Mind he was always the fame Man; and could not be diverted by any Solicitation to act contrary to the deliberate Sense of his own Mind, and what he regarded as his Duty. He was a Man of the greatest Modefty, and the strictest Integrity, and knew not how to flatter or diffemble. At the fame Time he behaved with great Prudence and Discretion, and took care not to give needlefs Offence to any. For one of his ftudious and retired Life, he had a great Knowledge of the World, which was useful to himself, and qualified him to give good Counsel to those that applied to him, in Cafes that were important and perplexed. In fhort, his Heart was filled with Love to God, and Zeal for his Glory: and, in Conformity to the Character of our bleffed Saviour, he delighted to do the Will of his heavenly Father.-And in his Behaviour to Men, he was meek and humble, candid and condescending; and acted under the Influence of that Charity * which fuffereth long and is kind; which envieth not; which vaunteth not itself; is not puffed up; doth not behave itself unfeemly feeketh not her own; is not eafily provoked; thinketh no Evil; rejoiceth not in Iniquity, but rejoiceth in the Truth. It is very remarkable, that though the Fever, before mentioned, left him ex *I Cor. xiii. 4, 5, 6. C 4 tremely tremely weak, yet he not only recovered his former Strength, but felt an Eafe and Vigour, to which he had been a Stranger for many Years before; going on in his public Miniftrations with greater Life and Spirit, which was obferved with Pleasure by all who attended on them: and he much fooner got over the Fatigue of public Service than formerly: fo that his Youth seemed, in a manner, to be renewed. Such a Change was a kind of Miracle to him. This improved State of Health continued till a few Months before his Death, when he felt Symptoms which were thought the Prefages of a painful chronical Disease. Thefe Appearances, however, by skilful Advice and proper Medicines, abated. And as he was advised to walk as the propereft Exercife for him, he got Cold in a moist Day, which he neglected till it fixed in his Breaft, and raifed an Inflammation there. And then, notwithstanding all that Art and Tenderness could do, the Disorder foon overpowered his weak and feeble Frame. But his intellectual Powers were unimpaired and lively to the laft. He had the Sentence of Death in himself, and had no Notion that he could recover, though his Friends, when he got any Eafe, flattered themselves with the Hope of it. With a Head perfectly clear, and a Mind quite eafy and compofed, he gave Directions for what he he thought proper to be done; and spent his Time in most affecting Exhortations to those who were about him, and in adoring the Wisdom and Goodness of Divine Providence towards him. He faid, the Mercies he had received from God were more than could be numbered; and though he had been exercised with various Afflictions, he trusted, that in the Iffue they had proved real Bleffings. He difcovered great Humility in acknowledging his manifold Infirmities and Defects. "Whatever others may think of me, faid he, I, who have "Reafon to know myself best, am sensible "I have made but a fmall Progress in "Righteousness and true Holiness, or even "in Knowledge and Learning, in Compa"rifon of what I might have done, if I "had been more careful to make the best "Ufe of my Time, and of the Means and Opportunities that have been put into σε my Hands." Thus lowly was this good Man! And moft devoutly did he celebrate the Riches of divine Grace through Jefus Christ. I give my dying Testimony" faid he with a kind of Emotion, 66 to the "Truth of Chriftianity. The precious "Promises of the Gospel are my Support "and Confolation. They alone yield true "Satisfaction in a dying Hour. I am not "afraid to die. The Gospel of Chrift hath raised me above the Fear of Death: "for "for I know that my Redeemer liveth; "and that if this earthly House of our Ta"bernacle were diffolved,, we have a Build 66 ing of God, an House not made with "Hands, eternal in the Heavens." up, A little before he died, he was raised and with his own Hands took fome Refreshment, and lay down again compofed to. reft: when in a few Minutes, without any Agony or Struggle, without Sigh or Groan, he quietly breathed his laft, and fell asleep in the Lord the 16th of January 1766, and in the 75th Year of his Age. The Goodnefs of Divine Providence is to be gratefully acknowledged for prolonging his valuable Life to fuch an advanced Age, which from the natural Weakness of his Constitution, and frequent Returns of bodily Disorders there was little Reason to hope. This Reflection, together with the pleafing Circumstance, that he did nɔț outlive himself, his Enjoyment, his Character, or his Ufefulness, gives great Confolation. And bleffed are the dead who die in the Lord, that they may reft from their Labours, ana their Works do follow them. Let me die the Death of the righteous, and let my laft End be like bis! ISAAC WELD. CON |