of that remedy, without delay prepares a bath, by which he found himself much eased, and his pains assuaged; and that Monday night, he had a better night of it than ordinary.

The next day in the morning they repeated the bath, after which a clyster was injected, which seemed to have begun its work: All that were about the sick man rejoiced, and bade him be of good courage, promising his recovery from his distemper; and, to say the truth, himself began, if not to hope, yet at least to think, it might be so. In the following evening the bath was repeated again, after which, being had to bed, he began to sleep sweetly: But had scarcely rested half an hour, before he was awakened by the pain of his side, and a greater tension of his belly than before, and the access of a fever. Nothing was left unattempted for his relief, by fomentations and unctions; but all was to no purpose: The complaint of the sick man was increased, and he was tired out and afflicted with extraordinary restlessness. And then his niece perceived that there was something else troubled him more than the pain of his body; for he, remaining silent, groaned forth most bitter sighs, whereas before the more he was tormented with pain, the more ardently did he use to pour out his prayers to GOD. It was supper-time when she was left with him alone, and then with a mournful voice he asked, "Who is there? is any stranger pre"sent?" And when his niece had told him, no; she asked him, Whence doth this unusual disquietude proceed? You seem to me to suffer something extraordinary; what is become of that cheerfulness through which you were wont to pass through your pains with the greatest joy?

"Alas! (said he) he is departed from me that made "glad my heart: I have grieved that Holy Spirit "the Comforter, who had filled my soul with peace "and joy; I have been so wretched and unhappy as to give ear to those who spake unto me of

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my returning into this world; I have been tickled "with the desire of living: And how could such a "thing possibly be, after the fruits of the heavenly "Canaan had been tasted by me, and I had by faith "taken hold of supernatural good things? What is now necessary to be done? Whither shall I go?

"If I speak, he answers not; yea he hath taken "from me the power of speaking: Ah, sad change! "An holy fire had kindled my meditation, but now vain

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thoughts hurry me: I cannot get out of my mind an "old satire, and such like trifles. Thus while I am at "death's door, I go backwards."

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And here, casting his arms about her neck, he thus proceeded: "My dear niece, help me, continue to discourse of good things with me: Call upon the Com"forter to return, and renew that excellent work which "he had advanced in me. O return! return! Confirm "me with thy strength, before I go hence, and be seen 66 no more."

Then she suggested to him those places of Scripture, which, by the divine aid, were brought to her mind; in answer to which, every moment he interposed those words, as made it evident that his soul which before was sinking under its burden, began to gather strength and comfort again. He had scarce been a quarter of an hour in that conflict, before he fell into a swoon, which occasioned the hasty calling in of his son, who was come to him but that morning; and when this sinking fit was over, there appeared in him again the same tranquillity and cheerfulness of countenance as formerly: And seeing those of his own household, with some friends that used to assist him, and watch with him by turns, in the next room, he attentively fixed his eyes upon each of them; and first addressing himself to his wife:

"Farewell (said he) my dearest yoke-fellow! We "have lived together in peace for thirty years; and I "thank thee for thy help, which hath been a great com"fort unto me; for I did cast all domestic cares upon "thee: Continue I beseech thee to* love my children "with that pious affection, which hitherto thou hast had "for them."

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Then turning his speech to his son, he said, "And "thou my son! love and honour this dearest companion of my life, the partner of all my joys and sorrows, which hath done the duty of a mother "towards thee; this I desire of thee, and this I "command thee, as thou expectest a blessing from "GOD upon what I have gotten by my labour; "divide

They were his children by a former wife, for he had none by her,

"divide it between you without quarrelling or con"tention, according to what is just and right; manage all thy affairs with all lenity and Christian prudence; especially pursue peace, O Frederick! (for that was "his son's name, to which he alluded,) be rich in peace.

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Then taking hold of both their hands, and joining them together: "Promise me (saith he) that you will "maintain an holy and mutual friendship with each "other." Which when they had both most solemnly promised to do, he said, "I believe you, for I have no cause to doubt of your sincerity; I know that you "fear GOD, and that my last commands will be of great weight with you, even as I pray GoD that he will "make my blessing effectual upon you."

"The Lord

Then turning to his wife, he said; bless thee, my dear love, and strengthen thee; he " is an husband to the widow, and a father of the "fatherless."

