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
Lord make thee a good and a Pious man that thou mayest fill up the place of thy Father and Grandfather He bess 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 Superiours thy Unkle in particular which will be instead of a Father to thee Give due Obedience and Honour unto thy Mother Love thy Brother and Sister and withdraw thy self from the Company of young Persons who will entice thee unto Vice And unto his Niece he thus spake Farewell my dear Niece the Lord bless thee We have a Kindred in the Heavens which will endure for ever § 17. Now when we 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 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 same time both a Master and a Father but if the Fear of God 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 my self and mine my Life and affairs into his hands Then he uttered in French Metre the words of the Psalmist to this sence Vnto whom shall I go for help O Lord and in whom is my hope truly in thee I am full of dayes I desire to be Dissolved and to be with Christ It is enough O Lord Receive 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 Paroxysme 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 This last he rehearsed in the French Metre and then repeated in Hebrew from Psal 16. 5. The Lord is the Portion of my Inheritance § 18. 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 As 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 me already that my Sins are blotted out I now taste this blessedness Blessed is the man Psa 32. 1. to whom the Lord imputeth not Sin There is no Condemnation Rom. 8. 1. to them that are in Christ Jesus He is come unto me according to his great Mercies 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 inriched Man lives not by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the Mouth of God The Kingdom of God is not Rom. 14. 17. 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 dayes 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 slipt 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 Veracity are hardly to be found One speaks to another yea to his Friend fraudulently and with a double heart Alas Wo 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 sedate mind § 19. On the Wednesday Wednesday Jan. 4. 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 mind that his last hour was approaching for which reason he spake as follows 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 endeavour by signs to let you know my Faith and Perseverance My mind cannot be shaken he that preserves me is in the Heavens 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 Tyred out will they allow me no time of repose wherefore is there such a Company about me have not I spoken enough why am I not allowed a little Relaxation and one moment o◠Solitude that I may Converse with my God Therefore every one withdrew according to his desire and we were afraid to com◠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 meer 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 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 rejoice that I have seen him and blessed him before I dye When he came near to him he stretched 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 Fathers 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 Nazarens I recommend them to God And after a little stop he continued his Speech unto his Son 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 Sanctifie make thee perfect and glorifie thee My Son Is not my happy departure joyful unto thee what could'st 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 § 20. This whole day was past 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 inconveniencies of temporal Life the Spirit of God strengthens me and affords me abundant Consolations I have 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 Justifies who shall Condemn it is Christ that dyed 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 tinckling Cymbal O Lord thou hast known the secrets of my Soul and my in most Thoughts Thou hast taught me in the School of true Doctrine and I have above all sought the Glory of thy Name I have not thought any Virtue or Knowledge to be of my self 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 humane Vanities which are good for 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 O Lord I have been jealous for thee and have mourned in secret for the Wickedness of some and the audacious Hypocrisie of others who have Assembled 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 hath been shed turn the People in them to thy self 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 These Discourses being began towards Evening were continued till it was Night which he perceiving and wondring 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 glorifie him and extoll 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 throughly 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 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 my self upon him § 21. On Thursday morning Thursday Jan. 5. turning his eyes towards the light he said It is day light Shortly I shall no more know the difference of Day and 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 Rayes 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 dyes and decayes thou puttest on me the 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 Restauration 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 boof our Lord Jesus Christ who is become the First-fruits of them that sleep I shall see him in my flesh My
and remember the Grace of God in me Consider how he brings me down by his mighty hand that he may exalt and Glorifie me in due time The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the Glory that shall be revealed in us This is my joy to glorifie God in my death sweet Death that is a passage unto life eternal O God strengthen the Soul of thy Servant that he may abide constant and invincible unto death I hope the Combat will not continue long Bring to pass O Lord that the End may Crown the Work § 27. Amongst the many Physitians that had attended on him there was one Dr. Crucius a Roman Catholick who came this Morning to visit him and asked him if he still continued to be of good courage Yea verily said he for I am in God and God is in me The Cross which God hath sent is small Every one must bear his Cross that he may follow Christ who hath suffered so great things for me though he deserved no such suffering This Cross increaseth my hope The Lord is Gracious who entreth not into Judgment with his poor Servant Christ hath dyed for my Sins and is risen again for my Justification A while after Mr. Wickelmans a Dutch Minister came and spake to him in the Latine tongue to whom he answered in the same Language God Strengthens me and he will preserve me from all evil I give