Invisibles Realities Demonstrated in the Life and Death of John Janeway, Chapter 17
CHAP. XVII.
His laſt Sickneſs, and Death.
AND now the time draws nigh, wherein his longings ſhall be ſatisfied; he is called to his laſt work; and truly, his deportment in it, was honourable; his carriage ſo eminently gracious, ſo meek, patient, fruitful, joyful and thankful, that it made all his friends ſtand and wonder as being abundantly above their experience and reading; and thoſe Chriſtians that ſaw him, could not but admire God in him, & look upon him as one of the moſt ſingular inſtances of rich grace, and even bleſs God that their eyes ever ſaw, or their ears ever heard, ſuch things; and had ſuch a ſenſible demonſtration of the reality of inviſibles.
He falls into a deep Conſumption.
His body is now ſhaken again, and he falls into a deep Conſumption; but, this meſſenger of God did not in the leaſt damp him. Spitting of blood, was no ghaſtly thing to one that had his eye upon the blood of Jeſus; faint ſweats did not daunt him that had always ſuch reviving cordials at hand. It's matter of joy to him, that he was now in ſome hopes of having his earneſt deſires ſatisfied.
After he had been a while ſick, a ſudden dimneſs ſeized upon his eyes; by and by his ſight quite failed; and there was ſuch a viſible alteration in him, that he and others judged theſe things to be the ſymptoms of death approaching. But when he was thus taken, he was not in the leaſt ſurprized; but was lifted up with joy to think, what a life he was going to, looking upon death it ſelf as one of his Fathers ſervants, and his friend that was ſent as a meſſenger to conduct him ſafely to his glorious palace.
When he felt his body ready to faint, he called to his Mother and ſaid, Dear Mother I am dying, but I beſeech you be not troubled; for, I am through mercy, quite above the fears of death, it's no great matter, I have nothing troubles me but the apprehenſions of your grief. I am going to Him, whom I love above life.
But it pleaſed the Lord to raiſe him again a little out of this fainting fit, for his maſter had yet more work for him to do before he muſt receive his wages. Although his outward man decayed apace, yet he is renewed in the inward man day by day: His graces were never more active, and his experiences were never greater. When one would have thought, he ſhould have been taken up with his diſtemper, and that it had been enough for him to grapple with his pains, then he quite forgets his weakneſs; and is ſo ſwallowed up of the life to come, that he had ſcarce leiſure to think of his ſickneſs.
For ſeveral weeks together, I never heard the leaſt word that ſavoured of any complaint or wearineſs under the hand of God; except, his eager deſire to be with Chriſt, be counted complaining, and his haſte to be in Heaven be called impatience. Now's the time when one might have ſeen Heaven and the Glory of anothee world realized to ſenſe. His faith grew exceedingly and his love was proportionable, and his joys were equal to both.
O the rare attainments! The high and divine expreſſions, that dropped from his mouth! I have not words to expreſs what a ſtrange, triumphant, angelical frame, he was in, for ſome conſiderable time together. It was a very Heaven upon earth, to ſee and hear a man admiring God at ſuch a rate, as I never heard any, nor ever expect to hear or ſee more, till I come to Heaven. Thoſe that did not ſee cannot well conceive, what a ſweet frame he was in, for at leaſt ſix weeks before he died. His ſoul was almoſt alwaies filled with thoſe joys unſpeakable and full of glory. How oft vvould he cry out; O, that I could but let you know what I now feel! O, that I could ſhow you what I ſee: O, that I could expreſs the thouſandth part of that ſweetneſs that I now find in Chriſt! You would all then think it well worth the while to make it your buſineſs to be religious. O my dear friends, we little think what a Chriſt is worth upon a death-bed. I would not for a world, nay for millions of worlds, be now without a Chriſt and a pardon. I would not for a world be to live any longer: the very thoughts of a poſſibility of recovery, makes me even tremble.
