of

any Evil which he faw predominant to Reprove what he knew to deferve it, to Forewarn what he beheld impending, and to venture the Advancing both the Temporal and Eternal Welfare of his Acquaintance, though at the hazard of his Difpleasure. And though it be generally the Fate of those who faithfully discharge that ungrateful Duty of Reforming a Friend, or Correcting the Vices of an Acquaintance, not to meet with that Return of Love and Gratitude which they deferve; yet Mr. Kettlewell did manage this with so much Prudence, as to give but ittle Offence, and to gain thereby much Efteem, especially among the Better Sort.

Love and

ties.

Sect. 22. Thus he Lived, (notwithstan- How he ding that he was for calling Things ftill by got the their own Names, and dealing Plainly with Fem of every one) both Beloved and Efteemed by Bo h Parthe Two Contrary Parties which were in his College, and in the University, fo long as he continued a Collegiate Life; he being equally readyto ferve one and the other to the utmost of his Ability, without either Diffembling his Principles, or Disclosing what was to be Secret. Hence when he had taken his Master of Arts Degree, he had a Recommendation into One of the Noble Families of England, which had the general Reputation of being Attached to the Low Party, or to the Country as Divided from the Court, though his Principles could

Academical

how by

hin regar

del.

not but be fufficiently known by the Perfon who had Intereft there to Recommend him.

Sect. 23. He had taken his First Degree in Degrees Midfummer MDCLXIV.and was madeMafter of Arts May the Third, MDCLXXVII. going out Inceptor the Act following. Which is Univerfally Obferved to be that very Time, when there is more of Vanity and Oftentation to be seen, than in any Stage of an But in the Meek and Acadeinical Life. Humble Kettlewell this made not the left Alteration: On the contrary it had rather this good Effect on him, to give him a more Strong and Lively Profpect of the predominant Vanity in Humane Nature, which catcheth hold of that which was defigned only for a Reward of Learning and Virtue, and for an Honorary Encouragement to Men of Merit; and fo poifoneth the most wholefome Inftitutions. This was by none more feen, or more lamented than by this Wife Man, who preferred the Taking his Degrees in the School of the Crofs to the Highest which the University could confer upon him. During the Time he was Batchellor of Arts, and a Junior Fellow of Lincoln, he laid the Foundation for his whole Life that was to follow, and did Labour more abundantly than all who were preparing themselves for the Work of the Miniftry. And fo foon as ever he commenced Mafter, it was Time he concluded for him to fet his Hand to the Plow

Plow in good Earneft, and by all manner of Ways to Answer the Ends of his Education, as by Preaching, by Writing, by Conference, by Inftruction, and above all by Example.

manner of

Sect. 24, His Preaching was Eafy and of his Free, and was always upon ufeful Texts; Preaching. avoiding all vain Contentions and Controverfies, which serve not to Edify the Man of God in Faith and in Righteousness. His Aim herein was not to speak only to the Heads, and Ears, but moreover to the Hearts of his Auditors. Which he also the rather did by his very Affectionate Way of Delivery fo as it were by one Fire enkindling another. He had indeed no good Voice: Yet he knew how to make the beft Use of it, and to give every Word its due and proper Weight. He was not for Harangues in the Pulpit: But very much for Method in his Sermons; which made them both the more Taking, every Head being as it were a Fresh Subject; and alfo the more Ufeful, as being the more easily remembred.

made for

Sect. 25. And hardly had he been Mafter The early of Arts above a Year, if fo long, but he had Provifion laid up a large Fund of Sermons, against the Time he fhould be called thence to the Cure of Souls. For to one of his Intimate Confidents, when he was a very Young Mafter he one Day fhewed a Course of Sermons all Fairly Written with his own Hand, and

1

Of the manner of

his Wri

ting.

fitted (as he faid) for the Country. There might be near a Hundred of them, according to the best Computation which this Gentleman could haftily make. For fo Confcientious an Eye had he to the Chief End of an Academical Life, in those designed for the Priestly and Paftoral Office, which is the Good of the Church and the Edification of Mankind in the Chriftian Life: As that he could not be at reft without making a very Early and Great Provifion for the Čare of thofe Souls, afterward to be committed to his Charge; and this too notwithstanding the Care of his Pupils, and other Offices and Duties of the College. One of the First Sermons which he Preached in Oxford was upon the Affiftance of the Holy Spirit; in which he did feem to Able Judges to handle that Great Point with marvellous Perfpicuity and Judgment.

Sect. 26. In all his Writings, whether Sermons or Treatifes, or whether they were for the Pulpit or the Prefs, he had still an Eye to the Practical Part, as well as to the Inftructive, and even to that Principally: Well knowing that as without Understanding, fo alfo without doing his Duty, a Man is certainly Defective; either Blind, or Lame. And for Proof of this let this one Inftance of his Practical Believer fuffice. But another Thing I would hint, that this Judicious Author in all his Difcourfes, had ever a

Regard

Regard not only to the Learned, but also (and Chiefly) to the Unlearned and to those of meanner Capacities; for whom he Thought nothing could be too Plain. Which is the True Reason, why fome Things which might have been expreffed Shorter are set forth fo at Large, and others which might have been omitted are repeated and inculcated. And they who were beft Acquainted with him at that Time when he was Writing fome of his Firft Pieces, and with his Manner of Writing and Preaching, together with the Views which he principally had, do atteft this to be fo from certain Knowledge, and his own express Declaration to them in confidence. The Plainnefs and Perfpicuity of his Stile he took Care fhould be fuch, as to render his Labours Serviceable to the greatest Numbers: Which if it were a Fault in him, as fome will doubtlefs be ready enough to Censure him for it, he had this Satisfaction in himself, that it was a Fault committed on the Right Side; and that he fought not fo much his own Reputation therein, as the Edification of them for whofe Sake he was Engaged. This is the real Cround of his Writing fometimes in a Low Stile, Adapted to the Capacity of every common Reader; and is a Claraderifick both of the Simplicity and the Prudence which fo eminently Shin'd in this Good Man: Who was of the Opinion that the Vulgar had a better Title to what

he