RAY. 175 



We now approach the termination of the career 

 of this truly great man, who was distinguished not 

 less for his fervent piety than for his extensive 

 knowledge and unwearied application. The last 

 letter which he wrote was to Sir Hans Sloane, and 

 is as follows :— ' 



'' Dear Sir, — The best of friends. These are 

 to take a final leave of you as to this world. I look 

 upon myself as a dying man. God requite your 

 kindness expressed any ways towards me an hun- 

 dred-fold, — bless you with a confluence of all good 

 things in this world, and eternal life and happiness 

 hereafter, — grant us an happy meeting in heaven. 

 I am. Sir, eternally yours, John Ray. 



« Black Notley, Jan. 7, 1704." 



There is a passage in The Wisdom of God ma- 

 nifested in the Works of Creation, which exhibits 

 his ideas of a future state, and which it would be 

 instructive to compare with the maniacal effusions 

 of infidels and scoffers : '' It is not likely that eter- 

 nal life shall be a torpid and inactive state, or that 

 it shall consist only in an uninterrupted and end- 

 less act of love ; the other faculties shall be em- 

 ployed, as well as the will, in actions suitable to, 

 and perfective of, their natures, — especially the un- 

 derstanding, the supreme faculty of the soul, which 

 chiefly differenceth from brute beasts, and makes us 

 capable of virtue and vice, of rewards and punish- 

 ments, shall be busied and employed in contemplat- 

 ing the works of God, and observing the divine art 

 and wisdom manifested in the structure and com- 

 position of them ; and reflecting upon their great 



