of approaching death to be entertained which admits of no return to life What is man said he Nothing but flesh obnoxious to putrefaction a flower that springs up to day and to morrow is cut down even a vapor that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away like the breath that proceedeth out of my mouth For the cold being great that day did so condense his breath that it might be seen of all to whom he was preaching § 4. When the Sermon was finished he returned home as lively and well as he had been seen for some years past nor did he the next day feel any decay of his former strength But on Thursday which was the 27th of December he began to complain Anno 1650. of a pain below his Navel and refusing to eat any Supper desired that a Clyster might be given him but it was to no purpose the liquor being driven back again with greater force than it was injected That night was pass'd over partly in bearing of his sharp pains and partly in serious discourses On Wednesday morning the complaint of his pain was encreased and he desired that the use of a Clyster might be repeated which was done accordingly but with no better success than the former Then were two Physicians sent for and they suspecting that the former Clysters either had not been skilfully injected or else were not strong enough made tryal of the like means once and again but with the same success as before for a glutinous humour had already fast locked up the passage against all Remedies On the next day which was Tuesday they prescribed Pills of Alloes washed and on Fryday the Infusion of Rhubarb either of which did sufficiently agitate his body but effected nothing neither was any way opened for their passage the expulsive faculty being weakened and dulled so that it could give Nature no assistance The wind shut up in his bowels tormented the sick man his Belly was swollen and he was afraid to touch either meat or drink lest thereby his grievance should be encreased There were no proper means unattempted nor any kind of help by Clysters Fomentations or Baths but were made tryal of untill by the stubborn disease that resisted all Remedy he was brought unto death the twelfth day of his sickness the History of which we shall now prosecute more at large § 5. On the second day after his disease had seised him he well understanding the nature of it declared what the event would be Not saith he that I would neglect Remedies that I may please my Friends I will do whatsoever is thought meet to be done being secure as to the issue which I commit to the Providence of God Then he asked his Neece Mrs Mary Moline what she conceived of his disease which he thought would prove mortal And when she answered That her opinion was the same yet that he had no reason to fear any thing having been long prepared to follow God when he should call that the time of his Life hitherto had been long if it were crowned with an happy and Glorious End Thou speakest right saith he and I pray thee alwaies address thy self to me with like speeches and while my sickness continues depart not from me day nor night Promise me now that thou wilt keep a chearful countenance and that thou wilt speak nothing to me but what may administer joy and support to me although I fear not death yet I fear the tryal of those pains which I have alwaies had a very sharp feeling of Then suddainly turning his speech unto God he said Great God! thou art my Father thou hast given me both Life and a new Life thou hast taught me from my youth and I have declared thy wonderful works forsake me not now in my old age Hitherto through thy peculiar favour thou hast preserved me sound in my body and my faculties and the functions of my mind have not been impaired so that a little before I was opprest by this disease I found my self as apt and ready for the exercise of my Vocation as in my Flourishing Youth O Lord God! if it be thy will that I should longer attend upon thy service thou canst asswage my disease in one moment but if thou hast decreed otherwise lo here is thy Servant thy will be done This one thing I begg with most inward affections that thou wilt make me conformable to thy good will Let not thy good Spirit depart from me that in this conflict thy strength may make me a Conquerour Accomplish this O Lord for thine own sake And seeing thou hast imployed me in thy work grant that I may die an honourable death and such as may be an example unto others That I may stand fast in that sound Doctrine which I have taught and may make a good confession thereof before witnesses that thereby thy Church may be both instructed and edified Let me apply to my self by a lively Faith all the Promises of the Gospel and let them put forth their efficacy in me unto my joy and eternal consolation that nothing in the world neither affliction nor distress may seperate me from thee or cause me to doubt of thy love and favour Thou knowest my weaknesses and infirmities permit not the grievousness of my pain to cast me into impatience or murmuring either make my pains tolerable or furnish me with fortitude and constancy sufficient to bear them That I may not offend with my Tongue keep thou the door of my lips § 6. The remainder of the day was taken up with pains the use of Remedies and the Visits of Friends when the night came on he earnestly intreated Mrs. Rivet his wife that she would retire her self into the next Chamber not only because she was afflicted with a vehement Cough but also that he might remove her from the grievous sight of himself when tormented with his pains and because he found his tender affections more moved at the sight of her than any other person So none remained with him but his Neece Mrs. Mary Moline and two of the household servants But who can particularly relate the speeches which he uttered and in a manner poured forth that night and the day following which was Thursday Decemb. 29. with an Affection and Order inexpressible breathing from his Heart nothing but Repentance Faith Charity and holy Zeal In a word he implored the mercy of God with the Greatest self-denial and abasement of Soul confessing himself to be a miserable sinner and casting away all confidence in any good thing which he had done in his life yea speaking of that with great very contempt he accused his own defects and ascribed unto God the Glory of his good works often repeating such expressions as these It is God that hath wrought the work for me Shall I alledge or plead my own Righteousnesses before him Far be that from me If I should justifie my self my own mouth would condemn me I
