§. 1. THE multitude and variety of things memorable which do occurre 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 [...]ignity and worth, we cannot [...]ut wish, this task had been [...]ndertaken by abler hands. But [...]eeing it is matter of fact, and [...]ords heard, which we are to [Page 2] 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 remembranc [...] 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 [...] [Page 3] 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 dayes and as many nights? Or who can represent to the Life the motions of a mind, boyl­ing with Meditations, when the Spirit of God administred such an extemporary effort of sayings proceeding from his fruitful breast, and gravely uttered when his sences were no waies impaired, as he was diversly 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 [Page 4] 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 chearful 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 [Page 5] 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 publick, or in his private concerns, as a man surprized by an unexpected evil; neither was the tranqui­lity 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 [Page 6] into a loose 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 shewed 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 [Page 7] 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 shewed 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 [Page 8] 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 it's delay, but am ready with a chearful 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 [Page 9] 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 dayes 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 chiefly applyed his discourse, to shew 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 [Page 10] thence teaching the Notice God took of mortal men, and how it had pleased him to embrace them in his favour, and to mag­nifie 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 Judgments had shewed 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 [Page 11] 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 snatch't 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 vapor 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 27^th 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 pass'd over partly in bearing of his sharp pains, and partly in se­rious discourses. On Wednes­day morning the complaint of his pain was encreased, and he desired that the use of a Clyster might be repeated; which was done accordingly, but with no better success than [Page 13] 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 tryal 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 Alloes washed; and on Fry­day 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, [Page 14] and he was afraid to touch either meat or drink, lest there­by his grievance should be en­creased. There were no pro­per means unattempted, nor any kind of help by Clysters, Fomentations, or Baths, but were made tryal of, untill 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 seised 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 [Page 15] of God: Then he ask­ed his Neece, M^rs 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 alwaies address thy self 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 chearful countenance, and that thou wilt speak no­thing to me but what may administer joy and support to [Page 16] me; although I fear not death, yet I fear the tryal of those pains which I have al­waies had a very sharp feel­ing of.’

Then suddainly 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 opprest by this disease, I found my self as apt and ready for the exercise of my Vocation, as in my Flourish­ing Youth: O Lord God! if [Page 17] it be thy will that I should longer attend upon thy ser­vice, thou canst asswage my disease in one moment: but if thou hast decreed other­wise, lo here is thy Servant; thy will be done: This one thing I begg with most in­ward affections, that thou wilt make me conformable to thy good will: Let not thy good Spirit depart from me, that in this conflict thy strength may make me a Conquerour: Accomplish this, O Lord, for thine own sake: And seeing thou hast imployed 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 [Page 18] may be both instructed and edi­fied. Let me apply to my self 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 seperate 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 [Page 19] Visits of Friends: when the night came on, he earnestly intreated Mrs. Rivet his wife, that she would retire her self 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 Neece Mrs. Mary 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, [Page 20] 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 al­ledge or plead my own Righ­teousnesses before him? Far be that from me: If I should justifie my self, my own mouth would condemn me; I will rather open my sin before him, in a most hum­ble confession of it, and pray [Page 21] 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 my self: 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 well-pleasing unto God, which is our rea­sonable service. Crucifie, O Lord, this old man, that the bo­dy of sin may be utterly destroyed, and I may rise again unto a new life: The [Page 22] wages of Sin is death, bu [...] Rom. 6. ult. the Gift of God is Eterna [...] life by Jesus Christ our Lord’

Then repeating the word Gift he added:‘It is meer 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 dyed, 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.

