180 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. brethren in Oxford met at his lodgings regularly once a week, to compare and perfect their notes. This learned man was thus employed in translating the word of life, even till he himself was translated to life everlasting.. In his last sickness, all his time was spent in prayer to God, in hearing persons read, and in conferring with the translators. He remained in a lingering state- till Ascension- day, when he addressed his friends, saying, " I hoped to have ascended on the very day of our Lord's ascension; but I shall stay with you a little longer, in which time I entreat you to read nothing to me, only such chapters of scripture as I shall appoint." This reverend and learned- divine, during his life, had been a famous opposer of the errors of popery ; and now upon his death-bed, the papists propagated scandalous reports concerning the nature of his complaint, and began to insinuate that he now recanted. To counteract this Vile calumny, his friends desired him to give some testimony of his faith, previous to his departure. This being signified to him, he shook his head, and seemed much affected, but was not able to speak. His friends, observing this, asked him whether a form might be drawn up in writing to which God might enable- him to set his hand ; and he signified, by certain signs, his full approbation. Then they drew up the following paper :-" These are to testify to all " the world, that I die in the professionof that faith which "I have taught all my life, both in my preaching and in " my writings, with an assured hope of my salvation, only " by the merits of Christ my Saviour."-This paper being twice distinctly read to him, and having seriously pon, dered every word of it himself, he put on his spectacles, and subscribed his name in very fair characters.+ The day following, with his eyes lifted up to heaven, he breathed hiS soul into the hands of his dear Redeemer. He died May 21, 1607, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. His remains were interred, with great funeral solemnity, in the college chapel, being attended by the vice-chancellor, the heads of colleges, and the mayor and aldermen of the city. Dr. Henry Airay, the vice-chancellor, preached his funeral sermon ; and Mr. Isaac Wake, the university orator,t. 4. Fuller's Abel Redivivus, p. 451, 458. + Ibid. p. 459. l Wake is said to have been an elegant seholM., and no mean orator: but King James thought Sleep of Cambridge muchsuperior to him ; which occasioned his saying, " That he was inclined to sleep, when he heard Wake ; and to wake, when he heard Sleep."-Granger's Biog. Hist. vol. i. p. 212.
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