When one came to viſit him, and told him, that he hoped it might pleaſe God to raiſe him again, and that he had ſeen many a weaker man reſtored to health, and that lived many a good year after: And do you think to pleaſe me (ſaid he) by ſuch diſcourſe as this? No, Friend, you are much miſtaken in me, if you think that the thoughts of life, and health, and the world, are pleaſing to me. The world hath quite loſt its excellency in my judgement. O how poor and contemptible a thing is it in all its glory, compared with the glory of that inviſible world which I now live in the ſight of! And as for life, Chriſt is my life, health and ſtrength; and I know, I ſhall have another kind of life, when I leave this. I tell you it would incomparably more pleaſe me, if you ſhould ſay to me, [You are no man of this world; you cannot poſſibly hold out long; before to morrow you will be in eternity]. I till you I do ſo long to be with Chriſt, that I could be contented to be cut apeices, & to be put to the moſt exquiſite torments, ſo I might but die, and be with Chriſt. O, how ſweet is Jeſus! Come, Lord Jeſus, come quickly. Death do thy worſt! Death hath loſt his terribleneſs. Death it is nothing. I ſay, Death is nothing (through grace) to me. I can as eaſily die as ſhut my eyes, or turn my head and ſleep: I long to be with Chriſt; I long to die; that was ſtill his note.
His Mother and Brethen ſtanding by him he ſaid; Dear Mother, I beſeech you as earneſtly as ever I deſired any thing of you in my life, that you would cheerfully give me up to Chriſt; I beſeech you, do not hinder me, now I am going to reſt and glory. I am afraid of your prayers, leſt they pull one way and mine another.
And then turning to his Brethren he ſpake thus to them, I charge you all, do not pray for my life any more: you do me wrong, if you do! O that glory, the unſpeakable glory that I behold. My heart is full, my heart is full. Chriſt ſmiles, and I cannot choſe but ſmile: can you find in your heart, to ſtop me who am now going to the compleat and eternal injoyment of Chriſt? Would you keep me from my Crown? The arms of my bleſſed Saviour are open to imbrace me; the Angels ſtand ready to carry my ſoul into his boſom. O, did you but ſee what I ſee: you would all cry out with me, how long, dear Lord, come Lord Jeſus come quickly! O, why are his Chariot-wheels ſo long a coming!
And all this while he lay like a triumphing conqueror, ſmiling and rejoicing in ſpirit.
There was never a day towards his end but (as weak as he was) he did ſome ſpecial piece of ſervice in, for his great Maſter. Yea, almoſt every hour did produce freſh wonders.
A Reverend, Judicious and holy Miniſter came often to viſit him, and diſcourſed with him of the excellency of Chriſt, and the glory of the inviſible world. Sir, ſaid he, I feel ſomething of it; my heart is as full as it can hold in this lower ſtate; I can hold no more here. O that I could but let you know what I feel!
This holy Miniſter praying with him his ſoul was raviſhed with the abundant incomes of light, life and love; ſo that he could ſcarce bear it, nor the thought of ſtaying any longer in the world, but longed to be in ſuch a condition, wherein he ſhould have yet more grace and more comfort, and be better able to bear that weight of glory; ſome manifeſtations whereof did even almoſt ſink his weak body, & had he not been ſuſtained by a great power, his very joys would have overwhelmed him; and whilſt he was in theſe extaſies of joy and love, he was wont to cry out,
Who am I Lord, who am I, that thou ſhouldſt be mindful of me! Why me Lord, why me, and paſs by thouſands & look upon ſuch a wretch as me, O, what ſhall I ſay unto thee, O thou preſerver of men? O, why me Lord, why me? O bleſſed, and for ever bleſſed, be free grace! How is it, Lord, that thou ſhouldſt manifeſt thy ſelf unto me, and not unto others, even ſo Father, becauſe it ſeemeth good in thy eyes, Thou wilt have mercy becauſe thou wilt have mercy. And if thou wilt look upon ſuch a poor worm who can hinder! Who would not love thee! O bleſſed Father! O how ſweet and gratious haſt thou been unto me? O, that he ſhould have me in his thoughts of love, before the foundations of the world.
And thus he went on, admiring and adoring of God, in a more high and heavenly manner than I can clothe with words. Suppoſe what you can on this ſide Heaven, and I am perſwaded you might have ſeen it in him. He was wonderfully taken with the goodneſs of God to him in ſending that aged experienced Miniſter to help him in his laſt great work upon earth. Who am I, ſaid he, that God ſhould ſend to me a meſſenger one among a thouſand (meaning that Miniſter who had been praying with him with tears of joy).