holy ' Apostle To me to live is Christ to dye is Gain Phil. 1. 21. The holy Life of the Righteous is abundantly recommended to our imitation by their blessed Death The advantage of whose End made Balaam say Let me dye the Death of the Righteous and let my last End be like his And certainly it is no small Honour that God hath put upon the Profession of the Protestant Religion by affording to many of the most Zealous Assertors thereof such an abundant entrance into the everlasting 2 Pet. 1. 11. Kingdom of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ according to whose pure Word they have reformed themselves and in whose Merits alone they have Trusted Not only the constant and triumphant death of thousands who by the cursed Tyranny and Cruelty of Papists have been brought to Seal their Profession with their Blood but also the placid and most Christian End of others that have dyed in their Beds hath left great Convictions upon the Minds of Beholders tho' before Enemies to their Religion that there hath indeed been 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an heavenly Excellency in it which they knew not of This caused a Physitian of the Popish Religion that attended upon Dr. Ames in his last sickness at Rotterdam when he observed what an extraordinary spirit of Faith and Holiness breathed in him to the last to express himself after this manner Siccine moriuntur Reformati i. e. Do Protestants dye at this Rate And well indeed may they be surprized with wonder at such Examples because the Principles of that Religion which they profess afford no such Consolations or any firm ground for them to those that live and dye therein When they come to dye they find their Debaucheries to be more than Venial Sins and the Guilt of them such as will not be expiated by any of those Means which they have trusted to while living under the strength of Papal delusions and the most refined and Superstitious Devoto's in that Religion are in no better case when by Death summoned before the dreadful Tribunal of Divine Justice at whose Barre their own Righteousness tho' patcht up with a thousand humane Inventions will stand them in no stead To say nothing of those Idolatries which they are taught to practise as the most effectual means of meriting Heaven and which accordingly they principally place their Confidence in But O how sadly disappointed will they be when Death arrests them who have no better Antidote against its fatal Sting than Popery can furnish them with They must if their Consciences be awakened leave the World with trembling Horror and breathe out their last with a sad complaint of the wretched Cheat of that pretended Religion which fails them in their greatest Extremity Well may they then take up the dying words of * Joannes Semeca who about An Eminent Civilian in Germany the Year 1267. is reported to have left the World with this doleful Reflection In our Life-time we had those who would frequent the Quire for us who would till our Lands Melch. Adam who would say Mass and pray the Canonical Hours for us But where now shall we find any one that will descend into Hell for us and deliver us § 2. But it is time to return from this digression and to prosecute our purpose which is to present the Reader with some more eminent Instances of the Grace and Mercy of God towards and the Efficacy of a lively Faith in others of his Servants in their last Hours who have been zealous Professors and Propagators of the True Religion and Faith of Christ while they lived and have left this World with an holy Triumph in the full Assurance of Eternal Blessings when they dyed My design is only to single out a few Instances from many that might be with equal advantage pitcht upon were it not for swelling this little Tract beyond its due bounds And the first I shall mention Mr. Rollock is that memorable Example of a Christian and happy End which some account of the last Hours of Mr. Rollock may furnish us with who departed this Life at Edinburgh Feb. 8. Anno 1598. being the Forty third year of his Age. § 3. He was while living an eminent and very useful Instrument in the Reformation of the Church of Scotland which he sought to promote by Evangelical Means in the exercise of all Diligence in the Ministry of the Word by his Learned and pious Writings and most of all by a singular Example of Holiness and practical Religion in his Life and Conversation which rendred him a burning and a shining Light in his day Besides his extraordinary Labours on special Occasions he had for some years before his death the principal Charge and Presidency over the then newly erected Academy of Edinburgh committed to him which he administred to the great advantage of those under his care and indeed of the whole Church and in the faithful discharge of his duty in that great Trust his Lord found him when he came to call him from this evil world into his Heavenly Kingdom and Glory and how great his Affection was towards the service of his Lord and what his care for the peace of Jerusalem and the flourshing of true Religion when himself was leaving this World will be abundantly manifest in many passages during his last Sickness which shall be recited in their proper place and order When he found his distemper prevail according to his wonted Prudence he set in order what might concern his Family when he was gone and prepared himself for a ready and chearful submission to the Will of God And when two of his special Friends came to visit him that were Persons of some note and Eminency he besought them that they would go to the King who was then Young and exhort him as from him to abide constant and unmoveable in the Profession of the True Religion to the end and by no means suffer himself either by the hopes of enlarging his Kingdom or the secret arts of Wicked men to be moved therefrom The esteem and reverence he had for the Ministers of Christ he exprest after this manner This Ministry of Christ though mean and abject in the account of men shall at length shine with illustrious Glory § 4. Afterwards the Ministers of Edenburgh came to him and when they were set down he addrest himself to them in a copious and very solemn speech wherein he tells them That being worn out with his sickness he breathed after and hoped for the close and Period of this life And saith he I have not so learned or taught Christ but that in him I should feel comfort under these Sorrows The thred of my life will shortly be broken off and I must pass unto that countrey which I have long and earnestly desired after Then he proceeds to a Pathetical recommendation of the University to their care and makes a most solemn Protestation as in the presence
