A Believers Triumph Over Death, Pages 101-152

A Believers Triumph Over Death · Pages 101-152

p. 101Then 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 p. 102cheriſh 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, p. 103Perſevere 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 p. 104perfect 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 p. 105every 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; p. 106I 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 p. 107to 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 p. 108Almighty 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 p. 109habitation 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 p. 110coming 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 p. 111the 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 p. 112gifts, 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 p. 113incourage 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 p. 114and 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,

p. 115"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 p. 116that 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; p. 117I 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, and remember the Grace of God in me; Conſider how he brings me down by his mighty hand, that he may exalt and Glorifie me in due time: The ſufferings of this preſent time are not worthy to be compared with the Glory that ſhall be revealed in us: This is my joy to glorifie God in my death; ſweet Death! that is a paſſage unto life eternal. O God ſtrengthen the Soul of thy Servant, that he may abide conſtant and invincible unto death: I hope the Combat will not continue long; Bring to paſs, O Lord, that the End may Crown the Work.

p. 118§. 27. Amongſt the many Phyſitians that had attended on him, there was one Dr. Crucius a Roman Catholick, who came this Morning to viſit him, and asked him, if he ſtill continued to be of good courage.

Yea verily (ſaid he) for I am in God, and God is in me: The Croſs which God hath ſent is ſmall; Every one muſt bear his Croſs, that he may follow Chriſt, who hath ſuffered ſo great things for me, though he deſerved no ſuch ſuffering: This Croſs increaſeth my hope: The Lord is Gracious, who entreth not into Judgment with his poor Servant: Chriſt hath dyed for my Sins, and is riſen again for my Juſtification.

p. 119A while after Mr. Wickelmans a Dutch Miniſter came, and ſpake to him in the Latine tongue, to whom he anſwered in the ſame Language,

God Strengthens me, and he will preſerve me from all evil: I give thanks unto my God for that unſpeakable goodneſs which he hath poured upon me: he ſuccours me in this work; he hath been alwaies preſent with me, even to this Extremity.

Then the Miniſter repeated to him the words of the Apoſtle, 2 Tim. 4. 7, 8. I have fought a good fight, I have finiſhed my courſe, I have kept the Faith, henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteouſneſs; At which words he cryed out,

O welcome Crown! there is nothing elſe that I wait for: God dwells in me by his p. 120holy Spirit, which ſhall never be taken away from me: Grant, O Lord, that I may keep thy Commands!

Again, when beholding hi… pains, he exhorted him to patience; he anſwered,

We cannot, we ought no… to reſiſt the will of God: O Eternal Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, I give the… thanks for thy exceeding grea… benefits, That it hath pleaſe… thee, that I ſhould declare thy Praiſe even unto very Old Age; and that thou makeſt me able to perſiſt therein unto the laſt breath of my life.

§. 28. At another hour when the ſame Miniſter viſited him again, and ſaid, You are ſtill fighting the Good fight; he anſwered,

p. 121In hope and patience, I am wholly Gods, and Jeſus Chriſt's my Saviour: I believe that he will keep what I have committed to him againſt that day: Even ſo come, Lord Jeſus!

And when this Miniſter had prayed with him, he returned him thanks in theſe words:

I give you thanks for your holy Prayers; I doubt not but God will hear them: God bleſs you; I beſeech him to make you a very powerful Inſtrument of his Glory.

He alſo added,

God hath fulfilled all his Promiſes in me; I have ſeen them afar off, I have believed them, I have embraced them; I wait for nothing more but to breathe forth my laſt breath; God poſſeſſeth me already, I feel that: there is nothing wanting, but that he p. 122will give me the wings of an Eagle that I may fly to the Carkaſs.

Immediately he ſubjoyned a verſe or two out of one of Beza's French Poems, to this ſence:

"O Holy Word!

"With all my Heart

"To thee I flye.