Though he was towards his end, moſt commonly …n a triumphant joyful frame; yet, ſometimes even then he had ſome ſmall intermiſſions, in which he would cry out, Hold out faith and …; et a little while, and your work is, done. And when he found not his heart wound up to the higheſt pitch of thankfulneſs, admiration and Love; he would with great ſorrow bemoan himſelf, and cry out in this Language,
And vvhat's the matter now, O my ſoul, vvhat vvilt thou, canſt thou thus unworthily ſleight this admirable and aſtoniſhing condeſcention of God to thee? Seems it a ſmall matter, that the great Jehovah ſhould deal thus familiarly with his Worm; and wilt thou paſs this over, as a common mercy? What meaneſt thou, O my ſoul, that thou doſt not conſtantly adore and praiſe this rare, ſtrong, and unſpeakable Love! Is it true, O my ſoul, doth God deal familiarly with man, and are his humble, zealous, and conſtant love, praiſe, and ſervice too good for God? Why art not thou O my ſoul, ſwallowed up every moment with this free unparalell'd everlaſting Love.
And then he breaks out again into another triumphant Extaſie of praiſe and joy; and expreſſed a little of that which was unexpreſſible in ſome ſuch words as theſe,
Stand aſtoniſhed ye Heavens, and wonder O ye Angels, at this infinite grace! Was ever any under Heaven more beholding to free grace than I? Doth God uſe to do thus, with his creatures? Admire him for over and ever, O ye redeemed ones! O thoſe joys, the taſt of which I have! Thoſe everlaſting joys, which are at his right hand for evermore! Eternity, Eternity it ſelf, is too ſhort to praiſe this God in. O bleſs the Lord with me, come let us ſhout for joy and boaſt in the God of our Salvation. O, help me to praiſe the Lord for his mercy indureth for ever!
One of his brethren (that had formerly been wrought upon by his holy exhortations and example) praying with him, and ſeeing of him, (as he apprehended) near his Diſſolution, deſired, that the Lord would be pleaſed to continue thoſe aſtoniſhing and ſoul ſupporting comforts to the laſt moment of his breath, and that he might go from one Heaven to another, from grace and joy imperfect, to perfect grace and glory; and when his work was done here, give him, if it were his will, the moſt eaſie and triumphant paſſage to reſt; and that he might have an abundant entrance adminiſtred into the everlaſting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt.
At the end of the Duty he burſt out into a wonderful Paſſion of joy. (Sure that was joy unſpeakable and full of glory!) O what an Amen did he ſpeak, Amen, Amen, Amen, Hallelujah.
It would have made any Chriſtians heart to leap, to have ſeen and heard, what ſome ſaw and heard, at that time; and I queſtion not, but that it will ſomewhat affect them to hear and read it; though it be ſcarce poſſible to ſpeak the half of what was admirable in him: for, it being ſo much beyond preſident, it did even aſtoniſh and amaze thoſe of us that were about him, that our relation muſt fall hugely ſhort of what was real.
I verily believe that it exceeds the higheſt Rhetorick, to ſet out to the life, what this heavenly creature did then deliver. I ſay again, I want words to ſpeak, and ſo did he; for, he ſaw things unutterable: But yet, ſo much he ſpake as juſtly drew the admiration of all that ſaw him; and I heard an old experienced Chriſtian and Miniſter ſay it again and again, That He never ſaw, nor read, nor heard the like: Neither could we ever expect to ſee the glories of Heaven more demonſtrated to ſenſe, in this World. He talked as if he had been in the third Heavens, and broke out into ſuch words as theſe,
O, He is come! He is come! O how ſweet! How glorious is the bleſſed Jeſus! How ſhall I do to ſpeak the thouſandth part of his praiſes! O for words, to ſet out a little of that excellency! But it is unexpreſſible! O how excellent, glorious, and lovely is the precious Jeſus! He is ſweet, He is altogether lovely! And now I am ſick of Love, he hath raviſhed my ſoul with his beauty! I ſhall die ſick of Love.
