most grateful intervals from his laborious studies, and
enable him to return to them with redoubled vigour and delight.
Had it not been for this most happy event, he might as to outward
view, have feebly, it may be painfully, dragged on through many
more years of languor and inability for public service, and even
for profitable study, or perhaps might have sunk into his grave
under the overwhelming load of infirmities, in the midst of his
days; and thus the church and world would have been deprived of
those many excellent sermons and works which he drew up and
published during his long residence in this family. In a few years
after his coming hither, Sir Thomas Abney dies; but his amiable
consort survives, who shows the Doctor the same respect and
friendship as before, and most happily for him and great numbers
besides; for, as her riches were great her generosity and munificence
were in full proportion; her thread of life was drawn out to a
great age, even beyond that of the Doctor's; and thus this excellent
man, through her kindness, and that of her daughter, the present
Mrs. Elizabeth Abney, who in a like degree esteemed and honoured
him, enjoyed all the benefits and felicities he experienced at
his first entrance into this family, till his days were numbered
and finished, and, like a shock of corn in its season, he ascended
into the regions of perfect and immortal life and joy."

If this quotation has appeared long, let it be considered, that
it comprises an account of six-and-thirty years, and those the
years of Dr. Watts.

From the time of his reception into this family, his life was no
Otherwise diversified than by successive publications. The series
of his works I am not able to deduce; their number, and their
variety, show the intenseness of his industry, and the extent of
his capacity.

He was one of the first authors that taught the Dissenters to
court attention by the graces of language. Whatever they had among
them before, whether of learning or acuteness, was commonly obscured
and blunted by coarseness and inelegance of style. He shewed them,
that zeal and purity might be expressed and enforced by polished
diction.

He continued to the end of his life the teacher of a congregation,
and no reader of his works can doubt his fidelity or diligence. In
the pulpit, though his low stature, which very little exceeded five
feet, graced him with no advantages of appearance, yet the gravity
and propriety of h