§. 29. Towards Evening the Pangs of death increaſed upon him; The extreme Pains of his bowels, his ſuddain fainting, a… and other grievous Symptoms, were the indications of approaching death: But in this ſtate, and utter decay of th… ſtrength of nature, his exerciſ… of Faith was ſtrengthened ſ… much the more, and his patience confirmed: Mourn no… for me, (ſaid he;) Theſe laſt hours have nothing terrible in them; The body indeed ſuffers; but the Soul is p. 123Comforted and filled abundantly: The Lord is my Shepherd, I ſhall want nothing: His Rod and his Staff ſhall lead me ſafely through this ſhort valley of the Shadow of death: This little cloud hinders me not from beholding that Heavenly Light, which already enlightens my Soul. O Lord thou giveſt me light, thou warmeſt me, thou lifteſt me on high, and I gladly follow thee, being carried aloft upon the wings of Faith: The ſharper my pains are, the nearer I am to deliverance. My wound is grievous, but I was ſilent becauſe thou didſt it. Have mercy on me, O Lord! O my God, deliver me! I am impatient of delay: I know that God is faithful, and with the temptation he will give p. 124a way of eſcape, that I may be able to bear it.

When he looked towards his Wife, ſhe thus addreſſed her ſelf to him:

My dear! I bleſs God, and rejoyce for thee, that I have ſeen ſo much of the Grace of God in thee. To which he replyed,

Thou doeſt well (my dear Love;) The Lord confirm and ſtrengthen thy joy; Mine is ſolid: I rejoyce that thou ſeeſt the end of my Converſation: Thou haſt known me, and thou knoweſt that I hate Oſtentation; and that more hath been attributed to me by others, than I have believed of my ſelf: for I have been conſcious of mine own infirmities, and that whatſoever good might be in me, was not of my ſelf: The p. 125Glory is to be aſcribed to God alone; he hath done the work: Perfect, O Lord, and Crown thine own work! I complain not of my pains; I have not flattered my ſelf in my diſeaſe; for when I was firſt ſeized by it, I was aware that God called for me: Is it not time, my deareſt love? Afflict not thy ſelf: I go before; thou ſhalt follow e're long: Thou haſt afforded me help, and haſt kindly ſuccour'd me; God will bleſs thee, and ſave thee, doubt it not: It hath been grateful to me, and I moſt kindly accept it, that thou haſt had ſo great a Love for this little Boy (pointing to his Grand-ſon,) make proof of thy love to me by loving him; it is a Child void of malice, and I have good hope of him, if p. 126he be well guided.

Then calling the Child, he ſaid,

Give me thy hand, my Son! See thy Grandfather upon his death-bed: Thou haſt already loſt thy Grandfather by Mothers ſide, who was a pious and upright man; Now thou loſeſt thy Grandfather by Fathers ſide; but thou haſt a Grandfather in Heaven on both ſides, that will never be wanting to thee; I hope my bleſſing will redound upon thee.

Then taking him between his hands;

My little Child (ſaid he) Pray to God! If thou do this diligently, thou ſhalt be like a tall and beautiful Tree planted by the Rivers of waters: Have thou fair branches, and be fruitful; that p. 127is, Fear God: Then ſhalt thou bring forth Wiſdom, Prudence, and Underſtanding. Be thou Good and Beneficent, ſhunning evil company, and God will bleſs thee, thou ſhalt not be forſaken: Behold thy Unkle, which ſhall be to thee inſtead of a Father; Be obedient to him, and alſo to thy Grandmother, and Mother, whom I pray God abundantly to bleſs with her other Children; that her little Poſthumous Son that bears my Name may in time Repreſent me, yea exceed me.

§. 30. Theſe holy ſpeeches were ſometimes interrupted by a ſhort ſleep, and ſometimes on occaſion of the Prayers or Exhortations of the Miniſters that came to him; He received p. 128them all moſt Cordially; and moſt willingly heard the Conſolations that were ſuggeſted by them; And he would alſo return Conſolations to them: He heard their prayers with attention, and when they had done, was wont alwayes to ſay, That he found himſelf much relieved. And then diſmiſſed them with thanks, giving his bleſſing to each of them as was proper to their Condition. Towards Supper time, he remembred the noble Virgin Anna Maria a Schurman, and ſaid,

She is a perſon to whom I have alwaies devoted my Affection and ſincere Love: ſhe hath honoured me with her holy friendſhip, and hath called me Father; In teſtimony of my paternal Love, I give her my little Bible p. 129without Points, of Plantines Edition, which you ſhall find in ſuch a Place in my Study (directing to the place;) If I had any ſtrength left, I would have written a Letter to her with my own hand, whereby I would have teſtified to her how much I Honour her, and eſteem thoſe admirable gifts of God wherewith he hath adorned her. But you (my Son) ſhall ſupply this defect, and inform her of my happy Departure; and that I have prayed to God that he will Strengthen her in her ſupernatural Calling, and beſtow upon her the bleſſings of a long and proſperous Life.

