The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.
~ Isaiah 57:1
For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
~ Philippians 1:23
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
~ 1 Corinthians 15:54-57
An Extract of the Life and Death of Mr. John Janeway, by James Wheatley.
CHAP. V. An Account of the latter Part of his Life.
For the latter Part of his Life, he lived like a Man that was quite weary of the World, and that looked upon himself as a Stranger here, and lived in the constant Sight of a better. He plainly declared himself but a Pilgrim that looked for a better Country, a City that had Foundations, whose Builder and Maker was God. His Habit, his Language, his Deportment, all spoke him one of another World. His Meditations were so intense, long, and frequent, that they ripened him apace for Heaven, but somewhat weakened his Body. Few Christians attain to such a holy Contempt of the World, and to such clear, joyful, constant Apprehensions of the transcendent Glories of the unseen World.
He made it his whole Business to keep up sensible Communion with God, and to grow into an humble Familiarity with God, and to maintain it. And if by reason of Company, or any necessary Business, this was in any Measure interrupted, he would complain like one out of his Element, till his Spirit was recovered into a delightful, unmixed, free Intercourse with God. He was never so well satisfied, as when he was more immediately engaged in what brought him nearer to God; and by this he constantly enjoyed those Comforts, which others rarely meet with. His Graces and Experiences toward his End grew to Astonishment. His Faith got up to a full Assurance; his Desires into a kind of Enjoyment. He was oft brought into the Banquetting-house, and there Christ’s Banner over him was Love; and he sate down under his Shadow with great Delight, and his Fruit was pleasant unto his Taste. His Eyes beheld the King in his Beauty, and while he sate at his Table, his Spikenard did send forth its pleasant Smell: He had frequent Visions of Glory, lay in the Bosom of his Master, and was surely a very beloved Disciple, and highly favoured. His Lord oft call’d him up to the Mount to him, and let him see his excellent Glory. O the sweet Fore-taste that he had of those Pleasures that are at the right Hand of God! How oft was he feasted with the Feast of fat Things, those Wines on the Lees well refined; and sometimes he was like a Giant refresh’d with new Wine, rejoicing to run the Race that was set before him, whether of doing or of suffering. He was even sick of Love, and he could say to the poor unexperienced World, O taste and see! and to Christians, Come and I will tell you what God hath done for my Soul. O what do Christians mean that they do no more to get their Senses spiritually exercised? O why do they not make Religion the very Business of their Lives? O why is the Soul, Christ and Glory thus despised? Is there nothing in Communion with God? Are all those Comforts of Christians, that follow hard after him worth Nothing? Is it not worth the while to make one’s Calling and Election sure? O why do Men and Women jest and dally in the great Matter of Eternity? Little do People think what they slight, when they are seldom and formal in secret Duties, and when they neglect the great Duty of Meditation, which I have through rich Mercy found so sweet and refreshing: O what do Christians mean, that they keep at such a Distance from a Christ? Did they but know the thousandth Part of that Sweetness which is in him, they could not choose but follow him hard; they would run, and not be weary; and walk, and not be faint.
