the mind that his last hour was approaching; for which reason he spake as follows: 66 Again I bid you farewell, my friends; observe me, "and continue to strengthen me with your prayers and "exhortations; when my speech shall fail, I will en"deavour by signs to let you know my faith and perseverance; my mind cannot be shaken; he that pre66 serves me is in the heavens." 66 When he had again blessed his family and all that stood by him, his speech wholly failed him for a time, so that we expected nothing less than to see him draw his last breath; but being recovered out of this sinking fit, he began to speak again; and when he saw the chamber full of people, he said, "How am I tired out! "Will they allow me no time of repose? Wherefore "is there such a company about me? Have not I spo"ken enough? Why am I not allowed a little relaxa❝tion, and one moment of solitude, that I may converse "with my God?" Therefore, every one withdrew according to his desire, and we were afraid to come near to him, lest we should molest him; but when we heard his groans, his niece went in softly to him, and said, Reverend Sir, would you be without my company? Doth it not please you that I should any longer attend upon 'you?" "Alas! (said he) I desire nothing more; do not go "from me, but be thou a witness of my last hours: "Continue with me even to the end. It is a great "comfort to me to enjoy quietness; I cannot bear "the sight of so great a company, especially of those "that come out of mere curiosity. I have omitted "nothing of what was incumbent on me to say or "do: I leave nothing behind me that is matter of "regret to me; I have prayed for the peace of mine "after my departure, and I believe peace shall dwell 66 among them, and that thou wilt do thy endeavour "that it may, for I know thou art of a peaceable "spirit. I am satisfied and at rest: I have no more "to do here below. I have waited for thy salvation, " O Lord." She asked, If it would please him to have his son come to him? "Yea, (said he) I bless GoD, and re"joice that I have seen him and blessed him before "I die." When he came near to him, he stretched out out his hand and received him kindly, and then repeated to him what he had before said concerning his brother, affirming, "That he was a very good man, "and one furnished with gifts that are rather solid “and useful, than conspicuous and ornamental; now "shall he be the crown of my father's family: I "bless God that there remains a man therein to praise him both in word and work. The blessing of the “GoD of our father hath been eminently on that "branch of our family from whence we are sprung; "there have been found therein many good men who "feared GOD: As for these little Nazarenes, I recom"mend them to Gon." And, after a little stop, he continued his speech unto his son : 66 My son, I now know thee no longer, "according to the flesh; my carnal affections are "mortified and swallowed up in the love of GoD: "My love towards my wife and children is now "wholly spiritual; I have prayed unto God that " he will sanctify, make thee perfect, and glorify thee, "My son! Is not my happy departure joyful unto thee? What couldest thou with more earnestness "have desired for me, than a glorious and happy end "after a long and prosperous life? Bless GOD, "through whose bounty I am now filled with joy "and peace. Fear GoD, my son, for this is the "whole duty of man. In all thy actions love righteousness, sincerity, peace, and truth, that my "blessing may remain effectually upon thee and thy "nephews." This whole day was passed over much to his ease and quiet, none being admitted to disturb him with their visits: He lay still, and was inclined to sleep; and when he observed us to look upon him as if he had been asleep; "I sleep, (said he) but my heart "waketh." And when we asked him sometimes how he did," Very well, (said he) I feel no pain; I am "filled with the grace of GoD; I am not sensible "of cold or heat; I fear no more the inconvenien"cies of temporal life; the Spirit of GOD strengthens "me, and affords me abundant consolations. I have 66 no doubt of my salvation; he hath set me on "high: He hath hid me in his hiding-place: He "hath fenced me round about, and hath perfected "whatsoever concerns me. I cannot be troubled any more; I am like a vessel filled with pure water, "which no agitation troubles. It is God that justi fieth, who shall condemn? It is Christ that died, yea "rather, who is risen again: The moments of my "time are in his power. I am wholly taken up in "the expectation of the decreed hour, when he will "say, Come thou good and faithful servant, enter into "the joy of thy Lord! O my GoD, I thank thee "that thou hast given me the spirit of humility, sincerity, and truth! I have not been as a tinkling cymbal: O Lord, thou hast known the secrets "of my soul, and my inmost thoughts! Thou hast "taught me in the school of true doctrine, and I "have above all sought the glory of thy name. "have not thought any virtue or knowledge to be "of myself, knowing that all my sufficiency is from "thee alone: I have slighted that mystical theology "which is nothing but canting, and have adhered to "that clear, pure, and saving truth which is contained "in the Holy Scriptures. One word of the Son of "GOD, who requires the heart, is of more worth "than all those human vanities, which are good for 66 I nothing else but to trouble the purity of the divine "fountains. Suffer not, O Lord, the improbity of "men to obscure the clearness of thy word, which "hath been a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path; yea, it