This holy and blessed man whose funeral now we solemnize, was of St Paul's spiiit. He did desire to die, and beivith Christ; he had a desire while he Uved to take all opportunities to do good. I speak of that time when he lived, that is, when he was good, for we live no longer than we are good. Let us not reckon that life, wherein we do no good. After God had -wi-ought upon his heart, he had a public heart to do good. If I wanted matter to speak of, I could teU you of his alliance and birth, having tv/o worthy judges of reverend esteem, the one his grandfather, the other his uncle. The one bred him, the other cherished and promoted his study and en- deavoiirs ; but what should I speak of these things when he hath personal worth enough ? I need not go abroad to commend this man, for there were those gi'aces and gifts in him that made him so esteemed, that verily, I think, no man of his place and years hved more desired, and died more lamented.
1. For his parts of nature, they were pregnant and solid; but as one said to Melancthon, his disposition and loving mind did gain as much love from men as his parts, though they were great,
2. His learning was good ; for beside his own profession, he was a general scholar, and had good skill in that we call elegant learning, and contro- verted points of di\'inity. He was a good divine. Indeed, in the tm-ning of his life, when he should have adventured upon a profession, he had some thoughts of being a divine, had not his friends, especially his uncle, Judge Yelverton, (d) disposed him otherwdse, by promoting his study in the law; and when he took upon him that profession, he grew so m it, that he was a credit to the profession for integrity, sincerity, and ability.
3. For his disposition he was every way a man of an excellent sweet temper ; mild, and yet resolute ; meek, and yet bold where cause was ; discreet, yet not over- discreet, so as not to stand out in a good cause in the defence of it; he was humble, yet thought himself too good to be instru- mental to any services other than stood with the peace of his conscience ; he was tractable and gentle, yet immovably fixed to his principles of piety
348 CHRIST IS BEST.
and honesty ; he was exact in his life, yet not censorious ; very conscion- able and reHgious, but without any vain curiosity ; indeed, he was every- way of a sweet temper. If he stood out in dislike of any, in any matter, he carried it usually with evidence of such sincerity, and denial of self-seeking, that he usually prevailed where he put in.
4. To come to his private personal carriage, it was very pious. He was wont to sequester himself from his employment and labour, to bring his heart under to God, to the guidance of God's Spirit : his study was to study to die ; for he gathered choice things out of the sermons he heard about death, many years before he died, to lay up store of provision against that time ; and two or three terms before he died he had a special care to inquire of nearer communion with God. He inquired of those he con- versed with of the way to attain the same, and was willing to hear any dis- courses that tended that way.
5. For his care of the Sabbath, it was his delight. His custom was, after sermon, to retire and ruminate upon what he had heard, to turn it into his spirit. Alas, for want of this, how many sermons are lost in this great city ! how much seed is spilt in vain ! "What nourishment can there be without digestion ? it is the second digestion that breeds nom^ishment ; when we chew things, and call them to mind again, and make them our own. This was his custom every Sabbath.
6. For his carriage to others, he was a constant friend, and his study was, to labour to make those good he conversed withal. He conversed with few, but they were the better for him, he was so fruitful ; and he would have intimate society with none, but he would do good or take good from them. You have many in the society where he lived, that may bless God all the days of their life that ever they knew him.
7. For his carriage in his government of the place where he lived, I think there are none that are able to judge, but will give him the testimony of a faithful, prudent governor. He was so careful of the town where he was recorder, that he provided for them after his death, and gave them a large legacy , two hundred merks, to set the poor on work.
8. For the honoui-able society wherein he was a governor, he carried himself with that resolution, for good order and good exercises, and was such a strict opposer of an}- abuse, which he judged to be so, that the house will have a special want of him.* I fear, rather, I desire from my soul, that that honourable society may so flourish as they may have no want of good Master Sherland.