The Holy Life and Happy Death of John Bruen, Chapter 64
CHAP. LXIIII.
His private Evening exerciſe full of life.ANd then in his Evening Exerciſe, he was ſo full of life and zeale, that beſides his own family, many of his Tenants and Neighbours did much deſire, and delight to heare him, repeat the Sermons, preſſe the ſpeciall points, urge the Conſcience, and powre cut his prayers unto God, with ſo tender and ſweet affections for them all, that the heat of his ſpirit did cauſe their hearts as it were, to melt within them.
The great joy he had in the Sabbath and Faſts.The joy and comfort which he found in theſe holy duties both in publike, and in private, on the Lords day, and in their Faſts, was ſo exceeding great, that he would often, and earneſtly wiſh; O that every day were either a Sabbathday, or a Faſt day, for then I ſhould be well.
His thankefulneſſe for one Sabbath more.And when the Sabbath was paſt, it was his uſual manner to bleſſe God with a thankefull and chearefull heart, for that hee had given him one Sabbath more than he did looke for amongſt his people.
The weeke dayes were ſomewhat more tedious and grievous unto him, his bodily infirmities much increaſing, and his ſtrength decaying; and yet would he never be dejected, but endevoured to quicken his own ſoule, and raiſe up his heart by Faith and Hope, ſpeaking to his Family, and Friends about him, much after this manner.
The time is not long, I muſt ſhortly lay down this my tabernacle, and then I ſhall get the ſtart of you all, 2 Pet. 1.14. Heb. 4.9, 11.and ſhall celebrate an everlaſting Sabbath before the Lord, with all his holy Angels, and bleſſed Saints in the highest Heavens.
This he ſpake rejoycingly, and yet with teares
Weary of the world.Hee grew every day more and more weary of the world, and was then beſt contented when he could diſpatch worldly buſineſſes with feweſt words.
He makes his Will. Iſay 38.1.It was his provident and godly care to ſet his houſe in order, as good Ezekiah did, to make his will, and to leave all things in good tearms of peace, and love: Which he did with good ſucceſſe accordingly.
And ſo by this meanes his mind and heart were disburdened, and caſed of many worldly thoughts and cares,So hee was more free, and more fit for Heavenly things. Gal. 6.10. and he brought to a greater freedome, and liberty, both to think, and ſpeake of ſpirituall and of heavenly things. Which in no ſort he did omit, but as he could ſtir abroad in the Houſe either to the Fall, Parlour or Kitchen, He would drop ſome wholeſome words of counſell or comfort, amongſt ſuch as he met withall, and never ceaſe ſpeaking of holy, or of heavenly things amongſt the reſt of his Family.
When many came to viſit him, he would often ſay; Alas good Soules, what are yee come to ſee? Iob. 7.13, 19.a poore wretch, a worme and no man, or a poore dying man. I may now ſay with Iob. If I waite, the grave is my houſe, I have made my bed in the darkneſſe. I have ſaid to corruption; thou art my father, to the worme, thou art my mother and my ſiſter. Iob 19.15, 16.And yet I know that my Redeemer liveth, & that he ſhal ſtand at the latter day upon the earth. And though after my skin,2 Cor. 4.16. wormes deſtroy this body, yet in my fleſh ſhall I ſee God. Therefore wee faint not, but though the outward man periſh, yet the inward man is renewed daily. And ſo our converſation is in heaven, from whence alſo wee looke for the Saviour, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt: who ſhall change our vile body,Phil. 3.20.21. that it may bee faſhioned like his glorious body, according to the working whereby hee is able to ſubdue all things to himſelfe.
Some that came unto him, would out of their common kindneſſe, comfort him with ſome hope of health and recovery:Si nunquā bene; ſi aliquando, quare non modo? Poſidon. in vita Aug. Cap. 27. to whom hee would make this anſwer, My time is in the Lords hand, and it is not likely it can bee long, my dayes are paſt, my purpoſes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart, my taske is ended, the Lord hath no more worke for me to doe, my warfare is accompliſhed, my race is run out, and finiſhed; I now only hope for, and wait for that crowne of righteouſneſſe which Chriſt hath purchaſed for mee, and God hath promiſed unto mee.