A Believers Triumph OVERDO DEATH, Exemplified in a RELATION OF The LAST HOURS OF Dr ANDREW RIVET.  
AND An Account of divers other Remarkable Instances.  
BEING An History of the Comfortable End, and dying Words of several eminent Men; with other Occasional Passages: All tending to comfort Christians against the Fear of Death, and prepare them for a like Happy Change.  He shall enter into Peace: They shall rest in their Beds, each one walking in his Uprightness. Isa. 57 2. 
London, Printed for Benjamin Alsop at the Angel and Bible in the Poultry, 1682.   

The PREFACE.  
I Will not trouble the Reader with a long Preface to a little Book, nor waste Time in an affected Apology for my Undertaking to publish the ensuing Stories in the English Tongue; for I doubt not but upon a serious Perusal, the things here Related will be esteemed by every Pious Christian of that worth and use, as will sufficiently recommend this Account of them to their good acceptance, who were not capable of reading them in another Language.  
The first, and largest part, of what is here offered to your Service, (viz. The last Hours of Dr. Rivet) was first written, and published in the French Tongue, and soon after turned into Latin, and printed again in the last Edition of his learned and elaborate Works; from whence you have it now translated into our own Language: I have added nothing of my own to it, nor omitted the mention of the least circumstance there set down, but have faithfully represented the whole in the same order as I met with it myself: And I may modestly say, 'Tis as great ● Story of this kind as most Age● can furnish us with. That thi● might not go alone, I have in the Appendix added the Memorable Examples of the Blessed and Peaceful End of some others also, eminent for their Piety, and zealous Profession of the Protestant Religion while they lived: In which (where no other Author is cited) I have followed the Authority of Melchior Adamus, or of those from whom he made his Collections; and do assure you, that as there is nothing Reported without good Warrant, as to the truth of matter of fact, so I am confident nothing will occur, but what is suitable to feed and increase those holy Affections, and that Pious Zeal, which I hope the foregoing Narrative may enkindle in the Readers heart.  
That which I aim at in the whole is, the Quickening and Encouragement of Christians in their spiritual Course; and that the weighty Say, and happy End of these Great men may provoke us to imitate that worthy Pattern of Faith and Holiness, which they have left us both living and dying: Instruction backed by Example is more powerful than that given by Precept alone: 'Tis truly said, Verba docent; Exempla trahunt: i. e. Words teach, but Examples draw: Howbeit, even the Words of Dying men do usually make a deeper Impression upon the Heart, than other Discourses can do: The Say of one upon the brink of Eternity are next of kin to those of one returned from the Dead, and sent back from another World to give us Warning, and direction in our way thither, and therefore do justly claim a more than ordinary attention from us. These men call to us from the borders of Light, having already tasted the Fruit of the heavenly Canaan; and have left behind them such a feeling Testimony of its Sweetness and Glory, as may greatly engage our Souls in pursuit after that same Blessedness which they are arrived at. And if we would have our Death to be as Gainf● and Comfortable as theirs, w● must make the Glory of Chris● the highest End and Design o● our Lives, as they did. Wha● is the Talon of Time lent u● for, but that we might wor● out our own Salvation with fea● and trembling? We lose all ou● time and pains that are not employed this way; and shall a● last be of his mind that said upon his Deathbed, I repent 
Dr. Donn.  of all my Life, but that part of it which I spent in Communion with God and doing Good. All the World will not relieve a Dying Man; For what will it profit a 
Matt. 16. 26.  man if he Gain the whole World, and lose his own Soul? or what shall a man give in Exchange for his Soul? The greatest Monarch that dies without Grace, must subscribe to the last words of Sept. Severus the Roman Emperor, 
Pezel. Mellif.  〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. i e. I have been all things, and nothing profits me.  
I cannot but add the Grave and serious words of Salmasius, who was a Man of Great Learning, of extraordinary diligence in his Studies, and of Great Fame among the Scholars of this last Age; and yet upon his Deathbed he pours forth this bitter Complaint:  
Oh I have lost a deal of Time! Time! that most precious thing in the World, whereof had I but one Year longer, it should be spent in Reading David's Psalms, and Paul's Epistles: Oh Sirs, mind the World less, and God more; All the Learning in the World without Piety, and the true Fear of God, is nothing worth: The Fear of the Lord that is Wisdom, and to Departed from Evil that is Understanding.  
In like manner, the Great Hugo Grotius, after all his Labour, Study, and Proficiency in other Knowledge, at the close of his Life told his Friends, That he would give all his Learning and Honour for the Plain Integrity and Piety of John Urick; who was a devout Poor man, that spent eight hours of his time in Prayer, eight in Labour, and the other eight he allowed for his Sleep and necessary Refreshments.  
These Learned men found Religion to be the Truest and Best Wisdom in a Dying Hour: This is the one thing needful; and we shall all find it so, when we must take leave of this World, and make our appearance before God. That the following lines may through the Blessing of God be made useful to the awakening a sense of Religion in those that do peruse them, is my Desire, and shall be my earnest Prayer to him who alone can bless the Seed sown, and increase the Fruits of Righteousness.  
Nehemiah Cox▪   

ERRATA.  
THe Errors of the Press which disturb th● sense, are thus to be corrected:  
Page 19 l. 23. for Order r. Ardour, p. 20. ● 10. for great very r. very great, p. 40. l. 19 ●● seeing, p. 133. l. 4. deal which, p. 200. l. 8▪ deal his.   

THE LAST HOURS OF Dr. ANDREW RIVET.  

§. 1. THE multitude and variety of things memorable which do occur in this Narrative, doth so much amaze us, that through fear of our own insufficiency either to remember, or express them in a due man●er, and according to their dignity and worth, we cannot ●ut wish, this task had been undertaken by abler hands. But ●eeing it is matter of fact, and ●ords heard, which we are to give an account of, we had rather (so we may but serve the profit of our Friends) expose our prudence unto censure, than be defective in our care and good endeavours in this matter; wherein, that we might be sure to write nothing but most certain Truth, we have chosen to bury many things in oblivion, by a silen● passing over what we hav● but an imperfect remembrance of; and shall content our selve● to make a rehearsal with simplicity and truth, of those grav● and almost divine Speeches which as they were poure● forth by this Holy man, wer● faithfully preserved, partly i● the Memory, and partly in th● written Notes of those wh● constantly attended on him And yet though we employ ou● utmost diligence herein, w● shall never be able to give them their just weight and Emphasis; for who can imitate that flowing stream of words which with equal wisdom and piety proceeded from him, in an (almost) continued discourse, for the space of twelve days and as many nights? Or who can represent to the Life the motions of a mind, boiling with Meditations, when the Spirit of God administered such an extemporary effort of sayings proceeding from his fruitful breast, and gravely uttered when his senses were no ways impaired, as he was diversely acted either by Grief and Fear, or Hope and Joy?  
§. 2. It will be but necessary, before we enter upon the Relation of other things, briefly to mention something concerning the Temper and Disposition of this holy person, and his Circumstances before his last sickness, that the Grace of God towards his Servant may appear the more illustrious; when we see with what care and Providence he disposed his Affairs in the whole course of his life, but especially in this last act thereof.  
Besides those excellent gifts wherewith he was adorned (which cannot here be reckoned up particularly) through the Goodness of God he had been favoured with the enjoyment of a sound Mind in a sound and healthy Body; he was of a cheerful and sedate Spirit, holding on in an even course of Life, neither lifted up with prosperity, nor cast down by adversity. So that by the habit of a comely and moderate deliberation, he was ever blessed with an inward Joy, and possessed all things with delight and Gratitude; being no less ready to part with them without regret and trouble, pursuing his own profit and advantage in a serious contemplation of the vanity of all worldly things; often repeating that of the Apostle: The things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal, 2 Cor. 4. 18. He was never moved with sorrowful events that fell out suddenly, whether in public, or in his private concerns, as a man surprised by an unexpected evil; neither was the tranquillity of his mind shaken by them: He was wont to say; Nothing is impossible; I wonder at nothing. Neither on the contrary, did he at any time break forth into a lose and immoderate Joy; as being one set in an higher place, and looking down upon all things here below as uncertain and perishing. He never found himself, on any other account under such perturbation, nor shown the like, as upon the decease of the young Prince of Orange, who from a Child had been committed to his instruction and tuition; and whose Death (as he often affirmed) he bewailed out of pure Charity, and not for any private loss that himself might sustain thereby: Because the confidence he had of his excellent disposition, and expectation of his longer Life, had raised him to the hope that he would prove a useful Instrument for the good both of the State and the Church. From that time he seemed to be more than ever drawn off from worldly things, and used to speak of them with a certain loathing and disdain. The frame of his mind was also discovered, by a frequent interrupting of his accustomed course of reading the Scriptures in order in his Family, and turning to some select Chapters, such as Job 14. Eccles. 3. and 4. Psal. 49. and 144. From whence he took the occasion of such discourses, as shown what Meditations he was customarily taken up with.  
§. 3. In the last week wherein he lived in health, being in his Garden accompanied by a Friend, and walking up and down therein, as he was wont, with great pleasure, he gave order what he would have done in the dressing of some Trees, and then added: If I live till the Spring time, they will afford me a pleasant sight; but if not, I shall be in a Garden far more pleasant. When his Friend interposed and said, There was no cause why he should presage such a thing to himself, seeing he was sound and lively; he received a Rebuke from Dr. Rivet to this purpose: The time is now come that I am to be treated after another manner; my age is so far declined and hasting to an end, as plainly to declare that death (which none can be exempted from) stands at my door: And truly death is the principal matter that I meditate on; God is my witness, that I desire not its delay, but am ready with a cheerful mind to embrace it, yea even this day, if the will of God were so.  
On the same day he was entreated by Mr. Hulsius the Pastor of the French Church in that place 
* Breda. , that on the next day, being Decemb. 25. he would preach a thanksgiving Sermon after the celebration of the Lords Supper; which he consenting to do, chose for his Text Psal. 144. 3, 4. Lord, what is man that thou takest knowledge of him, or the Son of man that thou makest account of him? Man is like to Vanity; his days are as a shadow that passeth away. In his Sermon he had an eminent assistance from God, and delivered his matter with a strong and clear voice, and great liberty of speech; and chief applied his discourse, to show what favour and honour God had vouchsafed unto man, as well in causing that the Son of God should be a Man, as in giving him for our nourishment unto Eternal Life; from thence teaching the Notice God took of mortal men, and how it had pleased him to embrace them in his favour, and to magnify them.  
And in speaking to the answer of the Psalmist, Man is like to Vanity, he touched upon the loss of the Prince, whose Instructor he had been, which was then fresh in memory; but with words no way inclined to flattery, but becoming the Matter and Person that he spoke of, and which breathed forth nothing but pure affection: withal taking notice of the Goodness of God, who in the midst of his Judgements had showed mercy to the house of Orange, to which he had granted a new Offspring (a Son being then born) that the dying hope of that Noble Family might be revived before him: At length he closed with a Meditation of Death, an example of which (said he) seeing Young men that are strong, have before them in a young man snatched from the earth in the flower of his age and strength, it ought to be often revolved in their minds, and deep thoughts 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 vapour 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 passed over partly in bearing of his sharp pains, and partly in serious discourses. On Wednesday morning the complaint of his pain was increased, 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 trial 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 Aloes washed; and on Friday 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 increased. There were no proper means unattempted, nor any kind of help by Clysters, Fomentations, or Baths, but were made trial of, until 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 seized 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 Niece, 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 always address thyself 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 cheerful 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 trial of those pains which I have always had a very sharp feeling of.  
Then suddenly 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 oppressed by this disease, I found myself 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 assuage my disease in one moment: but if thou hast decreed otherwise, lo here is thy Servant; thy will be done: This one thing I beg with most inward affections, that thou wilt make me conformable to thy good will: Let not thy good Spirit departed from me, that in this conflict thy strength may make me a Conqueror: Accomplish this, O Lord, for thine own sake: And seeing thou hast employed 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 myself 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 separate 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 entreated Mrs. Rivet his wife, that she would retire herself 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 Niece Mrs. Marry 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 allege or plead my own Righteousnesses before him? Far be that from me: If I should justify myself, my own mouth would condemn me; I will rather open my sin before him, in a most humble confession of it, and pray that he will increase in me the Grace of true Repentance; yea let him wear out this body with sorrow, it matters not; so he give to me a broken and a contrite Heart, which is a sacrifice acceptable to himself; As for my part, I do most willingly offer up myself: Accept O Lord this imperfect Sacrifice, and supply the defects thereof by the perfect Righteousness of that great high Priest who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unto God without Spot, Let me be accepted as a living Sacrifice, holy, and wellpleasing unto God, which is our reasonable service. Crucify, O Lord, this old man, that the body of sin may be utterly destroyed, and I may rise again unto a new life: The wages of Sin is death, bu● 
Rom. 6. ult.  the Gift of God is Eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord  
Then repeating the word Gift he added: It is mere Grace not of Works, but of him that calleth; Who shall la● 
Rom. 8. 33.  any thing to the charge of God elect? It is God that justifieth Who is he that condemneth? I● is Christ that died, yea rathe● that is risen again, who is eve● at the right hand of God, wh● also maketh intercession for us.  
