1811. ds 
who died in early 4ife.» Having» been very 
happy. in his: marriage, aithough a widower 
upwards of forty years, he never contracted a 
second. marriage, alleging, that if a man had 
haé@ one good wife it was as much as’he ought 
toexpect. His integrity, in transactions of 
business, has never been questioned, and such 
was his mildness to his creditors, that he never 
had ome arrested for debt;, and, as a landlord 
and a master of servants, he was truly ex- 
emplary. Indeed so social and kind was his 
nature, that every one admitted into his 
family so much shared his sympathy, that 
he seldgm discharged. a2 setvant without pain. 
His conversation could never offend the 
chastest ear, and his conduct to the other sex 
‘was as pure as his conversation. Yet there was 
nothing more remarkable in the character of 
this valuable man, than his uniform cheer- 
fulness, even under the pressure of ill*health, 
and his habitual thankfulness, for the good 
with which providence had blessed his life. 
He seldom complained, but always, not by 
words only, but by unequivocal conduct, 
shewed, that he thought he had more comfort, 
and less evil than he merited. Hewas socon- 
tented and happy, even in his latest-age, that 
he would oiten say, ‘* I have nota want nora . 
wish.” This is the more remarkable, as he of- 
fen suffered great pain; and was liable to vio- 
lenge JPeaost painful bodily com: 
af mind rendered him, 
jest men living ; in= 
ne +, whetherthere 
eppy in this very mu- 
existence ; and it must. be re- 
Pais felicity was the effcet of his 
Gharacter, and not of his afiuent 
stances; for far greater af~ 
found with persons’ whose 
mand fretful dispositions, render 
etely miserable. « The ‘constant 
them comp 
benefactor of his own [relations, he had alsa” 
attempted to serve many young men, had/ad- 
vanced them confiderable loans; but had-so 
often been disappointed in what he thought his 
yeasonable expectations of their good conduct 
and success, that at length his patience was 
exhausted in this way, and,after much trouble, 
anxiety, and loss of property, he concluded it 
had become very difficult to yield effectual 
patronage to youth, from the great change 
which had taken place, in his time, in the 
habits of young men; he found them generally 
Account of the late Mr. John Reiph. 
285 
now without industry, and prone to expences, 
Far from being forward and’obstrusive in pub- 
lic business, he yet thought it his duty to lend 
a modest and effectual assistance to public 
institutions. We accordingly find him che 
senior member of his company, which. was 
that of the Wax Chandiers, and discharging 
all the duties of each office.of that) company 
with credit and honour, » He was, too, a di- 
rector of the Unien Fire Office, instituted in 
the year 1714, and one of the most efficient 
patrons of the Small-Pox and Inoculation 
Hospitals: He was also a member of thé 
New England Society for propagating Chris- 
tian knowledge, and a trustee of several cha» 
ritable institutions. He retired entirely from 
business about ten years before his death, 
and fixed his residence on Turner’s Hill, Ches~ 
hunt, Herts, where he had built many honses, 
and possessed cons‘derable property ; and even 
there, at a late period of life, he formed new 
acquaintances 3 for so open and social was his’ 
temper, that he liked toenjoy the convers 
sation of his neighbours, and could see the 
playrulness of children with delight.. ‘Here 
he died, as he had lived, on the ‘Soth day of 
January, 1811, contented, thankful, andhappy, 
attended by affectionate relatives, in the 78th 
year of his age} leaving an example of ing 
dustry, simpiicity, probity, cheerfulness, and 
benevolence, ‘or tne imitation ot all who knew 
him. He was interred, by his own desire, in 
the church-yard at. Cheshant. His funeral 
sermon was preached by Mr. Cogan, at Wals 
thamstow, for whom, late in life, he had formed 
a sincere friendship ; and upon whose ministry 
he had last attended; aman who would do 
honour to any churen, and equally remarkable 
for his profound erudition, ang true simplicity 
of manners. He had thes the pleasure to And 
a man, in his last days, worthy to class with 
his first tavourites amongst the dissenters, _ 
the Radcliffes, the Bensons, and the Lard- 
hers. ; 
Peaceful as the life he led, 
Thus reposes with the dead! 
One, whose.spirit, cheerful, kind, 
Met e’en pain with thankful mind, 
Taught by nature, not by art, 
Constant pleasure-to impart ; : 
He was Frieniship’s darling child; ’ 
Mannets easy, passions mild! 
Reader! if thou love thyseli,— ; 
Strive to live and feel like necew! © 
} 