will rather open my sin before him in a most humble confession of it and pray that he will increase in me the Grace of true Repentance yea let him wear out this body with sorrow it matters not so he give to me a broken and a contrite Heart which is a sacrifice acceptable to himself As for my part I do most willingly offer up my self Accept O Lord this imperfect Sacrifice and supply the defects thereof by the perfect Righteousness of that great high Priest who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unto God without Spot Let me be accepted as a living Sacrifice holy and well-pleasing unto God which is our reasonable service Crucifie O Lord this old man that the body of sin may be utterly destroyed and I may rise again unto a new life The wages of Sin is death bu◠Rom. 6. ult the Gift of God is Eterna◠life by Jesus Christ our Lord Then repeating the word Gift he added It is meer Grace not of Works but of him that calleth Who shall la◠Rom. 8. 33. any thing to the charge of God elect It is God that justifieth Who is he that condemneth I◠is Christ that dyed yea rathe◠that is risen again who is eve◠at the right hand of God wh◠also maketh intercession for us Then after a little interruption of his discourse by a shor◠sleep he thus proceeded I am God's and he wil◠save me he hath honoure◠me with an holy Calling and hath not suffered his gif◠to be altogether useless in me as to the Edification of hi◠Church As to my self I can most truly affirm that I have not served him for filthy Lucre but with a sincere heart and that I was my self first perswaded of the truth of the Gospel and experienced the efficacy thereof before I preached it to others I tasted the good Word of God which by it's power pierceth even to the dividing asunder of Soul and Spirit and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart Thou hast known my heart O Eternal God! thou knowest that I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ but have esteemed it my only honour to serve thee and that I have delighted my self in the pleasure of obeying thy will Such was thy goodness unto me I truly and humbly acknowledge that whatsoever good was in me flowed from thy Grace bu◠my defects ought to be ascribed to my inbred Corruption Alas I acknowledg◠this with humble and serious repentance how oft hav◠I sinned in so holy a Charge not only by omitting man◠things which I ought to hav◠done but also by doing many things amiss How of have I offended through negligence and slackness Long since had I been cast off wer◠it not that I had to do wit◠so good a Lord who hat◠born with me and hath bee◠so gracious to me as no◠to exact a severe account o◠my Words and Works Alas O Lord my God! Enter no◠into Judgment with thy servant for in thy sight shall no man living be justified Let me be found not having mine own Righteousness but the Righteousness of thy Son for the sake of which I beg thy favour Pardon O my God Pardon the Iniquity of thy Servant who is devoted to thy Fear I refuse not thy discipline I know it is necessary only this I earnestly beg that it may turn to my Salvation Chasten me O Lord but in measure lest thou bring me to nothing Let not my tryal exceed my strength lest I Sin through Impatience and become a Scandal to those I should edifie O let me never break out into a murmuring complaint O how light is this chastisement if compared with my fault What are these temporal pains in comparison with those Eternal torments from which I am redeemed by him that poured out hi◠Soul upon the Cross for me For Me This is the languag◠of Faith which makes a particular application of General Promises This is a faithful saying and worthy of a◠1 Tim. 1. 15. acceptation That Jesus Chris◠came into the World to sav◠sinners of whom I am Chief Lord I believe help tho◠mine unbelief Turn tho◠me and I shall be turned indeed Seal all thy Promise in my Soul Cause in the inmost of my heart a lively perception of those sweet word◠My Son be of good comfor◠thy sins are forgiven the◠With such holy Meditatio◠and speeches as these was th◠Thursday night passed over § 7. On Friday morning Dec. 30. Mrs. Rivet his Wife put him in mind of sending one to the Hague for his Son By all means said he that ought to have been done sooner and then gave order himself concerning it About Nine of the Clock he was visited by Renessius a Doctor of Divinity and Pastor of a Dutch Church who in the Latine Tongue saluted him after this manner Most excellent man how do you To whom he answered in the same Language I am yet strong neither doth my Speech fail me but that passage in my bowels is not yet opened and unless that be opened I see I must make my passage another way even that which the Eternal God hath set before me from my Infancy I should be the most ungratefull of men if I should not acknowledge the mercy of God towards me who hath so wonderfully preserved me even from my Cradle Then rehearsing his deliverance from a very dangerous * Viz. A fall whereby his life was in graet hazard accident that befell him in his Infancy through the negligence of the Maid he added From that time my Mothe◠consecrated me unto God and he abundantly blessed me all my life-time and the whole Family And therefore I place all my hope in the goodness of God being ready either to live or to dye I have alwayes thought tha◠either this disease would be my death or else the Stone for I have scarce ever been afflicted with any other distemper I pray you to testifie unto all men that I dye in that Faith and Doctrine which I have alwayes delivered both in Preaching and Writing And if perhaps in some things I have erred I pray God that he will make perfect all my Imperfections The rest of the day was filled up with the Visits of Friends for he would have none hindred from coming to him Let all that will saith he have access to visit me I ought to give an Example of dying to other men With such sayings as these he filled the by standers both with Consolation and with Wonder while he thus proceeded Come see a man who is an Example of the Great Mercy of God What shall I render unto him All his Benefits overwhelm me He hath so disposed my Life that in my whole Course I have had an healthful Body he hath heaped upon me both temporal and spiritual Blessings And now before I am rendred feeble or morose thro' Old age he comes unto me and prevents me he both
