no finall clamour. And when a little after, Sir Thomas Abney, who was a worthy member of Mr. Howe's congregation, (than whom none ever filled the chair of the city with greater honour) went in the year of his mayoralty 1701, to the public worship of GoD, fometimes in the established Church, and fometimes among the diffenters, an angry pamphlet was published on this occafion, intitled, "An inquiry into "the occafional conformity of the diffen"ters." In which this practice was reprefented as very fcandalous, and a preface was prefixed to Mr. Howe, who was called, upon either to vindicate it, or declare against it. Mr. Howe, perceiving the Author of the Inquiry to be of a warm temper, contented himself with publishing a short reply, an account of which it is not neceffary at this time to give. But the debate grew hotter and hotter, and men of the greatest latitude and moderation were the objects of the fupreme averfion of zealots and bigots; and what was defigned as an expreffion of the most fervent charity, and a generous catholic fpirit by fome, was called downright hypocrify by others, and faid to be altogether unaccountable, and felf-condemning. Till at length it became

a ferious question, whether they who could at all, and in any cafe worship GOD, with the Church of England, fhould not be obliged to do it for a conftancy, or elfe be incapacitated from holding any place either of profit or truft? and accordingly a bill, relating to occafional conformity, was brought into the house of commons, in 1702, the first parliament of Queen Anne.

BUT by this time, when (as the Author of his life obferves) that little charity we had remaining among us was juft expiring, Mr. Howe began to be weary of living. He had seen enough of the world, to dif cern how unfit a place it was to continue to dwell in. He wanted to breathe in nobler air, and inhabit better regions. Befides having employed his time, ftrength, and intereft in the most valuable fervices, he was wafted with feveral diseases, which he bore with great patience and a refigned fubmiffion to the will of his heavenly Father. It is remarkable the last thing he published was a difcourfe of Patience, relating to the expectation of future bleffednefs; which came out in 1702. And this was what he now himself had particular occafion for. He difcovered no fear of dying, but even when his end drew near, was VOL. I. very

d

very ferene and calm. He feemed indeed fometimes to have been got to heaven, even before he had laid aside that mortality, which he had been long expecting to have fwallowed up of life. (G). And tho' nature was confiderably fpent in him, yet there was fomething even in the manner of his dying, that was remarkable, and worthy of obfervation.

He would be very pleasant fometimes in his laft fickness, and converfed freely with fuch as came to visit him, of whom there were many of all ranks. Among the reft Richard Cromwel (who was now grown old, and had lived many years retired from the world, fince the time when Mr. Howe was his domeftic chaplain) hearing that he was going off the ftage, came to make him a refpectful vifit, and take his farewel of him before he died. There was a great deal of ferious difcourfe between them. Tears were freely fhed on both fides, and the

parting

(G) IT was obferved, and is to this day, I believe, fhys Dr. Calamy, remembered by fome of his flock, that in his laft illness, and when he had been declining for fome time, he was once in a moft affecting, melting, heavenly frame at the communion; and carried out into fuch a ravishing and transporting celebration of the love of Chrift, that both he himself, and they who communicated with him, were apprehenfive he would have expired in that very fervice. P.73. fol. & p. 225. oct.

parting was very folemn, as one declared, who was prefent on that occafion. Many elder and younger minifters alfo frequently visited him, and he was very free in difcourse with them; and talked like one of another world, who had high-raised and uncommon hopes of that bleffedness there, which his heart had been long fet upon.

HAVING been very bad one evening, but the next morning unexpectedly recruited, he was visibly chearful; which being taken notice of by those that were about him, he said he was for feeling that he was alive, and yet he was most willing to die, and lay that clog (as he called his body) afide. Of this there is that plain proof, that he once told his wife, that tho he thought he loved her, as well as it was fit for one creature to love another, yet if it were put to his choice, whether to die that moment or to live that night, and the living that night, would fecure the continuance of his life for seven years to come, he declared he would choose to die that moment. Being at laft, quite worne out, he finished his course with joy, April 2, 1705, and, no doubt, was tranflated into the calm and peaceable regions of the bleffed above, where nothing d 2

but.

but perfect charity and ferenity reign for

ever.

BEFORE We close the account of this excellent perfon it is proper to obferve, that he published some admirable treatifes, befides thofe already mentioned; and feveral fingle Sermons, preach'd on different occafions*. And tho it was never the intention of the Editor to make remarks on them all, yet there were two published towards the close of his life, which deserve particular notice; and which the learned collector of the memoirs has but barely mentioned. One of them, "The Redeemer's "dominion over the invifible world, and "the entrance thereinto by death;" occafioned by the death of John Hoghton efquire, eldeft fon of Sir Charles Hoghton, of Hoghton-Tower, in the county of Lancafter, Baronet. In the dedication of this noble and excellent book to Sir Charles and his lady, there are feveral things faid in a strong manner to reconcile pious parents to the death of their children; which is one of the greatest afflictions to which the human nature is incident, and therefore deferves

A catalogue of all Mr. Howe's works may be feen not only in the memoirs of his life, but also in the abridgement of Baxter's life. Vol. 11. p. 236, &c.