He could sensibly and experimentally commend the Ways of God to the poor unexperienced World, and say, his Ways are Pleasantness; and justify Wisdom, and say, her Paths were Peace. He could take off those Aspersions, which the Devil and the World cast upon Godliness in the Power of it. Here is one that could challenge all the Atheists in the World to dispute; here is one that could bring sensible Demonstrations to prove a Deity, and the Reality and Excellencies of Invisibles; which these Fools and Madmen make the Subject of their Scorn: Here is one that would not change Delights with the greatest Epicures living, and vie Pleasure with all the Sensualists of the World. Which of them all could in the Midst of their Jollity say, This is the Pleasure that shall last for ever? Which of them can say among their Cups, I can now look Death in the Face, and, this very Moment I can be content, yea glad, to leave these Delights, as knowing I shall enjoy better. And this he could do, when he fared deliciously in spiritual Banquets every Day: He could upon better Reason than he did, say, Soul, thou hast Goods laid up for many Years: He knew full well, that what he did here enjoy, was but a little to what he should have shortly. In his Presence there is Fulness of Joy; at his right Hand there are Pleasures for evermore. Where is the Belshazzar that would not quake in the midst of his Cups, whilst he is quaffing the richest Wine, if he should see a Hand upon the Wall writing bitter things against him, telling him, that this Night his Soul must be required of him, that now he must come away, and give an Account of all his ungodly Pleasures, before the mighty God? Where is the Sinner that could be contented to hear the Lord roaring out of Zion, whilst he is roaring in the Tavern? Which of them would be glad to hear the Trumpet sound, and to hear that Voice, Arise ye Dead and come to Judgment? Which of them would rejoice to see the Mountains quake, the Elements melting with fervent Heat, and the Earth consumed with Flames; and the Lord Christ whom they despised, coming in the Clouds with Millions of his Saints and Angels, to be avenged upon those that knew not God, and obeyed not his Gospel? Is not that a blessed State, when a Man can lift up his Head with Joy, when others tremble with Fear, and sink with Sorrow! And this was the Condition of this holy young Man. In the midst of all worldly Comforts he longed for Death; and the Thoughts of the Day of Judgment made all his Enjoyments sweeter. O, how did he long for the Coming of Christ! Whilst some have been discoursing by him of that great and terrible Day of the Lord, he would smile, and humbly express his Delight in the Fore-thought of that approaching Hour.
I remember once there was a great Talk, that one had foretold the Dooms-day should be upon such a Day: Although he blamed their daring Folly, that would pretend to know that which was hid from the Angels themselves; yet granting their Suspicion to be true, what then, said he? What if the Day of Judgment were come, as it will most certainly come shortly? If I were sure the Day of Judgment were to begin within an Hour, I should be glad with all my Heart. If at this very instant I should hear such Thunderings, and see such Lightnings, as Israel did at Mount Sinai, I am persuaded my very Heart would leap for Joy. Through infinite Mercy, the very Meditation of that Day hath even ravished my Soul, and the Thought of the Certainty and Nearness of it is more refreshing to me than the Comforts of the whole World. Surely nothing can more revive my Spirits than to behold the blessed Jesus, the Joy, Life, and Beauty of my Soul. Would it not more rejoice me than Joseph’s Waggons did old Jacob? I lately dreamed that the Day of Judgment was come. Methought I heard terrible Cracks of Thunder, and saw dreadful Lightnings; the Foundations of the Earth did shake, and the Heavens were rolled together as a Garment; yea, all Things visible were in a Flame; methought I saw the Graves opened, and the Earth and Sea giving up their Dead; methought I saw Millions of Angels, and Christ coming in the Clouds: Methought I beheld the Ancient of Days sitting upon his Throne, and all other Thrones cast down. Methought I beheld him whose Garments were white as Snow, and the Hair of his Head like pure Wool: His Throne was like the fiery Flame, and his Wheels as burning Fire; a fiery Stream issued and came forth from him; thousands of ten thousands ministred unto him; and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; and the Judgment was set, and the Books were opened. O with what an Extasy of Joy was I surprized! Methought it was the most heart-raising Sight that ever my Eyes beheld: And then I cried out, I have waited for thy Salvation, O God; and so I mounted into the Air, to meet my Lord in the Clouds.
