MISCELLANEOUS Tt1OUGHTS. 333 " He never aimed at superiority over his neighbours, though by the bounty of providence he grew richer than they: He had the universal respect due to goodness, long before die was macle great ; and when his fellow- citizens voted him into power and honour, he surveyed the providence with a just reluctance, and shrunk away from grandeur; nor could any thing overcome his sincere aversion, but a sense of duty and hopes of public service. " He passed through the chief offices of the city, and left a lustre upon them by the practice of such virtue and such piety as the chair of honour has seldom known : Those who have attended that court since the year of his magistracy, search the register backward for twenty annual successsions, and confess he has had no rival. " While he stood in that eminence, he surveyed the whole nation, took a just view of its wants and its dangers; and by the divine blessing, which his daily retirements engaged on his side, he secured the nation's best interest, the exclusion of a child of Rome from the throne of England, and the succession of a Protestant government. At the appointed season he resigned with pleasure the fatigues of power, the tiresome hours of state, and the tedious train of pomp and equipage ; but he daily fulfils the duties of subordinate authority to the terror of vice, to the support of the good, and to the reformation of a sinful land. He vindicates the poor with courage, against the oppression of the mighty, and sends gay criminals to the place of correction He puts the rich offenders to public shame, as well as the poor, and he doth it with a noble security of soul: So spotless a cha- racter fears no recriminations. 00 When the days of public spew and procession return, he hides himself often at his country-seat, and makes a every trifling obstacle a sufficient excuse for his absence from honours, scarlet, and gold : But none so zealous and constant in their attendance on the hours of business; and at the honourable board there is no seat empty so seldom as his. Neither gain nor diversion can tempt him aside, when the duty of his post requires his presence, and the public weal demands his counsels. His health, his ease, and his estate are at the call of his country ; his life lies ready too for the same service; but his nation gives thanks to Provi- dence that has not demanded the precious sacrifice. " He has no spreading dimensions nor lofty advantages of stature, whence he might look down upon the multitude, and command them into reverence ; but such unblemished virtue has grandeur and majesty in it, and spreads fear and respect around. When he goes out to the gate through the city, he neither wears nor needs the ensigns of honour, about him, nor attendants to follow him in the street ; the vain young men see him and hide i 3
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