2S4 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. love, and his joys -exceedingly abounded: He frequently exclaimed, " Oh that I could let you know what I feel ! Oh that I could shew you what 1 now see ! Oh that I could express a thousandth part of that sweetness which I now , find in Christ ! You would then all think it worth your while to make religion your chief business. Oh, my dear friends, you little think what Christ is worth upon a deathbed ! I would not for a world, nay, for a million of worlds, be now without a Christ and a pardon. I would not for a world live any longer ; and the very thought of the possibility of a recovery makes me tremble." When it was said that the Lord might again raise him up to health and strength, so as to live many years, he said, " And do you think to please me with that ? No, friend, you are mistaken, if you think that life, and health, and the world are pleasing to me. The world hath quite lost its excellency. Oh, how poor and contemptible is it in all its glory, when compared with the glory of that world which I now live in sight of! And as for life, Christ is my life. I tell you, it would please me incomparably more if you should say to me, You cannot possibly hold out long. Before to-morrow you will be in eternity.' I tell you I do so long to be with Christ, that I could be content to be cut in pieces, and to be put to the most exquisite torments, so I might but die and be with Christ. Oh, how sweet is Jesus ! Come. Lord Jesus, come quickly. Death, do thy worst. Death hath lost its terrors. Through grace, I can say, death is nothing to me. I can as easily die as shut my eyes. I long to be with Christ. I long todie." To his mother lie said, " Dear mother, I as earnestly beseech you as ever I desired any thing for you in my life, that you would cheerfully give me up to Christ. I beseech you do not hinder me now I am going to glory. I am afraid of your prayers, lest they should pull one way and mine another." Then, turning to his brothers, he thus addressed them : " I charge you all do not pray for my life. You wrong me if you do. Oh the glory, the un- speakable glory that I now behold ! My heart is full, my heart is full! Christ smiles, and I am constrained to smile. Can you find in your hearts to stop me, now I am going to the complete and eternal enjoyment of Christ ? Would you keep me from ray crown ? The arms of my blessed Saviour are open to embrace me. The angels stand ready to carry my soul into his bosom. Oh ! did you but see
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=