"than a Conqueror. But without thee I "dare not engage in it. And I declare "before Heaven and Earth, that I un"dertake this Work only from a Profpect "and Hope of thy divine Affiftance and Bleffing."

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"I therefore applied myself to God by "earnest Prayer, owning my utter Un"worthiness, bewailing my manifold Defects, that in preaching his holy Word

hitherto, I have not found my Heart "affected in a Manner fuitable to the in"finite Importance of the Truths I have "delivered in his Name, and as becometh

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one who is pleading with immortal "Souls about the Concerns of Eternity: "That fo much Pride, Selfishness, and a "vain Defire of Applause hath mixed it"felf with my religious and ministerial "Services. I prayed that God would give

me those Gifts and Graces which are "fo neceffary to the right Discharge of "this facred Function; particularly, that "he would inflame my Soul with Love to "him, and to the Lord Jefus Chrift, and "with a well regulated Zeal for his Glory, and the Interefts of his Kingdom; "that he would imprefs my Heart with a deep Senfe of his all-feeing Eye, and a profound Reverence of his adorable Majefty; that he would give me more melting Bowels, and a tender Commi"feration

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b 2

"feration for precious Souls, those espe"cially of the Flock committed to my "Care; that he would affect my Heart "with the great Truths I deliver to others, "and enable me to ftudy, preach, and pray, as for Eternity; that he would "affift me in ordering my Conversation "aright, that I may guide others not on

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ly by my Doctrine, but by my Example "too, in all the Virtues of the Chriftian "Life; and, finally, that he would clothe. "me with Humility, that amiable Gof"pel Grace, and enable me to put on that evangelical Charity, which is the Bond "of Perfectnefs."

Such were the Workings of his Soul on this folemn Occafion; and the Impreffions that were made upon him were deep and lafting. For he engaged in the Work of the Ministry, not with worldly Views, but from a fincere Defire to employ the Talents God had given him in promoting the Salvation of Souls, and ferving the Interefts of Truth and Liberty, Piety and Virtue in the World. With fuch animating Views he discharged the Duties of his Character as a Minister of Chrift, with laborious Diligence and Fidelity. And by an indefatigable Application to Reading and Study, and the great Improvements he made in all useful Knowledge and Literature, which afterwards appeared in his Writings

Writings on different Subjects, he attained to an high Reputation, not only among his own Friends and Hearers, but in the learned World, and among Perfons of all Denominations.

As a Preacher he was very acceptable: His Compofitions for the Pulpit were plain, correct, and useful, equally fitted to convince the Understanding and to affect the Heart. He did not chufe to entertain his Hearers with vain Speculations, which only gender Strife: And when any controverted Doctrines came in his Way, he treated them with great Modefty, Moderation, and Charity, as became one who was fenfible of the narrow Limits of human Knowledge in this State of Darkness and Imperfection. He thought, the closer we keep to Scripture in fpeaking of the particular Doctrines of Revelation, and the lefs we make Use of logical Terms and fubtle Distinctions the better: and that fome Mens Prefumption in attempting to explain them, hath given the Adverfaries of Christianity an Advantage which they never would have had, if Divines had not gone beyond the Simplicity of the Gospel,

He not only thought and reafoned clearly on every Subject, but he had fo happy a Talent of arranging his Thoughts, and conveying his Sentiments to others in a Stile manly and unaffected, and at the fame

b 3

fame Time fo eafy and perfpicuous, and by the Help of a faithful Memory, exactly delivered without any Ufe of Notes, that the meaneft, as well as the most judicious of his Hearers, who gave proper Attention, could hardly fail of being affected and inftructed: At least, one would naturally fuppofe this to be the Effect, when the most important Truths were delivered in fo improving a Way by a Man of his Character, who had the Honour of God and the Redeemer, and the Interefts of fubftantial Religion and Virtue so much at Heart; and when every one must see, that what he said affected himself, and that he felt what he spoke.

In the Year 1731, he married Mrs. Ann Maquay, Widow of the Reverend Mr. Thomas Maquay, who had been Minister to the Congregation of Plunket-freet. Between him and the Doctor there had been the greatest Intimacy, a Fellowship in their Studies, and a conftant Course of Friendfhip for feveral Years. In the Sermon he printed on his greatly lamented Death he gives this general Account of him.

"He was born and bred in this City. "Here he had his Education and Learn"ing, and was an Exception to that ge"neral Rule, that a Prophet is without "Honour in his own Country. He made "a quick Progress in Learning even in his

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early

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early Years. Then I commenced my "first Acquaintance with him, never fince interrupted by any Breach or Alienation "of Affection to this Day. After having gone through our Course of Philofophy together, we applied ourselves jointly "to the Study of Divinity, under the "happy Care of the fame worthy Fathers "in the Ministry.- Under fuch Advantages, improved by his prompt na"tural Parts and great Industry, he came out richly furnished and adorned to the "Work of the facred Ministry. And "fcarce had he entered on his public Mi“nistrations, when you of this Congregation caft your Eye upon him for a

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Collegue to your late excellent Paftor, "the Reverend Mr. Alexander Sinclare."All, however various in their Tempers " and Inclinations, centered and united in "him; inftructed and affected with his Preaching, edified by his Example, and "engaged by his Converfation.". -And after having enlarged on fome Particulars concerning him, he adds, "I hope I fhall

now be indulged a little, if I fpeak of "him under the amiable Character of a "Friend. He was of a sweet and peace"ful Difpofition, lovely in his Temper, agreeable in his Converfation; and they "must be hard to please indeed, that were "not won by his engaging Manner. There b 4

was