GO LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SANCROFT. 



becoming both the support and the crown of 

 his death-bed. All which most plainly teaches 

 us how necessary it is to gain a habit of virtue 

 in the days of our health, that we may not have 

 to seek it at that season when we have the 

 greatest occasion to use it." 



The piety of his soul, which was always 

 quick and active, cast a holy light upon the 

 gloom of his death-bed scene. It was sur- 

 prising to behold, in the perfect failure of 

 all bodily supports, what presence of mind he 

 would summon up to his assistance, under the 

 affliction which lay upon him. With what 

 wonderful dexterity and readiness he would 

 alleviate his sufferings by pious and suitable 

 ejaculations, taken out of the Scriptures, or 

 breathed forth from his own pious soul. When- 

 ever a sharp pain, or a dejection of spirits, such 

 as was incidental to the sickness under which 

 he laboured, approached him, he was ever 

 ready to meet it by uttering some divine sen- 

 tence or some holy prayer. That which came 

 nearest to a complaint was only a description 

 of his wasting condition in these pious words. 

 *' Thy hand is heavy upon me day and night, 

 my moisture is like the drought in summer." 

 But even this was joined with a feeling of firm 

 reliance on the providence of God ; for, said he. 



