But it was reserved for Bishop Burnet, in whose society and conversation he fortunately took great delight, to effect a radical change in the opinions of a man whom the Divine himself had always declared born for better things. By gentle forbearance, considerate kindness, and honest candid friendship, Dr. Burnet brought the suffering and unhappy man, to a sense of the error of his ways, and the letter the Bishop received from the penitent shortly before the death of the latter, is most conclusive on this head:
“Woodstock Park, June 25, 1680.
“My most honoured Dr. Burnet,
“My spirits and body cling so equally together, that I shall write you a letter as weak as I am in person. I begin to value Churchmen above all men in the world. If God be yet pleased to spare me longer in this world, I hope in your conversation to be exalted to that degree of piety, that the world may see how much I abhor what I so long loved, and how much I glory in repentance, and in God’s service. Bestow your prayers upon me that God would spare me (if it be His good will) to show a true repentance and amendment of life for the time to come, or else, if the Lord please to put an end to my worldly being now, that He would mercifully accept of my death-bed repentance, and perform His promise that He has been pleased to make, that at what time soever a sinner doth repent, He would receive him. Put up these prayers then, dear Doctor, to Almighty God, for your most obedient, and languishing servant,
Rochester.”
During his last, and most painful illness, he listened with meek deference to the exhortations of many godly men, and received the Sacrament with his Lady, which he told Dr. Burnet gave him the more satisfaction, as for a time she had been misled by the errors of the Church of Rome.
Towards the wife who had so much cause of complaint against him he expressed the sincerest affection and contrition, so much so as to call forth the most passionate grief on her side. He took leave of all, sent messages to many of his thoughtless comrades, hoping that as his life had done much hurt, so by the mercy of God his death might do some good; called often for his children, his young son, and three daughters, thanked God in their presence for the blessing they were to him; and died quietly, and peacefully at the last, after suffering terrible anguish of body, on the morning of the 26th of July, 1680, at the Ranger’s Lodge at Woodstock.
Frances, Lady Carteret:
By SIR GODFREY KNELLER.