To the Right Reverend Father in God, BRIAN, Lord Bishop of Winchester, Prelate of the Honourable Order of the Garter, and Almoner to His Majesty.

THose learned Jews and Christians, who have been curious to find out the reason of some Visions in the Scripture, do affirme, That the Bush which Moses saw unburnt in the midst of fire, was an Em∣bleme of the Israelites then in bondage to the Aegyptians, who were not onely preser∣ved in the midst of Persecutions, but thrived under their Oppressions, hard Tasks and heavy Burthens; and grew more numerous from the politick Arts which strived to lessen and destroy them: till at length God contrived them a miraculous Deliverance, which with their Calamitios concluded in a Song.

When I look back upon our late suffering Times, (the saddest which I think any History hath recorded) where Oppression backt with Power made the Ruine of Page  [unnumbered] our Church the horrid step and ladder to the Usurpation of the Crown; and where the name of a Bishop was so criminal and odious, as to verifie Tertullian's sad com∣plaint of his brutish Times, Nominis & vocabuli rei fuimus, We were made guilty of a Word, and con∣demned for being Christians, and the style was punisht with publick Sales and Sequestrations: and when with∣all I do consider, by what unlookt-for way of Providence your Order and Religion, like a Treasure snatcht from shipwreck, were stupendiously restored after many years Confusion: Methinks that Bush which Moses saw was the Embleme of our Church, kept safe by Miracle in the midst of hungry fire: and the Ship in the Gospel was presented to my eyes, where Christ and his Apostles were tost in an hideous Storm; but he waked and stilled the Winds, and put a calmness to the Sea.

In these dayes of publick Calamity, I was curious to observe how several men behaved themselves in strug∣ling with their dangers. I saw some take for their pa∣tern the Prophet Jonas in a storm, who slept securely and untroubled when his Shipwreck rolled about him. I saw others so much Cowards, that to preserve their wretched Fortunes they compounded with the Tempest, and made a League and Friendship with the Winds; nay, Servilely revived the Religion of those base timo∣rous Heathens, who worshipt every thing they fear'd, and sacrificed to Furies, and built Altars to their Plagues. I saw others of a nobler and more stout and Page  [unnumbered] Christian Temper (whose just reward is now to shine like Stars of Honour in the Church) immovably reso∣lute to maintain their Loyalty and Conscience with the loss of their Lives, as they had already with their For∣tunes.

Yet, I hope, it will be no diminution of their Vertues, if I say, That your Lordships Carriage in these Times of Persecution was to me most remarkable; who by your happy Restitution, and addition of more Honour, have been made a greater Bishop, but not a greater Person, then you were in your lowest ebbe of Fortune.

The payment of your Vow in your building of an Alms-house on the place where you your self so ofter sate, not wanting of an Almes, but weeping o're the Prospect not then pleasant to your Eye, because your proper busi∣ness there was to aske the passers by, If ever there were sorrows like to the sorrows of this Nation; Your large Bounty to the College of which I am a Member, which, if I should name the Summe, would make the world be∣lieve you meant to found a new College, and not complete an old; Your dying Liberalities bequeathed to others in your Will, even to your meanest Servants, who were your servants in distress, are things which do proclaim you a great and noble Benefactor. But these are but the good deeds of your Fortune, done by the Bishop of Win∣chester, the Charities of one possest with plenty and a∣bundance; your Rents and Mannors here share with you as Co-founders: and your new Almes-house might Page  [unnumbered] have it written on the Walls, A poor Bishop vow'd this House, but a great and wealthy built it.

That which made you truly great and reverend in my eyes, was to look into your noble Heart, your large and bounteous Mind, where your Good Deeds now, were then but Wishes and Designs. You were truly great to me, when I saw you in your Poverty anticipate your Almes-house, and be liberal at your door: and the poor people in your House now, had then places at your Gate; when being reduced to the last Cruse of Oyle, you made the drops run to others; and when there was but a handful of Meal left in the little Barrel, you then dealt your Loaf to those who wanted daily bread. In short, when you had but two Coats left, to give one to the naked; when you had hardly more then one Dish, to make the poor your Guests; to see you walk up your Hill with not much money in your purse, and return back with none; but then to think of laying up Treasures in Heaven, when you had so little left on Earth, was a Charity which raised in me a religious Admiration; and lookt something like the Miracle wrought by our Savi∣our in the Gospel, where Multitudes were fed with two fishes and five loaves.

Nor may I, without some Injustice to your Vertues, forbear to let the world know, That I never saw Affli∣ctions born with a more serene and even temper then you did yours; who in the worst of Times stood like a firme unshaken Rock in the midst of angry waves; your Page  [unnumbered] Courage still the same, unbroken or undisturbed with a∣ny sad Disasters not more publick then your owne. The old Church of England still kept up in your House, with all its Formes and Rites, though pub∣lickly forbidden; Prayers constantly, and twice a day, read by you for the King, at a time when such Devotions were made Treason by the Tyrant; and Weekly Sermons preacht before you, filled with so much Loyalty and Truth, as would any where else have cast the Preacher into Bonds, if not sent him from his Pulpit to the place of Execution.

To all this your Lordships continued Kindnesses to me, by which I can compute my self almost grown aged in your Favours; your encouragement of my youn∣ger Studies, which grew up under your Example; your Rescue of me from a Shipwreck in the late un∣doing Times, when being tost, and stript of all, you were the Plank to save me, and threw me out a line which drew me safe to shore; are Reasons sufficient to let the World know, that of most sins I think Ingratitude the worst.

Being therefore fairly invited at first to preach this Sermon, and since by several Hearers of it to make it this way publick, I beseech your Lordship to allow it the shadow of your Wing; and to accept it, not as a full payment of my Debts to you, (for this very Dedication of it sets me deeper on your score) Page  [unnumbered] but as a Testimony how much greater my Desires are then my Abilities or Parts, to let the World know how unfeignedly I am