O my friends ſtand by and wonder, come look upon a dying man, and wonder; I cannot my ſelf but ſtand and wonder! Was there ever a greater kindneſs, was there ever ſenſibler manifeſtations of rich Grace! O, why me, Lord, why me! Sure this is akin to Heaven, and if I were never to enjoy any more than this; it were well worth all the torments that men and Devils could invent; to come thorow yea even a Hell to ſuch tranſcendent joys as theſe. If this be dying, dying is ſweet: Let no true Chriſtian ever be afraid of dying. O Death is ſweet to me. This Bed is ſoft. Chriſts Arms and Kiſſes, his Smiles and Viſits, ſure they would turn Hell into Heaven. O that you did but ſee and feel what I do! Come and behold a dying man more chearful than you ever ſaw any healthful man in the midſt of his ſweeteſt enjoyments? O Sirs, Worldly pleaſures are pitiful poor ſorry things, compared with one glimps of this glory, which ſhines in ſo ſtrongly into my Soul! O why ſhould any of you be ſo ſad, when I am ſo glad? This, this is the hour that I have waited for!
About eight and forty hours before his Death, his eyes were dim, and his ſight much failed; his Jaws ſhook and trembled, and his Feet were cold, and all the ſymtoms of Death were upon him, and his extream parts were already almoſt dead and ſenſeleſs, and yet, even then, his joys were (if poſſible) greater ſtill: He had ſo many fits of joy unſpeakable, that he ſeemed to be in one continued act of Seraphick Love, and praiſe. He ſpake like one that was juſt entring into the gates of the new Jeruſalem: the greateſt part of him was now in Heaven; not a word drop'd from his mouth but it breathed Chriſt and Heaven. O what incouments did he give to them which did ſtand by, to follow hard after God, and to follow Chriſt in a humble, believing, zealous courſe of life, and adding one degree of grace to another, and uſing all diligence to make their Calling and Ele…ion ſure; and that then, they alſo ſhould find, that they ſhould have a glorious paſſage into a bleſſed Eternity.
But moſt of his work vvas Praiſe, a hundred times admiring of the bottomleſs love of God to him▪ O, vvhy me, Lord, vvhy me! And then he vvould give inſtructions to them that … to ſee him. He vvas ſcarce ever ſilent, becauſe the Love of Chriſt and Souls, did conſtrain him. There vvas ſo much work done for Chriſt in his laſt hours, that I am ready to think, he did as much in an hour as ſome do in a year.
Every particular perſon had a faithful affectionate vvarning. And that good Miniſter, that vvas ſo much vvith him, uſed this as an argument to perſwade him to be vvilling to live a little longer, and to be patient to tarry Gods leiſure; ſure God hath ſomthing for thee to do that is yet undone; ſome vvord of exhortation to ſome poor ſoul, that you have forgot.
The truth of it is, he vvas ſo filled vvith the love of Chriſt, that he could ſcarce bear abſence from Him a moment. He knew that he ſhould be capable of bearing of greater Glory above, than he could hear. It was the Judgment of ſome that were with him, that his heart was not only habitual, but actually ſet on God all the day long; and nothing of humane frailty, that could be thought a ſin, did appear for ſome time; except it vvere his paſſionate deſire to die, and difficulty to bring himſelf to be vvilling to ſtay below Heaven.
He vvas wont every evening to take his leave of his friends, hoping not to ſee them, till the morning of the Reſurrection; and he deſired that they would be ſure to make ſure of a comfortable meeting at our Fathers houſe, in that other World.
I cannot relate the twentieth part of that vvhichwhich deſerved to be vvritten in letters of Gold. And one that vvas one of the vveakeſt, ſaid, that he did verily believe, that if we had been exact in our taking his ſentences, and obſerving his daily experiences, he could not imagine, a Book could be publiſhed of greater uſe to the World, next the Bible it ſelf.