calleth me and causeth me willingly to follow him at his Call And now the end of my Life is within my view he still affords me the perfect use of my Reason that I may praise the Holy Name of God in the Land of the Living and instruct my Neighbour by my Example Pray for me my Friends that this Grace may be continued unto me till I draw my last breath that he will strengthen my Faith confirm my Patience and raise my Hope He hath already captivated all my affections to his will I have cast the care of me of mine of life and all my affairs upon him Let him do with my body as pleaseth him so it may but be well with my Soul There is no going hence without pains this Flesh must suffer and fall It matters not provided the Soul obtains new strength and I arrive at a better Mansion than that made with hands It is that I aspire to I lament not the World I have lived long enough and have had leisure to make tryal of all things and to know that they are vanity and vexation of Spirit One thing is necessary To fear God and keep his Commandments for that is the whole duty of man And now there is nothing that I am concern'd about neither is my life dear unto me so that I may finish my course with joy and fulfill the Ministry which I have received of the Lord which is best done at the last This is the end and this the mark which a Christian ought to aim at The end of this frail life is the beginning of Eternal life O happy change Truly I fear nothing Christ is gain both in life and death he forsakes me not If he make heavy my bodily pains yet he increaseth the joy of my Soul Come and I will tell you what he hath done for my Soul I called upon him and he inclined his ear and heard me he hath blotted out my sins as a cloud And as a Father pitieth his Children so the Lord pitieth them that fear him His manner was to let no Minister part from him before he had prayed with him Pray unto God would he say now is the acceptable time § 8. Towards Evening when the Gentlewoman his wife could not be prevailed upon to withdraw and betake her self to some rest It troubles me said he to see so dear a person and one that I honour so much so far in years and of so weak a body to wear out her self at this rate But then giving way to her desire Seeing thou wilt have it so said he Tarry It is a pleasure to me to see thee The Lord strengthen thee The night before Saturday was spent in grievous pains and in most ardent Prayers for the Church of God for the Princes that were Defenders of it for the People that lived under their jurisdiction and for the Pastors to whom the care of Souls was committed Speaking particularly of the States viz of the Vnited Provinces he said O God withdraw not thy protection from these Provinces neither remove thy Candlestick away Let not thine anger burn against them because of that impiety and profaneness which hath made too great a progress Rather bow their hearts unto Repentance and convert men that they may prevent thy Judgements Let them coalesce in one body especially let them be joyned unto thee without whom all union is but conspiracy do thou praeside in that Assembly bend their hearts so that all their decrees may turn to the good of the Common-wealth and especially of the Church Grant unto them that with due equity nobleness and gratitude they may remember that Prince who only remains of the stock of his noble progenitors whom thou hast made use of to accomplish thy work in the midst of them Indue this child with the Spirit of thy Fear of Prudence Fortitude and Magnanimity and deliver him from profane men base flatterers and such servants as are enticers unto and the Instruments of Vices and infamous pleasures and grant to him such as are faithful incorrupt lovers of Truth and Equity that by their means he may learn to distinguish Vertue from Vice to shun the one and embrace the other It is time O Lord for thee to help When the night was spent he was exceedingly wearied and tyred out both with overmuch speaking and especially by means of abstinence from drink with which he was wont to be refreshed for when through the extremity of his thirst he was forced to take down a little immediately his stomach cast it back again being like a Vessel filled to the top that could receive no more The Physitians afflicted his body with the use of various Remedies but he bore all with an even temper of mind often saying I have told you before that the use of these things will be to no purpose but 't is no matter I must comply with you do what you please for your own Satisfaction § 9. That Saturday he was Dec. 31. mightily enfeebled and sometimes very drowzy he spake but little that forenoon Afternoon when divers friends visited him and were discoursing among themselves of the nature of his disease he heard all that passed between them in the Chamber for he was very quick of hearing and gathered both from their discourses and also from his own knowledge of the disease he labored under that his distemper was that which Physitians call Miserere mei which he was not likely to pass through without very grievous Symptoms such as a burning Fever Delirium and vomiting of his excrements And thereupon he began to be afflicted with much solicitude while his mind was intent upon the thoughts of the grievousness of these Symptoms and in frequent Ejaculations he sent up short and ardent Prayers to God about it My God said