Additional notes on the life and death of Sir Matthew Hale, the late universally…

His resolution for Justice was so great, that I am persuaded, that no wealth nor honour would have hired him knowingly to do one unjust Act.

And though he left us in sorrow, I cannot but acknowledge it a great mercy to him, to be taken away when he was. Alas! what would the good man have done, if he had been put by Plotters, and Traitors, and Swearers, and Forswearers, upon all that his Successors have been put to? In likelihood, even all his great wisdom and sincerity, could never have got him through such a wilderness of thorns, and briars, and wild beasts, without tearing in pieces his entire Reputation, if he had never so well secured his conscience. O! how seasonably did he avoid the tempest, and go to Christ!

And though he left us in sorrow, I cannot but acknowledg it a great mercy to him, to be taken away when he was. Alas! what would the good man have done, if he had been put by Plotters, and Traitors, and Swearers, and Forswearers, upon all that his Successors have been put to? In likelihood, even all his great wisdom and sincerity, could never have got him through such a wilderness of thorns, and briars, and wild beasts, without tearing in pieces his entire Reputation, if he had never so well secured his conscience. O! how seasonably did he avoid the tempest, and go to Christ!

And so have so many excellent persons, since then, and especially within the space of one year, as may well make England tremble at the Prognostic, that the righteous are taken as from the evil to come. And alas! what an evil is it like to be? We feel our loss. We fear the common danger. But what Believer can choose but acknowledge Gods mercy to them, in taking them up to the world of Light, Love, Peace and Order, when confusion is coming upon ⟨image 7⟩