The life & death of Mr. Joseph Alleine, late teacher of the church at Taunton, in Somersetshire, assistant to Mr. Newton whereunto are annexed diverse Christian letters of his, full of spiritual instructions tending to the promoting of the power of Godliness, both in persons and families, and his funeral sermon, preached by Mr. Newton.

Seventhly, His singular Piety.

As respects his singular Piety, all who knew him can say much, and yet all but little, considering how much more 〈◊〉〈◊〉 escaped the most tenacious memory, observant eye, and atten∣tive ear. Yet he must be wretchedly inobservant, who amidst so many and great instances of it, can make no reflections.

How much he conceived it as his own, and others greatest Interest, Ornament, and Felicity herein to excel, will be ma∣nifest by his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which he gave to a young Scholar ready to depart to the University, in words to this purpose: I know, saith he, that you will labour to excel in Learning, but be sure to excel as in that, so also and especially in Holi∣ness, which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 render you one of the most useful and 〈◊〉〈◊〉

Creatures in the World. Learning will render you perchance ae∣ceptable to men, but piety both to God and Men: by that you will shine only on Earth to the Clods thereof, and perhaps in some ob∣scure corner of it; but this is an Orient Pearl, which will shine in you on Earth and in Heaven, both to God, Angels, and Men. How much he dwelt on this Exhortation, and these Apprehensions, will be evident by a Pious Letter which he sent to the Person forenamed, some years after, wherein his words are these: "O study God, and study your self closly, and pursue Holiness more than Learning, though both these together make a happy Constellation, and are like Castor and Pollux; which when they appear together, do ever pre∣sage good to the Mariners. And that it might appear that he did not onely commend Holiness in the general, but also in the particular and chief Instances of a Holy Life: He excel∣lently proceeds in the same Letter, saying, ``I much com∣mend unto you those four beautifying Lessons, so shortly comprehended in this Distich,

Spernere mundum, spernere nullum, spernere sese, Spernere se sperni, quatuor ista beant.