This I record, only to shew, how far he was from being daunted at the Thoughts of Death or Judgment: And to let other Christians know what is attainable in this Life; and what Folly it is, for us to take up with so little, when our Lord is pleased to make such noble Provisions for us, and by wise and diligent Improvement of those Means which God hath offered us, we may have an Entrance administred to us abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Oh how comfortable, how honourable, and how profitable is this State! These are your Men that quit themselves like Christians. This is true Gallantry, noble Manhood, real Valour! This was the Condition of Mr. Janeway for about three Years before he died. I will not deny but that he had some Clouds; but he usually walked in a sweet, even, humble Serenity of Spirit; and though he daily questioned many Actions, yet did he not question his State, but had his Heart fixed upon that Rock that neither Waves nor Winds could shake. His Senses were still so spiritually exercised, as that he could look up to Heaven as his Country and Inheritance, and to God as his Father, and to Christ as his Redeemer; and (that which is scarce to be heard of) he counted it the highest Act of Patience to be willing to live, and a very great Self-denial to be contented to be in this World, and to dwell in this Side a full and eternal Enjoyment of that royal glorious One whom his Soul was so much in love with.
CHAP. VI. His last Sickness, and Death.
HIS Body is now shaken again, and he falls into a deep Consumption; but, this Messenger of God did not in the least damp him. Spitting of Blood was no ghastly thing to one that had his Eye upon the Blood of Jesus; faint Sweats did not daunt him that had always such revival Cordials at hand. It’s matter of Joy to him, that he was now in some Hopes of having his earnest Desires satisfied.
After he had been a while sick, a sudden Dimness seized upon his Eyes: By and by his Sight quite failed; and there was such a visible Alteration in him, that he and others judged these things to be the Symptoms of Death approaching. But when he was thus taken, he was not in the least surprized; but was lifted up with Joy to think what a Life he was going to, looking upon Death itself as one of his Father’s Servants, and his Friends, that was sent as a Messenger to conduct him safely to his glorious Palace.
When he felt his Body ready to faint, he called to his Mother, and said, Dear Mother, I am dying, but I beseech you be not troubled; for I am, through Mercy, quite above the Fears of Death; It’s no great Matter, I have nothing troubles me but the Apprehensions of your Grief. I am going to him whom I love above Life.
But it pleased the Lord to raise him again a little out of his fainting Fit, for his Master had yet more Work for him to do before he must receive his Wages. Although his outward Man decayed apace, yet he is renew’d in the inward Man Day by Day: His Graces were never more active, and his Experiences never greater. When one would have thought, he should have been taken up with his Distemper, and that it had been enough for him to grapple with his Pains, he quite forgets his Weakness; and is so swallowed up of the Life to come, that he had scarce Leisure to think of his Sickness.
For several Weeks together, I never heard the least Word that favoured with any Complaint or Weariness under the Hand of God, except his eager Desire to be with Christ be counted Complaining, and his Haste to be in Heaven, Impatience. Now was the time when one might have seen Heaven and the Glory of another World realized to Sense. His Faith grew exceedingly, and his Life was proportionable, and his Joys were equal to both.
O the rare Attainments! The high and divine Expressions that dropped from his Mouth! I have not Words to express what a strange, triumphant, angelical Frame, he was in, for some considerable Time together. It was a very Heaven upon Earth, to hear and see a Man admiring God at such a rate. Those that did not see, cannot well conceive, what a sweet Frame he was in, for at least six Weeks before he died. His Soul was almost always filled with those Joys unspeakable and full of Glory. How oft would he cry out, Oh that I could let you know what I now feel! Oh, that I could shew you what I see! Oh, that I could express the thousandth Part of that Sweetness that I now find in Christ! You would all think it then well worth the while to make it your Business to be religious. Oh my dear Friends, we little think what Christ is worth upon a Death-bed. I would not for a World, nay for Millions of Worlds, be now without Christ and a Pardon. I would not for a World be to live any longer: The very Thoughts of a Possibility of Recovery, makes me tremble.
