FRANCIS WILLUGHBY. 
53 
comprehensive charity, that he could heartily 
affect and embrace all good men of all persua- 
sions, — good men, I say, to exclude such opinions 
as are destructive of, or inconsistent with, true 
goodness. 
“ To these I may add his due fear and reverenee 
of the Deity, deep sense of his goodness, and 
thankfulness of the same, and sincere piety in all 
his actions towards him, and great abhorrency of 
whatever tended to his dishonour.” From such a 
confluence of excellencies, which Mr Ray de- 
clares he “ never else beheld united in one 
person,” what excellent, what memorable results 
might not be expected ! Reasons will hereafter 
appeal-, which will render it in the highest degree 
probable, that the eulogium is as just as it is 
exalted, — a probability arising equally from Mr 
Ray’s own most eminent integrity, and capability 
of appreciating whatever was admirable in the 
character of others. 
Thus considered, it prepares us for the statement 
of Mr Willughby’s attainments and performances, 
always, till oflate years, undoubtingly ascribed to 
him as really his own, and questioned by some 
very modern writers simply because it appeared to 
them impossible that they could have been made 
by any one during so short a career. Before 
proceeding to trace his progress, which is inten- 
ded to be done as much as possible through every 
year of his life, it may be permitted to confess 
the impression that there is a most marked agree- 
ment between the portrait of Mr Willughby, as 
