"not in myself, but in the life of the Son of GoD "who loved me, and gave himself for me. What "should I mention more? I can make no return of "thy faithfulness to me, or of the benefits thou hast "bestowed on me. Thou hadst chosen me, before "thou gavest me a being; and it pleased thee that I "should be born of believing parents, and especially "of a mother eminent in holiness, who dedicated me "to thy service from my tender years. With how many prayers did she stir me up to that holy purpose! With what care and affection did she "instil the seeds of piety into me! And the Almighty "GOD, who worketh all in all, gave his blessing to "this diligent nurture, and heard her ardent prayers; "and my ministry hath been accepted of him. I "am thy servant, O my GoD, thou hast taught "me from my youth, and I have taught thy won"derful works, and thy grace unto this day; for

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thy gifts have not been without fruit in me. "Thou usest weak instruments for the accomplishing "of thy work: Thou hast pardoned, thou hast helped me; thou hast accepted the truth and sincerity of 66 my heart And now, O my GOD, seeing it is "evident thou wilt have me retire from this valley "of miseries, do not thou forsake me in this last "and important act. If it be thy will that I die, "that also is my will: I am ready, my heart is

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prepared: I give thee my heart, for that is it which "thou requirest; let this gift be approved by thee, "receive this gift, which is thine own, from him to "whom thou hast given all things, who gives him"self to thee. O Lord, I give thee thanks; thou "instructest me, thou enlightenest me, thou talkest "with my soul: O Lord, thou embracest me in the

arms of thy mercy! Grant also that I may em"brace thee by a lively faith, and that I may apply "unto myself the promises of the Gospel, which I "have proposed unto others. Let them be effectual "in me, that by them I may be supported against all "pains, yea death itself."

Then turning his speech to his niece, he said: "That I may not tire thee with long discourses, "admire thou the grace of GoD towards me, and "bless him who fortifies me with patience. Observe my words unto my last breath, and commit them

"to

to writing as fully as thou canst, that thereby my dearest brother, with others of my near kindred "and affinity, as also of my friends, may be com"forted and refreshed:" To which when she returned answer, that she was unable to retain, and commit to writing, such an abundance of holy speeches as flowed from him, he replied, "Fear not; only do "thine endeavour, and GOD will help thee. If GoD "give me strength, I will write a short epistle, "which shall be for a testimony that credit is to be "given to thy relation." (And he was always wont upon the mention of any thing of this nature, to add,) "Not that I would hereby procure praise to myself; but I would have it known unto all, that "the religion which I have professed, and taught in "the name of GoD, is the true religion, and that " alone which leads men unto salvation: And parti"cularly, I would have my brother informed of that "inestimable grace which I have received of God,

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that he may be abundantly comforted and strength"ened in his expectation of a better life, which I "already enjoy. O with how great love have I loved "him, and esteemed him! Yea I have loved the gifts "of GOD in him, and shall love them to the last. "I pray GoD, who is the giver of every good gift, "that he will fulfil, strengthen, and make perfect his "own work in him; that he will guide him with his "counsel, and at length save and receive him to his rest. The same prayers I make for my nephew his son Stephen, that he may be an useful instrument "for the promoting of God's glory, a diligent work"man that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing "the word of truth. O Lord my GOD, I pray not "only for my brother, but for all those in France to "whom thou hast committed the conduct and rule of "the churches: Bless their persons; pardon their de"fects; sanctify their gifts: Grant unto them, that they "may seriously return unto the simplicity which is in "Christ; and that they detract not from the glory of "GOD, to ascribe unto man what belongs to his salva"tion; he is strong and jealous.

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never

"If in my writings I have seemed to deal a little "warmly with some of my brethren about their new notions, I protest before God, I was "moved by envy or wrath against any one in par"ticular, but on the contrary, always accounted the

"men that favoured those novelties, among my friends; "and the more I loved both their persons and gifts, "the more it grieved me that I could not reconcile "their maxims with the word of GOD. I do most "earnestly beseeeh GoD, that he will give them the "spirit of peace, that they may be of the same judgment, and speak the same things; and that "the love of GoD may constrain them, and gather "them into one in Christ, till we all come unto "the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son "of GoD, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the

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stature of the fulness of Christ; that following the "truth in love, we may grow up into him in all things, "who is the head, even Christ.