thanks unto my God for that unspeakable goodness which he hath poured upon me he succours me in this work he hath been alwaies present with me even to this Extremity Then the Minister repeated to him the words of the Apostle 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the Faith henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness At which words he cryed out O welcome Crown there is nothing else that I wait for God dwells in me by his holy Spirit which shall never be taken away from me Grant O Lord that I may keep thy Commands Again when beholding hiâ— pains he exhorted him to patience he answered We cannot we ought noâ— to resist the will of God O Eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ I give theâ— thanks for thy exceeding greaâ— benefits That it hath pleaseâ— thee that I should declare thy Praise even unto very Old Age and that thou makest me able to persist therein unto the last breath of my life § 28. At another hour when the same Minister visited him again and said You are still fighting the Good fight he answered In hope and patience I am wholly Gods and Jesus Christ's my Saviour I believe that he will keep what I have committed to him against that day Even so come Lord Jesus And when this Minister had prayed with him he returned him thanks in these words I give you thanks for your holy Prayers I doubt not but God will hear them God bless you I beseech him to make you a very powerful Instrument of his Glory He also added God hath fulfilled all his Promises in me I have seen them afar off I have believed them I have embraced them I wait for nothing more but to breathe forth my last breath God possesseth me already I feel that there is nothing wanting but that he will give me the wings of an Eagle that I may fly to the Carkass Immediately he subjoyned a verse or two out of one of Beza's French Poems to this sence O Holy Word With all my Heart To thee I flye § 29. Towards Evening the Pangs of death increased upon him The extreme Pains of his bowels his suddain fainting aâ—â— and other grievous Symptoms were the indications of approaching death But in this state and utter decay of thâ— strength of nature his exercisâ— of Faith was strengthened sâ— much the more and his patience confirmed Mourn noâ— for me said he These last hours have nothing terrible in them The body indeed suffers but the Soul is Comforted and filled abundantly The Lord is my Shepherd I shall want nothing His Rod and his Staff shall lead me safely through this short valley of the Shadow of death This little cloud hinders me not from beholding that Heavenly Light which already enlightens my Soul O Lord thou givest me light thou warmest me thou liftest me on high and I gladly follow thee being carried aloft upon the wings of Faith The sharper my pains are the nearer I am to deliverance My wound is grievous but I was silent because thou didst it Have mercy on me O Lord O my God deliver me I am impatient of delay I know that God is faithful and with the temptation he will give a way of escape that I may be able to bear it When he looked towards his Wife she thus addressed her self to him My dear I bless God and rejoyce for thee that I have seen so much of the Grace of God in thee To which he replyed Thou doest well my dear Love The Lord confirm and strengthen thy joy Mine is solid I rejoyce that thou seest the end of my Conversation Thou hast known me and thou knowest that I hate Ostentation and that more hath been attributed to me by others than I have believed of my self for I have been conscious of mine own infirmities and that whatsoever good might be in me was not of my self The Glory is to be ascribed to God alone he hath done the work Perfect O Lord and Crown thine own work I complain not of my pains I have not flattered my self in my disease for when I was first seized by it I was aware that God called for me Is it not time my dearest love Afflict not thy self I go before thou shalt follow e're long Thou hast afforded me help and hast kindly succour'd me God will bless thee and save thee doubt it not It hath been grateful to me and I most kindly accept it that thou hast had so great a Love for this little Boy pointing to his Grand-son make proof of thy love to me by loving him it is a Child void of malice and I have good hope of him if he be well guided Then calling the Child he said Give me thy hand my Son See thy Grandfather upon his death-bed Thou hast already lost thy Grandfather by Mothers side who was a pious and upright man Now thou losest thy Grandfather by Fathers side but thou hast a Grandfather in Heaven on both sides that will never be wanting to thee I hope my blessing will redound upon thee Then taking him between his hands My little Child said he Pray to God! If thou do this diligently thou shalt be like a tall and beautiful Tree planted by the Rivers of waters Have thou fair branches and be fruitful that is Fear God Then shalt thou bring forth Wisdom Prudence and Understanding Be thou Good and Beneficent shunning evil company and God will bless thee thou shalt not be
I am going Accordingly the Lord bringing to their mind many choice Scriptures apt for the occasion they by turns proposed them to him And he received them with great joy adding So it is and Amen Often also he would pronounce himself the last words of that Portion of Scripture which they were rehearsing to him as in Psal 36. How excellent is thy loving kindness O God! Therefore do the Sons of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings Thou wilt abundantly satisfie them with the fatness of thy House and make them to drink of the Rivers of thy Pleasures which last sentence he rehearsed himself in the French Metre And the same he did from Psal 65. 4. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and causest to approach unto thee that he may dwell in thy Courts We shall be abundantly Satisfied with the goodness of thy House even of thy holy Temple § 36. Then his Son said I am sorry that we are alone I am not alone said he God is with me Be you then an Evangelist to your self said his Son forasmuch as you have received the Ministry of Reconciliation deliver the tidings of peace to your own Soul That I do saith he my Soul believes Then fear nothing He that believes in Jesus Christ shall never perish He added But shall have Eternal Life While prayers were making for him in this last Combat with the pains of Death at the end of almost every sentence he would interpose some word or words expressing the sence of his mind with respect to those petitions As thus O great God send thy Spirit of Consolation he is already come and give unto thy Servant the sense of thy love that he hath done Give unto him the Garment of Salvation he hath given it All is well enter therefore thou good Servant into the Joy of thy Lord he calleth thee At which words he raised up himself and stretched forth his Arms Also O Lord strengthen