When one came to visit him, and told him, that he hoped it might please God to raise him again, and that he had seen many a weaker Man restored to Health, and that lived many a good Year after: And do you think to please me (said he) by such Discourse as this? No, Friend, you are much mistaken in me, if you think that the Thoughts of Life, and Health, and the World, are pleasing to me. The World hath quite lost its Excellency in my Judgment. O how poor and contemptible a thing it is in all its Glory, compared with the Glory of that invisible World which I now live in the Sight of! And as for Life, Christ is my Life, Health, and Strength; and I know, I shall have another kind of Life, when I leave this. I tell you it would incomparably more please me, if you should say to me, [You are no Man of this World; you cannot possibly hold out long; before To-morrow you will be in Eternity] I tell you I do so long to be with Christ, that I could be contented to be cut in Pieces, and to be put to the most exquisite Torments, so I might but die, and be with Christ. Oh, how sweet is Jesus! Come Lord Jesus, come quickly. Death do thy worst! Death hath lost its terribleness. Death, it is nothing. I say, Death is nothing (through Grace) to me. I can as easily die as shut my Eyes, to turn my Head and sleep: I long to be with Christ; I long to die.
His Mother and Brethren standing by him, he said, Dear Mother, I beseech you earnestly as ever I desired any thing of you in my Life, that you would chearfully give me up to Christ; do not hinder me, now I am going to Rest and Glory. I am afraid of your Prayers, lest they pull one way, and mine another.
And then turning to his Brethren, he speak thus to them; I charge you all, do not pray for my Life any more: you do me wrong, if you do. Oh that Glory, the unspeakable Glory that I behold. My Heart is full, my Heart is full. Christ smiles and I cannot chuse but smile: Can you find in your Heart to stop me, who am now going to the compleat and eternal Enjoyment of Christ? Would you keep me from my Crown? The Arms of my blessed Saviour are open to embrace me; the Angels stand ready to Page 29 carry my Soul into his Bosom. Oh, did you but see what I see, you would all cry out with me, how long, dear Lord; come Lord Jesus, come quickly! Oh, why are his Chariot-wheels so long a coming.
And all this while he lay like a triumphing Conqueror, smiling and rejoicing in Spirit.
There was never a Day towards his End but (as weak as he was) he did some special Piece of Service, for his great Master. Yea, almost every Hour did produce fresh Wonders.
A judicious and holy Minister came often to visit him, and discoursed with him of the Excellency of Christ, and the Glory of the invisible World. Sir, said he, I feel something of it; my Heart is as full as it can hold in this lower State; I can hold no more here. Oh that I could let you know what I feel!
This holy Minister praying with him, his Soul was ravished with the abundant Incomes of Light, Life, and Love; so that he could scarce bear it, nor the Thoughts of staying any longer in the World, but longed to be in such a Condition, wherein he should have yet more Grace, and more Comfort, and be better able to bear that Weight of Glory; some Manifestations whereof did even almost sink his we•k Body, and had he not been sustained by a great Power, his very Joys would have overwhelmed him; and whilst he was in these Extasies of Joy and Love, he was wont to cry out:
‘Who am I Lord, who am I, that thou shouldst be mindful of me! Why me, Lord, why me? Oh, what shall I say unto thee, O thou Preserver of Men? O why me, Lord, why me? If thou wilt look upon such a poor Worm, who can hinder! Who would not love thee! Oh blessed Father! Oh how sweet and gracious hast thou been unto me!’
And thus he went on, admiring and adoring of God, in a more high and heavenly Manner than I can cloath with Words. Suppose what you can on this side Heaven; and I am persuaded you might have seen it in him. He was wonderfully taken with the Goodness of God to him, in sending that aged experienced Minister to help him in his last great Work upon Earth. Who am I, said he, that God should send to me a Messenger one among a Thousand.
