dissolved and to be with thee Loose me that I may be with thee I am greatly wearyed and I wait for the entertainment which thou hast shewn me As the Traveller in his Journey at Night time desires the Sun-rising so do I desire after the clear light even the sight of the Father Son and Holy Ghost When my voice and speech shall fail me Grant O Merciful Saviour that thy Holy Spirit may speak unto thee in my Heart and make intercession for me with groanings that cannot be uttered Let his motions spring up in my breast and move thy Heart unto Mercy towards me Lord Jesus Christ who sittest at the right hand of thy Eternal Father receive my Spirit § 13. These were the Meditations and this the exercise of this Holy man upon his dying bed He felt this Tabernacle to be falling but knew he had an house not made with hands Eternal in the Heavens and his pious Soul was filled with Heavenly triumph in the certain expectation of a Glorious Resurrection of that same body of his which was now ready to be sown in corruption which with an admirable sweetness and comfort he thus express'd I shall see thee my Saviour in my flesh which thou hast exalted to the right hand of the Eternal Father and I will give thee thanks in the presence of thy Father for all the Good things which thou hast communicated unto me Yea thou wilt place thy Holy Angels to be the Guardians of my Body that they may keep my dust which hath been and to all Eternity shall be the dwelling place of thy Holy Spirit It is impossible that this flesh of mine which is the Temple of the Holy Ghost this Mass of my body which is quickened by the effusion and communication of the Spirit of Christ and so inserted into the flesh of Christ should be reduced unto nothing or abide in death and ever remain dust and ashes But thou who art the Author of Life will remand from the Earth this thine own Image even out of the smallest Crums of dust and ashes that are there By sending forth thy breath thou wilt again build up my body alive and Glorious which shall be the habitation of the whole Divinity dwelling therein to all Eternity There shall we follow the Lamb whithersoever he shall go O Guide truly fair and Divine There shall we sing a New Song Let us rejoyce Hallelujah O Come let us go forth to meet our Saviour Our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Right as Citizens is in Heaven but in this Life we must begin Eternal Life and follow the order which Christ hath appointed We shall be cloathed upon if so be that we be not found Naked That most lovely Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world will lead us unto the Fountains of living Waters and wipe away all Tears from our Eyes Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard neither have entred into the Heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him This Earthly Life is Death but that Life which Christ begins in me is Life indeed Now it is no more I that live but Christ that liveth in me therefore let him be praised O happy Soul in which thou Jesus Christ sittest as the Guide and Rector of all its actions and Motions I see Heaven open unto me Now lettest thou thy Servant depart in Peace O Lord for mine Eyes indeed have seen thy Salvation Thou O Christ art the Resurrection and Life How amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord O Christ my Redeemer carefully watch my Soul that it suffer no detriment by the horrible and infernal Dragon the Devil Let my Soul be bound up in the bundle of Life and let this my passage hence be happy let it be to me the way to those that live an immortal and Heavenly Life § 14. After this he again most affectionately prayed for his Wife and Children but in terms arguing such a nearness to God and Holy Familiarity with him as if a man had been speaking to his Friend and devolving a care upon him that he knew most assuredly he would willingly take upon himself and see to He mightily Comforted himself with the thoughts of Christs sympathy and compassion who saith he will certainly hear me in all these things And when one exhorted him to be of good hope for God would help him he answered 'T is right The Lord will certainly help me by a final deliverance according to that Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord In the Lord then do I dye who is my Life I dye in the acknowledgment Faith and Confidence of Christ the Mediator who is my Shade of defence and my Brother who cloatheth me with the garment of his Righteousness I shall therefore be happy I shall be Righteous O sweet Blessedness sweet Righteousness O sweet change and Translation from Sin to Innocency from Darkness into Light from Death to Life Many Prayers also he put up for the Church of God especially that the pure Doctrine of the Gospel might be transmitted without corruption to Posterity and with Tears bewailed the wickedness of those who by their corrupt Notions were an hindrance to its course And once more a little before his Soul departed his Friends being about him he solemnly recommends himself to Christ and repeats the Confession of his Faith expressing great thankfulness to God for the Reformation and for those that he had used as Instruments therein I am now dying said he and dismist as that Servant of God holy Simeon I also being the Servant of God and Holy I dye in the Confession of the writings of the Prophets and Holy Apostles and of the Ancient Creeds and also adhering to the Augustane Confession I give thanks to God That of his Infinite goodness he hath dispell'd the darkness and restored to us the Light and Purity of his Gospel At length in the midst of his Prayers and earnest breathings after God he yielded up his Soul into the hands and bosom of his Redeemer where he rests from his Labours and his works follow him § 15. Another Instance worthy of our Remembrance and imitation I shall give you in Mr. Matthew Wesenbeck an eminent Civilian who after he had run the course of an Holy Life from his first Conversion to the fifty fifth year of his Age departed this Life at Wittenburg in the year 1586. The means by which God first awakened him to seek after and embrace the knowledge of the Truth was this While he was studying the Law at Lovane it fell out that there was a poor man in the City who being blind made it his business to visit the Sick and to instruct and comfort them as he could with Texts of Scripture in which he was well versed in recompence of which pious office those that were well disposed would relieve his Necessity with a piece of Bread and Cheese After some time this poor man was accused of