more and more the Faith of thy Servant in this last agony let him see let him hear thy voice let him raise up himself and take hold on Eternal Life Yea I am of good Comfort Let us go to the Throne of Grace that we may obtain Mercy It is done Leave therefore with a joyful mind this body to the Earth and yield up thy Spirit into the hands of God who hath given it Take hold of the Shield of Faith yea put on the whole Armor of God I have it Then he began himself to recite those words I have fought a good fight c. And when one had repeated what follows and came to those words which God the righteous Judge will give he added He will do it And when one said Behold the last moment of deliverance O God give Wings unto thy Servant open thy Paradise unto him Let him be received unto the beholding of thy Face He added With the Spirits of just men made perfect Let him receive the white Stone and the hidden Manna and let him bear his part in that New Song which none understands but he that sings it To which he said Amen! In these last Moments there came in some of his Friends who were witnesses of his happy Departure But the Ministers above named viz Lydius and Hulsius came too late to hear him speak any thing Howbeit a short Prayer was made for him after which when he had abode a while with his Eyes fixed and his hands lift up towards Heaven One of the standers by said I am perswaded this man doth already enjoy the Vision of God whereupon he earnestly endeavoured to utter the Word Yea And almost in the same moment sweetly breathed forth his Soul about half an hour after Nine of the Clock on Saturday morning being Jan. 7. After he had lived seventy eight years six Months and five dayes AN APPENDIX WHEREIN A CHRISTIAN 's Triumph over Death is Illustrated by some more memorable Examples § 1. THE Jewish Masters have a saying recorded in their Talm. Hierosol which * Buxt Adag Hebraic Buxtorf thus translates Non facienda sunt Monumenta justis sc defunctis Verba ipsorum sunt monumenta ipsorum That is Monuments are not to be erected to the Righteous when deceased Their Words are their Monuments They need not the help of Art to perpetuate or to embalm their Names who have lived and dyed eminent Examples of Piety and Holiness For they shall be had in everlasting remembrance The Memory of the Psal 112. 6. just is blessed but the Name of the wicked shall rot Prov. 10. 7. As for that worthy and holy person whose triumphant passage thro' Death into the Joy of his Lord we have already had a Relation of It may be questioned whether his most fruitful and learned works while he lived or his gracious speeches and demeanour when he dyed have contributed most to the Eternizing of his Name But it is beyond all Question that both the one and the other have raised unto him a Monument Aere perennius and as in both he hath been an eminent Instrument of Glorifying God in the World and strengthening the Faith of his Brethren so his Name will be remembred with Honour and Thanksgiving to God on the account of both from Generation to Generation We have beheld in him what Bernard tells us he saw in dying Gerardus viz. Hominem in morte exultantem insultantem morti i. e. A man greatly rejoycing in death and insulting over death which teacheth us that the Apostles holy Triumph O death 1 Cor. 15. 55. where is thy Sting O Grave where is thy Victory is no vain flourish of words or empty Speculation but a Truth sealed to in the Experience of a Christian who with a Joy unspeakable and full of Glory can joyn with him in the Agonyes of Death in his following Song of Praise Thanks be to God which giveth us the Victory thro' our Lord Jesus Christ Ver. 57. In such instances as these we have a very valuable Evidence of the Truth and Excellency of the Christian Religion and the Certainty of a future State and blessed Immortality Those things must needs be real in themselves whose Efficacy is so great upon the Soul of a man in such an hour Death is no Fancy neither can Fables with what Art or Cunning soever they are devised relieve a man against the bitter pangs of it The proud boasts of the Atheist and Debauchee are soon quelled by this King of Terrors the very thought of whose approach surprizes them with Consternation and guilty fears But the lively hope of Pardon in the Blood of Christ the Smiles of a reconciled God and foretastes of heavenly Joy make the true and sincere Christian more than a Conqueror in this Conflict He can fear no evil because God is with him whose presence makes his Sick-bed easie and gives him Prospect of the greatest Gain in the loss of this Temporal Life He can say as the
of God before whose Tribunal he must immediately appear of his integrity and faithfulness in his Trust both as a Pastor and Rector of the University That he had never suffered himself to be byassed by any corrupt or sinister end nor had any burthen upon his Conscience with respect thereto He professed the great care he had alwayes taken of the publick peace but added Yet neither did the love of Peace so bewitch me as that I should not distinguish betwixt genuine and adulterate Peace nor did my Affection towards my Prince seduce me so as that to pleasure him I should bring the least spot upon my Conscience But the Candor of my actions will shine when I am dead He exhorted them to mutual peace and love telling them There was nothing more unseemly than that the Preachers of Peace should be rent with strife and discord amonâ— themselves especially at sucâ— a time when the commoâ— Enemy the Papist lay iâ— wait for their ruine And after Exhortations to render all dutiful respect and Obedience to their Prince he dismist them with this Benediction The God and Father of Jesus Christ enrich you with all blessing and strengthen you with all might unto the vigorous discharge of your Ministry § 5. When the Night came on death seemed to be hastening which he perceiving entred into such discourses of Heavenly things as seemed to the by-standers so much above the rate of humane capacity to conceive and utter that they were all filled with a joyful astonishâ—ent in hearing of them The Physitians came and endeavoured but in vain by proper Medicines to asswage the force of his distemper whereupon turning his speech to God he said Thou O God shalt heal me And then poured out his prayers with a most ardent Zeal for the Remission of his sins through the Merit of the one and only Sacrifice of Christ professing that he esteemed all things though in appearance never so great to be but dung for the excellency of Christ Jesus earnestly calling upon God that he would bring him to an happy and triumphant period of thiâ— Life and grant that being covered with the Wings of Mercy he might sweetly sleep iâ— the bosom of Jesus and enjoy that sight of Gods face which with frequent pantings he thirsted for I have seen thee darkly said he in the glass of thy Word O grant me the long and much desired fruition