Though he was towards his End, most commonly in a triumphant joyful Frame; yet sometimes, even then, he had some small Intermissions in which he would cry out, Hold out, Faith and Patience; yet a little while and your Work is done. And when he found not his Heart wound up to the highest Pitch of Thankfulness, Admiration and Love, he would with great Sorrow bemoan himself, and cry out in this Language: And what’s the Matter now, Oh my Soul, what wilt thou? canst thou thus unworthily slight this admirable and astonishing Condescension of God to thee? Seems it a small Matter that the great Jehovah should deal thus familiarly with this Worm; and wilt thou pass this over, as a common Mercy? What meanest thou, Oh my Soul, that thou dost not constantly adore and praise this rare, strong, and unspeakable Love! Is it true, Oh my Soul? Doth God deal familiarly with Man? And are his humble, zealous, and constant Love, Praise, and Service too good for God? Why are not thou, Oh my Soul, swallowed up every Moment with this free unparallel’d everlasting Love?
And then he breaks out again into another triumphant Extasy of Praise and Joy; and expressed a little of that which was unexpressibly in some such Words as these: Stand astonished ye Heavens, and wonder O ye Angels, at this infinite Grace! Was ever any under Heaven more beholding to free Grace than I? Doth God use to do thus with his Creatures? Admire him for ever and ever, Oh ye redeemed ones! Oh those Joys, the Taste of which I have! The everlasting Joys, which are at his right Hand for evermore! Eternity, Eternity itself is too short to praise this God in. O bless the Lord with me, Page 31 come let us short for Joy, and boast in the God of our Salvation. Oh, help me to praise the Lord, for his Mercy endureth for ever.
One of his Brethren (that had formerly been wrought upon by his holy Exhortations and Example) praying with him, and seeing of him (as he apprehended) near his Dissolution, desired that the Lord would be pleased to continue those astonishing Comforts to the last Moments of his Breath, and that he might go from one Heaven to another, from Grace and Joy imperfect, to perfect Grace and Glory; and when his Work was done here, give him, if it were his Will, the most easy and triumphant Passage to Rest.
At the End of the Duty, he burst out into a wonderful Passion of Joy. (Sure that was Joy unspeakable and full of Glory!) Oh, what an Amen did he speak, Amen, Amen, Amen, Hallelujah.
It would have made any Christian’s Heart to leap, to have seen and heard what some saw and heard at that time; and I question not, but that it would somewhat affect them to hear and read it; though it be scarce possible to speak the half of what was admirable in him: For, it being so much beyond Precedent, it did even astonish and amaze those of us that were about him, that our Relation must fall hugely short of what was real.
I verily believe that it exceeds the highest Rhetorick, to set out to the Life, what this heavenly Creature did then deliver. I want Words to speak, and so did he, for he saw Things unutterable: But yet, so much he speak, as justly drew the Admiration of all that saw him. He talked as if he had been in the third Heaven, and broke out in such Words as these:
Oh, He is come! He is come! Oh how sweet! How glorious is the blessed Jesus! How shall I do to speak the thousandth Part of his Praises! Oh for Words, to set out a little of that Excellency! But it is unexpressible! Oh how excellent, glorious and lovely is the precious Jesus! He is sweet, he is altogether lovely! And now I am sick of Love, he hath ravished my Soul with his Beauty! I shall die sick of Love!
Oh my Friends, stand by and wonder, come look upon a dying Man, and wonder; I cannot myself but stand and wonder! Was there ever a greater Kindness, was there ever sensibler Manifestations of rich Grace! Oh, why me Lord! why me! Sure this is akin to Heaven, and if I were never to enjoy any more than this, it were well worth all the Torments that Men and Devils could invent, to come through even a Hell to such transcendent Joys as these. If this be dying, dying is sweet: Let no true Christians ever be afraid of dying. Oh Death is sweet to me. This Bed is soft. Christ’s Arms and Kisses, his Smiles and Visits, sure they would turn Hell into Heaven Oh that you did but see and feel what I do! Come and behold a dying Man more chearful than ever you ••w any healthful Man in the Midst of his sweetest Enjoyments. Oh Sirs, worldly Pleasures are pitiful, poor, sorry Things, compared with one Glimpse of this Glory, which shines so strongly into my Soul! Oh why should any of you be so sad, when I am so glad: This, this is the Hour that I have waited for.
