fubjects fhone bright as the noon- day fun 5 
 
 Ye fons of Harvard, fay; for ye can tell, 
 Who once, fo highly blelt, fat at his feet 
 And catch'd th' intlruclive accents from his tongue, 
 His weighty truft how faithfully difcharg'd ; 
 How fteady he purfu'd that noble aim 
 To form your morals, to inipire your hearts 
 With love of virtue, and pure wiidom's ways j 
 To fill your minds with all-important truths. 
 Oh WIGGLES WORTH ! could wifdom, learning, fenfe> 
 Protect their fons, and lave them from the tomb : 
 Could meeknefs, charity, and ev'ry grace, 
 That e'er combin'd t' adorn a human foul, 
 Their vot'ries fnatch from death's rapacious jaws, 
 Sure thou 1 , bleft fhade, hadft ne'er become his prey. 
 
 Ye indigent, bewail the gen'rous man, 
 Whofe heart humane has felt for your diftrefs ; 
 Whofe lib'ral hand has oft fupply'd your wants, 
 And dealt it's Godlike favours all around. 
 He is no more ! no more fhall ye partake 
 Thofe kind reliefs he bounteoufly beftow'd. 
 
 Ye children of the dear departed faint, 
 Witnefs your parent's love, whofe tender bread 
 Felt all your joys, partook of all your griefs. 
 "Wife were his counfels, gentle his reproofs : 
 In ev'ry aft parental love appear'd : 
 His conduct tended to excite efteem. 
 And filial piety within the bread. 
 
 But
 
 But now. alas ! of fuch a tender fire 
 Bereft, what words can fpeak the depths of woe \ 
 The matchlefs Grecian painter, when he drew 
 The horrors in each countenance, exprefs'd 
 At fig'it of Iphigenia facrific'd, 
 Near Aulis, on the cruel Grecian ftiores, 
 Defpairing of his fkill to repreient 
 Her agonizing father's deep diltrefs, 
 Conceal d his face beneath his mantling robe. 
 And wifely left the world to guefs thai grief, 
 That anguifh which his penal could Hot paint. 
 Thus ceaie, my pen, t' attempt th' unequal talk, 
 To picture woe which filence better fpeaks 
 Than all th' expreffive language mortals ufe. 
 
 Ye friends of virtue, friends of the deceas'd, 
 Come mingle tears, and vent your gen'rous fighs ; 
 Weep o'er the man, whofe tongue was wont to charm, 
 Your captivated hearts j while in difcourfe 
 From his warm breall, by focial virtues fir'd, 
 
 You catch'd. an equal flame. 
 
 True was his triendlhip, for his open heaVt 
 Nor knew" deceit, nor brook'd the leaft difguife. 
 Serene his; ten>fg| undiiturb'd by cares ; 
 His cnind, fedate in ev'ry fcene of life, 
 Diiplay'd the chrillian, who unmov'd by ills, 
 Can fit and fmile, while earth's foundations fnakc. 
 
 AVhile fome, whofe lives for virtue were renown'd. 
 Who pafs'd for chriftians of diltinguiih d rank, 
 Cou'd only boaft of fome few fhining deeds, 
 Like fcatter'd ftars o'er Other's vail expanfe ; 
 His ev'ry year, with virtuous actions crown 'd, 
 Glow'd like the milky way, thick fet with ftars. 
 Witnefs, ye. walls, where contemplation rciga'd ; 
 Where he his thoughtful hours, unweary'd, fpent, 
 "Witnefs the fervour of his heav'nly mind ; 
 
 How
 
 [ 4 ) 
 
 How, while he mus'd on themes divinely Bright* 
 His raptur'd foul to empyrean flties 
 Has wing'd it's way, and view'd the bleft abodes, 
 Where joys perennial dwell, whence blifsful ftreams 
 Of pleafures, ever new, flow without end ; 
 And ravifh'd faints forever tune their voice, 
 To fmg that love which rais'd them to thofe feats. 
 Then has he wifh'd to quit his earthly frame, 
 Which kept his foul a pris'ner here confin'd, 
 And long'd to join th* aifembled choirs above, 
 To prove thofe joys, and mix his fongs with their's. 
 
 Let this our forrows foothe, and dry our tears, 
 That death, the laft of foes, has loft his fting. 
 Has prov'd a friend to lonfe the weary foul, 
 And raife it to the realms of endlefs blifs. 
 Now he imbibes full draughts of heav'nly joy, 
 From living fprings faft by the throne of God ; 
 His foul is free to range the azure fields, 
 And fweets inhale from ev'ry fragrant flow'r. 
 Ceale then, ye tears, and ceafe, each murm'ring figh; 
 
 Be ev'ry paffion hufh'd. He reigns with Chrift. 
 
 1L 
 
 Ye, who furvive, thofe virtues make your own, 
 Which fhone confpicuous thro' his holy life : 
 This will embalm his precious mem'ry more 
 Than panegyrics of fublimeft ftrain. 
 
 SYMPATHES, 
 
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