of approaching death to be entertained which admits of no return to life What is man said he Nothing but flesh obnoxious to putrefaction a flower that springs up to day and to morrow is cut down even a vapor that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away like the breath that proceedeth out of my mouth For the cold being great that day did so condense his breath that it might be seen of all to whom he was preaching § 4. When the Sermon was finished he returned home as lively and well as he had been seen for some years past nor did he the next day feel any decay of his former strength But on Thursday which was the 27th of December he began to complain Anno 1650. of a pain below his Navel and refusing to eat any Supper desired that a Clyster might be given him but it was to no purpose the liquor being driven back again with greater force than it was injected That night was pass'd over partly in bearing of his sharp pains and partly in serious discourses On Wednesday morning the complaint of his pain was encreased and he desired that the use of a Clyster might be repeated which was done accordingly but with no better success than the former Then were two Physicians sent for and they suspecting that the former Clysters either had not been skilfully injected or else were not strong enough made tryal of the like means once and again but with the same success as before for a glutinous humour had already fast locked up the passage against all Remedies On the next day which was Tuesday they prescribed Pills of Alloes washed and on Fryday the Infusion of Rhubarb either of which did sufficiently agitate his body but effected nothing neither was any way opened for their passage the expulsive faculty being weakened and dulled so that it could give Nature no assistance The wind shut up in his bowels tormented the sick man his Belly was swollen and he was afraid to touch either meat or drink lest thereby his grievance should be encreased There were no proper means unattempted nor any kind of help by Clysters Fomentations or Baths but were made tryal of untill by the stubborn disease that resisted all Remedy he was brought unto death the twelfth day of his sickness the History of which we shall now prosecute more at large § 5. On the second day after his disease had seised him he well understanding the nature of it declared what the event would be Not saith he that I would neglect Remedies that I may please my Friends I will do whatsoever is thought meet to be done being secure as to the issue which I commit to the Providence of God Then he asked his Neece Mrs Mary Moline what she conceived of his disease which he thought would prove mortal And when she answered That her opinion was the same yet that he had no reason to fear any thing having been long prepared to follow God when he should call that the time of his Life hitherto had been long if it were crowned with an happy and Glorious End Thou speakest right saith he and I pray thee alwaies address thy self to me with like speeches and while my sickness continues depart not from me day nor night Promise me now that thou wilt keep a chearful countenance and that thou wilt speak nothing to me but what may administer joy and support to me although I fear not death yet I fear the tryal of those pains which I have alwaies had a very sharp feeling of Then suddainly turning his speech unto God he said Great God! thou art my Father thou hast given me both Life and a new Life thou hast taught me from my youth and I have declared thy wonderful works forsake me not now in my old age Hitherto through thy peculiar favour thou hast preserved me sound in my body and my faculties and the functions of my mind have not been impaired so that a little before I was opprest by this disease I found my self as apt and ready for the exercise of my Vocation as in my Flourishing Youth O Lord God! if it be thy will that I should longer attend upon thy service thou canst asswage my disease in one moment but if thou hast decreed otherwise lo here is thy Servant thy will be done This one thing I begg with most inward affections that thou wilt make me conformable to thy good will Let not thy good Spirit depart from me that in this conflict thy strength may make me a Conquerour Accomplish this O Lord for thine own sake And seeing thou hast imployed me in thy work grant that I may die an honourable death and such as may be an example unto others That I may stand fast in that sound Doctrine which I have taught and may make a good confession thereof before witnesses that thereby thy Church may be both instructed and edified Let me apply to my self by a lively Faith all the Promises of the Gospel and let them put forth their efficacy in me unto my joy and eternal consolation that nothing in the world neither affliction nor distress may seperate me from thee or cause me to doubt of thy love and favour Thou knowest my weaknesses and infirmities permit not the grievousness of my pain to cast me into impatience or murmuring either make my pains tolerable or furnish me with fortitude and constancy sufficient to bear them That I may not offend with my Tongue keep thou the door of my lips § 6. The remainder of the day was taken up with pains the use of Remedies and the Visits of Friends when the night came on he earnestly intreated Mrs. Rivet his wife that she would retire her self into the next Chamber not only because she was afflicted with a vehement Cough but also that he might remove her from the grievous sight of himself when tormented with his pains and because he found his tender affections more moved at the sight of her than any other person So none remained with him but his Neece Mrs. Mary Moline and two of the household servants But who can particularly relate the speeches which he uttered and in a manner poured forth that night and the day following which was Thursday Decemb. 29. with an Affection and Order inexpressible breathing from his Heart nothing but Repentance Faith Charity and holy Zeal In a word he implored the mercy of God with the Greatest self-denial and abasement of Soul confessing himself to be a miserable sinner and casting away all confidence in any good thing which he had done in his life yea speaking of that with great very contempt he accused his own defects and ascribed unto God the Glory of his good works often repeating such expressions as these It is God that hath wrought the work for me Shall I alledge or plead my own Righteousnesses before him Far be that from me If I should justifie my self my own mouth would condemn me I
