deration and candour.

"He had (fay's Dr.

Calamy) a truly great foul, and at the “fame time a very cool and moderate fpi"rit; and was an utter enemy to that “uncharitable and cenforious humour, that "is vifible in fo many." He was alfo an utter enemy to all impofitions. As he took the liberty of judging for 'himfelf, fo he freely allowed it to others. He was for the union and communion of all vifible Chriftians, and for making nothing (neceffary to Chriftian communion, but what Christ has made neceffary, or what is neceffary indeed to one's being a Chriftian. He was of opinion that much service might be done to the common intereft of religion, by a frank mutual communication of doubtful thoughts; if fuch difquifitions were purfued with more candor, and lefs confidence, and without regarding the interest of any party whatsoever. In a word, he looked upon the Christian scheme, not as a fyftem of opinions, or a fet of forms, fo much as a divine difcipline to purify the heart, and reform the life. Here he laid the main stress, as appears from all his writings; and with refpect especially to difputable things, and the mere appendages of religion, as he often calls them, he was as much

2

much for a free inquiry into them, as any man could be of that age; which circumstance does him the greater honour, when it is confidered how little the principles of liberty, and the right of private judgement were understood in those days, in comparison of what they have been fince. How happy had it been for England in that age, how happy for the Chriftian world in all ages, if the fame divine and amiable spirit had generally prevailed! Further,

"He was one of remarkable prudence "himself, and much valued and com"mended it in others. It was a common

faying with him (as we are informed) "that he was fo far from queftioning whe"ther prudence was a virtue, that he reckoned imprudence to be a great vice and immorality. He was not apt to be fwayed by intereft, nor could any thing byas his judgement. And it may be "faid of him as is ufually faid of those of "the strongest reason, the greatest sagacity, "and the nobleft accomplishments, that "he was one of great civility, candor, and ingenuity."

He was very courteous to ftrangers, or others who came to fee him, and received them with great decency; and never could

be

be of the mind of thofe, who reckon religion and piety inconfiftent with goodbreeding. (L)

He knew how to addrefs himself fuitably to the greatest persons, without the leaft mixture of what was mean or fervile; and yet he was able to condefcend to infe riors: and was very affable to younger ministers, whom he would use with an easy freedom, offering them as there was occafion the kindest advice.

IN common conversation, it is faid, he was many times very pleafant; and notwithstanding (as many still remember) there was fomething in his behaviour, as well as perfon, which tended to excite veneration, yet he was generally chearful, and fometimes very facetious. He had a wonderful

(L) WHAT fhould hinder, (fays Mr. Howe in his funeral fermon for the son of Sir Charles Hoghton) "but that learning to fing, or dance, or fence, or "make a modifh leg, might confift with learning to "know GOD in Chrift, in which knowledge stands "eternal life? Whatever has real excellency in it,

or any thing of true ornament, will no way dif"agree with the most serious Chriftianity. And how "lovely is the conjunction of the well-accomplished "Gentleman, and the serious Chriftian! But (fays "he) to curfe and fwear, damn and debauch, which 166 are thought to belong to good-breeding in our age; these are indeed great inconfiftencies, not "only with the character of a Chriftian, but that " of a Gentleman,"

VOL. I.

genteel

genteel manner of reproving perfons, and an excellent talent in making fudden repartees on certain occafions. The worthy collector of the memoirs of his life has preserved a few of them, which the Editor begs leave to infert in the margin. (M) To these are added a fmall number of det

ters,

(M) MR. HOWE being at dinner one day with fome perfons of very good fafhion, there was a Gentleman in the company, who expatiated with great freedom in praise of King Charles I. and made fome indecent reflexions on others, that were not at all agreeable to several at the table. Our Author obferving that he intermixed a great many oaths with his difcourfe, took the freedom to tell him, that in his humble opinion he had wholly omitted one very great excellence; which the prince he extolled, was fo generally owned to have belonging to him, that he had not known of any one who had the face to conteft it. The Gentleman feemed not a little pleased to have Mr. Howe come in as a voucher for the Prince he applauded, and was impatient to know what that particular excelience was, that he referred to. And when he had preffed for it with importunity, he at length told him it was this; that he was never heard to fwear an oath in common converfation. The Gentleman took the reproof, and promised to forbear fwearing for the future.

AT another time as Mr. Howe was walking along, he paffed by two perfons of quality, who were talking freely together, and with great eagerness; and 'when he came near them, he heard them damn one another most abominably: Whereupon pulling off his hat, and faluting them with great civility, he cried out, I pray GoD fave you both; which fo took with them, that it for the present diverted the humour they were in, and they joined in returning

him thanks.

ONE

ters, which were all the Doctor could procure; though, as he informs us, he fpared neither pains nor application for this purpose (N).

Τα

ONE paffage more is mentioned, which is this. During the debates in parliament about the bill against occafional conformity, Mr. Howe walking in St. James's-park, paffed by a certain noble lord in a chair, who fent his footman to call him to him, for that he defired to fpeak with him. Coming up to him the faid lord very refpectfully faluted him, and fignified he was glad to fee him; then entered into difcourfe with him upon the matter depending, reckoning it a thing of no fmall confequence, which he intimated he had oppofed to his utmost. Among other paffages upon that occafion, he fo far forgot himfelf as to exprefs himself thus; "Damn thefe "wretches for they are mad! and are for bringing "us all into confufion!" Mr. Howe, who was no ftranger to his lordship, made this reply to him;

My lord, 'tis a great fatisfaction to us, who in

all affairs of this nature defire to look upwards, "that there is a God that governs the world, to "whom we can leave the iffues and events of things; "and we are fatisfied, and may thereupon be easy,

that he will not fail in due time of making a fuita"ble retribution to all, according to their prefent "carriage. And this great Ruler of the world, my "lord, faid he, has among other things declared, "that he will make a difference between him that "fweareth, and him that feareth an oath." My lord was ftruck with his laft hint, and prefently replied; "Sir, I thank you for your freedom, and "take your meaning, and shall indeavour to make "a good ufe of it." Mr. Howe in return said, " My "lord, I have a great deal more reafon to thank "your lordship, for faving me the most difficult "part of a difcourfe, which is the application."

(N) THE letters here alluded to, though not many, are too long to be inferted here intire; and