His Devotion to God was regular and constant both in publick and in private, and that, not cold and formal, but with an ardent Zeal and enflam'd Affection. In the midst of the perplexing Cares that encompass a Throne, and with which his Throne was peculiarly beset; he always found Leisure for the Exercises of Religion: He was never so dazl'd with the Splendor of an Earthly Crown, as not to prefer before it a Heavenly and Immortal One: Nor was he ever unmindful of this important Truth, that as his Subjects were accountable to him; (tho' in the End they quite inverted that Order) so was he himself to render an Account of his Actions at a greater Tribunal before the King of Kings.
In the midst of the highest Plenty, and all the Means of gratifying a sensual Appetite that Royal Affluence cou'd Administer, he was remarkably Temperate, Chast and Sober. His Conjugal Affection has been even imputed as a Crime. He was an inviolable Observer of his Matrimonial Vow, a Vertue not too common in the World, a very rare one indeed in Princes. Nor was he less eminent for Clemency and Justice, and a tender Regard for the Welfare of his Subjects.
And if we consider him in the last Scene of his Life, in his Behaviour both before, and at the Scaffold; we may observe an admirable Composition of Christian Meekness, and Royal Grandeur, how under the extremest Pressures he wou'd never be prevail'd with, to do any thing
unbecoming either the Christian or the King.
As he had Liv'd, he Died a true Professor of the purest reform'd Faith: And his Character has this Advantage, even from the reproachful manner of his Death; that his last Declaration so publickly made in the Face of the World, was not capable of being denied, or misrepresented. Whereas had they dispatch'd him by Poyson or Assassination, or any other way of Murder, that had carried less of Pomp and Ostentation; the Accusation had been obvious, that he Died a Papist, which his Enemies would not have fail'd to have reported, and his Friends could not so convincingly have disprov'd.
His admirable and instructing Legacy to his Children, his Praying for his Murderers, his patient Resignation to the Will of God, and indeed all the several Parts of his Deportment at that dismal Juncture; do conspire to raise in us the highest Esteem and Veneration for his Memory. And sure we may allow to one who was endu'd with so large a Share of Vertues, with so inconsiderable a Mixture of Defects, the Character and Denomination of a good Man. I mean, in a qualified Sense, for, in an absolute Sense, we know who has told us, there is none good but God. And this is one Point in which Naboth and he agree.
The next is, that they both were Murder'd with a pretended Show of Justice, and with Religious Solemnities.
In order to Naboth's Murder there was a Fast Proclaim'd, a solemn Assembly call'd, a formal Accusation forg'd, and suborn'd Witnesses produc'd. The principally intended Wickedness was thus usher'd in with a preparatory Combination of other Crimes; thus closely was the Train of Mischeif laid, by the Contrivance of wicked Jezebel; that Hypocrisy, Perjury and false Judgment should be the Prelude and Introduction to Murder.
And was not this exactly the Case of our Royal Sufferer? Was there not a Day of Humiliation appointed? Was not the nefarious Business in Agitation dignified with the specious Title of the Lord's Work? Did not the cheif Authors of that Cruelty pretend to be seeking the Lord, whilst their Instruments were embruing their Hands in the Blood of the Lord's Anointed.