With such holy Meditatio [...] 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 ought 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 Latine 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 [Page 28] most ungratefull 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 dye. I have alwayes 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 testi­fie [Page 29] unto all men, that I dye in that Faith and Doctrine, which I have alwayes 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 hindred 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 sayings 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 [Page 30] 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 ren­dred feeble or morose thro' 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 [Page 31] 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 tryal 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 [Page 32] now there is nothing that I am concern'd about, neither is my life dear unto me, so that I may finish my course with joy, and fulfill 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 [Page 33] 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 her self 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 her self 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, [Page 34] 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 Ʋnited 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 joyned unto thee, with­out whom all union is but [Page 35] conspiracy? do thou praeside in that Assembly: bend their hearts so, that all their decrees may turn to the good of the Common-wealth, 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: Indue 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 [Page 36] their means he may learn to distinguish Vertue 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 tyred 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 Physitians 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 [Page 37] 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 drowzy: he spake 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 labored under, that his distemper was that which Phy­sitians 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 [Page 38] 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 [Page 39] is invaluable) reserve for me, That my mouth may utter nothing but what breaths 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 ruine 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 insuing night he did often inculcate, ‘Who is mortal man that thou shouldst so magnifie him, and think upon him! He is like to vani­ty: Flesh, and a wind that [Page 40] 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 alwayes speaking to him of Good things▪

‘Well done, (said he) cease not to strengthen me, unto that end God will supply [Page 41] 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 succour 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 jealousie 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: [Page 42] Gather both the one and the other to thy self 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 builders; 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 my self 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, [Page 43] (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 it's 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. Lords-day. 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 midle of this Age: Then he asked what hour of the day it was, and what [Page 44] 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 addrest 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 dye. Then turning himsel [...] 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 [Page 45] be hindred from coming to me: It is usual for a man in my station, by admonishing others, publickly 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 my self unto God: but I desire the Salvati­on of many, and to give testi­mony to the truth of those things which I have publickly taught.’

This day also was taken up with the Visits of Friends; and amongst others that came, there was Collonel Verneuil, and some more Officers in the Garrison, of which two or three were of Poictou; unto whom he said,

‘I rejoyce that I have op­portunity to make a Confessi­on of my Faith before you [Page 46] that are my Countrey-men; 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 sence o [...] his heart, and the Doctrin [...] 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 dye. 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 [Page 47] 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 dayes: And get a wise heart: Look upon me, and let me be an example unto you: It is but eight dayes since I preach­ed to you of Mans frailty, be­ing my self in health, and live­ly at that time, and now you see the truth of what I said, in my self: Certainly what is visible to us, and set be­fore our eyes, hath a more perswasive 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 [Page 48] while after there came to hi [...] the worthy Snellen Burgoma­ster of Breda, unto whom h [...] chearfully 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 giv [...] 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 [...] [Page 49] 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 signifie to them: and to intreat 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 exprest 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 [Page 50] the pit of his Stomach; which gave him apprehension that hi [...] end drew neer; wherefore send­ing for Mr. Dauber an emine [...] Civilian, he imparted to hi [...] his purpose of adding a Codi­cil to his Will: And in orde [...] 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 settlemen [...] 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 re­joyce, that he should leave behi [...] him a Wife excelling in virt [...] and motherly affection to the chi [...] ­dren of her husband; and also [...] Son that was a good man, a [...] [Page 51] 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 rendred 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 depart 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: [Page 52] 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 Mothers 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 [Page 53] 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 dye, 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 my self, 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 [Page 54] 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 [Page 55] 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 dye; 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 imbracest me in the arms of thy mer­cy! Grant also that I may [Page 56] embrace thee by a lively Faith, and that I may apply unto my self 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 it self.’

§. 12. Then turning his speech to his Niece, he said: That I may not tire 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 [Page 57] to retain, and commit to wri­ing such an abundance of holy speeches as flowed from him, he Replyed;

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 alwaies wont upon the mention of any thing of this nature, to adde,)

And here again in an extra­ordinary transport he brake out into these expressions: ‘O great and Immense Mercy! who can but be rapt into admi­ration! He gives both being, and well-being; He bestowes his gifts, he supporteth, he [Page 62] 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; ‘Write 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, [Page 63] 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 adde some­thing to the Codicil which was annexed to his Will the Even­ing before: His Strength was sufficient to admit the putting on of his cloaths, and also his walking into his Study; where he took the Bible designed for [Page 64] his Niece, and gave it to her himself: And to Mr Dauber who was then with him, he gave an Arabick new Testament, and laid by another Book for Mr. Hulsius; and one for his Bro­ther Rivet, to be immediately sent unto him to Champuer non in France; unto whom (being returned into his Chamber) he wrote this letter.

