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and purify'd; not fuch grofs, weak, perishing flesh and blood, as it has hitherto been, but infinitely both fplendid and durable, like our blessed Saviour's glorified Body.

Nom. Will you not next give fome orders about your funeral?

Anchith. Yes. As for my burial, I defire it may be decent, without pomp or ftate, at the difcretion of my dear wife, and my executors hereafter named, who, I doubt not, will manage it with all requifite prudence.

Theoph. Herein I perfectly approve of your direction: for, though a decent regard ought certainly to be paid to our departed friends, and no good man will or can think otherwife; yet, in my opinion, all excefs this way is blameable, inafmuch as I cannot but think it far better to retrench from this, what may be handfomely fpar'd, for the benefit of fuch as are living, that fo the wants of fome in neceffity may be supplied by

it.

Anchith. That truly was my confideration; and for this reafon I fhall give fomewhat the more to that good ufe. But, Sir, we interrupt you. Be pleas'd to add, As to my worldly eftate, I will, and pofitively order, that all my debts, which, to my comfort, are but few and fmall, be paid out of hand, if I don't live to pay them myfelf. For, as I never lov'd to keep poor people out of their money in my life time, as little will I allow it after my

death.

Theoph. This is a very commendable article. And I wifh all others would follow your example; to do justly, being both a neceffary duty of natural religion, and a confiderable part of Chriftianity as injoin'd in Scripture. In the Old Teftament, fays the prophet, (y) He bath fhewed thee, O man, what is good; and what detb the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Where, doing justly, you fee, is fet in the front of the different qualifications requir'd of fuch as would approve themfelves to God, (y) Mic. vi. 8.

as

as his faithful fervant. And in the New Testament the apostle directs (z) To owe no man any thing, but to love one another; and that (a) no man go beyond, or defraud his brother in any matter; and for this weighty reafon, (b) for the Lord is the avenger of all fuch.

Nom. It is done, Sir.

Anchith. To my dear and loving wife Sophronia, with whom I have lived very happily, and with mutual affection and fidelity, for many years, and by whom God bas been pleas'd to give me feveral children, most of whom are gone to Heaven before me, but whereof three are yet alive, though I doubt not but that, she being a very good woman, and a true and fincere Chriftian, Almighty God will, according to his promife, be a bufband unto her, and provide for her all things necessary for this life; yet, fince be bas bleffed me with a convenient portion of temporal riches, to her I give, for term of life, this boufe wherein I now dwell, with all the furniture, and the lands and tenements that lie about it; and, after my death, to my only fon Theodofius, and his keirs for ever. To whom I leave alfo, from the time of my death, my two other eftates fituate in the parish of N. he paying to each of his fifters, Charis and Hypomone, one thousand pounds. And if be die before them, and without ifjue, then his land (all but the value of one thousand pounds, which I freely impower him to difpofe of as he shall think fit) fhall defcend and belong equally to thefe my two daughters. And I trust my wife will be mindful to bring them all up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, as becomes a wife, and tender, and truly chriftian parent, and who hopes to be eternally happy with them in a better ftate.

Nom. At what time will you please your two daughters portions fhall be due to them, if their brother live?

Anchith. Well thought of! At the age of one and twenty years, or day of marriage, which shall first happen; and intereft at five per cent. in the mean time.

(z) Rom, xiii. 8.

(a) 1 Theff. iv. 6.

(6) Ibid.

Nom.

Nom. It shall be fo. What will you please to have next?

Anchith. To my nephews, Pamphilius and Panaretus, I give each two hundred pounds, and to my niece Irene three hundred pounds. To my trusty fervant Piftus I give twenty pounds, to Hermagathus ten pounds, and to each of my fervants, that shall be so at the time of my death, five pounds. They have been careful of my business, and ferv'd me faithfully; the good Lord reward them for it!

Nom. What more will you pleafe to add?

Anchith. I think I have done as to thefe legacies. But let me not forget my poor debtors, who owe me fome fmall matters; which, because they are in a low condition, and not well able to pay them, 1 freely remit them all, forgiving fuch my debtors, as I defire God fhould forgive my debts, for Chrift's fake.