Then after a little interruption of his discourse, by a shor● sleep; he thus proceeded.  
I am God's and he wil● save me; he hath honoure● me with an holy Calling; and hath not suffered his gif● to be altogether useless in me as to the Edification of hi● Church: As to myself, I can most truly affirm, that I have not served him for filthy Lucre, but with a sincere heart; and that I was myself first persuaded of the truth of the Gospel, and experienced the efficacy thereof, before I preached it to others,  
I tasted the good Word of God, which by its power pierceth even to the dividing asunder of Soul and Spirit, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Thou hast known my heart, O Eternal God thou knowest that I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, but have esteemed it my only honour to serve thee; and that I have delighted myself in the pleasure of obeying thy will! Such was thy goodness unto me! I truly and humbly acknowledge, that whatsoever good was in me, flowed from thy Grace; bu● my defects ought to be ascribed to my inbred Corruption: Alas! I acknowledge this with humble and serious repentance; how oft hav● I sinned in so holy a Charge not only by omitting man● things which I ought to hav● done, but also by doing many things amiss! How of have I offended through negligence, and slackness! Long since had I been cast off, wer● it not that I had to do wit● so good a Lord, who hat● born with me, and hath bee● so gracious to me as no● to exact a severe account o● my Words and Works! Alas▪ O Lord my God Enter no● into Judgement with thy servant, for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. Let me be found not having mine own Righteousness, but the Righteousness of thy Son, for the sake of which, I beg thy favour. Pardon, O my God, Pardon the Iniquity of thy Servant, who is devoted to thy Fear: I refuse not thy discipline, I know it is necessary; only this I earnestly beg, that it may turn to my Salvation: Chasten me, O Lord, but in measure, lest thou bring me to nothing: Let not my trial exceed my strength, lest I Sin through Impatience, and become a Scandal to those I should edify. O let me never break out into a murmuring complaint: O how light is this chastisement, if compared with my fault! What are these temporal pains, in comparison with those Eternal torments from which I am redeemed by him that poured out hi● Soul upon the Cross for me! For Me! This is the language of Faith, which makes a particular application of General Promises. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of a● 
1 Tim. 1. 15.  acceptation; That Jesus Chris● came into the World to sav● sinners, of whom I am Chief Lord, I believe, help tho● mine unbelief: Turn tho● me, and I shall be turned indeed: Seal all thy Promise in my Soul: Cause in the inmost of my heart a lively perception of those sweet word● My Son, be of good comfort thy sins are forgiven the●  
With such holy Meditation and speeches as these, was th● Thursday night passed over.  
§. 7. On Friday morning, 
Dec. 30.  Mrs. Rivet his Wife, put him in mind of sending one to the Hague for his Son: By all means (said he) that aught to have been done sooner; and then gave order himself concerning it. About Nine of the Clock he was visited by Renessius a Doctor of Divinity, and Pastor of a Dutch Church; who in the Latin Tongue saluted him after this manner: Most excellent man, how do you? To whom he answered in the same Language: I am yet strong, neither doth my Speech fail me; but that passage in my bowels is not yet opened, and unless that be opened, I see I must make my passage another way, even that which the Eternal God hath set before me from my Infancy: I should be the most ungrateful of men, if I should not acknowledge the mercy of God towards me, who hath so wonderfully preserved me even from my Cradle: Then rehearsing his deliverance from a very dangerous 
* Viz. A fall whereby his life was in graet hazard.  accident that befell him in his Infancy, through the negligence of the Maid; he added,  
From that time my Mothe● consecrated me unto God and he abundantly blessed me all my life-time, and the whole Family: And therefore I place all my hope in the goodness of God, being ready either to live or to die. I have always thought, tha● either this disease would be my death, or else the Stone, for I have scarce ever been afflicted with any other distemper: I pray you to testify unto all men, that I die in that Faith and Doctrine, which I have always delivered both in Preaching and Writing: And if perhaps in some things I have erred, I pray God that he will make perfect all my Imperfections.  
The rest of the day was filled up with the Visits of Friends; for he would have none hindered from coming to him.  
Let all that will (saith he) have access to visit me; I ought to give an Example of dying to other men.  
With such say as these, he filled the by standers both with Consolation and with Wonder; while he thus proceeded: Come see a man who is an Example of the Great Mercy of God: What shall I render unto him? All his Benefits overwhelm me: He hath so disposed my Life, that in my whole Course, I have had an healthful Body; he hath heaped upon me both temporal and spiritual Blessings: And now before I am rendered feeble or morose through Old age, he comes unto me, and prevents me; he both calleth me; and causeth me willingly to follow him at his Call: And now the end of my Life is within my view, he still affords me the perfect use of my Reason, that I may praise the Holy Name of God in the Land of the Living, and instruct my Neighbour by my Example: Pray for me, my Friends, that this Grace may be continued unto me till I draw my last breath; that he will strengthen my Faith, confirm my Patience, and raise my Hope; He hath already captivated all my affections to his will; I have cast the care of me, of mine, of life, and all my affairs upon him; Let him do with my body as pleaseth him, so it may but be well with my Soul: There is no going hence without pains; this Flesh must suffer, and fall; It matters not; provided the Soul obtains new strength; and I arrive at a better Mansion than that made with hands; It is that I aspire to, I lament not the World: I have lived long enough, and have had leisure to make trial of all things, and to know that they are vanity and vexation of Spirit: One thing is necessary; To fear God and keep his Commandments, for that is the whole duty of man. And now there is nothing that I am concerned about, neither is my life dear unto me, so that I may finish my course with joy, and fulfil the Ministry which I have received of the Lord; which is best done at the last: This is the end, and this the mark which a Christian ought to aim at: The end of this frail life is the beginning of Eternal life: O happy change! Truly I fear nothing; Christ is gain both in life and death; he forsakes me not: If he make heavy my bodily pains, yet he increaseth the joy of my Soul: Come, and I will tell you what he hath done for my Soul; I called upon him, and he inclined his ear and heard me; he hath blotted out my sins as a cloud; And as a Father pitieth his Children so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.  
His manner was to let no Minister part from him, before he had prayed with him; Pray unto God (would he say) now is the acceptable time.  
§. 8. Towards Evening, when the Gentlewoman his wife could not be prevailed upon to withdraw, and betake herself to some rest; It troubles me (said he) to see so dear a person, and one that I honour so much, so far in years, and of so weak a body, to wear out herself at this rate: But then giving way to her desire, Seeing thou wilt have it so (said he) Tarry; It is a pleasure to me to see thee: The Lord strengthen thee.  
The night before Saturday was spent in grievous pains, and in most ardent Prayers for the Church of God, for the Princes that were Defenders of it, for the People that lived under their jurisdiction, and for the Pastors to whom the care of Souls was committed: Speaking particularly of the States, (viz: of the United Provinces) he said,  
O God withdraw not thy protection from these Provinces, neither remove thy Candlestick away; Let not thine anger burn against them because of that impiety and profaneness which hath made too great a progress; Rather bow their hearts unto Repentance, and convert men, that they may prevent thy Judgements: Let them coalesce in one body: especially let them be joined unto thee, without whom all union is but conspiracy? do thou praeside in that Assembly: bend their hearts so, that all their decrees may turn to the good of the Commonwealth, and especially of the Church: Grant unto them, that with due equity, nobleness and gratitude, they may remember that Prince who only remains of the stock of his noble progenitors, whom thou hast made use of to accomplish thy work in the midst of them: Endue this child with the Spirit of thy Fear, of Prudence, Fortitude and Magnanimity; and deliver him from profane men, base flatterers, and such servants as are enticers unto, and the Instruments of Vices and infamous pleasures; and grant to him such as are faithful, incorrupt, lovers of Truth and Equity, that by their means he may learn to distinguish Virtue from Vice; to shun the one and embrace the other: It is time, O Lord, for thee to help.  
When the night was spent he was exceedingly wearied and tired out, both with overmuch speaking, and especially by means of abstinence from drink, with which he was wont to be refreshed: for when through the extremity of his thirst he was forced to take down a little, immediately his stomach cast it back again, being like a Vessel filled to the top, that could receive no more. The Physicians afflicted his body with the use of various Remedies, but he bore all with an even temper of mind; often saying,  
I have told you before, that the use of these things will be to no purpose: but 'tis no matter, I must comply with you, do what you please, for your own Satisfaction.  
§. 9 That Saturday he was 
Dec. 31.  mightily enfeebled, and sometimes very drowsy: he spoke but little that forenoon. Afternoon when divers friends visited him, and were discoursing among themselves of the nature of his disease, he heard all that passed between them in the Chamber (for he was very quick of hearing) and gathered both from their discourses, and also from his own knowledge of the disease he laboured under, that his distemper was that which Physicians call Miserere mei, which he was not likely to pass through without very grievous Symptoms: such as, a burning Fever, Delirium, and vomiting of his excrements: And thereupon he began to be afflicted with much solicitude, while his mind was intent upon the thoughts of the grievousness of these Symptoms: and in frequent Ejaculations he sent up short and ardent Prayers to God about it.  
My God (said he) have mercy upon me; deliver me from the opprobry which I fear: for thou art gracious.  
And smiting his belly, he said,  
This is a bag of filth, a sink, and collection of griefs: But thanks be to my God, that he hath afflicted me in this more ignoble part; my heart in the mean time remaining strong, and my brain free and clear, so that I might have liberty to meditate upon thy power and goodness. This favour, O Lord God (which is invaluable) reserve for me, That my mouth may utter nothing but what breathes forth Charity, Praises, and Thanksgivings: O that it may not be defiled with 
* Viz. The casting up of excrements.  this filthiness. Let this building be brought down where its ruin began, which let me behold as one set on high with a constant and peaceful mind, even a mind elevated to spiritual things, which with all earnestness I follow after; knowing that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, neither can Corruption inherit Incorruption.  
And in the ensuing night he did often inculcate, Who is mortal man that thou shouldst so magnify him, and think upon him! He is like to vanity: Flesh, and a wind that passeth away. With how small a thing are the strongest among men cast down? By a vile excrement, by a little obstruction, which no Remedies can open! Thou hast done this, O thou Eternal one; Thus it pleaseth thee; and I would have it so too: Let it be done to me according to thy Word: I am in thy fatherly and Gracious hands, I fear nothing; Thou art my safeguard; and my exceeding great reward. Then he repeated in the Hebrew tongue that sentence out of Lamentat. 3. 24. Thou art my portion, saith my Soul. And seethose that stood by him, were always speaking to him of Good things▪  
Well done, (said he) cease not to strengthen me, unto that end God will supply you with matter for discourse, for he is not only present with the sick himself for his aid, but also with them that are called to secure him; for he is nigh unto all that call upon him in truth.  
Then he again poured forth his prayers for the Church of God; saying,  
O Lord, it is thy possession, which thou hast purchased with thine own blood: forsake not thine own work; let an holy jealousy be kindled in thee, lift up on high the arm of thy power, and bring down the audacious ones, which tyrannize over thy flock; Rebuke thou the negligent, that heal her wounds slightly: Reduce into the way those that wander; and strengthen that which is ready to fall, through division: Gather both the one and the other to thyself into one body, building them upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles, Jesus Christ himself being the 
Ephes. 2. 20, 21.  chief corner Stone, in whom all the building fitly framed together, groweth into an holy Temple in the Lord. And then making a little pause, he added, I have been one of those bvilders; I have brought what I received from the Lord, that I might put to my helping hand with others towards the building of this Temple; and I myself shall be a Living Stone in this Spiritual House.  
He suffered no day nor night to pass over without his Prayers for the House of Orange: Tbou hast afflicted it, O Lord, (said he) but we beseech thee let it not be destroyed: Let this 
* The young Prince born but a little before.  Branch grow up, which if it be thy good pleasure, may come to be a fruitful tree in its time: Let all acknowledge that good to come from thee; and that thou alone canst give both being and well-being: How great folly is it to put confidence in man, and in the Son of man, who is nothing: His breath goeth forth, and then his best contrived thoughts perish.  
§. 10. On the next day, which 
1651. Jan. 1. Lordsday.  was the first of the year 1651. when he first beheld the light he said,  
O Lord thou hast granted unto me to see the beginning of the year: thou hast measured out my time unto the middle of this Age: Then he asked what hour of the day it was, and what weather? when it was answered, that the weather was very sharp and severe, he was afraid it might hinder his Son● journey to him: Whereupon he addressed himself to God after this manner.  
O my God, bring my Son unto me, that I may see him, embrace him, and bless him before I die. Then turning himself to his Wife, he said;  
Dost think this earnest desire to see him proceeds from some carnal affection? Nothing less! Truly I love no man any more according to the flesh: I earnestly desire his eternal Salvation; and I hope to have those discourses with him which may increase his zeal in adorning his 
* His Son was a Minister.  spiritual Vocation: I have yet spirit, and utterance sufficient for that work. Let none be hindered from coming to me: It is usual for a man in my station, by admonishing others, publicly to make confession of his own Faith: not for the sake of a little vain Glory, O Lord thou knowest: for it little concerns me to be approved unto men, provided I may approve myself unto God: but I desire the Salvation of many, and to give testimony to the truth of those things which I have publicly taught.  