And to his son: "The Almighty Father bless "thee, my son, guide thee in all thy ways, enrich "thee with all Christian virtues, and plentifully make "thee to abound in all spiritual and temporal bless

ings; regard not the world nor its deceitful hopes; "for the world passeth away, and the lusts thereof; place all thy felicity in the blessing of GoD: Be strong in faith, and prepared unto every good work. "Let the peace of GoD dwell in thee, and make thee "peaceable and kind. Those infants, which I com"mend unto thee, and commit to thy trust, will be

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proper subjects for thee to exercise thy charity up66 on. I appoint and set thee over not only that lit"tle portion which I leave them, but especially their persons, that thou mayest take care of their instruc"tion and education in piety and virtue, that they "may be fitted for that service of God, which their "nature and genius renders them capable of, and es"pecially may apply themselves to the worship of "GOD."

And then taking hold of the hand of the eldest of the children, he said, "Farewell dear child; the "Lord make thee a good and a pious man, that thou "mayest fill up the place of thy father and grand"father: He bless thee abundantly, and make thy studies prosperous unto his glory; which he will do

"if thou diligently call upon him, and if thou study "to be diligent, sober, modest, and humbly obedient "unto God and thy superiors, thy uncle in particu"lar, who will be instead of a father to thee. Give

"due obedience and honour unto thy mother; love "thy brother and sister, and withdraw thyself from "the company of young persons who would entice thee "unto vice." "Farewell my

And unto his niece he thus spake: "dear niece, the Lord bless thee! We have a kindred "in the heavens which shall endure for ever."

Now, when he thought this night would be his last, the principal of his friends were called to him, and amongst them Mr. Hulsius; and as they stood about his bed, he attentively beheld them, and discoursed of his departure as at hand, and his disposition to give up himself to the will of God, with a joyful and free soul. He exhorted each of them, according to their respective condition in regard of age, sex, or quality, and blessed each of them and their families. Then again speaking to his son, he said, "My friend! Thou losest at the 66 same time both a master and a father; but if the fear of Gon bear rule in thee, GoD will supply the "place of both. Far be it from me to distrust his grace for the future: I cast all my cares upon him, "and give up myself and mine, my life and affairs into "his hands."

Then he uttered in French metre the words of the Psalmist to this sense: "Unto whom shall I go for "help, O Lord, and in whom is my hope? Truly in "thee. I am full of days: I desire to be dissolved, "and to be with Christ. It is enough, O Lord! Re"ceive now my soul: I commit this body to the earth, "but I commit my spirit into the hands of God, who gave it."

And in a paroxysm of pain he said, "My GOD, I "know this tabernacle cannot be dissolved without pain, "yet my heart is lively, and I have still strength to "bear my pains. O Lord, help mine infirmities; depart not far from me in the day of my sorrow: Say "unto my soul, I am become thy salvation."

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This last he rehearsed in the French metre, and then repeated in Hebrew, from Psalm xvi, 5. The Lord is the portion of my inheritance,

• From

"As

From that night forward it was observed, when any one discoursed to him of repentance, and of the grace of GoD in forgiving sins, he was wont to answer: "to this point, I am assured that I am reconciled, and "cleansed from my sin, by the precious blood of my "Redeemer; GOD hath spoken, and made known to 66 me already, that my sins are blotted out; I now taste "this blessedness: Blessed is the man to whom the Lord "imputeth not sin, Psalm xxxii. 1. There is no condem"nation to them that are in Christ Jesus, Rom. viii. 1. "He is come unto me according to his great mer"cies, and draweth me, and I willingly follow him: "He lessens my bodily pains, by increasing the joy of my "soul; he satisfies my thirst for him with the dew of "his grace: Behold I am satiated, I am enriched. "Man lives not by bread alone, but by every word that "proceedeth out of the mouth of GoD: The kingdom of "GOD is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace, "and joy through the Holy Ghost. I am fed by my Saviour, whose flesh is meat indeed, and his blood is "drink indeed; and, as he is the true quickening bread "which came down from heaven, so he that eateth "him, shall live by him: And therefore I live. It " is now two days since I have lived not an animal life, "but I live that life which I shall eternally live in the "heavens."

That night he made a long and ardent prayer, the greatest part of which is slipped out of our memory: In general he prayed for all men, and bewailed the corruption of mankind.

"Alas! O Lord, (said he) this is the last time; "there is scarce any faith in the earth; men of ve

racity are scarcely to be found: One speaks to an"other, yea to his friend, fraudulently, and with a "double heart. Alas! woe is me, that I dwell in the "tents of Kedar, with those that hate peace. Thou "hast made peace in thy high places; thou givest peace, but not such as the world giveth, wherefore "my heart is not afraid: The spirit which thou hast "given me is the spirit of power, of love, and a sound "mind."

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'On the Wednesday morning he found himself much wearied and enfeebled, partly by the pains he had endured, and partly by his much and earnest speaking. Both we that were about him, and himself, were all of

the