LIVES OF THE PURITANS. ruin. For though I am of a mean parentage, my blood is the blood of a christian, of a minister, of an innocent man, and of a martyr ; and this I speak without vanity. Had I renounced my covenant, debauched my conscience, and endangered my soul, I might have escaped this place ; but, blessed be God, I have made the best choice : I have chosen affliction rather than sin. And, therefore, welcome scaffold, welcome axe, welcome block, welcome death, welcome all, because they will send me to my Father's house. " I bless God, and without vanity it is spoken, that I have formerly had more fear in the drawing of a tooth than I have now in the cutting off my head. Thus I commit myself to God, and to receive the fatal blow. I am com- forted in this, that though men kill me, they cannot damn me : and though they thrust me out of the world, they cannot thrust me out of heaven. I am going to the heavenly Jerusalem, to the innumerable company of angels, to Jesus Christ, the mediator of the new covenant, to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to God the judge of all; in whose presence there is fulness of joy, and at whose right hand there are pleasures for evermore: I conclude in the words of the apostle, 4 I am now ready to be offered up, and the time of my departure is at hand ; I have finished my course; I have kept the faith : henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness; and not for meonly, but for all them who love the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ :' through whose blood I expect salvation and the remission of sins. And so the Lord bless you all.". Having finished his speech, he turned to Tichburn the sheriff, and said, " May I pray?" " Yes," said the sheriff; " but consider the time." Then, turning to the people, he said, 4c Beloved, I will only pray a little while with you, to commend my soul to God, and I have done." He then prayed with a loud voice, saying: 44 Most glorious and eternal majesty, thou art righteous and holy in all thou doest to the sons of men. Though thou hast suffered men to condemn thy servant, thy servant will not condemn thee. He justifies thee, though thou cuttest him off in the,midst of his days, and in the midst of his ministry ; blessing thy glorious name, that though he be taken away from the land of the living, he is not blotted out Love's Trial, p. 121-128.-Love's Cafe, p. 14-27.
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