Sermons...

did, from the Day of his being first known amongst Them, to That day, on which Some of them were Witneffes to the approaches of his laft Illness.

THE regards paid to him by the Beft of the Powerfull and Noble part of Our World, were as conftant and as Remarkable. Above all, it ought ever to be remember'd, where-ever the Name of Dr Clarke is remember'd, That her Present MAJESTY, from Her firft Acquaintance with his Character to the Day of his Death, exprefs'd the high Efteem She had of His Comprehenfive Capacity, and Usefull Learning, by very frequent Converfations with Him, upon Many of the most Important and Etertaining Points of True Philofophy, and Real Knowledge. And feldom a Week pass'd in which SHE did not with pleasure receive fome proof of the Greatnefs of his Genius, and of the Force of his Superior Understanding.

IF any One should afk, as it is natural to do, How it came to pafs that this Great Man was never raised higher in the Church? I muft anfwer, That it was neither for want of Merit, nor Intereft, nor

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the Favor of Some in whofe Power it was to have raised Him. But he had Reafons within his own Breaft, which hinder'd Him either from feeking after, or accepting any fuch Promotion. Of Thefe He was the proper, and indeed the only Judge and therefore I fay no more of Them. He was happy in that Station, in which it had pleased GOD to fix Him before Thofe Reafons took place: and He had not in Him, either the Defire of Dignity or Love of Riches, ftrong enough to make him uneafy for any thing more than what afforded Him and his Family a Decent appearance and place in Life. And, agreeably to this Character, As He fought after No promotion in the Church fo He refused the offer of a very beneficial Civil Office.

THUS adorned with the most Valuable of All Moral and Intellectual Accomplishments, He lived in the Esteem of the Wife and Good and Great; and died fincerely lamented by Every Friend to Learning, Truth and Virtue.

I HAVE thus paid that laft Duty to the Memory of this Excellent Man,

which I could not but efteem a Debt to fuch a Benefactor to the Cause of Religion and Learning united. And as These WORKS of His must last as long as Any Language remains to convey them to future times; perhaps I may flatter Myself That this Faint and Imperfect Account of Him may be tranfmitted down with Them. And I hope, It will be thought a pardonable piece of Ambition, and Self-Interestednefs; if, being fearfull left Every Thing elfe fhould prove too weak to keep the Remembrance of Myself in being, I lay hold on His Fame, to prop and fupport My own. I am fure, As I have little Reafon to expect that Any thing of mine, without fuch an Affiftance, can live: I fhall think Myself greatly recompenfed for the want of Any other Memorial, if My Name may go down to Posterity thus closely joined to His; and I myself be thought of, and fpoke of, in Ages to come, under the Character of The FRIEND of Dr CLARKE.

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