The Fountain of Life Opened

Corollary. 3.

¹What an excellent pattern is here, for all that have the charge and government of others committed to them; whether Magistrates, Ministers, or Parents: to teach them how to acquit themselves towards their relations, when they come to die.

1. 1Cor. 3.

Look upon dying Jesus, see how his care and love to his people flamed out when the time of his departure was at hand. Surely as we are bound to remember our Relations every day, and to ⟨p. 263⟩lay up a stock of prayers for them in the time of our health; so it becomes us to imitate Christ in our earnestness with God for them, when we die. Though we die, our prayers die not with us They out-live us, and those we leave behind us in the world, may reap the benefit of them, when we are turned to dust.

For my own part I must profess before the world that I have a high value for this mercy.¹ And do from the bottom of my heart bless the Lord, who gave me a Religious and tender Father: who often poured out his soul to God for me. He was one that was inwardly acquainted with God, and being full of bowels to his children, often carried them before the Lord: prayed and pleaded with God for them: wept and made supplication for them. This stock of prayers and blessings left by him before the Lord, I cannot but esteem above the fairest inheritance on earth. O it is no small mercy to have thousands of fervent prayers lying before the Lord, filed up in Heaven for us. And oh that we would all be faithful to this duty. Surely our love, especially to the souls of our Relations, should not grow cold, when our breath doth. O that we would remember this duty in our lives, and if God give opportunity and ability, fully discharge it when we die: considering as Christ did, we shall be no more but they are in this world. In the midst of a defiled, tempting troublesome world. It's the last office of Love that ever we shall do for them. After a little while we shall be no longer sensible how it is with them. (for as the Church speaks,