he have mercy upon me deliver me from the opprobry which I fear for thou art gracious And smiting his belly he said This is a bag of filth a sink and collection of griefs But thanks be to my God that he hath afflicted me in this more ignoble part my heart in the mean time remaining strong and my brain free and clear so that I might have liberty to meditate upon thy power and goodness This favour O Lord God which is invaluable reserve for me That my mouth may utter nothing but what breaths forth Charity Praises and Thanksgivings O that it may not be defiled with * Viz. The casting up of excrements this filthiness Let this building be brought down where its ruine began which let me behold as one set on high with a constant and peaceful mind even a mind elevated to spiritual things which with all earnestness I follow after knowing that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God neither can Corruption inherit Incorruption And in the insuing night he did often inculcate Who is mortal man that thou shouldst so magnifie him and think upon him He is like to vanity Flesh
I beseech you to signifie to them and to intreat for me that they will give me a place of Burial large enough for me and my wife who will quickly follow me When he had thus exprest himself he dismissed him with prayers for the welfare of him and his family § 11. About evening he desired to be helped out of his bed and to sit in a Chair where he perceived the swelling of his Belly to reach to the pit of his Stomach which gave him apprehension that hiâ— end drew neer wherefore sending for Mr. Dauber an emineâ— Civilian he imparted to hiâ— his purpose of adding a Codicil to his Will And in ordeâ— thereto he sent for the Town Clerk and the two Consuls anâ— having fully declared his minâ— to them the business being donâ— and sealed he began to discourse of another settlemenâ— by the resignation of himseâ— and his into the hands anâ— unto the care of God expressing his assurance of the blessing of God upon his and the added That he did exceedingly rejoyce that he should leave behiâ— him a Wife excelling in virtâ— and motherly affection to the chiâ—dren of her husband and also â— Son that was a good man aâ— studious of peace who would be a Father to the * The Children of one of his Sons that was deceased three little ones whose Guardian he was appointed by that Codicil And for this last office he rendred unto them his thanks and to the Council of the City in general and in particular blessed each of them and their Families And when they were departed he went to his bed again and seeing no body stand about him but his little Family he said to his Niece My Daughter do not depart from me but persist with me in the duty of Prayer do not fear to rehearse all those words to me which God shall suggest unto thy heart or mouth this sweet and pleasing communication shall help to pass over this night with the more ease And God will be with us and assist our good intentions He will help our weaknesses and afford us matter of supplications and thanksgivings such discourses are pleasing unto him he attends unto them that fear him when they talk together of those things that belong to the Salvation of their Souls And then as one in a Rapture he said My God! thou hast drawn me and I was drawn thou hast known me from my Mothers womb with a Merciful and Efficacious knowledge thou hasâ— called me by Name thou hast bored mine Ears and I was attentive I have declared thy message in the Congregation and thy word was sweeter than Honey in my mouth Who am I O God but dust and ashes an earthen and a frail Vessel into which notwithstanding thou hast been pleased to pour an holy liquor and seed of immortality Thou livest and thou makest me to live I shall not dye but live for ever with that life which is Col. 3. 3. hid with Christ in God Blessed and holy is he which hath a part in the first Resurrection over him Rev. 20. 6. the second death shall have no power Behold I am dead and also raised from the dead I live not in my self 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 instill 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 wonderful works and thy grace unto this day for 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 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 dye that also is my will I am ready my heart is 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 himself to thee O Lord I give thee thanks thou instructest me thou inlightenest me thou talkest with my Soul O Lord thou imbracest me in the arms of thy mercy Grant also that I may embrace thee by a lively Faith and that I may apply unto my self 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 it self § 12. 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 writing as fully as thou canst that thereby my dearest Brother with others of my near kindred and affinity as also my friends may be Comforted and Refreshed To which when she returned answer That she was unable to retain and commit to wriing such an abundance of holy speeches as flowed from him he Replyed 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 alwaies wont upon the mention of any thing of this nature to adde Not that I would hereby procure praise to my self 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 particularly I would have my brother informed of that inestimable Grace which I have received of God that he may be abundantly comforted and strengthened 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 shalâ— love them to the last I pray God who is the giver of every good gift that he will fullfill 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
