T. GATAKER, Jux. 221 Inhis last sickness his faith afid patience Were strikingly manifest. To a servant who waited upon him when confined to his bed, and who told him that his head did not lie right, he said, "It will lie right in my coffin." The day before his departure, beingexercised with extreme pain,he cried, " How long, Lord, how long ? come speedily!" A little before he died, he called his son, his sister, and his daughter, to each of whom he delivered his dying charge, saying, " My heart fails, and my strength fails : but God is my fortress, and the rock of my salvation. Into thy hands, therefore, I commend my soul ; for thou past redeemed me, 0 God of truth.-Son," said he, "you have a great charge, look to it. Instruct your wife and family in the fear of God, and discharge your minis- try conscientiously.-Sister," said he " I thought you might have gone before me, but God calls me first. I hope we shall meet in heaven. I pray God bless you.-Daughter," said he, " mind the world less and God more ; for all 'things, without religion and the fear of God, are nothing worth" He then wished them all to withdraw and leave him to rest, when he presently expired, July 27, 1654, aged seventy-nine years, having been forty-three years pastor at Rotherhithe. His funeral sermonwas preached by his very esteemed friend Mr. Simeon Ashe, and afterwards published with the follow- ing title : " Gray Heyres crowned with Grace, a Sermon preached at Redriff, August 1, at the Funeral of that reverend and eminently learned and faithful Minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. Thomas Gataker." This venerable divine was married four times. His third wife was sister to Sir George Farwell. He would never suffer his picture to be taken ; but the following is said to be a just description of his person. Hewas of a middle stature, a thin body, a lively countenance, and a fresh complexion. He was temperate in diet, free and cheerful in conversation, and addicted to study, but did not seclude himself from useful company. He possessed a quick apprehension, a solid judg- ment, and so extraordinary a memory, that, though he used no common-place book, he had in readiness whatever he had read. His housewas a private seminary for both Englishmen and foreigners, who resorted to him, lodged at his house, and received instructions from him. His extensive learning was admired by the great men of the age, both at home and abroad, with whom he held a regular correspondence. It is said, "Of all the critics of this age who have employed their pens in illustrating polite learning, there are few, if indeed any, who deserve to be preferred to Thomas. Gataher for
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