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
to him that we would suffer a man of so great merit who was yet strong and hearty to go out of the world without trying of any Remedies adding That he knew a person that was held with the same disease that was helped by Baths prescribed by a Chyrurgeon in the City who was indeed very skilful in his Art This person therefore was immediately sent for who when he came finding the sick man strong enough to abide the use of that Remedy without delay prepares a Bath by which he found himself much eased and his pains asswaged and that Monday Night he had a better Night of it than ordinary § 15. The next day in the Tuesday Jan. 3. Morning they repeated the Bath after which a Clyster was injected which seemed to have begun its work All that were about the sick man rejoyced and bad him be of good courage promising his recovery from his distemper And to say the truth himself began if not to hope yet at least to think it might be so In the following Evening the Bath was repeated again after which being had to bed he began to sleep sweetly but had scarcely rested half an hour before he was awaked by the pain of his side and a greater tention of his Belly than before and the access of a Feaver Nothing was left unattempted foâ— his relief by fomentations anâ— unctions but all was to â— purpose The complaint of thâ— sick man was increased anâ— he tired out and afflicted witâ— extraordinary restlesness Anâ— then his Niece perceived thaâ— there was something else troubled him more than the pain of his Body for he remaining silent groaned forth most bitter sighs whereas before the more he was tormented with pain the more ardently did he use to pour out his prayers to God It was Supper time when she was left with him alone and then with a mournful voice he asked Who is there is any Stranger present And when his Niece had told him No she asked him Whence doth this unusual disquietude proceed you seem to me to suffer something extraordinary what is become of that chearfulness through which you were wont to pass through your pains with the greatest Joy Alas said he He is departed from me that made glad my Heart I have grieved that Holy Spirit the Comforter who had filled my Soul with Peace and Joy I have been so wretched and unhappy as to give ear to those who spake unto me of my returning into this World I have been tickled with the desire of living And how could such a thing possibly be after the fruits of the Heavenly Canaan had been tasted by me and I had by faith taken hold of Supernatural good things What is now necessary to be done Whither shall I goâ— If I speak he answers not yeâ— he hath taken from me the power of speaking Ah sad change An holy fire had kindled my meditation but now vain thoughtâ— hurry me I cannot get out of my mind an old Satyr and sucâ— like trifles Thus while I am â— deaths door I go backwards And here casting his armâ— about her neck he thus proceeded My Dear Niece help â—e continue to discourse of Goâ—â— things with me Call upon thâ— Comforter to return and reneâ— that excellent work which hâ— had advanced in me O Return Return Confirm me witâ— thy strength before I go hence and be seen no more § 16. Then she suggested to him those places of Scripture which by the Divine aid were brought to her mind in answer to which every moment he interposed those words as made it evident that his Soul which before was sinking under its burthen began to gather strength Comfort again He had scarce been a quarter of an hour in that Conflict before he fell into a Swoon which occasioned the hasty calling in of his Son who was come to him but that Morning and when this sinking fit was over there appeared in him again the same Tranquility and Chearfulness of Countenance as formerly And seeing those of his own Houshold with some Friends that used to assist him and watch with him by turns in the next Room he attentively fixed his eyes upon each of them and first Addressing himself to his Wife Farewell said he my dearest Yoke-fellow We have lived together in Peace for thirty Years and I thank thee for thy help which hath been a great Comfort unto me for I did cast all Domestick cares upon thee Continue I beseech thee to †They were his Children by a former Wife for he had none by her love my Children with that Pious Affection which hitherto thou hast had for them Then turning his Speech to his Son he said And thou my Son Love and Honour this dearest Companion of my Life the Partner of all my Joys and Sorrows which hath done the Duty of a Mother toward thee this I desire of thee and this I command thee as thou expectest a blessing from God upon what I have gotten by my labour divide it between you without quarrelling or contention according to what is just and right Manage all thy Affairs with all Lenity and Christian Prudence especially pursue Peace O Frederick for that was his Sons Name to which he alluded Be rich in Peace Then taking hold of both their Hands and joyning them together Promise me saith he that you will maintain an holy and mutual friendship with each other Which when they had both most solemnly Promised to do I believe you said he for I have no cause to doubt of your Sincerity I know that you fear God and that my last Commands will be of great weight to you even as I pray God that he will make my Blessing effectual upon you Then turning to his Wife he said The Lord Bless thee my dear Love and strengthen thee he iâ— an Husband to the Widdow anâ— a Father of the Fatherless And to his Son The Almighty Father bless thee my Son guide thee in alâ— thy wayes enrich thee with all Christian Virtues and plentifully make thee to abound in all Spiritual and Temporal Blessings regard not thâ— world nor its deceitful hopes for the world passeth away and the Lust thereof place all thy Felicity in the Blessing of God be strong in Faith and prepared unto every good work Let the Peace of God dwell in thee and make thee Peaceable and kind Those Infants which I commend unto thee and commit to thy trust will be proper Subjects for thee to exercise thy Charity upon I appoint and set thee over not only that little Portion which I leave them but especially their Persons that thou mayest take care of their Instruction and Education in Piety and Virtue that they may be fitted for that Service of God which their Nature and Ingenie renders them capable of and especially may apply themselves to the Worship of God And then taking hold of the hand of the eldest of the Children he said Farewell dear Child the
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