One rare paſſage I can't omit, vvhichwhich vvas this, that vvhen Miniſters or Chriſtians came to him, he would beg of them, to ſpend all the time that they had vvith him in Praiſe. O help me to praiſe God, I have now nothing elſe to do from this time to Eternity, but to praiſe and love God. I have what my ſoul deſires upon Earth, I can't tell what to pray for but what I have gratiouſly given in. The wants that are capable of ſupplying in this World, are ſupplyed. I want but one thing, and that is, Aſpeedy life to Heaven. I expect no more here, I can't deſire more, I can't hear more. O praiſe, praiſe, praiſe that infinite boundleſs love that hath, to a wonder, looked upon my ſoul, and done more for me than thouſands of his dear children. O bleſs the Lord, O my ſoul, and all that is within me bleſs his holy name. O help me, help me, O my friends, to praiſe and admire him that hath done ſuch aſtoniſhing wonders for my ſoul; he hath pardoned all my ſins, he hath filled me with his goodneſs; he hath given me grace and glory, and no good thing hath he withheld from me.
Come, help me with praiſes, all's too little: come, help me, O ye glorious and mighty Angels, who are ſo well skilled in this heavenly work of praiſe. Praiſe him, all ye creatures upon the Earth, let every thing that hath being, help me to praiſe him. Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah: Praiſe is now my work, and I ſhall be engaged in this ſweet imployment for ever. Bring the Bible, turn to Davids Pſalms, and let us ſing a Pſalm of praiſe; Come let's lift up our voice in the praiſe of the moſt high, I will ſing with you as long as my breath doth laſt; and when I have none, I ſhall do it better.
And then turning to ſome of his friends that were weeping, he deſired them, rather to rejoyce than weep upon his account. It may juſtly ſeem a wonder, how he could ſpeak ſo much as he did, when he was ſo weak; but the joy of the Lord did ſtrengthen him.
In his ſickneſs, the ſcriptures that he took much delight in, were the fourteenth, fifteenth, ſixteenth, and ſeventeenth of John. The fifty fourth of Iſay was very refreſhing alſo to him; he would repeat that word [with everlaſting mercies will I gather] with abundance of joy.
He commended the ſtudy of the Promiſes to Believers, and deſired that they would be ſure to make good their claim to them, and then they might come to the Wells of Conſolation, and drink thereof, their fill.
According to his deſire moſt of the time that was ſpent with him, was ſpent in Praiſe; and he would ſtill be calling out, More Praiſe ſtill. O, help me to praiſe him: I have now nothing elſe to do; I have done with Prayer, and all other Ordinances; I have almoſt done converſing with mortals. I ſhall preſently be beholding Chriſt hinſelf, that dyed for me, and loved me, and waſhed me in his Blood.
I ſhall before a few hours are over, be in Eternity ſinging the Song of Moſes, and the Song of the Lamb. I ſhall preſently ſtand upon Mount Zion, with an innumerable company of Angels, and the Spirits of the juſt made perfect, and Jeſus the mediator of the New Covenant, I ſhall hear the voice of much people, and be one amongſt them, which ſhall ſay Hallelujah, Salvation▪ Glory, Honour, and power unto the Lord our God; and again, we ſhall ſay Hallelujah. And yet a very little while, and I ſhall ſing unto the Lamb, a Song of Praiſe, ſaying, Worthy art thou to receive Praiſe who wert ſlain, and haſt redeemed us to God by thy Blood, out of every Kindred, and Tongue, and People, and Nation, and haſt made us unto our God, Kings and Prieſts, and we ſhall reign with thee for ever and ever.
Methinks I ſtand, as it were, with one foot in Heaven, and the other upon Earth; methinks, I here the melody of Heaven, and by Faith, I ſee the Angels waiting to carry my Soul to the boſom of Jeſus, and I ſhall be for ever with the Lord in Glory. And who can chooſe but rejoyce in all this.
In ſeveral times, he ſpake in this Language, and repeated many of theſe words often, over, and over again, with far greater affection, than can be well worded. And I ſolemnly profeſs, that what is here written, is no Hyperbole, and that the twentieth part of what was obſervable in him is not Recorded, and though we can't word it exactly as he did, yet you have the ſubſtance, and many things in his own words with little or no variation.