"I would have thee without delay write unto thy "father; he is my brother in a double bond, I have "always esteemed, and loved him; he hath been an "useful instrument for the glory of GoD, and I "doubt not but he will thoroughly accomplish his "work in him, to the glory of his own name, and "his eternal salvation. I go before him in a little "time he will follow after me: He is almost come "to the end of his course, and there remains but a lit"tle time, before God will crown his labours with an "eternal reward."

And here again in an extraordinary transport, he brake out into these expressions: "O great and immense mercy! who can but be rapt into admira"tion! He gives both being and well-being; he "bestows his gifts, he supporteth, he pardoneth, he "worketh in us both to will and to do according to "his good pleasure: And when himself hath given and wrought all this, yet he gives to us an eternal reward! "Amen, amen. Be it unto me according to thy word, "even acccording to the faithfulness and stability of thy promises."

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Then turning his discourse to his niece again : "Write also (said he) to thy brethren, that I love "them, and that I pray for their salvation. And thou, 46 my dear niece! I love thee, not because of that near affinity which thou hast to me, but rather "because we both have one GoD, and one hope. "Thou knowest the love and affection which I have "had for thee, which hath been a paternal love in"deed, for a token of which, take thou the Bible "which thou shalt find in my study. In special, I "recommend

recommend to thee my wife, thy very good aunt: "To thy power comfort and assist her: Be unto her "instead of a daughter, and help her to digest the sorrow she will have for my absence."

On Monday morning, January 2, he desired to arise out of his bed, that he might write those letters which he had made mention of in the night: And also that he might add something to the codicil, which was annexed to his will the evening before. His strength was sufficient to admit the putting on of his clothes, and also his walking into his study; where he took the Bible designed for his niece, and gave it to her himself: And to Mr. Dauber, who was then with him, he gave an Arabic New Testament, and laid by another book for Mr. Hulsius, and one for his brother Rivet, to be immediately sent unto him to Champuernon in France; unto whom (being returned into his chamber) he wrote this letter:

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"My dear Brother!

"I Now write my last to you, with a trembling "and dying hand. After the preaching of a sermon on Christmas-day in perfect health, it is now eight "days since I have been afflicted with a stubborn constipation; and the expulsive faculty is wholly "extinct in me. Wherefore I am determined by the grace of GoD to die with courage and constancy : By the obstinate continuance, and pains of my distemper, I am quite worn out; and the day of "my dissolution draws near. My niece, Mary Moline, "shall write unto you an account of my last hours, "and of that tranquillity of mind which GOD affords "to me. I expect the coming of my son, to whom "I may commit my nephews and affairs; he shall

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give you an account of all. Farewell my dearest "brother! But keep me in remembrance the residue "of thy life, who have loved thee and thine with a great charity; love mine again, as thou doest: I pray GoD to bless thee, and all thine. Once again, "farewell!

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"Dated at Breda, Jan. 2, 1651.”

He wrote also to Mr. Moline, his brother by affinity, in these words :

"My

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"My dearest Brother,

"IT so pleaseth GoD, that you should remain alive "after me: I now write, being upon the borders between "life and death, after a sermon preached on Christmas "day, which was followed with a pertinacious retention facium in alvo induratarum, and of the retaining of "that load, the dissolution of the body with grievous pains is the necessary consequent. Your daughter "which ministereth to me in this agony, hath under"dertaken to write to you of my constancy, and the 66 grace which GoD affordeth to me. Live unto the glory of his name, remembering me and mine, who die

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"Your most affectionate," &c.

When he had written these letters, he found himself exceedingly wearied, and desired to be had to bed again. All this day was spent in receiving his friends, especially the pastors who were of divers nations; unto whom he discoursed largely of surrendering up himself into the hands of Gov, and recited to them a confession of his faith, and exhorted them to proceed cheerfully in that work which the Lord had committed to them. He gladly received those consolations whereby they endeavoured to assuage his pains, and heard their prayers for him with like joy, always adding, that he was much refreshed by them. All this day the time seemed very long to him, while he expected the coming of his son.

"How afraid am I (said he) that I shall not see my "son! It is the only thing I desire in this life."

When he was wholly given up by the physicians, and now for many days had neither received nor voided any thing, a little after noon, a good man, that was touched with our affliction said unto us, that it seemed a very wonderful and strange thing to him, that we would suffer a man of so great merit, who was yet strong and hearty, to go out of the world without trying of any remedies: Adding, that he knew a person that was held with the same disease, that was helped by baths prescribed by a surgeon in the city, who was indeed very skilful in his art. This person therefore was immediately sent for, who when he came, finding the sick man strong enough to abide the use

of