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
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
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
dissolved and to be with thee Loose me that I may be with thee I am greatly wearyed and I wait for the entertainment which thou hast shewn me As the Traveller in his Journey at Night time desires the Sun-rising so do I desire after the clear light even the sight of the Father Son and Holy Ghost When my voice and speech shall fail me Grant O Merciful Saviour that thy Holy Spirit may speak unto thee in my Heart and make intercession for me with groanings that cannot be uttered Let his motions spring up in my breast and move thy Heart unto Mercy towards me Lord Jesus Christ who sittest at the right hand of thy Eternal Father receive my Spirit § 13. These were the Meditations and this the exercise of this Holy man upon his dying bed He felt this Tabernacle to be falling but knew he had an house not made with hands Eternal in the Heavens and his pious Soul was filled with Heavenly triumph in the certain expectation of a Glorious Resurrection of that same body of his which was now ready to be sown in corruption which with an admirable sweetness and comfort he thus express'd I shall see thee my Saviour in my flesh which thou hast exalted to the right hand of the Eternal Father and I will give thee thanks in the presence of thy Father for all the Good things which thou hast communicated unto me Yea thou wilt place thy Holy Angels to be the Guardians of my Body that they may keep my dust which hath been and to all Eternity shall be the dwelling place of thy Holy Spirit It is impossible that this flesh of mine which is the Temple of the Holy Ghost this Mass of my body which is quickened by the effusion and communication of the Spirit of Christ and so inserted into the flesh of Christ should be reduced unto nothing or abide in death and ever remain dust and ashes But thou who art the Author of Life will remand from the Earth this thine own Image even out of the smallest Crums of dust and ashes that are there By sending forth thy breath thou wilt again build up my body alive and Glorious which shall be the habitation of the whole Divinity dwelling therein to all Eternity There shall we follow the Lamb whithersoever he shall go O Guide truly fair and Divine There shall we sing a New Song Let us rejoyce Hallelujah O Come let us go forth to meet our Saviour Our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Right as Citizens is in Heaven but in this Life we must begin Eternal Life and follow the order which Christ hath appointed We shall be cloathed upon if so be that we be not found Naked That most lovely Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world will lead us unto the Fountains of living Waters and wipe away all Tears from our Eyes Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard neither have entred into the Heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him This Earthly Life is Death but that Life which Christ begins in me is Life indeed Now it is no more I that live but Christ that liveth in me therefore let him be praised O happy Soul in which thou Jesus Christ sittest as the Guide and Rector of all its actions and Motions I see Heaven open unto me Now lettest thou thy Servant depart in Peace O Lord for mine Eyes indeed have seen thy Salvation Thou O Christ art the Resurrection and Life How amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord O Christ my Redeemer carefully watch my Soul that it suffer no detriment by the horrible and infernal Dragon the Devil Let my Soul be bound up in the bundle of Life and let this my passage hence be happy let it be to me the way to those that live an immortal and Heavenly Life § 14. After this he again most affectionately prayed for his Wife and Children but in terms arguing such a nearness to God and Holy Familiarity with him as if a man had been speaking to his Friend and devolving a care upon him that he knew most assuredly he would willingly take upon himself and see to He mightily Comforted himself with the thoughts of Christs sympathy and compassion who saith he will certainly hear me in all these things And when one exhorted him to be of good hope for God would help him he answered 'T is right The Lord will certainly help me by a final deliverance according to that Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord In the Lord then do I dye who is my Life I dye in the acknowledgment Faith and Confidence of Christ the Mediator who is my Shade of defence and my Brother who cloatheth me with the garment of his Righteousness I shall therefore be happy I shall be Righteous O sweet Blessedness sweet Righteousness O sweet change and Translation from Sin to Innocency from Darkness into Light from Death to Life Many Prayers also he put up for the Church of God especially that the pure Doctrine of the Gospel might be transmitted without corruption to Posterity and with Tears bewailed the wickedness of those who by their corrupt Notions were an hindrance to its course And once more a little before his Soul departed his Friends being about him he solemnly recommends himself to Christ and repeats the Confession of his Faith expressing great thankfulness to God for the Reformation and for those that he had used as Instruments therein I am now dying said he and dismist as that Servant of God holy Simeon I also being the Servant of God and Holy I dye in the Confession of the writings of the Prophets and Holy Apostles and of the Ancient Creeds and also adhering to the Augustane Confession I give thanks to God That of his Infinite goodness he hath dispell'd the darkness and restored to us the Light and Purity of his Gospel At length in the midst of his Prayers and earnest breathings after God he yielded up his Soul into the hands and bosom of his Redeemer where he rests from his Labours and his works follow him § 15. Another Instance worthy of our Remembrance and imitation I shall give you in Mr. Matthew Wesenbeck an eminent Civilian who after he had run the course of an Holy Life from his first Conversion to the fifty fifth year of his Age departed this Life at Wittenburg in the year 1586. The means by which God first awakened him to seek after and embrace the knowledge of the Truth was this While he was studying the Law at Lovane it fell out that there was a poor man in the City who being blind made it his business to visit the Sick and to instruct and comfort them as he could with Texts of Scripture in which he was well versed in recompence of which pious office those that were well disposed would relieve his Necessity with a piece of Bread and Cheese After some time this poor man was accused of