He wrote also to Mr. Mou­line, his brother by Affi­nity, in these words.

§. 14. When he had written these Letters, he found himself [Page 67] 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 surrendring up himself into the hands of God, and re­cited to them a Confession of his Faith, and exhorted them to proceed chearfully in that work which the Lord had com­mitted to them: He gladly re­ceived those consolations where­by they endeavoured to asswage his pains, and heard their Pray­ers for him with like joy, al­waies 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 fraid 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 Physitians, and now for many daies 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 Chy­rurgeon 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 [Page 69] found himself much eased, and his pains asswaged; 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 rejoyced, and bad 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, [Page 70] and the access of a Feaver. 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 restlesness. 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, [Page 71] Whence doth this unusual dis­quietude proceed? you seem to me to suffer something extra­ordinary; what is become of that chearfulness 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 spake 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 [Page 72] 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 Satyr, and suc [...] like trifles. Thus while I am [...] deaths door, I go backwards.

And here casting his arm [...] about her neck, he thus pro­ceeded:

§. 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 bur­then, 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 Tranquility and Chearfulness of Countenance as formerly: And seeing those of his own Houshold, with some Friends that used to assist him, and watch with him by turns, in [Page 74] 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 Do­mestick 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, [Page 75] 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 Sons Name, to which he alluded) Be rich in Peace.’

Then taking hold of both their Hands, and joyning 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 [Page 76] 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 Widdow, an [...] a Father of the Fatherless.

And to his Son,

‘The Almighty Father bless thee, my Son, guide thee in al [...] thy wayes, enrich 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 [Page 77] 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 Ingenie 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 [Page 78] 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 Superi­ours, thy Unkle 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 thy self from the Com­pany of young Persons who will entice thee unto Vice.’

And unto his Niece he thus spake:

Farewell my dear Niece, the Lord bless thee! We have a [Page 79] 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 [Page 80] 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 my self and mine, my Life and affairs into his hands.’

Then he uttered in French Metre the words of the Psal­mist to this sence.

Ʋnto whom shall I go for help, O Lord, and in whom is my hope? truly in thee.

I am full of dayes: 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 Paroxysme of Pain he said,

My God, I know this Taberna­cle cannot be dissolved without [Page 81] 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 [Page 82] 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 inriched; 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 [Page 83] 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 dayes 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 slipt 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! Wo [Page 84] 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 spake as follows.

‘Again I bid you Farewell, my Friends; Observe me, and [Page 85] 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 Tyred 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, [Page 86] 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 meer Curiosity: I have omit­ted [Page 87] 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 dye.’

When he came near to him, he stretched out his hand and received him kindly, and then [Page 88] 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 Fathers 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 Nazarens, I recommend them to God.’

And after a little stop, he continued his Speech unto his Son:

‘My Son, I now know thee [Page 89] 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 Sanctifie, make thee perfect and glori­fie thee: My Son! Is not my happy departure joyful unto thee? what could'st 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 past 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 [Page 91] 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 dy­ed, 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 tinckling 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 [Page 92] not thought any Virtue or Knowledge to be of my self, 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 [Page 93] of Death. O Lord, I have been jealous for thee, and have mourned in secret for the Wickedness of some, and the audacious Hypocrisie 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 thy self, and to their King; give thy Judgments 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 [Page 94] 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 wondring 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 glo­rifie him, and extoll 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 [Page 95] 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 my self 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 [Page 96] everlasting Light unto me and already O Lord thou send­est the Rayes 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 dyes and decayes, thou puttest on me the New man, which is renewed in Know­ledge after the Image of him who Createth it; that is live­ly, seeth, 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 [Page 97] 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 intire 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! [Page 98] 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 patient 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 [Page 99] 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 alwayes 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, conjoyn­ed 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 chiefly 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 [Page 100] thence gather Confidence that he will follow thee with the same Grace; We have an Al­lyance 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 soveraign Effects of his Love. Rejoyce there­fore (my dearest Love) I have prayed for thee. Thy Faith shall not fail; God will suc­cour 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 compleatly per­fect [Page 101] thee, doubt not.’