What remains? Have I not ſaid all? I have no more to do, but to give up my Soul into the hands of God: Is it p. 130not time? O my God, let it ſuffice! Receive my Soul unto thy ſelf, O Lord! I yield it into thy hands; thou haſt Redeemed it, O God of Truth: Thou art my hope, and my Confidence from my youth: No care afflicts me; God hath removed from me the Opprobry which I feared; (meaning the Vomiting of his excrements, a ſymptome uſual in his Diſtemper;) He will perfect (and that quickly) whatſoever belongs to his Glory, and my Eternal Salvation: If he make any ſtay, if he deferre my deliverance, he doth it for your Edification and Salvation; Let not my Sorrows be grievous to you, but rather bleſs God who gives me a deſirable plume, and makes my heart joyful in the midſt of my pains: p. 131Rejoyce therefore; and Pray with me.

§. 31. When he had asked what a Clock it was, he ſaid to his Wife and his Son,

I pray you take ſome food; I am not yet fully come to the end of my Work, I want nothing, and my Niece ſhall tarry with me, and take ſomething here to refreſh her.

They withdrew therefore into the next Room, and one brought an Egg to his Niece, which he deſired her to take.

As for me (ſaid he) my Meat is to do the will of God, and happily to run out the courſe of my life: I am refreſhed with holy and heavenly food: My Father feeds me with that Food which he lately offered to me at his holy Table; I did eat, p. 132and was filled: The true feeding is the feeding of the Soul, that which ſuſtains the true Life: As for Corporal meats they are for the belly, but God will deſtroy both it and them.

Then reaching out his hand to his Niece, I Love thee (ſaid he) with a Love wholly Spiritual, a love of true Charity and Affection: We will paſs this Night together in holy Meditations, and ſpeaking to one another in Pſalms and Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, Singing and making melody in our Hearts unto the Lord: I feel my Swelling to aſcend: I fear that in a little time I ſhall be able to ſpeak no more: do not depart from me; but continue ſpeaking to me whatſoever God ſhall bring to thy Heart and Lips, leſt in my p. 133utmoſt weakneſs my Memory ſhould fail me; and I aſſure thee, God will ſuggeſt thoſe things to thee which which ſhall be for my help and Comfort in the time of need: for out of the abundance of the Heart, the mouth ſpeaketh,

His Wife and Son being returned into the Chamber;

Pray ye (ſaid he) for me; what a joy is i… to ſee theſe holy Souls with me!

§. 32. Oft times through the bitterneſs of his pains he brake forth into Cryes, or rather ardent Prayers unto God; and that frequently, in the words of the Pſalms in the French Metre: as Pſal. 141. 1.

"Jehovah, upon thee I call,

"O haſten unto me!

p. 134"Lend to my Voice thy Gracious Ear,

"When I cry unto thee,

Then adding from Pſal. 25. 18. Look upon mine Affliction, and pardon all my ſins.

And upon the mention of any Text that ſpeaks of the Remiſſion of ſins, he would immediately ſubjoyn,

It is done; He hath cauſed mine iniquity to paſs away from me: O Lord, abate and ſhorten my Miſeries; Now is thy time.

And then repeated from Pſal. 118. 24.

"This is a joyful day indeed,

"Which God himſelf hath wrought:

"We will be glad and joy therein,

"With all our Heart and Thought.

p. 135How great is my anguiſh! but how much greater is my refreſhment!

"An high place and a Refuge ſure

"I find the Lord to me;

"In day of my diſtreſs he me

"Relieves, with rich bounty.