This day also was taken up with the Visits of Friends; and amongst others that came, there was Colonel Vernevil, and some more Officers in the Garrison, of which two or three were of Poictou; unto whom he said,  
I rejoice that I have opportunity to make a Confession of my Faith before you that are my Countrymen; And I pray you to keep it i● memory, and give testimony of it where it shall be necessary: For you see before you● eyes a man (weak indeed but) without guile, who solemnly protesteth, That h● hath never published in hi● Writings, nor taught wit● his Lips, any thing that di● not agree with the sense o● his heart, and the Doctrine which hath been delivered t● us by the Prophets and Apostles; which is the same wit● that which is found in th● Confession of Faith of ou● Churches, in which I hav● lived, and in which I purpose to die. The Lord God Almighty confirm you in that Faith, so that nothing may move you from it: For what will it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own Soul? Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and the righteousness thereof, and then all other things shall be added to you. Learn to number your days: And get a wise heart: Look upon me, and let me be an example unto you: It is but eight days since I preached to you of Man's frailty, being myself in health, and lively at that time, and now you see the truth of what I said, in myself: Certainly what is visible to us, and set before our eyes, hath a more persuasive power, than words which only beat the ears. And then taking his leave of them, he added, The Lord deliver you from the allurements of the world, and give you an increase of his fear, and of all spiritual and temporal gifts. A while after there came to hi● the worthy Snellen Burgomaster of Breda, unto whom h● cheerfully gave an account ● the nature of his disease, wit● the causes and consequents there of; and then said,  
Praise be to God who hat● given me to know the en● of my life: I should be th● most ungrateful of all men, ● I were not contented wit● that measure and term ● Life, which he hath afforde● me; and if I should not acknowledge his great Goodness, and provident care ● me in the whole course ● my life: Especially I gius him thanks for laying ou● this place for me to pass m● old age in, amongst good me● with whose kindness I hav● been refreshed, and to who● for their multiplied favou● towards me, I can never make a sufficient return of thanks: Of your sincere Affection (most worthy Sir) in a special manner I have had experience, for which I give you my hearty thanks, and in your Person to your whole Corporation, which I beseech you to signify to them: and to entreat for me, that they will give me a place of Burial large enough for me, and my wife who will quickly follow me.  
When he had thus expressed himself, he dismissed him with prayers for the welfare of him and his family.  
§. 11. About evening he desired to be helped out of his bed, and to sit in a Chair; where he perceived the swelling of his Belly to reach to the pit of his Stomach; which gave him apprehension that hi● end drew near; wherefore sending for Mr. Dauber an emine● Civilian, he imparted to hi● his purpose of adding a Codicil to his Will: And in order thereto he sent for the Town Clerk and the two Consuls, an● having fully declared his min● to them, the business being don● and sealed; he began to discourse of another settlement by the resignation of himse● and his into the hands, an● unto the care of God; expressing his assurance of the blessing of God upon his: and the added,  
That he did exceedingly rejoice, that he should leave behi● him a Wife excelling in virt● and motherly affection to the children of her husband; and also ● Son that was a good man, a● studious of peace, who would be a Father to the 
* The Children of one of his Sons that was deceased.  three little ones, whose Guardian he was appointed by that Codicil.   

And for this last office he rendered unto them his thanks, and to the Council of the City in general; and in particular blessed each of them and their Families. And when they were departed, he went to his bed again; and seeing no body stand about him but his little Family, he said to his Niece,  
My Daughter, do not departed from me, but persist with me in the duty of Prayer: do not fear to rehearse all those words to me which God shall suggest unto thy heart or mouth; this sweet and pleasing communication shall help to pass over this night with the more ease: And God will be with us, and assist our good intentions: He will help our weaknesses, and afford us matter of supplications, and thanksgivings: such discourses are pleasing unto him; he attends unto them that fear him, when they talk together of those things that belong to the Salvation of their Souls.  
And then as one in a Rapture, he said, My God thou hast drawn me, and I was drawn! thou hast known me from my Mother's womb, with a Merciful and Efficacious knowledge: thou has● called me by Name: thou hast bored mine Ears, and I was attentive: I have declared thy message in the Congregation, and thy word was sweeter than Honey in my mouth. Who am I! O God, but dust and ashes, an earthen and a frail Vessel, into which notwithstanding thou hast been pleased to pour an holy liquor, and seed of immortality: Thou livest, and thou makest me to live; I shall not die, but live for ever, with that life which is 
Col. 3. 3.  hid with Christ in God: Blessed and holy is he which hath a part in the first Resurrection: over him 
Rev. 20. 6.  the second death shall have no power. Behold I am dead; and also raised from the dead: I live not in myself, but in the life of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. What should I mention more? I can make no return of thy faithfulness to me, or of the benefits thou hast bestowed on me: Thou hadst chosen me, before thou gavest me a being; and it pleased thee that I should be born of believing Parents, and especially of a Mother eminent in Holiness, who dedicated me to thy service from my tender years: With how many prayers did she stir me up to that holy purpose! With what care and affection did she instill the seeds of Piety into me! And the Almighty God who worketh all in all, gave his blessing to this diligent nurture, and heard her ardent prayers; and my Ministry hath been accepted of him; I am thy servant, O my God, thou hast taught me from my youth; and I have taught thy wonderful works, and thy grace unto this day; for thy gifts have not been without fruit in me: Thou usest weak instruments for the accomplishing of thy work: Thou hast pardoned, thou hast helped me; thou hast accepted the truth and sincerity of my heart: And now, O my God, seeing it is evident thou wilt have me retire from this valley of Miseries, do not thou forsake me in this last and important act: If it be thy will that I die; that also is my will: I am ready, my heart is prepared: I give thee my heart, for that is it which thou requirest; Let this gift be approved by thee; Receive this gift which is thine own, from him to whom thou hast given all things, who gives himself to thee. O Lord, I give thee thanks; thou instructest me, thou inlightenest me, thou talkest with my Soul: O Lord thou embracest me in the arms of thy mercy! Grant also that I may embrace thee by a lively Faith, and that I may apply unto myself the Promises of the Gospel, which I have proposed unto others: let them be Effectual in me, that by them I may be supported against all pains, yea death itself.  
§. 12. Then turning his speech to his Niece, he said: That I may not tyre thee with long discourses, Admire thou the Grace of God towards me, and bless him who fortifies me with patience: Observe my words unto my last breath, and commit them to writing as fully as thou canst, that thereby my dearest Brother, with others of my near kindred and affinity, as also my friends, may be Comforted and Refreshed: To which when she returned answer; That she was unable to retain, and commit to wriing such an abundance of holy speeches as flowed from him, he Replied;  
Fear not; only do thine endeavour, and God will help thee: If God give me strength, I will write a short Epistle, which shall be for a testimony that Credit is to be given to thy Relation. (And he was always wont upon the mention of any thing of this nature, to add,)  
Not that I would hereby procure praise to myself; But I would have it known unto all, That the Religion which I have professed, and taught in the name of God, is the true Religion, and that alone which leads men unto Salvation: And particularly, I would have my brother informed of that inestimable Grace which I have received of God, that he may be abundantly comforted and strengthened in his expectation of a better life, which I already enjoy: O with how great love have I loved him, and esteemed him! yea I have loved the gifts of God in him, and shal● love them to the last: I pray God who is the giver of every good gift, that he will fulfil, strengthen and make perfect his own work in him; that he will guide him with his Counsel, and at length save and receive him to his Rest: The same prayers I make for my Nephew his Son Stephen, that he may be an useful Instrument for the promoting of God's Glory, a diligent workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of Truth. O Lord my God, I pray not only 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; Sanctify 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 always 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 Judgement, and speak the same things: And that the love of God may constrain them, and gather them into one in Christ; 
●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 fullness 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 always 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 broke out into these expressions: O great and Immense Mercy! who can but be rapt into admiration! He gives both being, and well-being; He bestows 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; Writ 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 add something to the Codicil which was annexed to his Will the Evening before: His Strength was sufficient to admit the putting on of his , 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 Arabic new Testament, and laid by another Book for Mr. Hulsius; and one for his Brother Rivet, to be immediately sent unto him to Champuer none 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 days 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 die 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 tranquillity 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. Farewell 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 dost: I pray God to bless thee, and all thine: Once again Farewell!  
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 yo● 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 ● 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 ministereth 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, remembering me and mine, who die  
Your most Affectionate, etc.  
§. 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 surrendering up himself into the hands of God, and recited to them a Confession of his Faith, and exhorted them to proceed cheerfully in that work which the Lord had committed to them: He gladly received those consolations whereby they endeavoured to assuage his pains, and heard their Prayers for him with like joy, always 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 afraid 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 Physicians, and now for many days 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 Chirurgeon 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 assuaged; 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 rejoiced, and bade 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 Fever. Nothing was left unattempted fo● his relief, by fomentations an● unctions; but all was to ● purpose: The complaint of th● sick man was increased, an● he tired out and afflicted wit● extraordinary restlessness. An● then his Niece perceived tha● 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 cheerfulness 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 spoke 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 go● If I speak, he answers not; ye● he hath taken from me the power of speaking: Ah, sad change! An holy fire had kindled my meditation, but now vain thought● hurry me: I cannot get out of my mind an old satire, and suc● like trifles. Thus while I am ● death's door, I go backwards.  
And here casting his arm● about her neck, he thus proceeded:  My Dear Niece, help ●e continue to discourse of Go●● things with me: Call upon th● Comforter to return, and rene● that excellent work which h● had advanced in me. O Return! Return! Confirm me wit● 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 burden, 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 Tranquillity and Cheerfulness of Countenance as formerly: And seeing those of his own Household, 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 Domestic 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 Son's Name, to which he alluded) Be rich in Peace.  
Then taking hold of both their Hands, and joining 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 i● an Husband to the Widow, an● a Father of the Fatherless.  
And to his Son,  
The Almighty Father bless thee, my Son, guide thee in al● thy ways, every thee with all Christian Virtues, and plentifully make thee to abound in all Spiritual and Temporal Blessings; regard not th● 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 Ingeny 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 Lord make thee a good and a Pious man, that thou mayest fill up the place of thy Father and Grandfather: He bess thee abundantly, and make thy Studies prosperous unto his Glory; which he will do if thou diligently call upon him, and if thou Study to be Diligent, Sober, Modest, and humbly Obedient unto God and thy Superiors, thy Uncle in particular, which will be instead of a Father to thee. Give due Obedience and Honour unto thy Mother; Love thy Brother and Sister, and withdraw thyself from the Company of young Persons who will entice thee unto Vice.  
And unto his Niece he thus spoke:  
Farewell my dear Niece, the Lord bless thee! We have a Kindred in the Heavens which will endure for ever.  
§. 17. Now when we thought this night would be his last, the principal of his Friends were called to him, and amongst them Mr. Hulsius, and as they stood about his Bed, he attentively beheld them, and discoursed of his Departure at hand, and his disposition to give up himself to the Will of God, with a joyful and free Soul. He exhorted each of them according to their respective Condition in regard of Age, Sex, or Quality, and blessed each of them and their Families.  
Then again speaking to his Son, he said,  
My Friend! Thou losest at the same time both a Master and a Father; but if the Fear of God bear rule in thee, God will supply the place of both: Far be it from me to distrust his Grace for the future: I cast all my Cares upon him, and give up myself and mine, my Life and affairs into his hands.  
Then he uttered in French Metre the words of the Psalmist to this sense.  
Unto whom shall I go for help, O Lord, and in whom is my hope? truly in thee.  
I am full of days: I desire to be Dissolved and to be with Christ. It is enough, O Lord! Receive now my Soul: I commit this Body to the Earth, but I commit my Spirit into the hands of God who gave it.  
And in a Paroxysm of Pain he said,  
My God, I know this Tabernacle cannot be dissolved without pain, yet my heart is lively, and I have still strength to bear my pains. O Lord, help mine Infirmities; depart not far from me in the day of my Sorrow: Say unto my Soul, I am become thy Salvation.  
This last he rehearsed in the French Metre, and then repeated in Hebrew, from Psal. 16. 5.  
The Lord is the Portion of my Inheritance.  
§. 18. From that Night forward it was observed, when any one discoursed to him of Repentance, and of the Grace of God in forgiving sins, he was wont to answer:  
As to this point, I am assured that I am reconciled, and cleansed from my sin, by the precious blood of my Redeemer; God hath spoken, and made known to me already that my Sins are blotted out; I now taste this blessedness, Blessed is the man 
Psa. 32. 1.  to whom the Lord imputeth not Sin: There is no Condemnation 
Rom. 8. 1.  to them that are in Christ Jesus: He is come unto me according to his great Mercies, and draweth me, and I willingly follow him; He lessens my bodily Pains, by increasing the joy of my Soul; he satisfies my thirst for him with the dew of his Grace: Behold I am satiated, I am enriched; Man lives not by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the Mouth of God: The Kingdom of God is not 
Rom. 14. 17.  Meat and Drink, but Righteousness and Peace and Joy through the Holy Ghost: I am fed by my Saviour, whose Flesh is Meat indeed, and his Blood is drink indeed; and as he is the true quickening Bread which came down from Heaven, so he that eateth him, shall live by him: And therefore I live: It is now two days since I have lived not an Animal Life, but I live that Life which I shall eternally Live in the Heavens.  