The day before his Death, he looked ſomewhat earneſtly upon his Brother James, who ſtood by him very ſad; of whom he Judged that he was putting up ſome Ejaculations to God upon his account, I thank thee, dear Brother for thy love, ſaid he, thou art now praying for me, and I know thou loveſt me dearly: but Chriſt loveth me ten thouſand times more than thou doſt; Come, and Kiſs me, dear Brother, before I Die; And ſo with his cold dying Lips, he Kiſſed him, and ſaid, I ſhall go before, and I hope thou ſhalt follow after to Glory.
Though he was almoſt always praiſing God, and exhorting them that were about him to mind their everlaſting concerns, and ſecure an intereſt in Chriſt; and though he ſlept but very little for ſome nights; yet he was not in the leaſt impaired in his intellectuals, but his actions were all decent, and becoming a man; and his Diſcourſe to a ſpiritual underſtanding, highly rational, ſolid, divine. And ſo he continued to the laſt minute of his breath.
A few hours before his Death, he called all his relations and Brethren together; that he might give them one ſolemn Warning more, and bleſs them, and Pray for them, as his Breath and Strength would give him leave. Which he did with abundance of authority, affection, and ſpirituallity: which take briefly as it follows.
Firſt, He thanked his dear Mother, for her tender love to him, and deſired that ſhe might be in travail to ſee Chriſt formed in the ſouls of the reſt of her Children, and ſee of the travail of her ſoul, and meet them with joy in that great day.
Then, He charged all his Brethren and Siſters in general, as they would anſwer it before God, that they ſhould carry it dutiful to their dear Mother. As for his eldeſt Brother William, (at whoſe houſe he lay ſick) his prayer vvas, that he might be ſwallowed up of Chriſt, and Love to ſouls; and be more and more exemplary in his life, and ſucceſsful in his Miniſtry, and finiſh his courſe vvith joy.
His next Brothers name vvas Andrew, a Citizen of London, who was with him and ſaw him in this triumphing ſtate; but (his neceſſary buſineſs calling him away) he could not then be by; yet, he vvas not forgot, but he was thus bleſſed, The God of Heaven remember my poor Brother at London! The Lord make him truly rich in giving him the Pearl of great price, and make him a Fellow-Citizen with the Saints, and of the Houſe-hold of God; the Lord deliver him from the ſins of that City, may the world be kept out of his heart, and Chriſt dwell there. O that he may be as his name is, a ſtrong man, and that I may meet him with Joy.
Then he called his next Brother, whoſe name was James (whom he hoped God had made him a ſpiritual Father to) to whom he thus addreſſed himſelf; Brother James, I hope the Lord hath given thee a goodly heritage, the lines are fallen to thee in pleaſant places; the Lord is thy portion. I hope the Lord hath ſhewed thee the worth of a Chriſt: Hold on dear Brother; Chriſt, Heaven and Glory, are worth ſtriving for: The Lord give thee more abundance of his grace.
Then, His next Brother Abraham was called; to whom he ſpake to this purpoſe, The bleſſing of the God of Abraham reſt upon thee, the Lord make thee a Father of many ſpiritual Children.
His fifth Brother, was Joſeph, whom he bleſſed in this manner, Let him bleſs thee, O Joſeph, that bleſſed him that was ſeparated from his Brothren. O that his everlaſting Arms may take hold on thee! It is enough, if yet thou mayeſt live in his ſight. My heart hath been working towards thee, poor Joſeph; and I am not without hopes, that the Arms of the Almighty will mbrace thee. The God of thy Father, bleſs thee with the bleſſings of Heaven above.
The next, was his Siſter Mary, to whom he ſpoke thus, Poor Siſter Mary, thy body is weak and thy daies will be filled with bitterneſs; thy name is Marah, the Lord ſweeten all with his Grace and Peace, and give thee health in thy Soul. Be patient, and make ſure of Chriſt, and all is well.
Then, His other Siſter, whoſe name was Sarah, was called; whom he thus bleſſed, Siſter Sarah, thy body is ſtrong, and healthful; O that thy Soul may be ſo too! The Lord make thee firſt a wiſe Virgin, and then a Mother in Iſrael; a pattren of Modeſty, Humility, and Holineſs.
