360 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. Dr. Preston possessed a strong constitution, which lie wore out by hard study and constant preaching. His inquiry was not, 44 How long have I lived ?" but, how have I lived ?" Desiring, in his last sickness, to die among his old friends, he retired to Preston, near Heyford, in his Dative county ; and having,revised his will, and settled all his worldly affairs, he committed himself to the wise and gracious disposal of his heavenly Father. As he felt the symptoms of death coming upon him, he said; " I shall not change my company ; for I shall still converse with God and saints." A few hours previous to his departure, being told it was the Lord's day, he said, " A fit day to be sacrificed on ! I have accompanied saintson earth : now I shall accompany angels in heaven. My dissolution is at hand. Let me go to my home, and to Jesus Christ, who hath bought me with his precious blood." He afterward§ added, " I feel death coming to my heart. My pain shall now be turned into joy;" and then gave up the ghost, in the month of July, 1628, being only forty-one years of age. His remains were interred in Fausley church, when the venerable Mr. Dod preached his funeral sermon to an immense crowd of people.. Fuller, who has classed him among the learned writers of Queen's college, Cambridge, says, " he was all judgment and gravity, and the perfect master of his passions, an excellent preacher, a celebrated disputant, and a perfect politician."+ Echard styles him " the most celebrated ofthe puritans, an exquisite preacher, a subtle disputant, anda deep politician."t His WORKS.-I. Treatise on the New Covenant; or, the Saints' Portion, 1629.-2. Breast-plate of Faith and Love, 1630.-3. Ser- mons before the King, 1630.-4. Eternal Life; or, a Treatise of the Knowledge of the Divine Essence and Attributes, 1631.-5. The Lifeless Life, 1635.-6. A Discourse of Mortification and Humi- accumulation of honour, wealth, and power, conferred upon a vain man, who was suddenly raised from a private station, should be particularly invidious and, especially, as the duke was as void of prudence and moderation in the use of these, as his masters were in bestowing them. Most men imputed all the calamities of the nation to his arbitrary councils; and few were displeased at the news of his death. Such a pageant and tyrant as this, decorated with almost every title and honour that two kings could bestow upon him, was sure to be the butt of envy. He was murdered by Felton, August 23,1628.-Granger's Biog. Hist. vol. i. p. 326. ii. 114.-Neal's Puritans, vol. ii. p. 151. Clark's Lives, p. 113. + Fuller's Hist. of Cam. p. SO.-Worthies, part ii. p. 291. -Church Hist. b. at. p. 131. Echard's Hist. of Eng. vol, ii. p, 72.
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