About eight and forty Hours before his Death, his Eyes were dim, and his Sight much failed; his Jaws shook and trembled, and his Feet were cold, and all the Symptoms of Death were upon him, and his extream Parts were already almost dead and senseless, and yet, even then, his Joys were (if possible) greater He had so many Fits of Joy unspeakable, that he seem’d to be in one continued Act of Seraphick Love, and Praise. He speak like one that was just entering into the Gates of the New Jerusalem: The greatest Part of him was now in Heaven; not a Word dropt from his Mouth but it breathed Christ and Heaven. Oh what Encouragement did he give to them which did stand by, to follow Christ in an humble, believing, zealous Course of Life, adding one Degree of Grace to another, and using all Diligence to make their Calling and Election sure; and that then, they also should find a glorious Passage into a blessed Eternity.
But most of his Work was Praise, an hundred Times admiring of the bottomless Love of God to him. Oh, why me, Lord, why me! And then he would give Instructions to them that came to see him. He was scarce ever silent, because the Love of Christ and Souls did constrain him. There was so much Work done for Christ in his last Hours, that I am ready to think, he did as much in an Hour as some do in a Year.
Every particular Person had a faithful affectionate Warning. And that good Minister, that was so much with him, used this as an Argument to perswade him to be willing to live a little longer, and to be patient to tarry God’s Leisure; sure God have something for thee to do that is yet undone; some Word of Exhortation to some poor Soul, that you have forgot.
The Truth of it is, he was filled with the Love of Christ, that he could scarce bear Absence from him a Moment. He knew that he should be capable of bearing greater Glory above, than he could here. It was the Judgment of some that were with him, that his Heart was not only habitually, but actually set on God all the Day long; and nothing of human Frailty appear’d, except it were his passionate Desire to die, and difficult to bring himself to be willing to stay below Heaven.
He was wont every Evening to take his Leave of his Friends, hoping not to see them till the Morning of the Resurrection; and he desired that they would make sure of a comfortable Meeting at our Father’s House in that other World.
One Passage I cannot omit, which was this, That when Ministers or Christians came to him, he would beg of them to spend all the Time that they had with him in Praise. O help me to praise God, I have now nothing else to do from this Time to Eternity, but to praise and love God. I have what my Soul Page 34 desires upon Earth; I cannot tell what to pray for, but what I have graciously given. The Wants that are capable of supplying in this World, are supplied. I want but one Thing, and that is, A speedy Lift to Heaven. I expect no more here, I can’t desire more. I can’t hear more. Oh praise, praise, praise that infinite boundless Love that hath, to a Wonder, looked upon my Soul. Help me, O my Friends, to praise and admire him that hath done such astonishing Wonders for my Soul; he hath pardoned all my Sins, he hath filled me with his Goodness, he hath given me Grace and Glory, and no good Thing hath he with-held from me.
Come, help me with Praises, all’s too little: Come, help me, Oh ye glorious and mighty Angels, who are so well skill’d in this heavenly Work of Praise. Praise him, all ye Creatures upon the Earth, let every thing that hath Being, help me to praise him. Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah: Praise is now my Work, and I shall be engaged in that sweet Employment for ever. Bring the Bible, turn to David’s Psalms, and let us sing a Psalm of Praise: Come let’s lift up our Voice in the Praise of the most High; I will sing with you as long as my Breath doth last, and when I have none, I shall do it better.
And then turning to some of his Friends that were weeping, he desired them rather to rejoice than weep upon his Account. It may justly seem a Wonder, how he could speak so much as he did when he was so weak; but the Joy of the Lord did strengthen him.
In his Sickness, the Scriptures that he took much Delight in, were the fourteenth, fifteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth of John. The fifty fourth of Isaiah was very refreshing also to him; he would repeat that Word [with everlasting Mercies will I gather] with Abundance of Joy.