forsaken Behold thy Unkle which shall be to thee instead of a Father Be obedient to him and also to thy Grandmother and Mother whom I pray God abundantly to bless with her other Children that her little Posthumous Son that bears my Name may in time Represent me yea exceed me § 30. These holy speeches were sometimes interrupted by a short sleep and sometimes on occasion of the Prayers or Exhortations of the Ministers that came to him He received them all most Cordially and most willingly heard the Consolations that were suggested by them And he would also return Consolations to them He heard their prayers with attention and when they had done was wont alwayes to say That he found himself much relieved And then dismissed them with thanks giving his blessing to each of them as was proper to their Condition Towards Supper time he remembred the noble Virgin Anna Maria a Schurman and said She is a person to whom I have alwaies devoted my Affection and sincere Love she hath honoured me with her holy friendship and hath called me Father In testimony of my paternal Love I give her my little Bible without Points of Plantines Edition which you shall find in such a Place in my Study directing to the place If I had any strength left I would have written a Letter to her with my own hand whereby I would have testified to her how much I Honour her and esteem those admirable gifts of God wherewith he hath adorned her But you my Son shall supply this defect and inform her of my happy Departure and that I have prayed to God that he will Strengthen her in her supernatural Calling and bestow upon her the blessings of a long and prosperous Life What remains Have I not said all I have no more to do but to give up my Soul into the hands of God Is it not time O my God let it suffice Receive my Soul unto thy self O Lord I yield it into thy hands thou hast Redeemed it O God of Truth Thou art my hope and my Confidence from my youth No care afflicts me God hath removed from me the Opprobry which I feared meaning the Vomiting of his excrements a symptome usual in his Distemper He will perfect and that quickly whatsoever belongs to his Glory and my Eternal Salvation If he make any stay if he deferre my deliverance he doth it for your Edification and Salvation Let not my Sorrows be grievous to you but rather bless God who gives me a desirable plume and makes my heart joyful in the midst of my pains Rejoyce therefore and Pray with me § 31. When he had asked what a Clock it was he said to his Wife and his Son I pray you take some food I am not yet fully come to the end of my Work I want nothing and my Niece shall tarry with me and take something here to refresh her They withdrew therefore into the next Room and one brought an Egg to his Niece which he desired her to take As for me said he my Meat is to do the will of God and happily to run out the course of my life I am refreshed with holy and heavenly food My Father feeds me with that Food which he lately offered to me at his holy Table I did eat and was filled The true feeding is the feeding of the Soul that which sustains the true Life As for Corporal meats they are for the belly but God will destroy both it and them Then reaching out his hand to his Niece I Love thee said he with a Love wholly Spiritual a love of true Charity and Affection We will pass this Night together in holy Meditations and speaking to one another in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs Singing and making melody in our Hearts unto the Lord I feel my Swelling to ascend I fear that in a little time I shall be able to speak no more do not depart from me but continue speaking to me whatsoever God shall bring to thy Heart and Lips lest in my utmost weakness my Memory should fail me and I assure thee God will suggest those things to thee which which shall be for my help and Comfort in the time of need for out of the abundance of the Heart the mouth speaketh His Wife and Son being returned into the Chamber Pray ye said he for me what a joy is i◠to see these holy Souls with me § 32. Oft times through the bitterness of his pains he brake forth into Cryes or rather ardent Prayers unto God and that frequently in the words of the Psalms in the French Metre as Psal 141. 1. Jehovah upon thee I call O hasten unto me Lend to my Voice thy Gracious Ear When I cry unto thee Then adding from Psal 25. 18. Look upon mine Affliction and pardon all my sins And upon the mention of any Text that speaks of the Remission of sins he would immediately subjoyn It is done He hath caused mine iniquity to pass away from me O Lord abate and shorten my Miseries Now is thy time And then repeated from Psal 118. 24. This is a joyful day indeed Which God himself hath wrought We will be glad and joy therein With all our Heart and Thought How great is my anguish but how much greater is my refreshment An high place and a Refuge sure I find the Lord to me In day of my distress he me Relieves with rich bounty They continually suggested to him places of Scripture unto which he would return such answers as did abundantly manifest his Godly Ardor Faith and Patience as for instance when it was said to him God is nigh to all that call upon him in Truth Smiting upon his breast he replyed Here he is here he dwells in me and worketh powerfully according to his good pleasure Then that place was alledged 1 Cor. 15. Death is swallowed up in victory and he added the following words Thanks be to God who hath given us the Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ Again from Rom. 8. 30. Moreover whom he did predistinate them he also called and whom he called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also Glorified Even so it is said he Grace upon Grace O lovely Chain This is a Golden Chain indeed there wants but the last link to compleat the whole in me O Lord make perfect and Crown thy work That I may dye the death of the righteous and see those good things which eye hath not seen neither have they entred into the mind of man Thou givest me a foretast of these sweetnesses and refreshings which no words can express § 33. Then Mr. Hulsius being present asked if it would be acceptable to him that he should go to Prayer Yea said he Pray The time requires it When he had ended his Prayer he gave him thanks saying You have helped me while you called upon God I found some ease of my infirmity Encourage me the Race is short I even touch the bound