They continually ſuggeſted to him places of Scripture; unto which he would return ſuch anſwers as did abundantly manifeſt his Godly Ardor, Faith, and Patience; as for inſtance, when it was ſaid to him, God is nigh to all that call upon him in Truth; Smiting upon his breaſt, he replyed,

Here he is; here he dwells in me, and worketh powerfully according to his good pleaſure.

p. 136Then that place was alledged, 1 Cor. 15. Death is ſwallowed up in victory: and he added the following words,

Thanks be to God, who hath given us the Victory through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.

Again from Rom. 8. 30.

Moreover, whom he did prediſtinate, them he alſo called; and whom he called, them he alſo juſtified; and whom he juſtified, them he alſo Glorified:

Even ſo it is! (ſaid he) Grace upon Grace! O lovely Chain! This is a Golden Chain indeed! there wants but the laſt link to compleat the whole in me. O Lord make perfect, and Crown thy work; That I may dye the death of the righteous, and ſee thoſe good things, which eye hath p. 137not ſeen, neither have they entred into the mind of man; Thou giveſt me a foretaſt of theſe ſweetneſſes and refreſhings, which no words can expreſs.

§. 33. Then Mr. Hulſius being preſent, asked if it would be acceptable to him that he ſhould go to Prayer?

Yea (ſaid he) Pray; The time requires it.

When he had ended his Prayer, he gave him thanks; ſaying,

You have helped me; while you called upon God, I found ſome eaſe of my infirmity: Encourage me! the Race is ſhort: I even touch the bound of my Race; I go on: I gather new Strength: I touch the Prize, I take hold of Eternal Life. This body fainteth: this Tabernacle is deſtroyed; p. 138But there is reſerved for me an houſe in the Heavens, not made with hands: There is reſerved for me in the Heavens an incorruptible Inheritance, that can neither be defiled, nor fade away.

About Midnight his pains increaſed exceedingly, which cauſed him to break forth into bitter cries, calling upon God for his help.

Come, Lord Jeſus! Come! I can bear no more; yet is not my patience loſt, but the deſire of my Soul towards thee, is like that of the dry and thirſty Ground. As the Hart panteth for the brooks of water, ſo pantetli my Soul for thee, O God! O when ſhall I come and appear before God! My Strength fails me more and more, but my Soul is ſtrong and joyful.

p. 139Preſently upon this he fell into a great fainting (which Phyſitians call Lipothymia) on which occaſion Mr. Martin Lydius a Dutch Miniſter was inſtantly called in. He was one that Dr. Rivet had a great affection for, and he was daily with him during his ſickneſs; And therefore what paſſed between them two, we will ſet down in Lydius his own words, which are as follow.

§. 34. This Reverend Father in Chriſt required that I ſhould be often called to him in the time of his ſickneſs, having formerly been his Scholar at Leyden. When I came firſt to him, he exhorted me with ſweet words to proceed as I had begun: ſaying, that it greatly rejoyced him to underſtand the Affection which the Church p. 140at Breda had for me; Wherefore, I pray thee (ſaid he) Give me thy hand; Go on to adorn the ſervice thou haſt undertaken. Then he uttered an excellent Confeſſion of his Faith with a ſtrong Voice: in which he ſhewed on what ſtayes the Proteſtant Religion, which he had hitherto propagated both by Preaching and Writing; leaned, for the obtaining of that Conſolation both in life and death, which the miſerable Papiſts cannot have.

And when I recited ſome ſelect places of Scripture to him out of the Old or New Teſtament, he would rehearſe them again either in Hebrew or Greek. I ſaid, that I doubted not but with Stephen the Protomartyr he did already ſee Heaven opened, &c. To which he replyed with a chearful p. 141Countenance and Voice, O I have ſeen that a good while.