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
own eyes shall see him I shall behold his face in righteousness and shall be satisfied with his likeness when I awake He loveth me with an intire affection he kisseth me with the Kisses of his Mouth He hath removed all fear far from me and hath filled me with Peace and Joy in Believing He often repeated that sentence Amor meus Crucifixus est that is My Love is Crucified adding O Love incomprehensible what I conceive of him is beyond all expression Blessed be the Lord who hath directed my heart into the Love of God and the patient waiting for Christ § 22. This whole day was spent in like holy discourses and the Prayers of Ministers that came to him with the Visits of other Friends Towards Evening he found himself very weak and had two or three fainting fits but his speech did not wholly fail in them sometimes he would say My strength is quite spent I am going hence Lord meet me do not tarry take thy Creature Towards the middle of the Night his strength being a little recovered he reached forth his hand to Mrs. Rivet his Wife and said Embrace me once more my dear Love I love thee no more after the flesh but after the Spirit as I have alwayes loved thy Better part I have lived with thee in holy Concord these thirty years Thou hast born mine Infirmities and hast been an help to me and God hath blessed us together I have taken notice of thy good Infirmities conjoyned with great Piety and thy Faith which is not perfect but sincere and true Thou knowest my Love that God is not a severe Judge but merciful and Gracious he chiefly requires from us a recumbence on his Mercy He is kind and full of Love Behold in me an Example of Mercy and Kindness and from thence gather Confidence that he will follow thee with the same Grace We have an Allyance in Heaven Thither the Lord takes me and he will take thee thither also and so we shall be together with the Lord for ever While thou art waiting for that blessed hour he will be thy Husband Father Comforter and Defender and finally will make thee to experience the soveraign Effects of his Love Rejoyce therefore my dearest Love I have prayed for thee Thy Faith shall not fail God will succour thy infirmities which savour of nothing but goodness It is that I love in the Children of God that they acknowledge themselves to be imperfect before him God will compleatly perfect thee doubt not Then turning to his Son My Son said he keep for thy self what is thine Call upon God as thy Father for he is the Father of Eternity Let his fear wholly possess thee for that is the principal thing Seek first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and all other things shall be given in over and above unto thee Take care of my little Children see to their pious Education and Instruction in their tender years Let them not frequent evil Company My Son I put confidence in thee and assure my self thou wilt observe my commands with all thy power Let Truth be in thy Heart Equity and Sincerity in all thy Actions and cherish Peace and Friendship among Friends § 23. Then taking many Friends by the hand that stood by him he said I pray you love my Son And then turning to his Niece Farewell said he my dearest Niece God will bless thee yea he hath blessed thee already thou hast ministred to thy afflicted and sick Parent and in so doing thou hast served the Publick Let my blessing remain upon thee I know and am sure that thou shalt be with me in the Heavenly Paradise where God hath prepared places for us before the Foundation of the World was layd Thou hast helped me and God will help thee Fear not Persevere with me in the close of my last hours Then seeing Mr. Fayan le Coq Are you there saith he my dear Cousin The Lord bless you abundantly and grant that in the whole course of your life you may walk in his fear you belong to an honourable Family which have layd many Obligations upon me I pray you write to your honoured Mother an Account of my happy Departure and also to your Brethren whom I pray God abundantly to bless and give them Peace and that they may not trust in the perishing good things of this World As for my self it is long since I have turned from corruptible things and adhered to those that are prepared and laid up in Heaven Every good and perfect Gift comes down from the Father of Lights with whom there is no variableness nor shadow of turning My God my desire is to thee My Soul thirsteth for thee as the parched ground When shall I enter in and present my self before the face of God! Come Lord Jesus Come I am in thy Bosom I am ready when it pleaseth thee My Heart is prepared my Soul is ready All delay seems long to me till Christ come for whom notwithstanding I wait without impatience You see thro' the Grace of God I am not tired I wait I believe I persevere Patience is much better than Knowledge tho' it delay my Joy yet it sets me in the way to it The sense of divine Favour increaseth in me every moment My pains are tolerable but my Joy is inestimable I am no more vexed with earthly cares I have now no desires but after heavenly things I remember when any new Book came out how earnestly I have longed after it till it came to my hands being alwayes desirous of learning something New But now all that is but as dust Thou art my All O Lord My good is to approach unto thee O what a Library have I in God! in whom is hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge I shall no more behold things afar off and darkly I shall no more know in part but I shall be filled with the Knowledge of God as the Sea is covered with waters Thou art the Teacher of Spirits I have learned more Divinity in these ten dayes that thou art come to visit me than I did in fifty years before Thou hast brought me to my self before I went astray and was in the world but now I am conversant in the School of my God and he teacheth me after another manner than all those Doctors in Reading whom I spent so much time What Obscurity is there and what Conjectures yea what Vanity in all those things that proceed from an humane Spirit What vast spaces must a man pass over before he find any fruit in them But thy Doctrine O my God is perfect and full of good fruits My Soul is filled as with marrow and fatness With my whole heart I renounce all other Knowledge and cleave to this alone Jesus Christ and him crucified I give thee thanks O Lord that thou hast hid these things from the haughty-wise and hast revealed them to the humble This Body is feeble but the
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