Then another Brother, Jacob was called; whom he bleſſed after this manner, The Lord make thee an Iſraelite indeed in whom there in no guile! O that thou maiſt learn to wreſtle with God, and like a Prince, maiſt prevail, and not go without the bleſſing!
Then he prayed for his youngeſt Brother Benjamin, who was then but an Infant; Poor little Benjamin, O that the Father of the Fatherleſs, would take care of thee poor Child, that thou, which never ſaweſt thy Father upon Earth, maieſt ſee him with joy in Heaven; the Lord be thy Father, and Portion; maiſt thou prove the Son of thy Mothers right Hand, and the joy of her Age!
O that none of us all, may be found amongſt the unconverted in the day of Judgment! O that every one of us may appear (with our Honoured Father, and dear Mother) before Chriſt with joy that they may ſay Lord here are we, and the Children which thou haſt gratiouſly given us. O that we may live to God here, and live with him hereafter.
And now, my dear Mother, Brethren, and Siſters, Farewel; I leave you for a while, and I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are ſanctified,
And now, dear Lord, my work is done, I have finiſhed my Courſe, I have fought the good Fight, and henceforth there remaineth for me a Crown of Righteouſneſs! Now come dear Lord Jeſus, come quickly.
Then that Godly Miniſter came to give him his laſt viſit, and to do the office of an inferiour Angel, to help to convey this bleſſed ſoul to Glory who was now even upon Mount Piſga, and had a full ſight of that goodly Land at a little diſtance. When this Miniſter ſpake to him, his heart was in a mighty flame of Love and Joy, which drew tears of Joy from that pretious Miniſter, being almoſt amazed to hear a man juſt a dying, talk as if he had been with Jeſus, and came from the immediate preſence of God; `O the ſmiles that were then in his Face, and the unſpeakable Joy that was in his Heart; one might have read Grace, and Glory, in ſuch a mans Countenance. O the praiſe, the triumphant praiſes, that he put up! And every one muſt ſpeak praiſe about him, or elſe they did make ſome jar in his Harmony.
And indeed moſt did, as well as they could help him in praiſe. So that I never heard, nor knew more praiſes given to God in one Room, than in his Chamber.
A little before he died, in the Prayer, or rather Praiſes, he was ſo wrapped up with admiration and joy, that he could ſcarce forbear ſhouting for joy. In the concluſion of the Duty, with abundance of Faith, and fervency, he ſaid aloud, Amen, Amen!
And now his deſires ſhall ſoon be ſatisfied. He ſeeth Death coming apace to do his office, his jaws are looſened more and more, and quiver greatly; his Hands and Feet are as cold as clay, and a cold ſweat is upon him: but, O how glad was he when he felt his Spirit juſt agoing! Never was Death more welcom to any mortal, I think. Though the pangs of Death where ſtrong: yet, that far-more-exceeding and Eternal weight of Glory, made him indure thoſe bitter paines, with much patience and courage. In the extremity of his pains, he deſired his eldeſt Brother to lay him a little lower, and to take away one Pillow from him, that he might die with the more eaſe; His Brother replied, that he durſt not for a world, do any thing that might haſten his Death a moment. Then he was vvell ſatisfied, and did ſweetly reſign himſelf up vvholly to Gods diſpoſal; and after a few minutes, vvith a ſudden motion gathering up all his ſtrength, he gave himſelf a little turne on one ſide; and in the twinkling of an eye, departed to the Lord, ſleeping in Jeſus.
And now bleſſed ſoul, thy longings are ſatisfied, and thou ſeeſt and feeleſt a thouſand times more than thou didſt upon Earth, and yet thou canſt bear it vvith delight, thou art now vvelcomed to thy Fathers houſe by Chriſt, the beloved of thy Soul; now thou haſt heard him ſay, Come, thou bleſſed of my Father, and, Well done good and faithful ſervant, enter thou into the joy of the Lord, and vvear that Crown vvhichwhich vvas prepared for thee, before the foundation of the World.
O that all the Relations vvhichwhich thou haſt left behind thee, may live thy Life, and die thy Death, and live vvith Chriſt, and thee, for ever and ever. Amen, Amen.
He Dyed June 1657. Aged 23./24. and was Buried in Kelſhall Church, in Hartfordſhire.
FINIS.