I excuſed my ſelf, that I could not pray to God with him, becauſe I was a ſtranger to the French Tongue, and the by-ſtanders underſtood not the Latine Tongue; but he ſaid, Pray in that Tongue which both thee and I underſtand; which when I had done, and prayers were ended, he gave me thanks: ſaying,

The Spirit of God hath ſpoken by thy mouth, and thou haſt exceedingly ſtrengthened me: I deſire thou wilt alwayes remember me in publick prayers in the Church. The next day being exceedingly ill, he commanded that none ſhould be admitted to him; But when Mrs. Moline heard my Voice, ſhe brought me to the bedſide, p. 142and he received me with a chearful Countenance; I am glad (ſaid he) that thou art come. I told him, the preſent time required that he ſhould caſt all his cares upon God, and be no more ſolicitous about any thing: He anſwered, Yea truly: There is nothing that I am any more Solicitous about; I only deſire the coming of my Saviour, yea his ſpeedy coming, that I may be looſed from this body of Sin, and be with Chriſt who is gain unto me both in life and death; I embrace Chriſt by Faith; I am eve… preſſed down, but I am i… the hand of my Shepherd: I embrace my Saviour Jeſus Chriſt; and do now wholly pant after my God.

When he had ſpoken theſe, and other things of like nature, p. 143I bid him Farewel: but he again deſired me to pray with him: which being done, with a ſigh he ſaid, O how ſweet is this!

When the fatal day was come, about two a Clock in the Morning, he would have me called, and when I drew near to his bed, he took hold of my hand, to whom I ſaid, Yet a little while, and he that ſhall come will come. He anſwered; And why doth he not come? And immediately added, Yea, he is come already.

This I Teſtifie, Martinus Lydius Preacher at Breda.

§. 35. About three of the Saturday Jan. 7.Clock in the Morning his Wife came near to him, and p. 144beholding in his Countenance the Image of death, ſhe chearfully ſaid:

Farewel my dear▪ Go rejoycing into eternal life.

Thou ſayeſt true (ſaid he) I go unto my God and your God▪ We are all Gainers: Amen! Amen! Farewel my Son! Farewel my dear Niece! Fear not, I have prayed for you; Ye ſhal… be happy. Perſevere to th… end, that none get away your Crown: I go before you, and ye ſhall follow me; you have no cauſe to doubt of it: We ſhall be caught up together to meet the Lord i… the Air, and ſo we ſhall fo… ever be with the Lord: I have no more to ſay or do, I am ready, I am prepared; Come Lord Jeſus, Come! receive thy Creature; I aſpire I hope, I knock at the Gate; p. 145Open O Lord! Open unto thy poor Servant.

His Oppreſſion was manifeſtly diſcerned to increaſe upon him, and alſo a mortal Sopor or drowſineſs, and Rotling came upon him: The Chamber was filled with company; but moſt were of the mind it was not meet to weary him any longer with diſcourſe; ſeeing nothing could be added to that abundant Teſtimony of his Faith which they had already: Therefore about five in the Morning they all departed, except Mr. Lydius, who ſilently waited the laſt ſeaſon of praying to God for him when he ſhould be drawing his laſt breath. But when it was paſt eight of the Clock, and he diſcerned but little change, and found his Pulſe much the ſame, he thought he might abide in that p. 146Agony untill Evening; therefore he departed, promiſing to return as ſoon as they ſhould ſend for him. Only thoſe of his own houſe remained with him, who feared to moleſt him by ſpeaking, and were alſo uncertain whether he could ſpeak, or not, becauſe of his extream oppreſſion, and his lying with his Mouth open. Friends at length prevailed with his Wife to withdraw from the ſight of his laſt Agony; and only his Son and Niece ſtood by the Bed, expecting his laſt breath; yet neither did they think that had been ſo near, as it was. About half an hour after Eight the Colour of his Face was wholly changed, and Convulſive motions came on: Then his Niece asked him, if he yet had his underſtanding. Alas (ſaid he) ſpeak: (as complaining p. 147of their ſilence:) Then ſaid ſhe, I pray you do you ſtill feel the ſence of inward Joy? To which he replyed intelligibly enough, Yea: My Confidence is firm in me. Then making a ſign, That he would be raiſed a little; His Son and his Niece on each ſide enfolding their arms about him, lifted him higher: Then fixing his eyes a while upon them, he ſaid, Help me; 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 p. 148thy 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 p. 149an 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 p. 150unto 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.]

p. 151Then 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 p. 152Departure: 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.