He commended the Study of the Promises to Believers, and desired that they would be sure to make good their Claim to them and then they might come to the Wells of Consolation and drink thereof their Fill.
According to his Desire most of the Time that was spent with him, was spent in Praise; and he would still be calling out, More Praise still. O help me to praise him: I have now nothing else to do; I have done with Prayer and all other Ordinances; I have almost done conversing with Mortals. I shall presently be beholding Christ himself, that died for me, and loved me, and washed me in his Blood.
I shall, before a few Hours are over, be in Eternity, singing the Song of Moses, and the Song of the Lamb. I shall presently stand upon Mount Zion, with an innumerable Company of Angels, and the Spirits of the Just made perfect, and Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant. I shall hear the Voice of much People, and be one amongst them, which shall say, Hallelujah, Salvation, Glory, Honour, and Power unto the Lord our God; and again we shall say Hallelujah. And yet a very little while, and I shall sing unto the Lamb, a Song of Praise, saying, Worthy art thou to receive Praise who wert slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy Blood, out of every Kindred, and Tongue, and People, and Nation, and hast made us unto our God, Kings and Priests, and we shall reign with thee for ever and ever.
Methinks I stand, as it were, with one Foot in Heaven, and the other upon Earth; methinks I hear the Melody of Heaven, and by Faith I see the Angels waiting to carry my Soul to the Bosom of Jesus, and I shall be for ever with the Lord in Glory. And who can choose but rejoice in all this?
Several times he speak in this Language, and repeated many of these Words often, over and over again, with far greater Affection than can be well worded. And I solemnly profess, that what is here written is no Hyperbole, and that the twentieth Part of what was observable in him, is not recorded; we cannot word it exactly as he did, yet you have the Substance, and many Things in his own Words, with little or no Variation.
The Day before his Death, he looked somewhat earnestly upon his Brother James, who stood by him very sad; of whom he judged, that he was putting up some Ejaculations to God upon his Account: I thank thee, dear Brother, for thy Love, said he, thou art now praying for me, and I know thou lovest me dearly: But Christ loveth me ten thousand times more than thou dost: Come, and kiss me, dear Brother, before I die: And so with his cold dying Lips, he kissed him, and said, I shall go before, and I hope thou shalt follow after to Glory.
Though he was almost always praising God, and exhorting them that were about him to mind their everlasting Concerns, and secure an Interest in Christ; and though he slept but very little for some Nights, yet he was not in the least impaired in his Intellectuals, but his Actions were all decent, and becoming a Man, and his Discourse to a spiritual Understanding, highly rational, solid, divine. And so he continued to the last Minute of his Breath.
A few Hours before his Death, he called all his Relations and Brethren together, that he might give them one solemn Warning more; and bless them, and pray for them, as his Breath and Strength would give him Leave: Which he did with abundance of Authority, Affection, and Spirituallity: Which take briefly as it follows.
First, He thanked his dear Mother for her tender Love to him, and desired that she might be in Travel to see Christ formed in the Souls of the rest of her Children, and see of the Travel of her Soul, and meet them with Joy in that great Day.
Then he charged all his Brethren and Sisters in general, as they would answer it before God, that they should carry it dutiful to their dear Mother. And for his eldest Brother William, (at whose House he lay sick) his Prayer was, that he might be swallowed up of Christ, and Love to Souls; and be more and more exemplary in his Life, and successful in his Ministry, and finish his Course with Joy.
His next Brother’s Name was Andrew, a Citizen of London, who was with him, and saw him in his triumphing State; but (his necessary Business calling him away) he could not then be by; yet he was not forgot, but he was thus blessed, The God of Heaven remember my poor Brother at London: The Lord make him truly rich in giving him the Pearl of great Price, and make him a Fellow Citizen with the Saints, and of the Houshold of God; the Lord deliver him from the Sins of that City; may the World be kept out of his Heart, and Christ dwell there. Oh that he may be as his Name is, a strong Man, and that I may meet him with you.