the alluring Ornaments of speech The Preaching of the Word consists in Holiness Humility and the powerful demonstration of the Spirit How great my esteem of it hath ever been God is Witness Then turning his discourse into Prayer he said Come Lord Jesus break asunder the Nerves of these Eyes and give me other Eyes I desire to be dissolved and to be with thee Hasten thy coming O Lord Jesus and deferre no longer Let this faint life go forth that the better Life of God may enter in Lord Jesus put forth thy hand into this body and take out this Soul unto thy self § 7. From that time till the Sabbath day morning he kept silence when again the longings he had after his Fathers House were breathed forth in these words Come Lord and tarry not I am wearyed with the loathing of day and night Come Lord Jesus that I may come to thee O sweet and happy divorce from this Life Come Lord who art my sweetness and set this Soul at liberty that it may enjoy thee it's Husband break this Heart of mine in two that it may fly to thee it's Head To this one replyed Hitherto Christ hath possessed your whole heart and he will take it whole unto himself To which he returned answer I desire the breaking in two of this Heart that this natural Life may be let out and it may be wholly replenisht with the Life of Christ Then one of the by-standers said Let no anxiety trouble you your Lord is now hastening Those said he are welcome tidings unto me I would my Funeral was to be to morrow Another said Happy is that Soul which is so near to the Lord as yours is To which he replyed There is nothing in me which I account not as dung that I may win Christ Christ is the only matter of my Comfort my own Righteousness is a menstruous cloth Being asked if he desired to speak with any of the Ministers he said he would not give them trouble now they were just preparing themselves to preach Let me said he chatter with my Lord like a Crane Being informed that Sermon was begun Lord said he grant that I may see what others now hear About noon when one comforted him with the remembrance of his unwearied pains and diligent endeavour to promote the Glory of God all his life time he replyed I have nothing to Glory in but the Mercy of God in Christ Jesus All other things I count but loss After a little rest a person of considerable rank visiting him he again took the occasion of an earnest recommendation of what might tend to the promoting of Religion to his care in his Station And in the following Night he was observed to say I have a peaceful mind in a sick body I am not perplex't with the fear of Death Sin or Satan they have no Dominion over me yet so great is the weight of my distemper that it is much beyond expectation that I subsist to this hour He bruises me as with a Pestle in the Mortar of Affliction that he may form me for his own Kingdom § 8. On the next day being Monday he said to those about him It may seem strange seeing I am so sorely handled with my disease that my life should be protracted thus long But with patience I wait for the good pleasure of the Lord Let him do with me what pleaseth him I will not dispute it with him What is man that he should dare to contend with God! yea though he should thrust him down to Hell he must obey and not reply upon God Be gracious unto me O Lord for Christ Jesus sake I am not ashamed to profess that I never before attained to so high a pitch of the Knowledge of God as I have done in this sickness O what a fearful thing is it to fall into the hands of the Lord But Mercy is laid up for me in Christ Why art thou Sorrowful O my Soul why art thou cast down within me thou shalt by and by obtain a most pleasant sight and congress Towards evening he told his Friends that he experienced in himself the truth of the sixth Psalm and repeated some Passages therein as verse 2. Have mercy upon me O Lord for I am weak O Lord heal me for my bones are vexed To which he added Christ will bear my burthen and I will follow him being unheld by his Grace When those that were about him observing the bitterness and extremity of his disease brake out into Tears and Lamentation for him Lament not my case said he but weep for your own sins seeing none are free from sin none want occasion of weeping but as for me I shall quickly see the end and consummation of all The care of his Funeral he recommended to two of his intire Friends present and when he had finished his Directions about what he would have done therein he said Why should I not take care of this body seeing that also shall be glorified and made conformable to the glorious body of Christ and looking upon his hands These very hands shall shine with excellent Glory After this he was not able to speak much but to the very last what he did utter was with a wonderful savour still expressing the inward joy and peace of his Soul and a most assured Confidence of a compleat and glorious Victory in this last conflict and in a few hours he finished his course and sweetly slept in Jesus Before I pass to another Story I cannot but mention one thing more that happened a little before this holy man drew his last breath And it is this One of his kindred coming in to see him and perceiving that he was nigh to death being himself a Stranger to Religion and Piety yet convinced that it could not but be well with so holy a man as Mr. Rollock entreated of him That when he came to Heaven he would Mediate for him and the rest of his Friends here below But how grievous this ignorant and impious request was to the Soul of this blessed Saint will be easily guessed by those that as he did love the honour of Christ more than their own lives Though before he lay as one ready to give up the Ghost at the hearing of this his Zeal was so stirred in him that he raises himself upright and with a great fervency replyes I refuse that Office Christ is the only Mediator And so deep was the impression of trouble this made upon his Spirit that a while after when his elder Brother came to visit him he left this charge upon him Do you said he rebuke that Kinsman of ours and admonish him that he take another course otherwise there is no Salvation for him but most certain ruine § 9. The next instance I shall touch upon is that of Mr. John Oecolampadius Oecolampadius who while he lived was also an eminent Instrument in the Reformation of Religion and one of the first with
