280 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. made wills hands; and therefore I desire not to be unclothed, but to be clothed upon with Christ. To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Through mercy I can now speak in the language of the apostle : I have fought a goodfight ; henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righte- ousness." Perceiving one of his relations much troubled at the prospect of his death, he charged him not to pray for his life, unless it should be!more for the glory of God. " I wish you," said he, " to keep your mind submissive to the will of God concerning rue. The Lord draw you nearer tohimself, that you may walk with him ; and if I go to him before you, I hope you will follow." Afterwards, the Lord was pleased so far to restore him, that his friends were in hopes of his perfect recovery. And while God thus remembered him, he did not forget God. His words to an intimate friend discover his deep'sense of the love of God. He said, " God holds mine eyes most upon his goodness, his unmea- surable goodness ; and upon the promises which are most sure and firm in Christ. His love to us is greater, more sure, more full, than ours to ourselves. For when we loved ourselves so as to destroy ourselves, he loved us so as to save us." Mr. Janeway, writing to a friend under perplexing fears about the state of his soul, thus addressed him : " Oh ! stand still and wonder. Behold and admire his love ! Consider what thou canst discover in this precious Jesus. Here is a sea ; cast thyself into it, and thou shalt be compassed with the height, and depth, and breadth, and length of love, and be filled with all the fullness of God. Is not this enough ? Wouldst thou have more ? Fling away all ex- cepting God. For God is a sufficient portion, and the only proper portion of the soul. Hast thou not tasted, hast thou not known, that his love is better than wine ? He is altogether lovely. And while I write, my heart cloth burn. My soul is on fire. I am sick of love. But now, methinks, I see you almost drowned in tears, because you feel not such- workings of love towards God. Weep on still ; for love, as well as grief, bath tears. And tears of love, as well as others, shall be kept in God's bottle. Know that they are no other than the streams of Christ's love flowing to thee, and from thee to him. Christ is thus delighted in beholding his beauties in those whom be loves." Mr. Janeway, however, was not always on the mount.
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