That night he made a long and ardent Prayer, the greatest part of which is slipped out of our Memory: In general he Prayed for all men, and bewailed the Corruption of Mankind.  
Alas! O Lord (said he) this is the last time; there is scarce any Faith in the Earth; Men of Veracity are hardly to be found: One speaks to another, yea to his Friend, fraudulently and with a double heart. Alas! Woe is me, that I dwell in the Tents of Kedar, with those that hate Peace. Thou hast made Peace in thy high places; Thou givest Peace, but not such as the World giveth; Wherefore my Heart is not afraid: The Spirit which thou hast given me, is the Spirit of Power, of Love, and a sedate mind.  
§. 19 On the Wednesday 
Wednesday, Jan. 4.  morning he found himself much wearied and enfeebled, partly by the Pains he had endured, and partly by his much and earnest speaking. Both we that were about him, and himself, were all of the mind that his last hour was approaching; for which reason he spoke as follows.  
Again I bid you Farewell, my Friends; Observe me, and continue to strengthen me with your Prayers and Exhortations; when my speech shall fail, I will endeavour by signs to let you know my Faith and Perseverance; My mind cannot be shaken, he that preserves me is in the Heavens.  
When he had again blessed his Family and all that stood by him, his Speech wholly failed him for a time, so that we expected nothing less than to see him draw his last Breath; but being recovered out of this sinking fit, he began to speak again, and when he saw the Chamber full of People, he said:  
How am I Tired out! will they allow me no time of repose? wherefore is there such a Company about me? have not I spoken enough? why am I not allowed a little Relaxation, and one moment o● Solitude, that I may Converse with my God?  
Therefore every one withdrew according to his desire, and we were afraid to com● near to him, lest we should molest him; but when we heard his Groans, his Niece went in softly to him, and said, Reverend Sir, Would you be without my Company, doth it not please you that I should any longer attend upon you.  
Alas (said he) I desire nothing more; do not go from me, but be thou a Witness of my last hours: continue with me even to the end. It is a great comfort to me to enjoy quietness; I cannot bear the sight of so great a Company, especially of those that come out of mere Curiosity: I have omitted nothing of what was incumbent on me to say or do: I leave nothing behind me that is matter of regret to me; I have Prayed for the Peace of mine after my departure, and I believe Peace shall dwell among them, and that thou wilt do thy endeavour that it may, for I know thou art of a peaceable Spirit: I am satisfied and at rest: I have no more to do here below, I have waited for thy Salvation, O Lord.  
She asked if it would please him to have his Son come to him?  
Yea, (said he) I bless God, and rejoice that I have seen him and blessed him before I die.  
When he came near to him, he stretched out his hand and received him kindly, and then repeated to him what he had before said concerning his Brother, affirming,  
That he was a very good man, and one furnished with Gifts that are rather solid and useful, than conspicuous and ornamental; now shall he be the Crown of my Father's Family: I bless God that there remains a man therein to Praise him both in word and work. The Blessing of the God of our Father hath been eminently on that Branch of our Family from whence we are sprung; there have been found therein many good Men who feared God: As for these little nazarenes, I recommend them to God.  
And after a little stop, he continued his Speech unto his Son:  
My Son, I now know thee no longer according to the Flesh; my Carnal affections are mortified and swallowed up in the Love of God: My love towards my Wife and Children is now wholly Spiritual; I have Prayed unto God that he will Sanctify, make thee perfect and glorify thee: My Son! Is not my happy departure joyful unto thee? what couldst thou with more earnestness have desired for me than a glorious and happy end after a long and prosperous Life? Bless God, through whose bounty I am now filled with Joy and Peace. Fear God my Son, for this is the whole Duty of man. In all thy Actions love Righteousness, Sincerity, Peace, and Truth, that my Blessing may remain effectually upon thee and thy Nephews.  
§. 20. This whole day was passed over much to his ease and quiet, none being admitted to disturb him with their Visits: He lay still, and was inclined to Sleep; and when he observed us to look upon him as if he had been asleep; I sleep (said he) but my heart waketh. And when we asked him sometimes how he did, Very well (said he) I feel no pain; I am filled with the Grace of God; I am not sensible of cold or heat; I fear no more the inconveniencies of temporal Life; the Spirit of God strengthens me, and affords me abundant Consolations; I have no doubt of my Salvation; He hath set me on high: He hath hid me in his hiding place: He hath fenced me round about, and hath perfected whatsoever concerns me: I cannot be troubled any more; I am like a Vessel filled with pure Water, which no agitation troubles. It is God that Justifies; who shall Condemn? it is Christ that died, yea rather who is risen again: The moments of my time are in his Power. I am wholly taken up in the expectation of the decreed hour, when he will say, Come thou good and faithful Servant, enter into the Joy of thy Lord! O my God, I thank thee that thou hast given me the Spirit of Humility, Sincerity and Truth! I have not been as a tinkling Cymbal: O Lord thou hast known the secrets of my Soul, and my in most Thoughts! Thou hast taught me in the School of true Doctrine, and I have above all sought the Glory of thy Name: I have not thought any Virtue or Knowledge to be of myself, knowing that all my Sufficiency is from thee alone: I have slighted that Mystical Theology which is nothing but Canting, and have adhered to that clear, pure and saving Truth which is contained in the Holy Scriptures. One word of the Son of God who requires the Heart, is of more worth than all those humane Vanities, which are good for nothing else but to trouble the Purity of the Divine Fountains. Suffer not, O Lord, the improbity of men to obscure the Clearness of thy Word, which hath been a Lamp unto my Feet and a Light unto my Path; yea, it still affords a Light unto me, and guideth me in the dark Paths of the Shadow of Death. O Lord, I have been jealous for thee, and have mourned in secret for the Wickedness of some, and the audacious Hypocrisy of others, who have Assembled themselves to pull down what thou hadst built up by thy Mercies. There yet remain Pious Souls who love the Peace of Zion, and mourn under these Confusions; hear their Prayers: In particular have Mercy on those most flourishing Islands where so much of the Blood of thy Martyrs hath been shed; turn the People in them to thyself, and to their King; give thy Judgements unto that poor Prince, and make him worthy to have his just Prayers heard; Give the Spirit of Moderation and Wisdom to his own Nation, who have sent for him, that they may require nothing of him, but what is weighed in the Balance of Justice.  
These Discourses being began towards Evening, were continued till it was Night; which he perceiving and wondering at himself, said,  
And am I yet alive, and thus able to speak? God hath done it, he endues me with new Strength that I may glorify him, and extol his holy Name. O Lord, I wait for the moment which thou hast determined, I believe, I persevere; I am not troubled: The Spirit of God witnesseth with my Spirit that I am a Child of God: O Lord thou hast known me throughly; I am thy Servant; help all mine Infirmities; perfect thy work in me: Patience and Hope make not ashamed; the Love of God is in me, even that Love whereby I earnestly desire the Salvation of all, yea of those which have offended me without Cause; I forgive them, and Pray for them; There is no bitter Gall in me, for God hath caused all bitterness to pass from me, and hath given true Peace in me; for I roll myself upon him.  
§. 21. On Thursday morning 
Thursday, Jan. 5.  turning his eyes towards the light, he said,  
It is day light: Shortly I shall no more know the difference of Day and Night; I am come to the Eve of that great and eternal day, and am going unto that Place where the Sun shall no more give light: God will be an everlasting Light unto me and already O Lord thou sendest the Rays of that Light into my Soul, and openest mine eyes that I may perceive them. O how powerfully dost thou work in me! while this Old man dies and decays, thou puttest on me the New man, which is renewed in Knowledge after the Image of him who Createth it; that is lively, seethe, heareth and walketh with enlarged steps; it desires nothing more than an outlet into perfect Liberty: Deliver me from this Prison, that I may celebrate thy Name; Yet neither do I so contemn this Body, as not to think of its Restauration; for I know thy dead shall live, yea, my dead Body: It is sown in Corruption, it shall be raised in Incorruption; It is sown a vile body, but it shall rise again in glory; It is sown in weakness, but it shall be raised again in power: In a word, It shall be conformed to the glorious boof our Lord Jesus Christ, who is become the First-fruits of them that sleep: I shall see him in my flesh: My own eyes shall see him; I shall behold his face in righteousness, and shall be satisfied with his likeness when I awake. He loveth me with an entire affection; he kisseth me with the Kisses of his Mouth: He hath removed all fear far from me, and hath filled me with Peace and Joy in Believing. He often repeated that sentence, Amor meus Crucifixus est; that is, My Love is Crucified; adding,  
O Love incomprehensible! what I conceive of him is beyond all expression. Blessed be the Lord, who hath directed my heart into the Love of God, and the patiented waiting for Christ.  
§. 22. This whole day was spent in like holy discourses, and the Prayers of Ministers that came to him, with the Visits of other Friends. Towards Evening he found himself very weak, and had two or three fainting fits, but his speech did not wholly fail in them; sometimes he would say,  
My strength is quite spent: I am going hence, Lord meet me; do not tarry; take thy Creature.  
Towards the middle of the Night, his strength being a little recovered, he reached forth his hand to Mrs. Rivet his Wife, and said,  
Embrace me once more, my dear Love! I love thee no more after the flesh, but after the Spirit; as I have always loved thy Better part: I have lived with thee in holy Concord these thirty years: Thou hast born mine Infirmities, and hast been an help to me; and God hath blessed us together: I have taken notice of thy good Infirmities, conjoined with great Piety; and thy Faith, which is not perfect, but sincere and true. Thou knowest (my Love) that God is not a severe Judge, but merciful and Gracious; he chief requires from us, a recumbence on his Mercy: He is kind and full of Love. Behold in me an Example of Mercy and Kindness, and from thence gather Confidence that he will follow thee with the same Grace; We have an Alliance in Heaven; Thither the Lord takes me, and he will take thee thither also, and so we shall be together with the Lord for ever. While thou art waiting for that blessed hour, he will be thy Husband, Father, Comforter and Defender; and finally will make thee to experience the sovereign Effects of his Love. Rejoice therefore (my dearest Love) I have prayed for thee. Thy Faith shall not fail; God will secure thy infirmities, which savour of nothing but goodness. It is that I love in the Children of God, that they acknowledge themselves to be imperfect before him: God will completely perfect thee, doubt not.   

Then turning to his Son,  
My Son (said he) keep for thyself 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 myself thou wilt observe my commands with all thy power. Let Truth be in thy Heart, Equity and Sincerity in all thy Actions; and cherish Peace and Friendship among Friends.  
§. 23. Then taking many Friends by the hand that stood by him, he said, I pray you love my Son:  
And then turning to his Niece,  
Farewell (said he) my dearest Niece! God will bless thee; yea he hath blessed thee already; thou hast ministered to thy afflicted and sick Parent, and in so doing thou hast served the Public: 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 laid: Thou hast helped me, and God will help thee: Fear not, Persevere with me in the close of my last hours.  
Then seeing Mr. Fayan le Coq: Are you there (saith he) my dear Cousin? The Lord bless you abundantly, and grant that in the whole course of your life, you may walk in his fear; you belong to an honourable Family, which have laid 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 myself; it is long since I have turned from corruptible things, and adhered to those that are prepared and laid up in Heaven. Every good and perfect Gift comes down from the Father of Lights, with whom there is no variableness nor shadow of turning. My God, my desire is to thee; My Soul thirsteth for thee as the parched ground: When shall I enter in, and present myself 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 through the Grace of God I am not tired; I wait, I believe, I persevere: Patience is much better than Knowledge; tho' it delay my Joy, yet it sets me in the way to it. The sense of divine Favour increaseth in me every moment: My pains are tolerable, but my Joy is inestimable; I am no more vexed with earthly cares: I have now no desires but after heavenly things: I remember when any new Book came out, how earnestly I have longed after it, till it came to my hands, being always desirous of learning something New: But now all that is but as dust: Thou art my All, O Lord! My good is to approach unto thee. O what a Library have I in God in whom is hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge: I shall no more behold things afar off and darkly; I shall no more know in part; but I shall be filled with the Knowledge of God as the Sea is covered with waters. Thou art the Teacher of Spirits; I have learned more Divinity in these ten days that thou art come to visit me, than I did in fifty years before: Thou hast brought me to myself, before I went astray, and was in the world; but now I am conversant in the School of my God, and he teacheth me after another manner than all those Doctors, in Reading whom I spent so much time: What Obscurity is there, and what Conjectures? yea what Vanity in all those things that proceed from an humane Spirit? What vast spaces must a man pass over before he find any fruit in them? But thy Doctrine, O my God, is perfect, and full of good fruits: My Soul is filled as with marrow and fatness. With my whole heart I renounce all other Knowledge; and cleave to this alone; Jesus Christ and him crucified: I give thee thanks, O Lord, that thou hast hid these things from the haughty-wise, and hast revealed them to the humble. This Body is feeble, but the Spirit is strong and enriched.  
§. 24. Then turning again to his Son, he said, My Son! God bless thee more and more; How greatly do I rejoice 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 Nephew's 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 striven 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 rejoicing in earnest.  