of thy Countenance He discoursed at that rate concerning the Resurrection and Eternal Life as if he had already forsaken the earth and been translated into Heaven with so great sence and Life of Affection did he speak of these things And then taking each one by the hand that was present with him like the Patriarchs of old he blessed them with words full of Gravity and Holiness closing his Benediction with suitable Exhortations to every one That Night beyond Expectation he got a little rest And the day following the Magistrates of the City with many other persons of quality came to visit him To whom he made a very grave discourse in which he earnestly recommended the University to their favour and care and nominated a fit person to them for his Successor therein And as to his private concerns he affectionately recommended to them also his dear Wife who was then big with Child greatly praising her love and tenderness towards him in all his weakness and Afflictions adding I ingenuously profess to you I have not laid up two Pence out of all my Stipends for thesâ— worldly things were not my care nor did I ever set my heart upon them Those present solemnly promised to answer his desire iâ— all that he had mentioned tâ— them whereupon he exhorteâ— the Professors of Philosophy tâ— persevere in their work anâ— yield due obedience to his Successor And then he said â— thank my God that my memory sight hearing and thâ— rest of my senses are as strong and lively as ever But mâ— heart is estranged from thiâ— world and why O Lord Jesuâ— shouldst not thou enjoy mâ— Heart who only hast a righâ— thereto This hath been my endeavour all my Life long to dedicate and consecrate my heart to thee take it to thâ— self I beseech thee that iâ— may remain with thee § 6. After he had spoken â—hese things a gentle sleep came upon him out of which when he awaked he exprest a most ardent breathing to be dissolved and to be with Christ Come Lord Jesus said he break off the thred of this miserable Life Make hast O Lord Tarry not Jesus hath Redeemed me that he might grant to me not this frail but eternal Life Come Jesus Grant me that life for which thou hast redeemed me And when those that stood about him lamented the great loss they should have of him he said I have pass'd through all the Steps of this life and am now come to the last why should I go back again By the aid of thy presence O Lord Jesus I shall happily measure this Step also Lead thou me into that Glory which I have only seen through a Glass O that I were conversant with thee Upon occasion of some one signifying to him that the next day was the Sabbath day he thus exprest himself Let thy Sabbath O Lord begin mine eternal Sabbath Let my Eternal Sabbath receive the pledge of an happy beginning from thy Sabbath Towards the middle of the Night he got a little rest which the strength of his disease soon interrupted and he supposing his last hour to draw near sent for Mr. Walter Balcanquel unto whom when he was come in he thus addressed himself Forasmuch as you have for a long time had a Pastoral charge at Edinburgh and our friendship is of no late date I took care to have you sent for that I might make manifest unto all the Reverence which from my Cradle I have had for the Ministry of Christ I have indeed according to the measure of my gift already poured out my Prayers into the bosom of God and now I intreat you to pray for me I will joyn with my Heart and Affection only desire not the protracting of this Life Whereupon all that were present falling on their Knees Mr. Balcanquel prayed but among other things he earnestly desired that it might please God to spare so worthy a man with them for some longer time seeing both the Church and Common-wealth had so great need of his service whereupon Mr. Rollock interrupted him saying I have enough of this Life the only thing I desire is that heavenly Life which is hid with God in Christ When prayer was ended he brake forth into an earnest commendation of the Efficacy of the Word Preached The Word said he is both Life and Death nor can any 2 Cor. 2. 16. be saved without the Word Believe me 'T is no trifling matter to preach the Word It is not like the interpreting a Text of Plato or Aristotle or the making an Oration embellished with
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
censure than be defective in our care and good endeavours in this matter wherein that we might be sure to write nothing but most certain Truth we have chosen to bury many things in oblivion by a silen◠passing over what we hav◠but an imperfect remembranc◠of and shall content our selve◠to make a rehearsal with simplicity and truth of those grav◠and almost divine Speeches which as they were poure◠forth by this Holy man wer◠faithfully preserved partly i◠the Memory and partly in th◠written Notes of those wh◠constantly attended on him And yet though we employ ou◠utmost diligence herein w◠shall never be able to give them their just weight and Emphasis for who can imitate that flowing stream of words which with equal wisdom and piety proceeded from him in an almost continued discourse for the space of twelve dayes and as many nights Or who can represent to the Life the motions of a mind boyling with Meditations when the Spirit of God administred such an extemporary effort of sayings proceeding from his fruitful breast and gravely uttered when his sences were no waies impaired as he was diversly acted either by Grief and Fear or Hope and Joy § 2. It will be but necessary before we enter upon the Relation of other things briefly to mention something concerning the Temper and Disposition of this holy person and his Circumstances before his last sickness that the Grace of God towards his Servant may appear the more illustrious when we see with what care and Providence he disposed his Affairs in the whole course of his life but especially in this last act thereof Besides those excellent gifts wherewith he was adorned which cannot here be reckoned up particularly through the Goodness of God he had been favoured with the enjoyment of a sound Mind in a sound and healthy Body he was of a chearful and sedate Spirit holding on in an even course of Life neither lifted up with prosperity nor cast down by adversity So that by the habit of a comely and moderate deliberation he was ever blessed with an inward Joy and possessed all things with delight and Gratitude being no less ready to part with them without regret and trouble pursuing his own profit and advantage in a serious contemplation of the vanity of all worldly things often repeating that of the Apostle The things which are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal 2 Cor. 4. 