Then turning to his Son,

‘My Son (said he) keep for thy self what is thine; Call upon God as thy Father, for he is the Father of Eternity: Let his fear wholly possess thee, for that is the principal thing: Seek first the King­dom of God and his Righte­ousness; and all other things shall be given in over and above unto thee. Take care of my little Children; see to their pious Education and Instruction in their tender years; Let them not frequent evil Company: My Son, I put confidence in thee, and assure my self thou wilt ob­serve my commands with all thy power. Let Truth be in thy Heart, Equity and Since­rity in all thy Actions; and [Page 102] 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 mi­nistred to thy afflicted and sick Parent, and in so doing thou hast served the Publick: Let my blessing remain upon thee: I know and am sure that thou shalt be with me in the Heavenly Paradise, where God hath prepared pla­ces for us, before the Founda­tion of the World was layd: Thou hast helped me, and God will help thee: Fear not, [Page 103] 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 layd many Obligations upon me; I pray you write to your honoured Mother an Account of my happy Depar­ture; and also to your Brethren, whom I pray God abundant­ly to bless, and give them Peace, and that they may not trust in the perishing good things of this World. As for my self; it is long since I have turned from corruptible things, and adhered to those that are prepared and laid up in Heaven. Every good and [Page 104] 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 my self before the face of God! Come Lord Jesus; Come! I am in thy Bosom; I am ready when it pleaseth thee; My Heart is prepared, my Soul is ready: All delay seems long to me till Christ come; for whom notwith­standing I wait without im­patience. You see thro' the Grace of God I am not tired; I wait, I believe, I persevere: Patience is much better than Knowledge; tho' it delay my Joy, yet it sets me in the way to it. The sense of di­vine Favour increaseth in me [Page 105] 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 alwayes de­sirous of learning something New: But now all that is but as dust: Thou art my All, O Lord! My good is to ap­proach unto thee. O what a Library have I in God! in whom is hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge: I shall no more behold things afar off and darkly; I shall no more know in part; but I shall be filled with the Knowledge of God as the Sea is covered with waters. Thou art the Teacher of Spirits; [Page 106] I have learned more Divinity in these ten dayes that thou art come to visit me, than I did in fifty years before: Thou hast brought me to my self, before I went astray, and was in the world; but now I am con­versant in the School of my God, and he teacheth me af­ter another manner than all those Doctors, in Reading whom I spent so much time: What Obscurity is there, and what Conjectures? yea what Vanity in all those things that proceed from an humane Spi­rit? What vast spaces must a man pass over before he find any fruit in them? But thy Doctrine, O my God, is per­fect, and full of good fruits: My Soul is filled as with mar­row and fatness. With my whole heart I renounce all other Knowledge; and cleave [Page 107] 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 blesse thee more and more; How greatly do I re­joyce when I behold in thee the Grace of God! It was my great desire to see thee from the first day of my sickness. Thou art the youngest of my Sons, and thou only art left alive to me upon the Earth: Thou shalt be my Benjamin; and God will bless the Charge I have committed to thee; and will be present with thee for thy help therein. The [Page 108] Almighty God give unto thee and thy Nephews blessings in Israel, and especially spiritual Blessings, for temporal Bles­sings follow upon Spiritual. Praised be God that hath made thee a Spectator of my last Conflict: It is a Conflict, but yet sweet, because of the Consolations of the Spirit of God, which abound in me. Thou hast strove enough, O my Soul, rest in God who is thy Saviour.’

Then hearing the Clock strike, he asked what hour it was? which when he knew, he said:‘The Time passeth away, and we pass away with the time; howbeit we are confirmed and strengthened by the Grace of God every hour.’

Then smiting upon his Breast, he said:

‘There is Joy within by the [Page 109] 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 rejoycing in earnest.’

