from his own private resources; for he received a considerable sum from his father, which was greatly augmented by the testamentary disposal of his elder brother's fortune: neither is it true, as others have declared,* that he left the palace at Fulham in a bad condition, though it is very true that he found it so. In fact, his present worthy successor informs me, in a letter dated January 27, 1830, that he built a dining-room there (which is now the kitchen) with bed-rooms over it. To his lady, who survived him, Bishop Sherlock bequeathed 30007. per annum for her life, and 10,000l. at her own disposal. The rest of his property, with the reversion of his widow's income, after certain bequests, devolved on his nephew, Sir Thomas Gooch. It seems that he was neither deficient in the virtue of charity during his life, nor unmindful of those who had any claim on him at his death; for as his piety was constant and exemplary, his zeal in establishing the great truth of Christianity warm and fervent, so, says Dr. Nichols,† was his munificence and his charity large and diffusive. It appears that he gave great sums of money to the corporation of clergymen's sons, to several of the hospitals, and to the Society for propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts. Indeed at the instance of this same Society, he printed at his own charge an impression of 2000 copies of his valuable Discourses, which were sent to all the islands and colonies of America. To his old college of Catherine Hall, the place of his education, he left his valuable library of books, with an estate at Congeston, in the county of Leicester,*

The Rev. C. Godwyn, in a letter to Mr. Hutchins, says that he died worth 120,0007., and left the palace at Fulham in very bad condition. Lit. Anecd. vol. viii. p. 227. On this point see his letter to Dr. Grey, p. xlvii.

+ Funeral Sermon.

This estate was subsequently exchanged for one at Nether

for a library fund, on which a salary of 207. per annum is charged for the pay of a librarian. He also left an estate at Therfield, in Cambridgeshire, to found a scholarship, which must be given to the master's sizar. When he resigned his headship of Catherine Hall, Dr. Crosse, the senior fellow, a person whom Sherlock disliked, was elected to succeed him, for no other reason but that a senior might be removed out of the way; and this probably was the reason why he neglected his college in the disposal of his preferment. Besides the above-mentioned, and other public instances of his charity, the private flow of his bounty to many individuals was constant and regular: on all just occasions he was ever ready to stretch forth his hand towards the needy and afflicted; of which no one,' continues Dr. Nichols, can bear testimony better than myself, whom he often employed as the distributor of it.' This is evidence which must overbalance a thousand insinuations of those who judge only from hearsay, or perhaps, still worse, from the suggestions of their own imagination. To his servants it is said that he was a kind master, knowing how to reward fidelity and diligence; especially in those who had been long in his service. They were careful over him, and he remembered their care, by leaving a large sum among those who had been nearest about him during his illness.*

If he had failings (and who is there without them?) they were those which generally attach themselves to the greatest minds: he was ambitious; but he directed his ambition to noble purposes: he was irritable in his temper; but he generally corrected this defect, oftentimes

Wittacre, in the county of Warwick, which at present brings in 1107. per annum.

*Funeral Sermon.

under circumstances of considerable difficulty, by the strength of his religious principles; he may also have exhibited sometimes a little pride; but it was not towards his inferiors. These then are but specks, scarcely to be distinguished in the bright radiance of his character: nor ought we in any case to be too severe in animadverting on the slight defects which attach themselves to the spirits of great and good men not yet made perfect. Let us rather learn to imitate their virtues, and aim at the high reward which awaits the good and faithful servants of their Lord.

SUMMARY OF DISCOURSE I.

JOHN, CHAP. VI.-VERSES 67-69.

PART I.

THREE reasons for the constancy and adherence of the disciples to Christ: (I.) the miserable condition of those who should forsake him, having no other in whom they could trust; (II.) the excellency of his religion, and the means afforded by it for obtaining eternal happiness; (III.) his authority and divine commission, as a ground of confidence and faith. These three reasons referred to three general principles or maxims: (1.) that religion, which is the only means of true happiness and perfection in the present circumstances of the world, does not depend on human reasoning or invention; we cannot learn it from ourselves or others: (2.) the great end of religion is future happiness; consequently the best religion is that which most surely directs us to it: (3.) the authority and word of God is the only sure foundation of religion and reasonable ground of our hopes. First head considered: the necessity of religion in general is taken for granted; the only question is, from what source we must derive it: improvements which the gospel has introduced into the world stated: sceptics of the present age are apt to refer these to natural religion: this pretence examined and shown to be false: men are chiefly indebted to the gospel even for that natural religion which they boast of: the question then put―is there no such thing as natural religion? Answered by an exposition of the state of mankind under it, (which is not

SHERL.

VOL. I.

A