18. He was never moved with sorrowful events that fell out suddenly whether in publick or in his private concerns as a man surprized by an unexpected evil neither was the tranquility of his mind shaken by them He was wont to say Nothing is impossible I wonder at nothing Neither on the contrary did he at any time break forth into a loose and immoderate Joy as being one set in an higher place and looking down upon all things here below as uncertain and perishing He never found himself on any other account under such perturbation nor shewed the like as upon the decease of the young Prince of Orange who from a Child had been committed to his instruction and tuition and whose Death as he often affirmed he bewailed out of pure Charity and not for any private loss that himself might sustain thereby Because the confidence he had of his excellent disposition and expectation of his longer Life had raised him to the hope that he would prove a useful Instrument for the good both of the State and the Church From that time he seemed to be more than ever drawn off from worldly things and used to speak of them with a certain loathing and disdain The frame of his mind was also discovered by a frequent interrupting of his accustomed course of reading the Scriptures in order in his Family and turning to some select Chapters such as Job 14. Eccles 3. and 4. Psal 49. and 144. From whence he took the occasion of such discourses as shewed what Meditations he was customarily taken up with § 3. In the last week wherein he lived in health being in his Garden accompanied by a Friend and walking up and down therein as he was wont with great pleasure he gave order what he would have done in the dressing of some Trees and then added If I live till the Spring time they will afford me a pleasant sight but if not I shall be in a Garden far more pleasant When his Friend interposed and said There was no cause why he should presage such a thing to himself seeing he was sound and lively he received a Rebuke from Dr. Rivet to this purpose The time is now come that I am to be treated after another manner my age is so far declined and hasting to an end as plainly to declare that death which none can be exempted from stands at my door And truly death is the principal matter that I meditate on God is my witness that I desire not it's delay but am ready with a chearful mind to embrace it yea even this day if the will of God were so On the same day he was entreated by Mr. Hulsius the Pastor of the French Church in that place * Breda that on the next day being Decemb. 25. he would preach a thanksgiving Sermon after the celebration of the Lords Supper which he consenting to do chose for his Text Psal 144. 3 4. Lord what is man that thou takest knowledge of him or the Son of man that thou makest account of him Man is like to Vanity his dayes are as a shadow that passeth away In his Sermon he had an eminent assistance from God and delivered his matter with a strong and clear voice and great liberty of speech and chiefly applyed his discourse to shew what favour and honour God had vouchsafed unto man as well in causing that the Son of God should be a Man as in giving him for our nourishment unto Eternal Life from thence teaching the Notice God took of mortal men and how it had pleased him to embrace them in his favour and to magnifie them And in speaking to the answer of the Psalmist Man is like to Vanity he touched upon the loss of the Prince whose Instructor he had been which was then fresh in memory but with words no way inclined to flattery but becoming the Matter and Person that he spoke of and which breathed forth nothing but pure affection withal taking notice of the Goodness of God who in the midst of his Judgments had shewed mercy to the house of Orange to which he had granted a new Offspring a Son being then born that the dying hope of that Noble Family might be revived before him At length he closed with a Meditation of Death an example of which said he seeing Young men that are strong have before them in a young man snatch't from the earth in the flower of his age and strength it ought to be often revolved in their minds and deep thoughts
and a wind that passeth away With how small a thing are the strongest among men cast down By a vile excrement by a little obstruction which no Remedies can open Thou hast done this O thou Eternal one Thus it pleaseth thee and I would have it so too Let it be done to me according to thy Word I am in thy fatherly and Gracious hands I fear nothing Thou art my safeguard and my exceeding great reward Then he repeated in the Hebrew tongue that sentence out of Lamentat 3. 24. Thou art my portion saith my Soul And seethose that stood by him were alwayes speaking to him of Good things Well done said he cease not to strengthen me unto that end God will supply you with matter for discourse for he is not only present with the sick himself for his aid but also with them that are called to succour him for he is nigh unto all that call upon him in truth Then he again poured forth his prayers for the Church of God saying O Lord it is thy possession which thou hast purchased with thine own blood forsake not thine own work let an holy jealousie be kindled in thee lift up on high the arm of thy power and bring down the audacious ones which tyrannize over thy flock Rebuke thou the negligent that heal her wounds slightly Reduce into the way those that wander and strengthen that which is ready to fall through division Gather both the one and the other to thy self into one body building them upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Jesus Christ himself being the Ephes 2. 20 21. chief corner Stone in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth into an holy Temple in the Lord. And then making a little pause he added I have been one of those builders I have brought what I received from the Lord that I might put to my helping hand with others towards the building of this Temple and I my self shall be a Living Stone in this Spiritual House He suffered no day nor night to pass over without his Prayers for the House of Orange Tbou hast afflicted it O Lord said he but we beseech thee let it not be destroyed Let this * The young Prince born but a little before Branch grow up which if it be thy good pleasure may come to be a fruitful tree in it's time Let all acknowledge that good to come from thee and that thou alone canst give both being and well-being How great folly is it to put confidence in man and in the Son of man who is nothing His breath goeth forth and then his best contrived thoughts perish § 10. On the next day which 1651. Jan. 1. Lords-day was the first of the year 1651. when he first beheld the light he said O Lord thou hast granted unto me to see the beginning of the year thou hast measured out my time unto the midle of this Age Then he asked what hour of the day it was and what weather when it was answered that the weather was very sharp and severe he was afraid it might hinder his Son◠journey to him Whereupon he addrest himself to God after this manner O my God bring my Son unto me that I may see him embrace him and bless him