§. 25. Thus was the Thursday 
Friday, Jan. 6.  night passed over: The poor sick man was wearied, 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 myself 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 rejoice to see thee! I have yet many things to say to thee; Remember that thou speak to the Illustrious Princess' Dowagers, and tell them that I die devoted to them in all dutiful affection, and that I recommend unto them the utmost I can the Institution of the illustrious College 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 snatched away from us in the flower of his age, when both his Father's house, and the Commonwealth 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 Father's 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 encourage 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 breathe: The Lord brings me down: but he calls my Spirit to himself: The greatest thing by far is, I have no doubt of my Salvation; the Lord upholds me miraculously, to the end that I may edify 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 murmur. 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 myself: 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 Glorify 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 glorify 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.  
§. 27. Amongst the many Physicians that had attended on him, there was one Dr. Crucius a Roman Catholic, 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 entereth not into Judgement with his poor Servant: Christ hath died for my Sins, and is risen again for my Justification.  
A while after Mr. Wickelmans a Dutch Minister came, and spoke to him in the Latin 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 always 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 cried out,  
O welcome Crown! there is nothing else that I wait for: God dwells in me by his holy 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 fight the Good fight; he answered,  
In 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 will give me the wings of an Eagle that I may fly to the Carcase.  
Immediately he subjoined a verse or two out of one of Beza's French Poems, to this sense:  

" O Holy Word!  
" With all my Heart  
" To thee I fly.   
§. 29. Towards Evening the Pangs of death increased upon him; The extreme Pains of his bowels, his sudden 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 Comforted 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 a way of escape, that I may be able to bear it.  
When he looked towards his Wife, she thus addressed herself to him:  
My dear! I bless God, and rejoice for thee, that I have seen so much of the Grace of God in thee. To which he replied,  
Thou dost well (my dear Love;) The Lord confirm and strengthen thy joy; Mine is solid: I rejoice 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 myself: for I have been conscious of mine own infirmities, and that whatsoever good might be in me, was not of myself: The Glory 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 myself in my disease; for when I was first seized by it, I was ware that God called for me: Is it not time, my dearest love? Afflict not thyself: I go before; thou shalt follow e'er long: Thou hast afforded me help, and hast kindly succoured 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 Grandson,) 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 he be well guided.  
Then calling the Child, he said,  
Give me thy hand, my Son! See thy Grandfather upon his deathbed: Thou hast already lost thy Grandfather by Mother's side, who was a pious and upright man; Now thou losest thy Grandfather by Father's 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 is, 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 Uncle, 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 them 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 always 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 remembered the noble Virgin Anna Maria a Schurman, and said,  
She is a person to whom I have always 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 without 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 not time? O my God, let it suffice! Receive my Soul unto thyself, 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 symptom 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 defer 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: Rejoice 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, and 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 departed from me; but continue speaking to me whatsoever God shall bring to thy Heart and Lips, lest in my utmost 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 broke forth into Cries, 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,  
" OH hasten unto me!  
" 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 subjoin,  
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.   
How 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 Ardour, 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 replied,  
Here he is; here he dwells in me, and worketh powerfully according to his good pleasure.  
Then that place was alleged, 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 complete the whole in me. O Lord make perfect, and Crown thy work; That I may die the death of the righteous, and see those good things, which eye hath not seen, neither have they entered into the mind of man; Thou givest me a foretaste of these sweetnesses and refresh, 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; But 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.  
Presently upon this he fell into a great fainting (which Physicians 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 rejoiced him to understand the Affection which the Church at 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 shown on what stays 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, etc. To which he replied with a cheerful Countenance and Voice, O I have seen that a good while.  
I excused myself, that I could not pray to God with him, because I was a stranger to the French Tongue, and the bystanders understood not the Latin 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 always remember me in public 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, and he received me with a cheerful 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, I bid him Farewell: 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 Testify, Martinus Lydius Preacher at Breda.  
§. 35. About three of the 
Saturday Jan. 7.  Clock in the Morning his Wife came near to him, and beholding in his Countenance the Image of death, she cheerfully said:  
Farewell my dear▪ God rejoicing into eternal life.  
Thou sayest true (said he) I go unto my God and your God▪ We are all Gainers: Amen! Amen! Farewell my Son! Farewell 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; Open 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 passed eight of the Clock, and he discerned but little change, and found his Pulse much the same, he thought he might abide in that Agony until 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 extreme 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 of their silence:) Then said she, I pray you do you still feel the sense of inward Joy? To which he replied 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 thy loving kindness O God Therefore do the Sons of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings: Thou wilt abundantly satisfy them with the fatness of thy House, and make them to drink of the Rivers of thy Pleasures; which last sentence he rehearsed himself in the French Metre. And the same he did from Psal. 65. 4. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy Courts: We shall be abundantly Satisfied with the goodness of thy House, even of thy holy Temple.  
§. 36. Then his Son said, I am sorry that we are alone.  
I am not alone (said he) God is with me. Be you then an Evangelist to yourself, (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 sense of his mind with respect to those petitions. As thus,  
O great God, send thy Spirit of Consolation; [he is already come:] and give unto thy Servant the sense of thy love, [that he hath done;] Give unto him the Garment of Salvation, [he hath given it;] All is well, enter therefore thou good Servant into the Joy of thy Lord, he calleth thee. [At which words he raised up himself and stretched forth his Arms:] Also O Lord strengthen more and more the Faith of thy Servant in this last agony, let him see, let him hear thy voice, let him raise up himself, and take hold on Eternal Life, [Yea! I am of good Comfort.] Let us go to the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain Mercy, [It is done:] Leave therefore with a joyful mind this body to the Earth, and yield up thy Spirit into the hands of God, [who hath given it:] Take hold of the Shield of Faith; yea put on the whole Armour of God: [I have it.]  
Then he began himself to recite those words, I have fought a good fight, etc. 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 Moment's there came in some of his Friends who were witnesses of his happy Departure: But the Ministers above named, viz: Lydius and Hulsius, came too late to hear him speak any thing. Howbeit a short Prayer was made for him; after which when he had abode a while with his Eyes fixed, and his hands lift up towards Heaven; One of the standers by said; I am persuaded 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 days.    

AN APPENDIX: WHEREIN A CHRISTIAN 's Triumph over Death is Illustrated by some more memorable Examples.  
§ 1. THE Jewish Masters have a saying recorded in their Talm. Hierosol. which 
* Buxt. Adag. Hebraic.  Buxtorf thus translates: Non facienda sunt Monumenta justis (sc. defunctis): Verba ipsorum sunt monumenta ipsorum. That is, Monuments are not to be erected to the Righteous, when deceased; Their Words are their Monuments: They need not the help of Art to perpetuate, or to embalm their Names, who have lived and died eminent Examples of Piety and Holiness; For they shall be had in everlasting remembrance: The Memory of the 
Psal. 112. 6.  just is blessed: but the Name of the wicked shall rot, Prov. 10. 7.  
As for that worthy and holy person whose triumphant passage▪ through Death into the Joy of his Lord, we have already had a Relation of; It may be questioned, whether his most fruitful and learned works while he lived, or his gracious speeches and demeanour when he died, have contributed most to the Eternising of his Name; But it is beyond all Question, that both the one and the other have raised unto him a Monument Aere perennius; and as in both he hath been an eminent Instrument of Glorifying God in the World, and strengthening the Faith of his Brethren; so his Name will be remembered with Honour, and Thanksgiving to God on the account of both, from Generation to Generation. We have beheld in him what Bernard tells us he saw in dying Gerardus; viz. Hominem in morte exultantem, & insultantem morti. i e. A man greatly rejoicing in death, and insulting over death; which teacheth us that the Apostles holy Triumph, O death 
1 Cor. 15. 55.  where is thy Sting! O Grave where is thy Victory! is no vain flourish of words, or empty Speculation; but a Truth sealed to, in the Experience of a Christian, who with a Joy unspeakable and full of Glory, can join with him in the Agonyes of Death, in his following Song of Praise; Thanks be to God, which giveth us the Victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ. 
Ver. 57   
In such instances as these, we have a very valuable Evidence of the Truth and Excellency of the Christian Religion, and the Certainty of a future State, and blessed Immortality: Those things must needs be real in themselves, whose Efficacy is so great upon the Soul of a man in such an hour; Death is no Fancy; neither can Fables, with what Art or Cunning soever they are devised, relieve a man against the bitter pangs of it: The proud boasts of the Atheist and Debauchee are soon quelled by this King of Terrors; the very thought of whose approach surprises them with Consternation and guilty fears; But the lively hope of Pardon in the Blood of Christ, the Smiles of a reconciled God, and foretastes of heavenly Joy, make the true and sincere Christian more than a Conqueror in this Conflict: He can fear no evil because God is with him, whose presence makes his Sickbed easy, and gives him Prospect of the greatest Gain in the loss of this Temporal Life. He can say as the holy ' Apostle, To me to live is Christ, to die is Gain, Phil. 1. 21.  
The holy Life of the Righteous is abundantly recommended to our imitation by their blessed Death; The advantage of whose End made Balaam say, Let me die the Death of the Righteous and let my last End be like his! And certainly it is no small. Honour that God hath put upon the Profession of the Protestant Religion, by affording to many of the most Zealous Assertors thereof, such an abundant entrance into the everlasting 
2 Pet. 1. 11.  Kingdom of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; according to whose pure Word they have reform themselves, and in whose Merits alone they have Trusted. Not only the constant and triumphant death of thousands, who by the cursed Tyranny and Cruelty of Papists have been brought to Seal their Profession with their Blood; but also the placid and most Christian End of others that have died in their Beds, hath left great Convictions upon the Minds of Beholders (tho' before Enemies to their Religion) that there hath indeed been 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, an heavenly Excellency in it which they knew not of. This caused a Physician of the Popish Religion, that attended upon Dr. Ames in his last sickness at Rotterdam, when he observed what an extraordinary spirit of Faith and Holiness breathed in him to the last, to express himself after this manner: Siccine moriuntur Reformati! i. e. Do Protestants die at this Rate! And well indeed may they be surprised with wonder at such Examples, because the Principles of that Religion which they profess afford no such Consolations, or any firm ground for them, to those that live and die therein. When they come to die, they find their Debaucheries to be more than Venial Sins, and the Gild of them such as will not be expiated by any of those Means which they have trusted to while living under the strength of Papal delusions; and the most refined and Superstitious Devoto's in that Religion are in no better case, when by Death summoned before the dreadful Tribunal of Divine Justice, at whose Bar their own Righteousness (tho' patched up with a thousand humane Inventions) will stand them in no stead: To say nothing of those Idolatries which they are taught to practise as the most effectual means of meriting Heaven, and which accordingly they principally place their Confidence in: But O how sadly disappointed will they be, when Death arrests them, who have no better Antidote against its fatal Sting, than Popery can furnish them with! They must, if their Consciences be awakened, leave the World with trembling Horror, and breathe out their last with a sad complaint of the wretched Cheat of that pretended Religion, which fails them in their greatest Extremity. Well may they then take up the dying words of * Joannes Semeca, who about 
An Eminent Civilian in Germany.  the Year 1267. is reported to have left the World with this doleful Reflection. In our Life-time we had those who would frequent the Choir for us, who would till our Lands; 
Melch. Adam.  who would say Mass, and pray the Canonical Hours for us: But where now shall we find any one that will descend into Hell for us, and deliver us?  
§. 2. But it is time to return from this digression, and to prosecute our purpose, which is to present the Reader with some more eminent Instances of the Grace and Mercy of God towards, and the Efficacy of a lively Faith in, others of his Servants in their last Hours; who have been zealous Professors and Propagators of the True Religion and Faith of Christ while they lived, and have left this World with an holy Triumph in the full Assurance of Eternal Blessings, when they died. My design is, only to single out a few Instances, from many that might be with equal advantage pitched upon, were it not for swelling this little Tract beyond its due bounds.  
And the first I shall mention 
Mr. Rollock.  is, that memorable Example of a Christian and happy End, which some account of the last Hours of Mr. Rollock may furnish us with, who departed this Life at Edinburgh, Feb. 8. Anno 1598. being the Forty third year of his Age.  
§. 3. He was while living an eminent and very useful Instrument in the Reformation of the Church of Scotland, which he sought to promote by Evangelical Means, in the exercise of all Diligence in the Ministry of the Word, by his Learned and pious Writings, and most of all by a singular Example of Holiness and practical Religion in his Life and Conversation; which rendered him a burning and a shining Light in his day. Besides his extraordinary Labours on special Occasions, he had for some years before his death the principal Charge and Presidency over the then newly erected Academy of Edinburgh committed to him, which he administered to the great advantage of those under his care, and indeed of the whole Church; and in the faithful discharge of his duty in that great Trust, his Lord found him when he came to call him from this evil world into his Heavenly Kingdom and Glory; and how great his Affection was towards the service of his Lord, and what his care for the peace of Jerusalem, and the flourishing of true Religion, when himself was leaving this World, will be abundantly manifest in many passages during his last Sickness, which shall be recited in their proper place and order.  
When he found his distemper prevail, according to his wont Prudence he set in order what might concern his Family when he was gone, and prepared himself for a ready and cheerful submission to the Will of God. And when two of his special Friends came to visit him (that were Persons of some note and Eminency) he besought them that they would go to the King (who was then Young) and exhort him, as from him, to abide constant and unmoveable in the Profession of the True Religion to the end, and by no means suffer himself either by the hopes of enlarging his Kingdom, or the secret arts of Wicked men to be moved therefrom. The esteem and reverence he had for the Ministers of Christ, he expressed after this manner,  
This Ministry of Christ, though mean and abject in the account of men, shall at length shine with illustrious Glory.  
