y may be justified in this conduct, is not our business
to discuss: if it is called by the name of guilt, none ever had more
pressing motives; and if such a crime could admit of an excuse, it must
be upon such an occasion.

3. Several Epistles to his Friends under affliction.

4. Upon the Divine Attributes.

5. A Prospect of Death.

5. Upon the General Conflagration, and the ensuing Judgment. There were
two pieces of our author's, published after his death by his friend
Philalethes; the first of these entitled Reason, was wrote by him in the
year 1700, when the debates concerning the doctrine of the Trinity were
carried on with so much heat by the Clergy one against another, that the
royal authority was interposed in order to put an end to a controversy,
which could never be settled, and which was pernicious in its
consequences. This is a severe satire, upon one of the parties engaged
in that dispute, but his not inserting it amongst his other poems when
he collected them into a volume, was, on account of his having received
very particular favours, from some of the persons therein mentioned. The
other is entitled Dies Novissima, or the Last Epiphany, a Pindaric Ode
on Christ's second Appearance to judge the World. In this piece the poet
expresses much heart-felt piety: It is animated, if not with a poetical,
at least with so devout a warmth, that as the Guardian has observed of
Divine Poetry, 'We shall find a kind of refuge in our pleasure, and our
diversion will become our safety.'

This is all the account we are favoured with of the life and writings
of Mr. Pomfret: A man not destitute either of erudition or genius, of
unexceptionable morals, though exposed to the malice of antagonists. As
he was a prudent man, and educated to a profession, he was not subject
to the usual necessities of the poets, but his sphere being somewhat
obscure, and his life unactive, there are few incidents recorded
concerning him. If he had not fortune sufficient to render him
conspicuous, he had enough to keep his life innocent, which he seems to
have spent in ease and tranquillity, a situation much more to be envied
than the highest blaze of fame, attended with racking cares, and
innumerable sollicitudes.

The CHOICE.

If Heav'n the grateful liberty would give,
That I might chuse my method how to live.
And all those hours propitious fate should lend,
In blissful ease and satisfaction spend,

Near some fair town I'd h