before I dye Then turning himsel◠to his Wife he said Dost think this earnest desire to see him proceeds from some carnal affection Nothing less Truly I love no man any more according to the flesh I earnestly desire his eternal Salvation and I hope to have those discourses with him which may increase his zeal in adorning his * His Son was a Minister spiritual Vocation I have yet spirit and utterance sufficient for that work Let none be hindred from coming to me It is usual for a man in my station by admonishing others publickly to make confession of his own Faith not for the sake of a little vain Glory O Lord thou knowest for it little concerns me to be approved unto men provided I may approve my self unto God but I desire the Salvation of many and to give testimony to the truth of those things which I have publickly taught This day also was taken up with the Visits of Friends and amongst others that came there was Collonel Verneuil and some more Officers in the Garrison of which two or three were of Poictou unto whom he said I rejoyce that I have opportunity to make a Confession of my Faith before you that are my Countrey-men And I pray you to keep it i◠memory and give testimony of it where it shall be necessary For you see before you◠eyes a man weak indeed but without guile who solemnly protesteth That h◠hath never published in hi◠Writings nor taught wit◠his Lips any thing that di◠not agree with the sence o◠his heart and the Doctrin◠which hath been delivered t◠us by the Prophets and Apostles which is the same wit◠that which is found in th◠Confession of Faith of ou◠Churches in which I hav◠lived and in which I purpose to dye The Lord God Almighty confirm you in that Faith so that nothing may move you from it For what will it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own Soul Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and the righteousness thereof and then all other things shall be added to you Learn to number your dayes And get a wise heart Look upon me and let me be an example unto you It is but eight dayes since I preached to you of Mans frailty being my self in health and lively at that time and now you see the truth of what I said in my self Certainly what is visible to us and set before our eyes hath a more perswasive power than words which only beat the ears And then taking his leave of them he added The Lord deliver you from the allurements of the world and give you an increase of his fear and of all spiritual and temporal gifts A while after there came to hi◠the worthy Snellen Burgomaster of Breda unto whom h◠chearfully gave an account ◠the nature of his disease wit◠the causes and consequents there of and then said Praise be to God who hat◠given me to know the en◠of my life I should be th◠most ungrateful of all men ◠I were not contented wit◠that measure and term ◠Life which he hath afforde◠me and if I should not acknowledge his great Goodness and provident care ◠me in the whole course ◠my life Especially I giv◠him thanks for laying ou◠this place for me to pass m◠old age in amongst good me◠with whose kindness I hav◠been refreshed and to who◠for their multiplied favou◠towards me I can never make a sufficient return of thanks Of your sincere Affection most worthy Sir in a special manner I have had experience for which I give you my hearty thanks and in your Person to your whole Corporation which
his Son Stephen that he may be an useful Instrument for the promoting of Gods Glory a diligent workman that needs not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of Truth O Lord my God I pray not onely 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 defects Sanctifie their Gifts Grant unto them that they may seriously return unto the simplicitly which is in Christ and that they detract not from the Glory of God to ascribe unto man what belongs to his Salvation He is strong and Jealous 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 never moved by envy or wrath against any one in particular but on the contrary alwayes 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 beseech 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 â—ph 4. 13. 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 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 alwaies esteemed and loved him he hath been an useful Instrument for the Glory of God and I doubt not but he will throughly 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 little 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 admiration He gives both being and well-being He bestowes 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 according to the faithfulness and stability of thy Promises 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 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 indeed for a token of which take thou the Bible which thou shalt find in my Study In specicial I 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 § 13. On Monday Morning Monday Jan. 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 adde something to the Codicil which was annexed to his Will the Evening before His Strength was sufficient to admit the putting on of his cloaths 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 Arabick new Testament and laid by another Book for Mr. Hulsius and one for his Brother Rivet to be immediately sent unto him to Champuer non in France unto whom being returned into his Chamber he wrote this letter 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 daies since I have been afflicted with a Stubborn Constipation and the expulsive faculty is wholly exstinct in me Wherefore I am determined by the Grace of God to dye 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 Mouline shall write unto you an account of my last Hours and of that tranquility 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 give you an account of all Farewel 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 blesse thee and all thine Once again Farewel Dated at Breda Jan. 2. 1651. He wrote also to Mr. Mouline his brother by Affinity in these words My Dearest Brother IT so pleaseth God that yoâ— 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 â— pertinacious retention faecium 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 ministreth to me in this agony hath undertaken to write to you of my constancy and the Grace which God affordeth to me Live unto the Glory of his Name remembring me and mine who dye Your most Affectionate c. § 14. 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 surrendring up himself into the hands of God and recited to them a Confession of his Faith and exhorted them to proceed chearfully in that work which the Lord had committed to them He gladly received those consolations whereby they endeavoured to asswage his pains and heard their Prayers for him with like joy alwaies 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 fraid 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 Physitians and now for many daies 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