of God before whose Tribunal he must immediately appear of his integrity and faithfulness in his Trust both as a Pastor and Rector of the University That he had never suffered himself to be byassed by any corrupt or sinister end nor had any burthen upon his Conscience with respect thereto He professed the great care he had alwayes taken of the publick peace but added Yet neither did the love of Peace so bewitch me as that I should not distinguish betwixt genuine and adulterate Peace nor did my Affection towards my Prince seduce me so as that to pleasure him I should bring the least spot upon my Conscience But the Candor of my actions will shine when I am dead He exhorted them to mutual peace and love telling them There was nothing more unseemly than that the Preachers of Peace should be rent with strife and discord amonâ— themselves especially at sucâ— a time when the commoâ— Enemy the Papist lay iâ— wait for their ruine And after Exhortations to render all dutiful respect and Obedience to their Prince he dismist them with this Benediction The God and Father of Jesus Christ enrich you with all blessing and strengthen you with all might unto the vigorous discharge of your Ministry § 5. When the Night came on death seemed to be hastening which he perceiving entred into such discourses of Heavenly things as seemed to the by-standers so much above the rate of humane capacity to conceive and utter that they were all filled with a joyful astonishâ—ent in hearing of them The Physitians came and endeavoured but in vain by proper Medicines to asswage the force of his distemper whereupon turning his speech to God he said Thou O God shalt heal me And then poured out his prayers with a most ardent Zeal for the Remission of his sins through the Merit of the one and only Sacrifice of Christ professing that he esteemed all things though in appearance never so great to be but dung for the excellency of Christ Jesus earnestly calling upon God that he would bring him to an happy and triumphant period of thiâ— Life and grant that being covered with the Wings of Mercy he might sweetly sleep iâ— the bosom of Jesus and enjoy that sight of Gods face which with frequent pantings he thirsted for I have seen thee darkly said he in the glass of thy Word O grant me the long and much desired fruition of thy Countenance He discoursed at that rate concerning the Resurrection and Eternal Life as if he had already forsaken the earth and been translated into Heaven with so great sence and Life of Affection did he speak of these things And then taking each one by the hand that was present with him like the Patriarchs of old he blessed them with words full of Gravity and Holiness closing his Benediction with suitable Exhortations to every one That Night beyond Expectation he got a little rest And the day following the Magistrates of the City with many other persons of quality came to visit him To whom he made a very grave discourse in which he earnestly recommended the University to their favour and care and nominated a fit person to them for his Successor therein And as to his private concerns he affectionately recommended to them also his dear Wife who was then big with Child greatly praising her love and tenderness towards him in all his weakness and Afflictions adding I ingenuously profess to you I have not laid up two Pence out of all my Stipends for thesâ— worldly things were not my care nor did I ever set my heart upon them Those present solemnly promised to answer his desire iâ— all that he had mentioned tâ— them whereupon he exhorteâ— the Professors of Philosophy tâ— persevere in their work anâ— yield due obedience to his Successor And then he said â— thank my God that my memory sight hearing and thâ— rest of my senses are as strong and lively as ever But mâ— heart is estranged from thiâ— world and why O Lord Jesuâ— shouldst not thou enjoy mâ— Heart who only hast a righâ— thereto This hath been my endeavour all my Life long to dedicate and consecrate my heart to thee take it to thâ— self I beseech thee that iâ— may remain with thee § 6. After he had spoken â—hese things a gentle sleep came upon him out of which when he awaked he exprest a most ardent breathing to be dissolved and to be with Christ Come Lord Jesus said he break off the thred of this miserable Life Make hast O Lord Tarry not Jesus hath Redeemed me that he might grant to me not this frail but eternal Life Come Jesus Grant me that life for which thou hast redeemed me And when those that stood about him lamented the great loss they should have of him he said I have pass'd through all the Steps of this life and am now come to the last why should I go back again By the aid of thy presence O Lord Jesus I shall happily measure this Step also Lead thou me into that Glory which I have only seen through a Glass O that I were conversant with thee Upon occasion of some one signifying to him that the next day was the Sabbath day he thus exprest himself Let thy Sabbath O Lord begin mine eternal Sabbath Let my Eternal Sabbath receive the pledge of an happy beginning from thy Sabbath Towards the middle of the Night he got a little rest which the strength of his disease soon interrupted and he supposing his last hour to draw near sent for Mr. Walter Balcanquel unto whom when he was come in he thus addressed himself Forasmuch as you have for a long time had a Pastoral charge at Edinburgh and our friendship is of no late date I took care to have you sent for that I might make manifest unto all the Reverence which from my Cradle I have had for the Ministry of Christ I have indeed according to the measure of my gift already poured out my Prayers into the bosom of God and now I intreat you to pray for me I will joyn with my Heart and Affection only desire not the protracting of this Life Whereupon all that were present falling on their Knees Mr. Balcanquel prayed but among other things he earnestly desired that it might please God to spare so worthy a man with them for some longer time seeing both the Church and Common-wealth had so great need of his service whereupon Mr. Rollock interrupted him saying I have enough of this Life the only thing I desire is that heavenly Life which is hid with God in Christ When prayer was ended he brake forth into an earnest commendation of the Efficacy of the Word Preached The Word said he is both Life and Death nor can any 2 Cor. 2. 