Heresie and committed to Prison near this prison Wesenbeck with his fellow Students were wont to recreate themselves with the Ball on which occasion they often heard this blind man with a clear voice singing the Psalms of David according to Luthers Metaphrase and this Holy exercise the good man performed with so much Devotion and Affection as wrought in them a more than ordinary attention to him although it was not without some danger to themselves And it pleased God so to work upon Wesenbeck by this example of Christian constancy and Zeal together with the matter which he heard that thenceforward he began diligently to search the Scriptures and also to read the Writings of those of the Reformed Religion by which means he became not only fully convinced of the Truth but also received it in the Love thereof and abode most constant in the Faith and Practice of it to his dying day being an eminent example of Zeal and strict Piety in his whole life He had an extraordinary Affection to the Holy Scriptures but especially the book of Psalms and the New Testament were most dear and delightful to him And notwithstanding the necessary course of his Studyes and for some time also great Practice in the Law he usually spent at fit seasons no less than five hours in a day in Prayers and retired communion with God He was not like many that can â—â—d no leisure for Religion â—hat is cannot attend to work â—ut their own Salvation but made Conscience to steer his whole course as a man resolâ—ed for Heaven And his Righâ—eousness and Charity towards men was not inferior to his Piety towards God He ever â—bhorr'd those Artifices which â—re too common with practitioners in the Law his Candor â—aithfulness and Justice in his practice made his Name precious to all that knew him And as it pleased God to bless him with a plentiful Supply of the good things of this world so Religion taught him not to â—rust in uncertain Riches but â—o be rich in good works His way was to give a charge â—o all his Servants that they should never turn away the Poor from his door without relief And when they haâ— not presently regarded the poor nor listened so soon as they ought to their cry himself would open his Window and throw down Money to them Thus did this good man spend his Life and his Substance in the Fear of God and working Righteousness and accordingly his latter end was Peace for when he lay upon his death Bed he was filled with the Consolations of God He woulâ— often repeat that of the Apostle Paul Rom. 7. O wretcheâ— man that I am who shall deliver me from the Body of this death I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. And that 2 Cor. 1. He hath sealed us and given the earnest of his Spirit in our Hearts by which we cry Abba Father Another time with great reâ—oycing he told those that were with him That now God had shewn to him a place of Eternal Joy unto which he should immediately come and the only thing he desired was that his coming thither might be hastened He would often rehearse divers passages out of the Psalms as The Lord is nigh to all that call upon him in Truth He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him he will hear their prayer and save them And immediately before he gave up the Ghost he professed That he was in Covenant with the Lord Jesus Christ which words were his last § 16. In these experiences we see that they which believe in Christ never dye i. e. thâ—â— never feel the Sâ—ng of death nor fall under its power but are enabled by the Faith of the Son of God perfectly to vanquish 〈◊〉 King of Terrors yea though death assail them in his most affrighting shape yet is he not able to remove them from their stedfastness or to abate their Joyes we have innumerable proofs of this in the End of those Holy Martyrs who though they have been called to seal their Witness for God by violent yea by most cruel kinds of death have notwithstanding finished their course with a most Glorious Peace and rejoycing in the hope of their calling Howbeit I shall not here insist on any of those instances But to let you see that death in it's darkest dress is welcome to a man assured of his Interest in Christ and Peace with God take the story of one Sebaldus Munster a Civilian that flourished about the year 1540. Whom it pleased the Lord to visit with the Plague of which he dyed at Wittenberg in a time when a general sickness raged there This person when some of his Friends came to visit and Comfort him a few hours before his death he shewed to them the Swellings and pestiferous Ulcers which were broken out in his Hand and Arm saying And how do these Bracelets and precious Gemms wherewith my Christ hath adorned me please you At which words when they brake forth into Tears he farther said Let not these by any means seem loathsome unto you for with this Wedding-apparel am I going to enjoy that Heavenly Feast which I shall have with my Christ for ever Thus shall I pass to that everlasting Council of most Excellent and holy Souls and thus shall I be acceptable to God my Redeemer Thus triumphing and full of Joy did he leave the World having got a clear sight of a better that is an Heavenly Countrey And though to dye of the Plague may seem to Sence very dismal yet as Austin hath well observed lib. 1. de Civitate Dei cap. 11. Mala mors putanda non est quam bona vita praecesserit c i. e. No kind of Death is to be esteemed evil which hath been preceded by a good Life for nothing makes Death evil but that which follows Death Therefore they that of necessity must dye once need not be Thoughtful by what accident they may come to dye but rather whither they must go when they dye 'T is an excellent saying of the Author of the Book of Wisdom chap. 4. 7. The Righteous man though prevented by Death shall be in rest The most terrible or suddain stroke can make no breach upon his happiness to whom to live is Christ and to dye is gain They are alwaies safe that have made their Calling and Election sure and on the contrary such are alwayes in danger that live without God in the World I Remember upon occasion of that passage before cited from the Book of Wisdom Mr. Forbs in his Instr Histor Theolog. makes mention of a very memorable Story of a pious and learned man that dyed suddainly in his Study and when some were scandalized at it rashly interpreting this Providence as a Testimony of Gods displeasure against him it so fell out by the wise and Gracious ordering of God for their Conviction and a testimony to his servant that he was found sitting with a Book open before him