Spirit is strong and enriched § 24. Then turning again to his Son he said My Son God blesse thee more and more How greatly do I rejoyce when I behold in thee the Grace of God! It was my great desire to see thee from the first day of my sickness Thou art the youngest of my Sons and thou only art left alive to me upon the Earth Thou shalt be my Benjamin and God will bless the Charge I have committed to thee and will be present with thee for thy help therein The Almighty God give unto thee and thy Nephews blessings in Israel and especially spiritual Blessings for temporal Blessings follow upon Spiritual Praised be God that hath made thee a Spectator of my last Conflict It is a Conflict but yet sweet because of the Consolations of the Spirit of God which abound in me Thou hast strove enough O my Soul rest in God who is thy Saviour Then hearing the Clock strike he asked what hour it was which when he knew he said The Time passeth away and we pass away with the time howbeit we are confirmed and strengthened by the Grace of God every hour Then smiting upon his Breast he said There is Joy within by the habitation of the Spirit of God in me O Good God! who am I that thou shouldst vouchsafe to come and dwell under my poor roof So it hath pleased thee O Lord that thy Spirit should dwell in me to the end and therefore I have cause of rejoycing in earnest § 25. Thus was the Thursday Fryday Jan. 6. night passed over The poor sick man was wearyed and exceeding thirsty yet durst not drink He seemed to be breathing out his Soul every moment and panted for deliverance but the end of his Conflict was not yet come there remained still above twenty four hours to be undergone and those very sharp His Son had betaken himself to some rest in the morning and after a while coming into the Chamber again his Father said to him A good day to you Son I am glad you have taken some rest Help me a little Which being done he added My Son this duty will be pleasing to God I should have reckoned my self happy if in any thing I could have helped my Father he was a good and a pious man I had also an holy Mother which deserved very well of the whole Family there was in her an holy Ambition and ardent Charity My Son how do I rejoyce to see thee I have yet many things to say to thee Remember that thou speak to the Illustrious Princesses Dowagers and tell them that I dye devoted to them in all dutiful affection and that I recommend unto them the utmost I can the Institution of the illustrious Colledge in this Town which is indeed the honour of the house of Orange and of his memory who founded it unto whom in my own particular I am laid under very great Obligations That great Prince who first called me to his service in his house heaped his benefits upon me and without vanity I speak it honoured me with his friendship of which he could give no greater Testimony than by committing to me the first education of his only Son who indeed was snatcht away from us in the flower of his age when both his Fathers house and the Common-wealth had most need of him Truly he was a Prince adorned with many gifts and disposed to receive good things and to Piety I believe that God was merciful to him and that his goodness is not wholly withdrawn from this noble house to which he hath raised up a Son that may supply his Fathers place The Almighty God bless and Preserve that Branch and Bless his Education and make him to grow in Age and in Gifts and Graces that he may be an Instrument of promoting his Glory and an instance of his Grace and Favour I beseech him also to bless the Princesses his Mother and Grandmother that their Concord may turn to the Good of the Child and of the State The Lord guide them in all things with the Spirit of his Fear strengthen them in the Faith and incourage them unto every good work I hope they will keep in mind my service and Zealous Affection for the good of their noble Family But if not my trust is in God § 26. After half an hours silence or thereabouts he thus continued his discourse Hear the prayers which thy Servant offers unto thee O God for that Child let him be blessed and sanctified from his tender years that the corruption of the Age. may not pervert him Let him live before thee Let Integrity and Righteousness preserve him He also prayed for the Lady Electress of Brandenburg and her Sisters That God would adorn them with all Christian and moral Virtues and b◠with them to the end of thei◠Lives But now his oppression was so much increased that we could not take the texture of his Meditations only by his countenance and gesture we might see that he prayed continually and sometimes he uttered some words whereby we understood that others had preceded in his Meditation a◠for instance Yea Lord I believe thi◠is my joy God will perfect his work above all ◠have no more part in thos◠things that are done unde◠the Sun but I desire th◠Peace of the Church every where Then he repeated in French Metre the 18. verse of Psal 51. which is in English Metre Lord unto Zion turn thy Face Pour out thy mercies on thy Hill And on Jerusalem thy Grace Build up the Walls and love it still I am of that Zion have pity on me and deal graciously with me I am suffocated I can hardly breath The Lord brings me down but he calls my Spirit to himself The greatest thing by farr is I have no doubt of my Salvation the Lord upholds me miraculously to the end that I may edifie others by my example in this last close of my life I am well pleased O my God Far be it from me that I should murmure How small are these pains in comparison of that Grace through which I bear with a quiet mind whatsoever it pleaseth God to lay upon me Thou allayest these short bitternesses with inexpressible consolations Thou speakest unto my Soul with that sweet voice which ◠understand because I am of thy Sheep My sheep saith the chief Shepherd hear my voice I know them and they follow me To this purpose he began to recite the 23 Psalm in Hebrew The Lor◠is my Shepherd I shall not want and desired one that stood by to rehearse the rest of the Psalm And the last clause he pronounced himself from the Original viz I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever And when he saw many attending him he said You have no cause to wonder I am able to do nothing of my self The Lord worketh all in all that we may be humbled This is the School of humility Look upon me
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
