PEACOCK. 209 affectionate friend Mr. Bolton, in which he thus addressed him :---" I heard, I know not how, that my dear christian friend Mr. Peacock is in great distress, which bath much grieved and afflicted my heart, and wrung from me many bitter tears. If his extremities be such, his temptations are likely to be very sore. Tell him from me, as fromone who did ever with dearest intimacy know and conversewith him, that I can assure him in the word of life and truth, from a most holy and just God, whose minister I am, that he is undoubtedly, one of his saints, designed for immortality, and the endless joys of another world." Upon the reading of Mr. Bolton's letter, at those words, " I can assure him," he said, " Oh, take heed; take heed: I did deceive myself : now. God bath revealed more. My heart is broken." " Then," observed one of his friends, " the promise is yours." " Oh," said he, " I love your company, for the grace that is in you." He then cried to the Lord, saying, " Oh God, reconcile me unto thee, that I may taste one dram of thy grace, by which my miserable soul may receive comfort. Satan hath borne me in hand, and bath deluded me." A person afterwards coming to him, and asking him how he did, he replied, ",My mind was grievously puzzled with sundry distractions in the night; but now, I thank God, I feel my burden morelight. Lord, grant me the comfort of thy deliverance, and forgive me my foolishness, that I may praise thy name." An inti- mate friend taking his final leave of him, and asking his counsel, he said, " Look to your calling, that it be as well inward- as outward ;" and, he urged others to be diligent in promoting God's glory. Being asked how he did, he said, " Oh if it would please God that I might live with him :" then added, " I have been thinkingof arguments by which I might plead my cause:with God, and I have found them. But what if dying thus I should be found an apostate Truly," said he, " my heart and soul have been far led, and deeply troubled with temptations and strifes of con- science ; but, I thank God, they are in a good measure eased : wherefore I desire that I may not be branded as a reprobate." Afterwards, when he was asked what he thought of his former doctrine, he said, " It is most true. In it I have Jived, and in it I will die : I have not dealt hypocritically in it." Being asked whether hewas willing to die, he said " I truly submit to the will of God." When it was inquired whether he forgave all offences, he replied, "Yes, VOL. II.
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