§. 25. Thus was the Thurs­day Fryday, Jan. 6. night passed over: The poor sick man was wearyed, and exceeding thirsty, yet durst not drink: He seemed to be breathing out his Soul every moment, and panted for delive­rance; but the end of his Con­flict was not yet come; there remained still above twenty four hours to be undergone, and those very sharp. His Son had betaken himself to some rest in the morning; and after a while [Page 110] 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,

§. 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 [Page 114] 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,

‘I am of that Zion: have pity on me, and deal graci­ously with me. I am suffo­cated, I can hardly breath: The Lord brings me down: but he calls my Spirit to himself: The greatest thing by farr is, I have no doubt of my Salvation; the Lord upholds me miraculously, to the end that I may edifie others by my example in this last close of my life: I am well pleased, O my God. Far be it from me that I should murmure. How small are these pains in comparison of [Page 116] 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; [Page 117] I am able to do no­thing of my self: The Lord worketh all in all, that we may be humbled: This is the School of humility; Look upon me, and remember the Grace of God in me; Con­sider how he brings me down by his mighty hand, that he may exalt and Glorifie me in due time: The suffe­rings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the Glory that shall be revealed in us: This is my joy to glorifie God in my death; sweet Death! that is a passage unto life eternal. O God strengthen the Soul of thy Servant, that he may a­bide constant and invincible unto death: I hope the Combat will not continue long; Bring to pass, O Lord, that the End may Crown the Work.’

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

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

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

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

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

‘O welcome Crown! there is nothing else that I wait for: God dwells in me by his [Page 120] 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 fighting 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 [Page 122] will give me the wings of an Eagle that I may fly to the Carkass.’

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

§. 29. Towards Evening the Pangs of death increased upon him; The extreme Pains of his bowels, his suddain fainting, a [...] and other grievous Symptoms, were the indications of ap­proaching death: But in this state, and utter decay of th [...] strength of nature, his exercis [...] of Faith was strengthened s [...] much the more, and his pati­ence confirmed: ‘Mourn no [...] for me, (said he;) These last hours have nothing ter­rible in them; The body in­deed suffers; but the Soul is [Page 123] 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 [Page 124] a way of escape, that I may be able to bear it.’

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

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

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

Then calling the Child, he said,

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

Then taking him between his hands;

‘My little Child (said he) Pray to God! If thou do this diligently, thou shalt be like a tall and beautiful Tree planted by the Rivers of wa­ters: Have thou fair bran­ches, and be fruitful; that [Page 127] 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 Unkle, which shall be to thee instead of a Fa­ther; Be obedient to him, and also to thy Grandmother, and Mother, whom I pray God abundantly to bless with her other Children; that her little Posthumous Son that bears my Name may in time Represent me, yea exceed me.’

§. 30. These holy speeches were sometimes interrupted by a short sleep, and sometimes on occasion of the Prayers or Exhortations of the Ministers that came to him; He received [Page 128] 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 alwayes to say, That he found himself much relieved. And then dis­missed them with thanks, gi­ving his blessing to each of them as was proper to their Condition. Towards Supper time, he remembred the noble Virgin Anna Maria a Schurman, and said,

§. 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, [Page 132] 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 depart from me; but continue speaking to me what­soever God shall bring to thy Heart and Lips, lest in my [Page 133] 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 brake forth into Cryes, or rather ar­dent Prayers unto God; and that frequently, in the words of the Psalms in the French Metre: as Psal. 141. 1.

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

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

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

And then repeated from Psal. 118. 24.

‘How great is my anguish! but how much greater is my refreshment!’

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

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

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

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

Again from Rom. 8. 30.

§. 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; [Page 138] 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 Physitians call Lipothymia) on which occasion Mr. Martin Ly­dius a Dutch Minister was in­stantly called in. He was one that Dr. Rivet had a great af­fection for, and he was daily with him during his sickness; And therefore what passed be­tween them two, we will set down in Lydius his own words, which are as follow.

§. 34. This Reverend Father in Christ required that I should be often called to him in the time of his sickness, having formerly been his Scholar at Leyden. When I came first to him, he exhorted me with sweet words to proceed as I had begun: saying, that it great­ly rejoyced him to understand the Affection which the Church [Page 140] 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 shewed on what stayes the Protestant Religion, which he had hitherto propagated both by Preaching and Writing; leaned, for the obtaining of that Consolation both in life and death, which the misera­ble Papists cannot have.

