mas Abney, who received him into his houfe; where, with a conftancy of friendship and uniformity of conduct not often to be found, he was treated for thirty-fix years with all the kindness that friendship could prompt, and all the attention that refpect could dictate. Sir Thomas died about eight years afterwards; but he continued with the lady and her daughters to the end of his life. The lady died about a year after him.

A coalition like this, a ftate in which the notions of patronage and dependence were overpowered by the perception of reciprocal benefits, deferves a particular memorial; and I will not withhold from the reader Dr. Gibbons' re

presentation, to which regard is to be paid as to the narrative of one who writes what he knows, and what is known likewife to multitudes befides.

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"Our next obfervation fhall be made

upon that remarkably kind Provi"dence which brought the Doctor into "Sir Thomas Abney's family, and con"tinued him there till his death, a pe"riod of no less than thirty-fix years. "In the midft of his facred labours for "the glory of God, and good of his ge"neration, he is feized with a most vio"lent and threatening fever, which "leaves him oppreffed with great weak"ness, and puts a top at least to his "publick services for four years. In this

"diftreffing season, doubly fo to his ac"tive and pious fpirit, he is invited to "Sir Thomas Abney's family, nor ever "removes from it till he had finished "his days. Here he enjoyed the un"interrupted demonftrations of the "trueft friendship. Here, without any "care of his own, he had every thing "which could contribute to the enjoy "ment of life, and favour the unwea"ried pursuit of his ftudies. Here he "dwelt in a family, which, for piety, "order, harmony, and every virtue, "was an houfe of God. Here he had "the privilege of a country recefs, the

fragrant bower, the fpreading lawn,

"the flowery garden, and other advan66 tages, to footh his mind and aid his "refto

"restoration to health; to yield him, "whenever he chofe them, moft grate"ful intervals from his laborious ftu"dies, and enable him to return to "them with redoubled vigour and de"light. Had it not been for this most

66

happy event, he might, as to out"ward view, have feebly, it may be

painfully, dragged on through many

"more years of languor, and inability "for publick fervice, and even for pro"fitable study, or perhaps might have

funk into his grave under the over"whelming load of infirmities in the "midft of his days; and thus the "church and world would have been

deprived of thofe many excellent fer

"mons and works, which he drew up

" and

"and published during his long refi"dence in this family. In a few years

"after his coming hither, Sir Thomas

Abney dies; but his amiable confort "furvives, who fhews the Doctor the "fame refpect and friendship as before, " and most happily for him and great "numbers befides; for, as her riches "were great, her generofity and muni"ficence were in full proportion; her "thread of life was drawn out to a

great age, even beyond that of the "Doctor's; and thus this excellent

man, through her kindnefs, and that "of her daughter the prefent Mrs. Eli"zabeth Abney, who in a like degree "esteemed and honoured him, enjoyed "all the benefits and felicities he expe"❝rienced

4