And as death is terrible to the sinner, so it is desirable, comfortable ⟨p. 51⟩and joyful to a Child of God. 1I desire death, saith Melanchthon, that I may enjoy the desirable sight of Christ. And When will that blessed hour come? when shall I be dissolved? when shall I be with Christ? said holy Mr. Bolton, when he lay on his dying bed. Jewel was offended at one that in his sickness prayed for his life. One whom I knew well, a little before his death, after a sharp conflict, cried out three times, Victory, 2Victory, Victory; he breathed out his soul & his Doxology together, Thanks be to God for Jesus Christ, and so conquered Satan in his last encounter. The dying words of my young Lord Harrington were these, O my God, when shall I be with thee? Shall I die ever (saith Austin) yes, or shall I die at all? yes (says he) Lord, if ever, why not now? When Modestus the Emperors Lieutenant threatened to kill Basil, he answered, If that be all, I fear not; yea, your Master cannot more pleasure me, than in sending of me unto my heavenly Father, to whom I now live, and to whom ⟨p. 52⟩I desire to basten. Mr. Deering a little before his death, being raised up in his bed, and seeing the Sun shine, was desired to speak his mind, upon which he said, There is but one Sun that giveth light to the whole world, but one righteousness, one communion of saints; as concerning death, I see such joy of spirit, that if I should have pardon of life on the one side, and sentence of death on the other, I had rather choose a thousand times to die than to live. So Mr. John Holland lying at the point of death, said, What brightness do I see? and being told it was the sun-shine, No, saith he, My Saviour shines: now farewell world, welcome heaven, the day-star from on high hath visited me. Preach at my funeral, God dealeth comfortably and familiarly with man; I feel his mercy, I see his majesty, whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell, God he knoweth, but I see things that are unutterable. Mr. Knox found so much comfort from the Scriptures upon his death-bed, that he would have risen, and have gone into the ⟨p. 53⟩Pulpit, to tell others what he had felt in his soul.
And as death is terrible to the sinner, so it is desirable, comfortable ⟨p. 51⟩and joyful to a Child of God. 1I desire death, saith Melancthon, that I may enjoy the desirable sight of Christ. And When will that blessed hour come? when shall I be dissolved? when shall I be with Christ? said holy Mr. Bolton, when he lay on his dying bed. Jewel was offended at one that in his sickness prayed for his life. One whom I knew well, a little before his death, after a sharp conflict, cryed out three times, Victory, 2Victory, Victory; he breathed out his soul & his Doxology together, Thanks be to God for Jesus Christ, and so conquered Satan in his last encounter. The dying words of my young Lord Harrington were these, O my God, when shall I be with thee? Shall I die ever (saith Austin) yes, or shall I die at all? yes (sayes he) Lord, if ever, why not now? When Modestus the Emperours Lieutenant threatned to kill Basil, he answered, If that be all, I fear not; yea, your Master cannot more pleasure me, than in sending of me unto my heavenly Father, to whom I now live, and to whom ⟨p. 52⟩I desire to basten. Mr. Deering a little before his death, being raised up in his bed, and seeing the Sun shine, was desired to speak his mind, upon which he said, There is but one Sun that giveth light to the whole world, but one righteousness, one communion of saints; as concerning death, I see such joy of spirit, that if I should have pardon of life on the one side, and sentence of death on the other, I had rather chuse a thousand times to die than to live. So Mr. John Holland lying at the point of death, said, What brightness do I see? and being told it was the sun-shine, No, saith he, My Saviour shines: now farewel world, welcome heaven, the day-star from on high hath visited me. Preach at my funeral, God dealeth comfortably and familiarly with man; I feel his mercy, I see his majesty, whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell, God he knoweth, but I see things that are unutterable. Mr. Knox found so much comfort from the Scriptures upon his death-bed, that he would have risen, and have gone into the ⟨p. 53⟩Pulpit, to tell others what he had felt in his soul.
- 1Cant. 8. ult. Luke 2. 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32. 2 Cor. 5. 1, 2, 4, 8. Phil. 1. 23. Rev. 22. 20
- 2Much more to this purpose you may find in my Saints Portion, and in my String of Pearls.
