SJ2 D D1c,iTttly. tenderest endearmentsof life, and make the pleasures of it double and tran- scendent. The name, the title and the character of your excellentfather de- ceased, require anddemand an eminent degree of goodness in his successor. Thepious lady your mother, now in heaven, would have rejoiced in the pre- sent prospect,and would havepurchased your felicity evenwith her own life, and your numereus relatives around you suspend theirhappiness upon yours. The piety you have shewn towards your worthy parents from your infancy. and the -affectionate honours whichyou now pay their memory, givetrte fur- ther assurance that this is your aim, and your glorious ambition. And that you may ever keep in mist their exampleand your duty, you bave Coot- mended me tomake public these discourses, which were framed on the occa- sion of their decease. You wellknow, Sir, I am nofriend to loose panegyric, nor am I wont to bestow it on the dead or the living. What I have written of the late SirJohn Hartopp at the endof the second discourse, is the first attempt that ever I. madeof concluding a funeral sermon witha distinct and particular character of the deceased, through the whole space of twenty-three years of my minis- try ; and surely the-world will not envy nor detract from the just honours of a name so much beloved. As for the lady, your mother,she affected retire- ment to such adegree, that it would have placed her in a wrong light tohave drawn outher virtuesat length, and set them to public view. I have there- fore only interspersed a few hints of her eminent piety, asthe text and argu- ment led me into them : And indeed this is the utmost that I have ever done beforeonsuch occasions. Mare muchreason to ask pardon that I have so far enlarged these dis- courses, and especiallythe last; for I hate the thoughts of making any thing in religion heavy or tiresome : But having entertainedmyself many a time with some of these meditations on the business and the blessedness of Sepa- rate Spirits, I took this opportunity of shewing them to the world, enshrined inthe lustre of two such names as adorn my title-page. To renderthe reading of them yet more agreeable to yourself and to-all yourfiiends, I have cast them into distinct sections, that my readersmay leave off almost where they please, and peruse no much of them at one time as suits their presentinclination and convenience. You know, Sir, I pretend to no authority to pronounce effectual blessings upon you ; but you will acceptthe sincere good wishes of a man that loves you, and is zealous for your felicity in the tipper and lower worlds. May the best of mercies descend daily on yourself, your lady, and your little off- spring! May the closet, the parlour, andpublic assembliesbe constant witnes- ses of your piety; and the house where a Sir John Hartopp dwells be ahouse of prayer and of praise in everygeneration, nor the name be extinguished in your family till the heavens be no more ! May the ladies your sisters live happily under the sweet influence of that mutual affection that has been always remarkably cultivated amongst you! Their interests are your care : And Ï am well persuadedthat their solicitude and tender concern for your welfare, will ever deserve and find such returns of love, as I have long ob- served with delight! 'May the prayers of your progenitors in past ages he answered in hourly benefits descending on you all, and be fruitful of blessings in ages yet to come! Such a lovely scene, with such a long and joyful pros- pect, will advance the satisfactions of my life, and give pleasure even in a dy- ing- hour, tohint who lead once thehonour tobe your affectionate monitor, and must ever writehimself, Sui Your obliged, humble servant,. I, WATTS. July 6, 1922.
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