still affords a light unto me, and guideth me in the dark paths of the shadow of "death. દર "O Lord, I have been jealous for thee, and have "mourned in secret for the wickedness of some, and "the audacious hypocrisy of others, who have assem"bled themselves to pull down what thou hadst built "up by thy mercies. There yet remain pious souls "who love the peace of Zion, and mourn under these "confusions; hear their prayers. In particular, have "mercy on those most flourishing islands where so "much of the blood of thy martyrs have been "shed; turn the people in them to thyself, and to "their king; give thy judgments unto that poor prince, and make him worthy to have his just prayers "heard; give the spirit of moderation and wisdom to "his own nation, who have sent for him, that they may require nothing of him, but what is weighed in the balance of justice." 66 These discourses, being begun towards evening, were continued till it was night; which he perceiving, and wondering wondering at himself, said, " And am I yet alive, "and thus able to speak? God hath done it, he "endues me with new strength, that I may glorify "him, and extol his holy name. O Lord, I wait for "the moment which thou hast determined, I believe, " I persevere; I am not troubled. The spirit of "GOD witnesseth with my spirit that I am a child of "GOD. O Lord, thou hast known me thoroughly; "I am thy servant; help all mine infirmities; perfect thy work in me: Patience and hope make not "ashamed; the love of GOD is in me, even that love "whereby I earnestly desire the salvation of all, yea, of "those which have offended me without a cause: I forgive them, and pray for them; there is no bitter gall "in me, for God hath caused all bitterness to pass from "me, and hath given true peace in me; for I roll myself upon him." 66 66 66 On Thursday morning, January 5, turning his eyes towards the light, he said, "It is day-light: Shortly "I shall no more know the difference of dav and 66 night; I am come to the eve of that great and "eternal day, and am going unto that place where "the sun shall no more give light: GoD will be an "everlasting light unto me: And already, O Lord, "thou sendest the rays of that light into my soul, "and openest mine eyes that I may perceive them. "O how powerfully dost thou work in me! While "this old man dies and decays, thou puttest on me the 66 new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him who createth it; that is lively, seeth, heareth, and walketh, with enlarged steps: It desires "nothing more than an outlet into perfect liberty. "Deliver me from this prison, that I may celebrate thy name; yet neither do I so contemn this body, as not to think of its restoration; for I know thy "dead shall live, yea, my dead body: It is sown in "corruption, it shall be raised in incorruption; it is sown a vile body, but it shall rise again in glory; "it is sown in weakness, but it shall be raised again "in power: In a word, it shall be conformed to the glorious body of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is become the first-fruits of them that sleep; I shall see him in my flesh: My own eyes shall see him; "I shall behold his face in righteousness, and shall "be satisfied with his likeness when I awake. He loveth-me with an entire affection; he kisseth me 46 66 46 46 "with the kisses of his mouth: He hath removed all "fear far from me, and hath filled me with peace and "joy in believing." 66 He often repeated that sentence, Amor meus crucifixus est; that is, my love is crucified; adding, "O love incomprehensible! what I conceive of him is beyond "all expression. Blessed be the Lord, who hath direct"ed my heart into the love of GoD, and the patient "waiting for Christ." This whole day was spent in like holy discourses, and the prayers of ministers that came to him, with the visits of other friends. Towards evening he found himself very weak, and had two or three fainting-fits, but his speech did not wholly fail in them; sometimes he would say, " My strength is quite spent: I am "going hence, Lord, meet me; do not tarry; take thy "creature." Towards the middle of the night, his strength being a little recovered, he reached forth his hand to Mrs. Rivet, his wife, and said, "Embrace me once "more, my dear love! I love thee no more after the "flesh, but after the spirit; as I have always loved "thy better part: I have lived with thee in holy "concord these thirty years. Thou hast borne my "infirmities, and hast been an help to me; and GoD "hath blessed us together: I have taken notice of thy good infirmities, conjoined with great piety; "and thy faith, which is not perfect, but sincere and "true. Thou knowest (my love) that GOD is not "a severe Judge, but merciful and gracious; he "chiefly requires from us. a recumbence on his 66 66 mercy: He is kind and full of love. Behold in "me an example of mercy and kindness, and from "thence gather confidence that he will follow thee 66 with the same grace; we have an alliance in hea6.6 ven; thither the Lord takes me, and he will take thee thither also, and so we shall be together with "the Lord for ever. While thou art waiting for that blessed hour, he will be thy husband, father, "comforter, and defender; and finally, will make "thee to experience the sovereign effects of his love. "Rejoice therefore, (my dearest love): I have prayed " for thee. Thy faith shall not fail; GOD will "succour thy infirmities, which savour of nothing "but goodness. It is that I love in the children of "imperfect GOD, that they acknowledge themselves to be |