EXTRACTS FROM brings this place with comfort to me, whereby I had received first joy ;" and so repeated those words, " there is no temptation," &c.; adding further, " blessed be God, blessed be what comes in the name of the Lord ; Lord, be gracious." Thus you see his admirable patience. Sixthly. His love to the Glory of God, and the Church of God. To joy under great afflictions is a hard matter ; water quencheth fire, yet his joy in that which concern'd God his affliction could not extinguish. He was wont to pray constantly since the mines and desolations of Brampton, that God would restore the Gospel hither : and two days before his death he rejoiced exceedingly, when he was told that this place of publick worship was finished. About three days before his death, when he arose and went to prayer (as he constantly used to do), though not able to enlarge in prayer, because of weaknesse, he prayed for the mine of Antichrist, for the Churches of God beyond sea, naming Savoy, Switzerland, Germany. Upon the fifth of November, though very weak, and under great pains, yet he blessed God, for the great mercy of that day to the Church, and the nation, and to himself, who was of the Parliament when the Powder Plot was intended, and for the many mercies God had vouchsafed him to see since that time in the Church and in his own family ; for his lady, the mother of his children, who (he said) was gone to Heaven before him, and for his childrens children ; and for his hearing, which being lost, God restored him perfectly. Thus, the day before he dyed, he kept a day of thanksgiving to God, fol. all His former mercies. Oh, what spiritual and angelical elevation of heart was this ? His soul was musical, like the swan ; he sang before his death : which leads me to another branch. Seventhly. His faith and assurance. A godly minister speaking to him concerning his dissolution ; he said, °" What matter is it if my poor cottage be falling here below 1 I am sure of a fair house upon the top of yonder hill." A day or two before his death, the 5 of Job being read to him in course, he said, "He that bath been with me in six troubles will not leave me in the seventh." And, lastly, having (like good old Jacob) given his blessing to all his children that were then at home, and to his grandchil- dren ; desiring the Lord to blesse and sanctifie them particularly ; I say, having done this about an hour before his death, though under extream pain, he said, " Blessed be God for this quiet peace." Thus his peace with
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=