§. 4. Afterwards the Ministers of Edinburgh came to him and when they were set down he addressed himself to them in a copious and very solemn speech, wherein he tells them; That being worn out with his sickness, he breathed after and hoped for the close and Period of this life: And (saith he) I have not so learned or taught Christ, but that in him I should feel comfort under these Sorrows. The thread of my life will shortly be broken off, and I must pass unto that country which I have long and earnestly desired after.  
Then he proceeds to a Pathetical recommendation of the University to their care; and makes a most solemn Protestation (as in the presence of God, before whose Tribunal he must immediately appear) of his integrity and faithfulness in his Trust, both as a Pastor, and Rector of the University; That he had never suffered himself to be biased by any corrupt or sinister end, nor had any burden upon his Conscience with respect thereto: He professed the great care he had always taken of the public peace; but added,  
Yet neither did the love of Peace so bewitch me, as that I should not distinguish betwixt genuine and adulterate Peace; nor did my Affection towards my Prince seduce me, so as that to pleasure him I should bring the least spot upon my Conscience: But the Candour of my actions will shine when I am dead.  
He exhorted them to mutual peace and love; telling them▪ There was nothing more unseemly than that the Preachers of Peace should be rend with strife and discord amon● themselves; especially at suc● a time when the commo● Enemy (the Papist) lay i● wait for their ruin.  
And after Exhortations to render all dutiful respect and Obedience to their Prince; he dismissed them with this Benediction.  
The God and Father of Jesus Christ every you with all blessing, and strengthen you with all might unto the vigorous discharge of your Ministry.  
§. 5. When the Night came on, death seemed to be hastening, which he perceiving, entered into such discourses of Heavenly things as seemed to the bystanders so much above the rate of humane capacity to conceive and utter, that they were all filled with a joyful astonishment in hearing of them.  
The Physicians came and endeavoured (but in vain) by proper Medicines to assuage the force of his distemper; whereupon turning his speech to God, he said, Thou O God shalt heal me: And then poured out his prayers with a most ardent Zeal for the Remission of his sins through the Merit of the one and only Sacrifice of Christ; professing that he esteemed all things (though in appearance never so great) to be but dung, for the excellency of Christ Jesus; earnestly calling upon God that he would bring him to an happy and triumphant period of thi● Life, and grant that being covered with the Wings of Mercy, he might sweetly sleep i● the bosom of Jesus, and enjoy that sight of God's face which with frequent pant he thirsted for.  
I have seen thee darkly (said he) in the glass of thy Word; O grant me the long and much desired fruition of thy Countenance!  
He discoursed at that rate concerning the Resurrection, and Eternal Life, as if he had already forsaken the earth, and been translated into Heaven; with so great sense, and Life of Affection did he speak of these things: And then taking each one by the hand that was present with him, like the Patriarches of old, he blessed them with words full of Gravity and Holiness; closing his Benediction with suitable Exhortations to every one. That Night beyond Expectation he got a little rest.  
And the day following the Magistrates of the City, with many other persons of quality came to visit him: To whom he made a very grave discourse, in which he earnestly recommended the University to their favour and care, and nominated a fit person to them for his Successor therein: And as to his private concerns, he affectionately recommended to them also his dear Wife (who was then big with Child) greatly praising her love and tenderness towards him in all his weakness, and Afflictions; adding,  
I ingenuously profess to you, I have not laid up two Pence out of all my Stipends; for these worldly things were not my care, nor did I ever set my heart upon them.  
Those present solemnly promised to answer his desire, i● all that he had mentioned t● them; whereupon he exhorte● the Professors of Philosophy t● persevere in their work, an● yield due obedience to his Successor. And then he said, ● thank my God, that my memory, sight, hearing, and th● rest of my senses are as strong and lively as ever; But m● heart is estranged from thi● world; and why, O Lord Jesu● shouldst not thou enjoy m● Heart, who only hast a righ● thereto? This hath been my endeavour all my Life long, to dedicate and consecrate my heart to thee; take it to th● self, I beseech thee, that i● may remain with thee.  
§. 6. After he had spoken ●hese things, a gentle sleep came upon him, out of which when he awaked, he expressed a most ardent breathing to be dissolved, and to be with Christ.  
Come Lord Jesus (said he) break off the thread of this miserable Life! Make haste, O Lord, Tarry not! Jesus hath Redeemed me, that he might grant to me (not this frail, but) eternal Life. Come Jesus! Grant me that life for which thou hast redeemed me!  
And when those that stood about him lamented the great loss they should have of him, he said;  
I have passed through all the Steps of this life; and am now come to the last, why should I go back again? By the aid of thy presence, O Lord Jesus, I shall happily measure this Step also: Led thou me into that Glory which I have only seen through a Glass: O that I were conversant with thee!  
Upon occasion of some one signifying to him, that the next day was the Sabbath day, he thus expressed himself.  
Let thy Sabbath, O Lord, begin mine eternal Sabbath: Let my Eternal Sabbath receive the pledge of an happy beginning from thy Sabbath.  
Towards the middle of the Night he got a little rest, which the strength of his disease soon interrupted; and he supposing his last hour to draw near, sent for Mr. Walter Balcanquel, unto whom, when he was come in, he thus addressed himself:  
Forasmuch as you have for a long time had a Pastoral charge at Edinburgh, and our friendship is of no late date, I took care to have you sent for, that I might make manifest unto all the Reverence which from my Cradle I have had for the Ministry of Christ: I have indeed, according to the measure of my gift, already poured out my Prayers into the bosom of God; and now I entreat you to pray for me, I will join with my Heart and Affection; only desire not the protracting of this Life.  
Whereupon all that were present, falling on their Knees, Mr. Balcanquel prayed; but among other things he earnestly desired that it might please God to spare so worthy a man with them for some longer time, seeing both the Church and Commonwealth had so great need of his service; whereupon Mr. Rollock interrupted him, saying,  
I have enough of this Life; the only thing I desire is that heavenly Life, which is hid with God in Christ.  
When prayer was ended, he broke forth into an earnest commendation of the Efficacy of the Word Preached.  
The Word (said he) is both Life, and Death: nor can any 
2 Cor. 2. 16.  be saved without the Word. Believe me! 'Tis no trifling matter to preach the Word: It is not like the interpreting a Text of Plato or Aristotle; or the making an Oration embellished with the alluring Ornaments of speech: The Preaching of the Word consists in Holiness, Humility, and the powerful demonstration of the Spirit: How great my esteem of it hath ever been, God is Witness!  
Then turning his discourse into Prayer, he said; Come Lord Jesus! break asunder the Nerves of these Eyes, and give me other Eyes! I desire to be dissolved, and to be with thee; Hasten thy coming, O Lord Jesus, and defer no longer! Let this faint life go forth, that the better Life of God may enter in: Lord Jesus put forth thy hand into this body, and take out this Soul unto thyself.  
§. 7. From that time till the Sabbath day morning he kept silence, when again the long he had after his Father's House, were breathed forth in these words.  
Come Lord, and tarry not, I am wearied with the loathing of day and night; Come Lord Jesus, that I may come to thee! O sweet and happy divorce from this Life: Come Lord, who art my sweetness, and set this Soul at liberty that it may enjoy thee its Husband; break this Heart of mine in two, that it may fly to thee its Head.  
To this one replied, Hitherto Christ hath possessed your whole heart, and he will take it whole unto himself. To which he returned answer,  
I desire the breaking in two of this Heart, that this natural Life may be let out, and it may be wholly replenished with the Life of Christ.  
Then one of the bystanders said; Let no anxiety trouble you; your Lord is now hastening.  
Those (said he) are welcome tidings unto me; I would my Funeral was to be to morrow.  
Another said, Happy is that Soul which is so near to the Lord as yours is. To which he replied,  
There is nothing in me which I account not as dung, that I may win Christ: Christ is the only matter of my Comfort; my own Righteousness is a menstruous cloth.  
Being asked, if he desired to speak with any of the Ministers; he said, he would not give them trouble now they were just preparing themselves to preach.  
Let me (said he) chatter with my Lord like a Crane. Being informed that Sermon was begun. Lord (said he) grant that I may see what others now hear!  
About noon, when one comforted him with the remembrance of his unwearied pains and diligent endeavour to promote the Glory of God all his life time; he replied,  
I have nothing to Glory in but the Mercy of God in Christ Jesus: All other things I count but loss!  
After a little rest, a person of considerable rank visiting him, he again took the occasion of an earnest recommendation of what might tend to the promoting of Religion to his care in his Station: And in the following Night he was observed to say; I have a peaceful mind in a sick body; I am not perplexed with the fear of Death, Sin, or Satan, they have no Dominion over me: yet so great is the weight of my distemper, that it is much beyond expectation that I subsist to this hour. He bruises me as with a Pestle in the Mortar of Affliction, that he may form me for his own Kingdom.  
§. 8. On the next day being Monday, he said to those about him,  
It may seem strange, seeing I am so sorely handled with my disease, that my life should be protracted thus long: But with patience I wait for the good pleasure of the Lord: Let him do with me what pleaseth him, I will not dispute it with him: What is man that he should dare to contend with God yea though he should thrust him down to Hell, he must obey, and not reply upon God: Be gracious unto me, O Lord, for Christ Jesus sake: I am not ashamed to profess that I never before attained to so high a pitch of the Knowledge of God, as I have done in this sickness. O what a fearful thing is it to fall into the hands of the Lord! But Mercy is laid up for me in Christ. Why art thou Sorrowful, O my Soul? why art thou cast down within me? thou shalt by and by obtain a most pleasant sight, and congress.  
Towards evening, he told his Friends that he experienced in himself the truth of the sixth Psalm, and repeated some Passages therein; as verse 2. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak: O Lord heal me, for my bones are vexed: To which he added, Christ will bear my burden, and I will follow, him being unheld by his Grace.  
When those that were about him, observing the bitterness and extremity of his disease, broke out into Tears and Lamentation for him.  
Lament not my case (said he) but weep for your own sins; seeing none are free from sin, none want occasion of weeping; but as for me, I shall quickly see the end and consummation of all.  
The care of his Funeral he recommended to two of his entire Friends present, and when he had finished his Directions about what he would have done therein; he said,  
Why should I not take care of this body, seeing that also shall be glorified, and made conformable to the glorious body of Christ: (and looking upon his hands) These very hands shall shine with excellent Glory.  
After this he was not able to speak much; but to the very last what he did utter was with a wonderful savour, still expressing the inward joy and peace of his Soul, and a most assured Confidence of a complete and glorious Victory in this last conflict; and in a few hours he finished his course; and sweetly slept in Jesus.  
Before I pass to another Story, I cannot but mention one thing more that happened a little before this holy man drew his last breath; And it is this.  
One of his kindred coming in to see him, and perceiving that he was nigh to death, being himself a Stranger to Religion and Piety, yet convinced that it could not but be well with so holy a man as Mr. Rollock, entreated of him, That when he came to Heaven, he would Mediate for him and the rest of his Friends here below. But how grievous this ignorant and impious request was to the Soul of this blessed Saint, will be easily guessed by those, that as he did, love the honour of Christ more than their own lives; Though before he lay as one ready to give up the Ghost, at the hearing of this, his Zeal was so stirred in him, that he raises himself upright, and with a great fervency replies, I refuse that Office: Christ is the only Mediator. And so deep was the impression of trouble this made upon his Spirit, that a while after, when his elder Brother came to visit him, he left this charge upon him.  
Do you (said he) rebuke that Kinsman of ours, and admonish him that he take another course, otherwise there is no Salvation for him, but most certain ruin.  
§. 9 The next instance I shall touch upon, is that of Mr. John 
Oecolampadius.  Oecolampadius, who while he lived was also an eminent Instrument in the Reformation of Religion, and one of the first (with Zuinglius and others) whose labours it pleased God to succeed for the accomplishing of an happy beginning of that great work in Basil, and other of the Svisse Cantons: He was a person very considerable both for his Learning and Piety; but for nothing more to be commended, than for his Peaceable temper, and Christian Moderation, in those controversies with which the reformed Churches were then exercised among themselves in the business of the Lords Supper: For though he was both free in declaring, and constant in asserting that truth which the Lord had made known to him, yet his great care was, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, to speak the truth in love; and to manage the defence thereof without bitterness towards, or Provocation of, those that did in that point dissent from him. And as he was a man studious of Peace in his life, so it pleased the Lord to guard his Soul with a Peace that passeth all understanding, and to fill his Heart with Spiritual and Heavenly joy when he came to die.  
