LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 51 



to his own satisfaction, than he could in town ; 

 but of recruiting his health and relieving him- 

 self from the fatigues of his parochial cure ; — 

 and, (what was still of more consequence to 

 him) of improving in his spiritual life, through 

 the advantages of retirement and disengagement 

 from company and business, which Norwich 

 afforded him ; a remarkable instance of which 

 blessing, (for so he esteemed it) shall be given 

 in its proper place. 



Towards the latter end of this year, 1682, 

 died his friend, Sir John Finch ; and within a 

 month after him, viz. December 18, died his 

 beloved lord and patron, the Earl of Notting- 

 ham : each of them leaving him legacies, as 

 tokens of their esteem and friendship for him. 



In the following year, 1683, he wrote his first 

 book about Conscience, at the desire of the 

 Bishop of London. To understand the reason 

 why this province was particularly assigned 

 him, it will be proper to look back to the head 

 of a dispute with the Dissenters, about Con- 

 formity, which he himself had undesignedly 

 opened near ten years before. 



He had in the year 1674, while he was yet 

 Domestic Chaplain to the Lord Keeper, and 

 before he had any other preferment besides his 

 Archdeaconry, preached before the Lord Mayor 

 at Guildhall Chapel, upon the subject of the 



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