Then he called his next Brother, whose Name was James (whom he hoped God had made him a spiritual Father to) to whom he thus addressed himself; Brother James, I hope the Lord hath given thee a goodly Heritage, the Lines are fallen to thee in pleasant Places; the Lord is thy Portion. I hope the Lord hath shewed thee the Worth of Christ. Hold on, dear Brother; Christ, Heaven and Glory are worth striving for; the Lord give thee more Abundance of his Grace.
Then his next Brother Abraham was called, to whom he speak to this Purpose, the Blessing of the God of Abraham rest upon thee, the Lord make thee a Father of many spiritual Children.
His fifth Brother was Joseph, whom he blessed in this Manner: Let him bless thee, Oh Joseph, that blessed him that was separated from his Brethren. O that his everlasting Arms may take hold on thee! It is enough, if yet thou mayst live in his Sight. My Heart hath been working towards thee, poor Joseph; and I am not without Hopes, that the Arms of the Almighty will embrace thee. The God of thy Father bless the with the Blessing of Heaven above.
The next was his Sister Mary, to whom he spoke thus, Poor Sister Mary, thy Body is weak and thy Days will be filled with Bitterness; thy Name is Marah; the Lord sweeten all with his Grace and Peace, and give thee Health in thy Soul. Be patient, make sure of Christ, and all is well. Then his other Sister, whose Name was Sarah, was called; whom he thus blessed, Sister Sarah, thy Body is strong and healthful; Oh that thy Soul may be so too! The Lord make thee first a wise Virgin, and then a Mother in Israel; a Pattern of Modesty, Humility, and Holiness.
Then another Brother, Jacob was called, whom he blessed after this Manner; The Lord make thee an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no Guile! Oh that thou mayest learn to wrestle with God, and like a Prince mayest prevail, and not goe without the Blessing.
Then he prayed for his youngest Brother Benjamin, who was then but an Infant; Poor little Benjamin, O that the Father of the Fatherless, would take Care of thee, poor Child, that thou which never sawest thy Father upon Earth, mayst see him with Joy in Heaven; The Lord be thy Father, and Portion; mayest thou prove the Son of thy Mother’s right Hand, and the Joy of her Age. O that none of us all may be found amongst the unconverted in the Day of Judgment! O that every one of us may appear (with our honoured Father and dear Mother) before Christ with Joy, that they may say, Lord, here are we, and the Children which thou hast given us. Oh that we may live to God here, and live with him hereafter.
And now, my dear Mother, Brethren and Sisters, Farewell; I leave you for a while, and I commend you to God, and to the Word of his Grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an Inheritance among all them that are sanctified.
And now, dear Lord, my Work is done. I have finished my Course, I have fought the good Fight, and henceforth there remaineth for me a Crown of Righteousness! Now come dear Lord Jesus, come quickly.
Then the Minister came to give him his last Visit, and to do the Office of an inferiour Angel, to help to convey his blessed Soul to Glory, who was now even upon Mount Pisgah, and had a full Sight of that goodly Land at a little Distance. When this Minister spake to him, his Heart was in a mighty Flame of Love, and Joy, which drew Fears of Joy from him, being almost amazed to hear a Man just a dying, talk as if he had been with Jesus, and came from the immediate Presence of God; O the Smiles that were then in his Face, and the unspeakable Joy that was in his Heart! one might have read Grace and Glory in his Countenance. Oh the Praise, the triumphant Praises, that he put up! And every one must speak Praise about him, or else they made a Jar in his Harmony.
And indeed most did, as well as they could, help him in Praise. So that I never heard, nor knew more Praise given to God in one Room, than in his Chamber.
A little before he died, in the Prayer or rather Praises, he was so wrapped up with Admiration and Joy, that he could scarce forbear shouting for Joy. In the Conclusion of the Duty, with Abundance of Faith and Fervency, he said aloud, Amen, Amen.
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