and his finger pointed to these words Justus quâcunque morte preoccupatus fuerit in refrigerio erit i. e. By what Death soever the Righteous man is prevented he shall be in rest § 17. These things may suffice as to my present design And therefore I will close all with the Addition of but one Story more which for the remarkable circumstances of it may be neither unprofitable nor ungrateful to those Readers which have not access to it in the Latin tongue for whose accommodation and service the whole of this little Tract is intended The Story I intend is related by the excellent Dr. Rivet in an Epistle written not long before his Death to his Brother De bonâ Senectute Of a good Old Age And it is this Jacobus Faber a great restorer both of Polite Learning and Religion in France being a most Faithful and eminent Minister of the Gospel there did in a time of very hot Persecution Flye with others and for his security retired to Albret in Gascoign to the Queen of Navarre a zealous Professor and Protectress of the Reformed Religion with whom he was in Great esteem On a certain day the Queen did advertise him That she purposed to come and dine at his House and in order thereto invited some Learned men with whose Conference she was much pleased to accompany her there While they were at Dinner Faber began to be exceeding sad and now and then to break out into tears At which the Queen complained and desired him to tell the cause of such heaviness when she was come to dine and be merry with him At last he answered And how can I most Serene Queen be chearful my self or make others chearful who am the most wicked man that the Earth bears And what wickedness so great saith she can you be guilty of who from your Youth have been esteemed to lead so holy a Life I am said he now of the age of an hundred and one years and am free from the touch of any Woman in all this time neither do I remember ought that burthens my Conscience or should make me afraid to leave the World except one sin which I believe too is pardonable And when she pressed him to declare what it was he could not speak a while for the abundance of tears but at length said How can I stand before the Tribunal of God who have purely and sincerely taught many the Holy Gospel of the Son of God who following my Doctrine have constantly endured a thousand torments and death it self when I my self an unconstant Teacher did flee and tho' I had lived long enough and should not have feared Death but rather coveted it yet I withdrew my self and cowardly transgressed the Command of my God Whereupon the Queen as she was very eloquent and full of Divine Sayings discoursed largely to him and did by many Examples shew that the same thing had happened to many Good and Holy men who were now in the Kingdom of God and therefore he ought not in any wise to despair of the Goodness and Mercy of God towards him And many things to the same purpose were added by others present Upon which he was comforted and became chearful again but said Now therefore nothing remains but that I go from hence to God as soon as I have made my Will I have that Impression that I must deferre no longer for I perceive God calls me Then fixing his eyes on the Queen Madam said he I appoint you my Heir and to your Preacher Mr. Gerard I bequeath all my Books my Cloaths and whatsoever else I have I give to the Poor Other things I commend to God At this the Queen smiling asked What then shall I have James out of the Inheritance The care said he of distributing this to the Poor It is well said she I solemnly profess this Legacy is more acceptable to me than if the King of France my Brother had named me his Heir After this his Countenance was chearfull and he said O Queen I have need of some Rest Be ye chearful and in the mean time Farewel So he left them at Table and laid him down upon a Bed that was near where as they thought he lay sleeping but was indeed fallen asleep in the Lord without the least sign of any previous distemper for when they went to awake him they found him dead to their great admiration Such was the end of this Holy man which as Rivet observes leaves to us an Example of the Mercy of God â—o this his Servant in awakenâ—ng such a Gracious sence of â—is former weakness in him and applying his Pardoning Grace in Christ to him before he was called hence and also a serious Warning unto all to get their Accounts for another World cleared before they come to dye That being well assured of the Favour of God in Christ and of the Soundness of their Faith and Repentance they may expect their Change in Peace Conscience is a tender thing and what we count but small while we live may make a Dying-bed very uneasie to us And therefore as we tender our own Peace and Comfort when we come to Dye it most nearly concerns us to be Serious while we Live and as the Apostle saith To walk circumspectly not as Fools Ephes 5. 15 16. but as Wise Redeeming the Time because the Dayes are evil FINIS Books Printed for and Sold by Benjamin Alsop at the Angel and Bible in the Poultrey SIxty one Sermons preached upon publick occasions by Dr. Adam Littleton in fol. Dr. Mantons Sermons on the 119 Psalm Fol. Some Discourses Sermons and Remains of the Reverend Mr. Jos Glanvile late Rector of Bath and Chaplain in ordinary to his Majesty Quar. Melius Inquirendum in Oct Vtrum Horum or the thirty nine Articles of the Church of England at large recited and compared with the Doctrines of those commonly called Presbyterian on the one side and the Tenets of the Church of Rome on the other by Henry Care Octavo The History of the Popish Sham plots from the Reign of Queen Elizabeth to this very time Oct. Mr. Baxters defence of the Nonconformists Plea for Peace Octavo The Holy War By John Bunyan Octa. Divine Meditations with a daily directory by Sir William Waller Octa. A Discourse of the Covenants that God made with men before the Law by Nehemia Cox Octa. The Glory of Free-grace displayed by Stephen Lobb Oct. A discourse of Temptations to Atheistical and Blasphemous Thoughts Self Murder Despair and Presumption by Dr. John Collings in Octa. A Reasonable Account why some Pious Nonconformists Ministers Judge it sinful for them to perform their Ministerial Acts by the prescribed forms of others with a Supplement and defence All three being Replyes to Dr. Faulkner The Schollars daily Task or Grammer illustrated By N. S. a lover of Learning Octavo A Treatise of Scandal together with a Consideration of Christian Liberty and things indifferent Octavo The Way of good men for wise men to Walk in Octavo Divine Love or the willingness of Jesus Christ to save sinners By Vav Powel The Security of Englishmens Lives or the Trust Power and Duty of the Grand Juries of England Youngs English Scholar being the most plain and easiest method to learn Youth to spell read and write true English Extant many having by the help of this twelve-peny Book saved their Parents the charge of some Years Schooling Stitcht Books in Quarto The mischief of Impositions being an Answer to Dr. Stillingfleets Sermon of Seperation Two Funeral Sermons the one at the Interment of a Young man the other at the burial of a Young Gentlewoman Both Preached by John Shower An Argument for Tolleration by a Countrey Gentleman The History of the Parisian Massacre