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

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

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

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

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

This I Testifie, Martinus Lydius Preacher at Breda.

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

His Oppression was mani­festly discerned to increase up­on him, and also a mortal So­por or drowsiness, and Rotling came upon him: The Cham­ber was filled with company; but most were of the mind it was not meet to weary him any longer with discourse; see­ing nothing could be added to that abundant Testimony of his Faith which they had alrea­dy: Therefore about five in the Morning they all departed, except Mr. Lydius, who silently waited the last season of pray­ing to God for him when he should be drawing his last breath. But when it was past eight of the Clock, and he dis­cerned but little change, and found his Pulse much the same, he thought he might abide in that [Page 146] Agony untill Evening; therefore he departed, promising to re­turn as soon as they should send for him. Only those of his own house remained with him, who feared to molest him by speaking, and were also un­certain whether he could speak, or not, because of his extream oppression, and his lying with his Mouth open. Friends at length prevailed with his Wife to withdraw from the sight of his last Agony; and only his Son and Niece stood by the Bed, expecting his last breath; yet neither did they think that had been so near, as it was. About half an hour after Eight the Colour of his Face was wholly changed, and Convul­sive motions came on: Then his Niece asked him, if he yet had his understanding. ‘Alas’ (said he) speak: (as complain­ing [Page 147] of their silence:) Then said she, I pray you do you still feel the sence of inward Joy? To which he replyed intelligibly enough, ‘Yea: My Confidence is firm in me. ’ Then making a sign, That he would be rai­sed a little; His Son and his Niece on each side enfolding their arms about him, lifted him higher: Then fixing his eyes a while upon them, he said, ‘Help me; I am going.’ Accordingly, the Lord bring­ing to their mind many choice Scriptures apt for the occa­sion, they by turns proposed them to him; And he received them with great joy; adding So it is: and Amen. Often al­so he would pronounce him­self the last words of that Por­tion of Scripture which they were rehearsing to him; as in Psal. 36. ‘How excellent is [Page 148] thy loving kindness O God! Therefore do the Sons of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings: Thou wilt abundantly satis­fie them with the fatness of thy House, and make them to drink of the Rivers of thy Pleasures;’which last sen­tence he rehearsed himself in the French Metre. And the same he did from Psal. 65. 4. ‘Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to ap­proach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy Courts: We shall be abundantly Sa­tisfied with the goodness of thy House, even of thy holy Temple.’

§. 36. Then his Son said, ‘I am sorry that we are alone.’

‘I am not alone (said he) God is with me.’ Be you then [Page 149] an Evangelist to your self, (said his Son) forasmuch as you have received the Ministry of Recon­ciliation, deliver the tidings of peace to your own Soul.

‘That I do (saith he) my Soul believes. Then fear no­thing;He that believes in Je­sus Christ shall never perish:’ He added, ‘But shall have Eternal Life. ’ While prayers were making for him in this last Combat with the pains of Death, at the end of almost every sentence he would inter­pose some word or words, ex­pressing the sence of his mind with respect to those petitions. As thus,

‘O great God, send thy Spi­rit of Consolation; [he is alrea­dy come:] and give unto thy Servant the sense of thy love, [that he hath done;] Give [Page 150] 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 Armor of God: [I have it.]’

Then he began himself to re­cite those words, I have fought a good fight, &c. And when one had repeated what follows, and came to those words, which God the righteous Judge will give; he added, He will do it. And when one said; ‘Be­hold the last moment of de­liverance! O God give Wings unto thy Servant; open thy Paradise unto him; Let him be received unto the behold­ing of thy Face! He added, With the Spirits of just men made perfect. Let him receive the white Stone, and the hidden Manna; and let him bear his part in that New Song which none understands but he that sings it. To which he said, Amen!’

In these last Moments there came in some of his Friends who were witnesses of his hap­py [Page 152] 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 perswaded this man doth already enjoy the Vision of God; ’where­upon he earnestly endeavoured to utter the Word Yea! And almost in the same moment sweetly breathed forth his Soul, about half an hour after Nine of the Clock on Saturday morn­ing, being Jan. 7. After he had lived seventy eight years, six Months, and five dayes.