he christian religion, that he
thought it the institution of heaven, and afforded the most natural
idea of the supreme being, as well as the most forcible motives to
virtue of any faith professed amongst men.

'He was not only satisfied (says Dr. Burnet) of the truth of our holy
religion, merely as a matter of speculation, but was persuaded
likewise of the power of inward grace, of which he gave me this
strange account. He said Mr. Parsons, in order to his conviction, read
to him the 53d chapter of the prophesies of Isaiah, and compared that
with the history of our Saviour's passion, that he might there see a
prophesy concerning it, written many ages before it was done; which
the Jews that blasphemed Jesus Christ still kept in their hands as a
book divinely inspired. He said, as he heard it read, he felt an
inward force upon him, which did so enlighten his mind and convince
him, that he could resist it no longer, for the words had an authority
which did shoot like rays or beams in his mind, so that he was not
only convinced by the reasonings he had about it, which satisfied his
understanding, but by a power, which did so effectually constrain him
that he ever after firmly believed in his Saviour, as if he had seen
him in the clouds.'

We are not quite certain whether there is not a tincture of enthusiasm
in this account given by his lordship, as it is too natural to fly
from one extreme to another, from the excesses of debauchery to the
gloom of methodism; but even if we suppose this to have been the case,
he was certainly in the safest extreme; and there is more comfort in
hearing that a man whose life had been so remarkably profligate as
his, should die under such impressions, than quit the world without
one pang for past offences.

The bishop gives an instance of the great alteration of his lordship's
temper and dispositions (from what they were formerly) in his
sickness. 'Whenever he happened to be out of order, either by pain or
sickness, his temper became quite ungovernable, and his passions so
fierce, that his servants were afraid to approach him. But in this
last sickness he was all humility, patience, and resignation. Once he
was a little offended with the delay of a servant, who he thought made
not haste enough, with somewhat he called for, and said in a little
heat, that damn'd fellow.' Soon after, says the Dr. I told him that I
was glad to find his stile so reformed, and that he had so entirely
overcome