After he had for some considerable time laboured in the Ministry of the Word at Basil, it pleased God there to visit him with his last sickness, in the Forty ninth year of his Age, which he presently apprehended would prove mortal to him, and accordingly gave warning to his Friends that they should expect no other: But so far was he from being terrified by the approach of death, that on the contrary he expressed the greatest long after that Heavenly light, and Crown of Glory which he saw ready prepared for him, so soon as the earthly house of this Tabernacle should be taken down: He waited not for the Consolations of others in this last conflict, but was ready to Minister Consolation to all that were about him; insomuch that his most Christian and comfortable End, was no less for the Confirmation and encouragement of the Godly in their Holy profession, than his Doctrine and blameless Life had been. He was an example of dying well, as he had been before of living well: of which abundant testimony is given by those worthy men that familiarly and almost constantly conversed. with him in these his last hours. Among whom Simon Grynaeus, a man whose praise is in the Reformed Churches, was one; who hath left us the account of the following discourse that this pious Servant of Christ made to him and the rest of the Ministers of the Church, a little before his departure; which alone is sufficient to justify all that hath been before said of the frame of his Spirit upon his dying bed. It is as follows.  
§. 10. You see Brethren what the business is: The Lord is at hand, he cometh, and is now about to take me hence: and therefore I was desirous to call you first, and with my dearest Friends to satiate this Soul of mine with a sincere Joy in the Lord, and true consolation. What shall we say then in this last Embrace, O ye Servants of Christ, whom the same Love to their Lord, the same Study, and the same Doctrine hath most closely knit together! Salvation is obtained; It is obtained (I say) by Christ; and we have all Confidence of the Kingdom of God: Our Doctrine is certain, and light is prepared for our feet: It is meet that all Sorrow, all fears of Life or Death, all doubting and error should be banished far away: Only this (my Brethren!) this only remains, that we constantly and faithfully persevere in those footsteps of Christ which we have already entered upon, by maintaining Purity of Doctrine in the first place, and then by a Life in all things conformed to the true Word of God: Other things he will take care of who is Mighty, and of his own accord watcheth his own, even Christ our Lord: He will defend his own Church: Let us see to it therefore (Brethren!) that our light so shine that God the Father may be glorified in us, and the Name of Christ rendered illustrious through the light of your Sincerity and holy Life. See that you love one another in Truth; and lead your whole Life as under the Eye, and in the sight of God: 'Tis to no purpose to press Piety with words only; The light of Truth and Holiness in Life, with the true and Heavenly Spirit of the Mind, are necessary, if we would vanquish Satan, and convert the World to our Lord Christ. For (O my Brethren!) What clouds are there arising, and what a tempest draws near! what alienation of men, and what impiety is at the door! But Brethren! It behoves you to stand fast, and to abide it: The Lord himself will be present with you in his Concerns: O that my Lot were to undergo these dangers with you! and that I could often spill this Life for the Truth! But however Love is undivided, and the bond in Christ indissoluble; all things are common to the Godly among themselves.  
These things he uttered with respect to the common Cause of Religion; And as to what concerned himself he told them,  
I matter not the scandal which some have imputed to me, as if I had corrupted the Truth: Through the Grace of God, I am now going to the Tribunal of Christ with a good Conscience: There it will be manifest that the Church hath not been seduced by us. And of this Solemn Protestation I leave you my Witnesses, which I also confirm with my last breath.  
The next day (which was the fifteenth from his first sickness) he caused his Children to be brought before him, and first took them by the hand, than stroaked each of them, and calling them by their Names said,  
Thou Eusebius, thou Irene, and thou Alethea, my dear Children! see that you love God.  
And because by reason of their age, they were not yet capable of attending to the Charge of their dying Father (the Eldest being but about three years Old) he turned him to his Wife and the rest of his Relations present, and said,  
It is you that I have bound by this charge to do your Endeavour, that according to my desire and what they now hear, my Children may be Pious, Peaceable, and Faithful. This he spoke with allusion to the signification of their Names: And their Mother with the rest, signifying their acceptance of this charge; he desired them to take a way the Children again.  
The Last night he lived here being come, his inward Joy did no way abate, but rather increase as death drew nearer to him. One of his intimate friends coming, in he asked him, what News he had brought; his Friend told him, None: Why then (said he) I will tell you news; I shall in a little time be with the Lord Christ.  
A while after, when they asked, If the light did not offend him; touching his breast, he said, Abundé lucis est! Here is abundance of Light!  
The next morning his fatal hour came on, before which, he prayed with an ardent Affection for the Remission of Sin, repeating the 51 Psalms, from the beginning to the end; And then after a little pause and breathing, he renewed his prayer in these words: Christ Jesus save me! which were the last he uttered, and then sweetly breathed forth his pious Soul into the bosom of his Redeemer. He changed this Life for an Heavenly, on the first day of December in the year 1531. And as Mr. Rollock professed upon his deathbed, that he had laid up nothing of this World in his Life; so it is observed of this good man, That he made no Will, because he had nothing to dispose of:  
So far were these first Reformers from seeking great things for themselves! Riches profit not in the day of wrath, but Righteousness delivereth from death: 
Pro. 11. 4.  To be rich towards God, to have 
Luk. 12. 21  an Heart filled with Grace and Spiritual Comfort, and the testimony 
2 Cor. 1. 12  of a good Conscience, that with simplicity and godly sincerity we have had our conversation in the World; will prove the best portion when we come to die; and afford such ease to us upon a sick bed, as all the Treasure under Heaven cannot procure the like.  
§. 11. The Jewish Writers, from that Passage of the Psalmist: 
Psa. 41. 3.  The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing; thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness; have a Proverbial saying in Tract. Nedar: to this sense; Majestas divina sedet ad caput lecti aegrotantis: i. e. The divine Majesty sitteth (or abideth) at the sick man's beds-head. His sick bed is turned into a Sanctuary, by the Gracious presence of God with him. This we have seen verified in the former Examples, and shall yet meet with a further Confirmation of, in the experience of Joachimus Curaeus, 
Curaeus.  a Learned and Pious Doctor of Physic in Germany; and a Zealous Protestant; who finished his course in the year 1573. being the Forty first currant of his age. He was a person that esteemed Religion to be his greatest concern while he lived, and continually exercised himself in a diligent and serious practice thereof; And as he would by no means be diverted from working out his own Salvation with fear and trembling, by fervent Prayer, and all manner of Holy Conversation in the World, so it pleased God when he called him out of the World, to afford him such an abundant Enjoyment and sense of his love in Christ, as carried him through the Agonies of death with a more than ordinary Triumph and rejoicing. In his last hours it was most convincingly manifest, that Christ had given unto him a large draught of that water of Life, which was in him a well of water springing up unto Eternal Life; from which blessed Fountain he poured forth abundant Consolations to all that were with him in that Conflict, if so happy a departure, and so sweet a sleep, as death was made to him, may yet be called a Conflict.  
When he found his sickness had prevailed over Nature so far, as that his dissolution must needs be hastening on, he wholly applied himself to ardent Prayers and Supplications unto God, making use of that exercise for the ease and support of his Soul in sickness, which had been his delight and Comfort in his health; And several times in one day, causing his his Wife and Children to come to him, he did with an inexpressible Zeal and Affection exhort them to Piety and Virtue; and then in a solemn manner recommended both them and his last charge to them, to the blessing of God; who in this also heard the Prayers of his Servant; and raised up two of his Sons after him, to be eminent examples both of Piety Virtue and Learning in their Generation; thereby making good his word, That the Generation of the upright shall be blessed.  
§. 12. Being taken away in the midst of his years, at that age which was the ripest for Service, he would often repeat the mournful complaint of Hezekiah; I have cut off like a Weaver my life, &c: But then his perfect acquiescence in the will of God, and rejoicing in his Salvation, was as frequently expressed, in the following words, which are some of those holy say which plentifully issued from his pure Heart in this last sickness: viz.  
I am broken, O Lord! but it satisfies me that thy hand hath done this, not the Devil. The Body indeed suffers because of Sin, but thou Comfortest my Soul with a most sure Hope, and expectation of eternal Life. I believe, O Lord! I believe; but do thou help mine unbelief: I have received a Message of death, but I will wrestle with thee O Lord Jesus, after the Example of thy holy Pilgrim Jacob, until the Morning beams of thy light break up, arise, and shine upon me; neither will I let thee go unless thou bless me, and my Soul be saved; Therefore O Jesus Christ, thou wilt bless me, and save my Soul, giving unto me a Believer, Remission of Sins, Righteousness and Life! Come Lord Jesus, and let all that love thee say, Come! And he that loves thee not, let him be Anathema Maranatha: Thou knowest, O Lord, who art the searcher of Hearts, That I love thee; And thou lovest me, yea thou lovest me in Truth, and art my Redeemer by thy Merit and Efficacy. Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my Spirit, for thou hast Redeemed me, O Lord God of Truth.  
And then reflecting upon the time of his sickness, (for he died January 21.) he proceeded in further expressions of his assured Confidence in God, and inward Joy, through the lively hope and foretaste of the blessings of that Kingdom he was going to, after this manner:  
I shall be with thee in the beginning of this new Year; I shall be satiated with the sight of thee, O Lord! I shall drink with thee at thy Table the New Juice of Eternal Joy, even in thy Father's house, where there are many Mansions; there is a place for me also; and there shall I sit at thy Table. Refresh me, O Son of God, with thy Spirit, and with thy quickening presence. I come unto thee, Jesus Christ; Receive thou me according to thy Promise, which is the only repast, and Recreation of my Soul. jam meum pectus ardet conspectu vitae eternae, cujus verè sentio in me initia. i e. Now doth my Heart burn, through the sight of Eternal Life, the Beginnings of which I truly feel in myself: And this is Life Eternal, to know thee the true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. Through thy goodness I have learned, and I have taught others, rightly to acknowledge thee: Do thou again acknowledge me, O Son of God, and embrace me with thy Saving Grace, even with thy Holy Spirit; do thou present this Soul to thy Eternal Father, who will readily receive it from thy hand; My desire and rejoicing is to come unto him; and because I am not yet come, all delay seems long unto me; O thou Sun of Righteousness, light me into Eternal light and Righteousness: I desire, with thine Apostle, to be dissolved, and to be with thee; Lose me, that I may be with thee: I am greatly wearied, and I wait for the entertainment which thou hast shown me. As the Traveller in his Journey, at Night time desires the Sunrising; so do I desire after the clear light, even the sight of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. When my voice and speech shall fail me, Grant, O Merciful Saviour, that thy Holy Spirit may speak unto thee in my Heart, and make intercession for me with groan that cannot be uttered: Let his motions spring up in my breast, and move thy Heart unto Mercy towards me. Lord Jesus Christ, who sittest at the right hand of thy Eternal Father, receive my Spirit.  
§. 13. These were the Meditations, and this the exercise of this Holy man upon his dying bed: He felt this Tabernacle to be falling, but knew he had an house not made with hands, Eternal in the Heavens; and his pious Soul was filled with Heavenly triumph, in the certain expectation of a Glorious Resurrection of that same body of his, which was now ready to be sown in corruption, which with an admirable sweetness and comfort, he thus expressed:  
I shall see thee my Saviour, in my flesh, which thou hast exalted to the right hand of the Eternal Father; and I will give thee thanks in the presence of thy Father, for all the Good things which thou hast communicated unto me. Yea thou wilt place thy Holy Angels to be the Guardians of my Body, that they may keep my dust, which hath been, and to all Eternity shall be, the dwelling place of thy Holy Spirit. It is impossible that this flesh of mine, which is the Temple of the Holy Ghost, this Mass of my body, which is quickened by the effusion, and communication of the Spirit of Christ, and so inserted into the flesh of Christ, should be reduced unto nothing, or abide in death, and ever remain dust and ashes: But thou who art the Author of Life, will remand from the Earth this thine own Image, even out of the smallest Crumbs of dust and ashes that are there; By sending forth thy breath thou wilt again build up my body alive and Glorious, which shall be the habitation of the whole Divinity, dwelling therein to all Eternity. There shall we follow the Lamb whithersoever he shall go; O Guide truly fair and Divine! There shall we sing a New Song: Let us rejoice! Hallelujah!  
O Come, let us go forth to meet our Saviour: Our 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  Right as Citizens is in Heaven; but in this Life we must begin Eternal Life, and follow the order which Christ hath appointed; We shall be clothed upon, if so be that we be not found Naked: That most lovely Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world, will lead us unto the Fountains of living Waters, and wipe away all Tears from our Eyes. Eye hath not seen, nor Ear heard, neither have entered into the Heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. This Earthly Life is Death, but that Life which Christ gins in me, is Life indeed; Now it is no more I that live, but Christ that liveth in me; therefore let him be praised. O happy Soul, in which thou Jesus Christ sittest as the Guide and Rector of all its actions and Motions. I see Heaven open unto me! Now lettest thou thy Servant departed in Peace, O Lord, for mine Eyes indeed have seen thy Salvation! Thou, O Christ, art the Resurrection and Life; How amiable are thy Tabernacles, O Lord! O Christ my Redeemer, carefully watch my Soul, that it suffer no detriment by the horrible and infernal Dragon, the Devil. Let my Soul be bound up in the bundle of Life; and let this my passage hence be happy; let it be to me the way to those that live an immortal and Heavenly Life.  