Theoph. But you spake of bestowing fomething in charity.

Anchith. I did fo; and am bethinking myself of the right method of doing it: I would give five hundred pounds, but would willingly give it the best way I can, and fo as may most effectually answer the defign of giving it.

Nom. I hope, Sir, you will be liberal to the poor of this parish, so as that both the present and future ages may bless your memory.

Anchith. Kind to the poor! You mean to the rich! for this fort of gifts ferves only to leffen the parishrates, and fo relieves not the poor, but fpares those who are bound by law to relieve them: which is a practice I do not understand, and for which nobody hall blame me. But yet, that I may not feem to forget the place of my nativity, I give fifty pounds to be distributed according to the difcretion of my executors, among fuch of my neighbours of this parish, as they shall apprehend to want fome affiftance, but who do not receive alms, nor bave any allowance, from the parish. This I think to be true charity, though the other I can by no means reckon to be to.

Theoph.

Theoph. What do you think, my friend, of building an alms-house for some poor old men or widows? This will be a lafting charity, and a way to do good to pofterity.

Anchith. I do not condemn fuch as order their charity this way; but on the other hand, I commend their good intention in it. But yet I see these sort of donations fometimes quite taken away, by fome artifice or other, though ever fo firmly fettled; and much oftener fo grofly abufed, and diverted from the defign of the donor, that I have long thought there are much better ways for difpofing of charity than this. I am not defirous of being noted by paffengers as a benefactor, but am rather for giving what I have to bestow, fo as that I may be fure of its coming to the hands of thofe for whom it is intended. And, for this reason, I have chofen to distribute the main of my charity in my life time, when I might fee the good effect of it, and might be fure it would not be placed on any, but as 1 defign'd it fhould. And this method I the rather chufe upon another account likewife, because I always efteem'd it much truer charity, and far better becoming our holy profeffion, to give out of what I myself have and can use, than to keep all till I die, and then give, though more largely, from my heirs and executors, when I can enjoy it no longer. But I find I have overtir'd myself, and muft therefore forbear for awhile.

Theoph. It is now time to leave you, that you may take some rest, left you should not be able to finish all to-morrow, as I heartily wifh you may.

Anchith. Pardon me, good Theophilus, if I cannot be of your mind. I know not what a day may bring forth; and will not therefore defer a matter of this nature any longer than is abfolutely neceffary. But if you will pleafe to take this gentleman into the garden, and gather the fruit you can meet with there, you will be very obliging: I beg alfo you will command any thing my house affords for your refreshment, till I hope by

God's

God's bleffing I may be able to proceed; which if I be, I will give you notice of it, and will intreat your

return.

Theoph. Poffibly you may get a little fleep, when you are alone; and therefore I thank you for your civility, and fhall withdraw with this worthy gentleman, till we receive your fummors to give our attend

ance.

Nom. These gardens are fine, and lie, I see, in good order.

Theoph. Yes, they are very pleafant, and the fruits look temptingly. Will you pleafe to gather what you like?

Nom. All that I have tasted is very good. I believe Anchithanes was wont to take delight in his garden, it is kept fo handfomely, and fo well stock'd.

Theoph. To order and manage a garden, is a very pleafing and a very inoffenfive diverfion, provided it be fo managed as not to occafion too great an expence and it is a noble entertainment, to view the wonderful works of nature, and obferve and admire the infinite wisdom of that over-ruling Power, which causes such astonishing productions; to fee what noble plants arife from a fmall feed, what delicate flowers open themselves, of what different forms and fizes, how charmingly enamelled with variety of delightful and lovely colours, how fweetly fcented, how gradually rifing to their perfection! what cooling and pleafant fruits offer themselves to our fight and tafte, how entertaining, how ufeful; and this not only once or twice, or by accident now-and then, but from year to year, in a continual fucceffion, the farne feed conftantly generating the fame plant, leaves, and flowers, and the fame ftock, or root, or ftone, the fame bloffoms and fruit. Who can fufficiently admire the excellence of that good Providence, which difpofes all these things in fo ftupendous a manner?

Nom. What you fay, is fo manifeft to all who take occafion to obferve it, that we can never fufficiently

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