§. 14. After, this he again most affectionately prayed for his Wife and Children, but in terms arguing such a nearness to God and Holy Familiarity with him, as if a man had been speaking to his Friend, and devolving a care upon him that he knew most assuredly he would willingly take upon himself and see to; He mightily Comforted himself with the thoughts of Christ's sympathy and compassion, who (saith he) will certainly hear me in all these things. And when one exhorted him to be of good hope, for God would help him; he answered,  
'Tis right: The Lord will certainly help me, by a final deliverance; according to that; Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord: In the Lord than do I die, who is my Life; I die in the acknowledgement, Faith, and Confidence of Christ the Mediator, who is my Shade of defence, and my Brother, who clotheth me with the garment of his Righteousness; I shall therefore be happy, I shall be Righteous; O sweet Blessedness! sweet Righteousness! O sweet change and Translation from Sin to Innocency, from Darkness into Light, from Death to Life.  
Many Prayers also he put up for the Church of God, especially that the pure Doctrine of the Gospel might be transmitted without corruption to Posterity; and with Tears bewailed the wickedness of those who by their corrupt Notions were an hindrance to its course. And once more (a little before his Soul departed) his Friends being about him, he solemnly recommends himself to Christ, and repeats the Confession of his Faith; expressing great thankfulness to God for the Reformation, and for those that he had used as Instruments therein.  
I am now dying (said he) and dismissed as that Servant of God holy Simeon; I also being the Servant of God, and Holy; I die in the Confession of the writings of the Prophets and Holy Apostles; and of the Ancient Creeds; and also adhering to the Augustane Confession; I give thanks to God, That of his Infinite goodness he hath dispelled the darkness, and restored to us the Light and Purity of his Gospel.  
At length, in the midst of his Prayers and earnest breathe after God, he yielded up his Soul into the hands and bosom of his Redeemer, where he rests from his Labours, and his works follow him.  
§. 15. Another Instance worthy of our Remembrance and imitation, I shall give you, in Mr. Matthew Wesenbeck, an eminent Civilian; who after he had run the course of an Holy Life, from his first Conversion to the fifty fifth year of his Age, departed this Life at Wittenburg, in the year 1586.  
The means by which God first awakened him to seek after and embrace the knowledge of the Truth, was this.  
While he was studying the Law at Lovane, it fell out that there was a poor man in the City, who being blind made it his business to visit the Sick, and to instruct and comfort them as he could with Texts of Scripture, (in which he was well versed;) in recompense of which pious office, those that were well disposed, would relieve his Necessity with a piece of Bread and Cheese: After some time, this poor man was accused of Heresy, and committed to Prison; near this prison, Wesenbeck with his fellow Students were wont to recreate themselves with the Ball; on which occasion they often heard this blind man with a clear voice singing the Psalms of David according to Luther's Metaphrase; and this Holy exercise the good man performed with so much Devotion and Affection, as wrought in them a more than ordinary attention to him, although it was not without some danger to themselves; And it pleased God so to work upon Wesenbeck, by this example of Christian constancy and Zeal, together with the matter which he heard, that thenceforward he began diligently to search the Scriptures, and also to read the Writings of those of the Reformed Religion; by which means he became not only fully convinced of the Truth, but also received it in the Love thereof, and abode most constant in the Faith and Practice of it to his dying day; being an eminent example of Zeal and strict Piety in his whole life: He had an extraordinary Affection to the Holy Scriptures, but especially the book of Psalms and the New Testament were most dear and delightful to him: And notwithstanding the necessary course of his Studies, and (for some time also) great Practice in the Law, he usually spent at fit seasons no less than five hours in a day in Prayers and retired communion with God; He was not like many that can ●●d no leisure for Religion, ●hat is, cannot attend to work ●ut their own Salvation: but made Conscience to steer his whole course as a man resolved for Heaven: And his Righteousness and Charity towards men was not inferior to his Piety towards God; He ever abhorred those Artifices which ●re too common with practitioners in the Law; his Candour, faithfulness, and Justice in his practice, made his Name precious to all that knew him; And as it pleased God to bless him with a plentiful Supply of the good things of this world, so Religion taught him not to ●rust in uncertain Riches, but ●o be rich in good works; His way was to give a charge ●o all his Servants, that they should never turn away the Poor from his door without relief; And when they ha● not presently regarded the poor nor listened so soon as they ought to their cry, himself would open his Window and throw down Money to them.  
Thus did this good man spend his Life and his Substance in the Fear of God, and working Righteousness; and accordingly his latter end was Peace; for when he lay upon his death Bed he was filled with the Consolations of God: He woul● often repeat that of the Apostle Paul, Rom. 7. O wretche● man that I am, who shall deliver me from the Body of this death! I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.  
And that; 2 Cor. 1. He hath sealed us, and given the earnest of his Spirit in our Hearts, by which we cry, Abba, Father.  
Another time with great re●oycing he told those that were with him,  
That now God had shown to him a place of Eternal Joy, unto which he should immediately come; and the only thing he desired, was that his coming thither might be hastened.  
He would often rehearse divers passages out of the Psalms; as, The Lord is nigh to all that call upon him in Truth: He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him, he will hear their prayer and save them.  
And immediately before he gave up the Ghost, he professed; That he was in Covenant with the Lord Jesus Christ: which words were his last.  
§. 16. In these experiences we see that they which believe in Christ, never die; i. e. th●● never feel the S●ng of death nor fall under its power, but are enabled by the Faith of the Son of God perfectly to vanquish 〈◊〉 King of Terrors; yea though death assail them in his most affrighting shape, yet is he not able to remove them from their steadfastness, or to abate their Joys; we have innumerable proofs of this in the End of those Holy Martyrs, who though they have been called to seal their Witness for God by violent, yea by most cruel kinds of death, have notwithstanding finished their course with a most Glorious Peace, and rejoicing in the hope of their calling: Howbeit I shall not here insist on any of those instances; But to let you see that death in its darkest dress is welcome to a man assured of his Interest in Christ, and Peace with God, take the story of one Sebaldus Munster a Civilian, that flourished about the year, 1540 Whom it pleased the Lord to visit with the Plague, of which he died at Wittenberg, in a time when a general sickness raged there. This person, when some of his Friends came to visit and Comfort him a few hours before his death; he shown to them the Swell and pestiferous Ulcers which were broken out in his Hand and Arm; saying,  
And how do these Bracelets and precious Gems wherewith my Christ hath adorned me, please you?  
At which words when they broke forth into Tears, he farther said,  
Let not these by any means seem loathsome unto you; for with this Wedding-apparel am I going to enjoy that Heavenly Feast which I shall have with my Christ for ever. Thus shall I pass to that everlasting Council of most Excellent and holy Souls; and thus shall I be acceptable to God my Redeemer.  
Thus triumphing and full of Joy did he leave the World, having got a clear sight of a better, that is an Heavenly Country. And though to die of the Plague may seem to Sense very dismal, yet as Austin hath well observed; lib. 1. de Civitate Dei: cap. 11. Mala mors putanda non est, quam bona vita praecesserit, &c: i. e. No kind of Death is to be esteemed evil, which hath been preceded by a good Life: for nothing makes Death evil, but that which follows Death: Therefore they that of necessity must die once, need not be Thoughtful by what accident they may come to die, but rather whither they must go when they die. 'Tis an excellent saying of the Author of the Book of Wisdom: chap. 4. 7. The Righteous man though prevented by Death, shall be in rest. The most terrible or sudden stroke can make no breach upon his happiness to whom to live is Christ, and to die is gain. They are always safe that have made their Calling and Election sure; and on the contrary, such are always in danger that live without God in the World. I Remember upon occasion of that passage before cited from the Book of Wisdom, Mr. Forbs in his Instr. Histor. Theolog. makes mention of a very memorable Story of a pious and learned man that died suddenly in his Study; and when some were scandalised at it, rashly interpreting this Providence as a Testimony of God's displeasure against him; it so fell out by the wise and Gracious ordering of God (for their Conviction and a testimony to his servant) that he was found sitting with a Book open before him, and his finger pointed to these words, Justus quâcunque morte preoccupatus fuerit, in refrigerio erit. i e. By what Death soever the Righteous man is prevented, he shall be in rest.  
§. 17. These things may suffice as to my present design; And therefore I will close all, with the Addition of but one Story more, which for the remarkable circumstances of it, may be neither unprofitable nor ungrateful to those Readers which have not access to it in the Latin tongue, for whose accommodation and service the whole of this little Tract is intended. The Story I intent, is related by the excellent Dr. Rivet, in an Epistle written not long before his Death to his Brother, De bonâ Senectute: Of a good Old Age: And it is this:  
Jacobus Faber a great restorer both of Polite Learning and Religion in France, being a most Faithful and eminent Minister of the Gospel there, did in a time of very hot Persecution Fly with others; and for his security retired to Albret in Gascoign to the Queen of Navarre, a zealous Professor and Protectress of the Reformed Religion, with whom he was in Great esteem: On a certain day the Queen did advertise him, That she purposed to come and dine at his House; and in order thereto invited some Learned men with whose Conference she was much pleased, to accompany her there. While they were at Dinner, Faber began to be exceeding sad, and now and then to break out into tears. At which the Queen complained, and desired him to tell the cause of such heaviness, when she was come to dine and be merry with him: At last he answered,  
And how can I (most Serene Queen) be cheerful myself, or make others cheerful, who am the most wicked man that the Earth bears.  
And what wickedness so great (saith she) can you be guilty of, who from your Youth have been esteemed to lead so holy a Life.  
I am (said he) now of the age of an hundred and one years, and am free from the touch of any Woman in all this time; neither do I remember aught that burdens my Conscience, or should make me afraid to leave the World, except one sin, which I believe too is pardonable.  
And when she pressed him to declare what it was, he could not speak a while for the abundance of tears; but at length said:  
How can I stand before the Tribunal of God, who have purely and sincerely taught many the Holy Gospel of the Son of God, who following my Doctrine have constantly endured a thousand torments, and death it self; when I myself an unconstant Teacher, did flee? and tho' I had lived long enough, and should not have feared Death, but rather coveted it, yet I withdrew myself, and cowardly transgressed the Command of my God.  
Whereupon the Queen (as she was very eloquent, and full of Divine Say) discoursed largely to him, and did by many Examples show, that the same thing had happened to many Good and Holy men who were now in the Kingdom of God; and therefore he ought not in any wise to despair of the Goodness and Mercy of God towards him. And many things to the same purpose were added by others present.  
Upon which he was comforted, and became cheerful again; but said,  
Now therefore nothing remains, but that I go from hence to God, as soon as I have made my Will; I have that Impression, that I must defer no longer, for I perceive God calls me.  
Then fixing his eyes on the Queen; Madam (said he) I appoint you my Heir; and to your Preacher Mr. Gerard I bequeath all my Books; my , and whatsoever else I have, I give to the Poor. Other things I commend to God.  
At this the Queen smiling, asked, What then shall I have James out of the Inheritance? The care (said he) of distributing this to the Poor.  
It is well, (said she) I solemnly profess, this Legacy is more acceptable to me, than if the King of France my Brother had named me his Heir.  
After this his Countenance was cheerful; and he said; O Queen, I have need of some Rest; Be ye cheerful, and in the mean time Farewell. So he left them at Table, and laid him down upon a Bed that was near, where as they thought, he lay sleeping, but was indeed fallen asleep in the Lord, without the least sign of any previous distemper; for when they went to awake him they found him dead, to their great admiration. Such was the end of this Holy man; which as Rivet observes, leaves to us an Example of the Mercy of God ●o this his Servant, in awakening such a Gracious sense of ●is former weakness in him, and applying his Pardoning Grace in Christ to him before he was called hence; and also a serious Warning unto all, to get their Accounts for another World cleared before they come to die; That being well assured of the Favour of God in Christ, and of the Soundness of their Faith and Repentance, they may expect their Change in Peace: Conscience is a tender thing, and what we count but small while we live, may make a Dying-bed very uneasy to us; And therefore as we tender our own Peace and Comfort when we come to Die, it most nearly concerns us to be Serious while we Live, and as the Apostle saith, To walk circumspectly, not as Fools, 
Ephes. 5. 15, 16.  but as Wise; Redeeming the Time, because the Days are evil.  
FINIS.   

Books Printed for and Sold by Benjamin Alsop at the Angel and Bible in the Poultry.  
SIxty one Sermons preached upon public occasions by Dr. Adam Littleton: in fol.  
Dr. Manton's Sermons on the 119 Psalm. Fol.  
Some Discourses, Sermons and Remains of the Reverend Mr. Jos. Glanvile, late Rector of Bath, and Chaplain in ordinary to his Majesty. Quar.  
Melius Inquirendum; in Oct: Vtrum Horum, or the thirty nine Articles of the Church of England at large recited, and compared with the Doctrines of those commonly called Presbyterian on the one side, and the Tenets of the Church of Rome on the other: by Henry Care: Octavo.  
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The Holy War, By John Bunyan: Octa.  
Divine Meditations, with a daily directory: by Sir William Waller: Octa.  
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The Glory of Freegrace displayed: by Stephen Lob: Oct.  
A discourse of Temptations to Atheistical and Blasphemous Thoughts, Self Murder, Despair, and Presumption: by Dr. John Collings: in Octa.  
A Reasonable Account why some Pious Nonconformists Ministers Judge it sinful, for them to perform their Ministerial Acts by the prescribed forms of others: with a Supplement and defence: All three being Replies to Dr. Faulkner.  
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The mischief of Impositions, being an Answer to Dr. Stillingfleets Sermon of Separation.  
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An Argument for Toleration; by a Country Gentleman.  
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