16. be saved without the Word Believe me 'T is no trifling matter to preach the Word It is not like the interpreting a Text of Plato or Aristotle or the making an Oration embellished with
the alluring Ornaments of speech The Preaching of the Word consists in Holiness Humility and the powerful demonstration of the Spirit How great my esteem of it hath ever been God is Witness Then turning his discourse into Prayer he said Come Lord Jesus break asunder the Nerves of these Eyes and give me other Eyes I desire to be dissolved and to be with thee Hasten thy coming O Lord Jesus and deferre no longer Let this faint life go forth that the better Life of God may enter in Lord Jesus put forth thy hand into this body and take out this Soul unto thy self § 7. From that time till the Sabbath day morning he kept silence when again the longings he had after his Fathers House were breathed forth in these words Come Lord and tarry not I am wearyed with the loathing of day and night Come Lord Jesus that I may come to thee O sweet and happy divorce from this Life Come Lord who art my sweetness and set this Soul at liberty that it may enjoy thee it's Husband break this Heart of mine in two that it may fly to thee it's Head To this one replyed Hitherto Christ hath possessed your whole heart and he will take it whole unto himself To which he returned answer I desire the breaking in two of this Heart that this natural Life may be let out and it may be wholly replenisht with the Life of Christ Then one of the by-standers said Let no anxiety trouble you your Lord is now hastening Those said he are welcome tidings unto me I would my Funeral was to be to morrow Another said Happy is that Soul which is so near to the Lord as yours is To which he replyed There is nothing in me which I account not as dung that I may win Christ Christ is the only matter of my Comfort my own Righteousness is a menstruous cloth Being asked if he desired to speak with any of the Ministers he said he would not give them trouble now they were just preparing themselves to preach Let me said he chatter with my Lord like a Crane Being informed that Sermon was begun Lord said he grant that I may see what others now hear About noon when one comforted him with the remembrance of his unwearied pains and diligent endeavour to promote the Glory of God all his life time he replyed I have nothing to Glory in but the Mercy of God in Christ Jesus All other things I count but loss After a little rest a person of considerable rank visiting him he again took the occasion of an earnest recommendation of what might tend to the promoting of Religion to his care in his Station And in the following Night he was observed to say I have a peaceful mind in a sick body I am not perplex't with the fear of Death Sin or Satan they have no Dominion over me yet so great is the weight of my distemper that it is much beyond expectation that I subsist to this hour He bruises me as with a Pestle in the Mortar of Affliction that he may form me for his own Kingdom § 8. On the next day being Monday he said to those about him It may seem strange seeing I am so sorely handled with my disease that my life should be protracted thus long But with patience I wait for the good pleasure of the Lord Let him do with me what pleaseth him I will not dispute it with him What is man that he should dare to contend with God! yea though he should thrust him down to Hell he must obey and not reply upon God Be gracious unto me O Lord for Christ Jesus sake I am not ashamed to profess that I never before attained to so high a pitch of the Knowledge of God as I have done in this sickness O what a fearful thing is it to fall into the hands of the Lord But Mercy is laid up for me in Christ Why art thou Sorrowful O my Soul why art thou cast down within me thou shalt by and by obtain a most pleasant sight and congress Towards evening he told his Friends that he experienced in himself the truth of the sixth Psalm and repeated some Passages therein as verse 2. Have mercy upon me O Lord for I am weak O Lord heal me for my bones are vexed To which he added Christ will bear my burthen and I will follow him being unheld by his Grace When those that were about him observing the bitterness and extremity of his disease brake out into Tears and Lamentation for him Lament not my case said he but weep for your own sins seeing none are free from sin none want occasion of weeping but as for me I shall quickly see the end and consummation of all The care of his Funeral he recommended to two of his intire Friends present and when he had finished his Directions about what he would have done therein he said Why should I not take care of this body seeing that also shall be glorified and made conformable to the glorious body of Christ and looking upon his hands These very hands shall shine with excellent Glory After this he was not able to speak much but to the very last what he did utter was with a wonderful savour still expressing the inward joy and peace of his Soul and a most assured Confidence of a compleat and glorious Victory in this last conflict and in a few hours he finished his course and sweetly slept in Jesus Before I pass to another Story I cannot but mention one thing more that happened a little before this holy man drew his last breath And it is this One of his kindred coming in to see him and perceiving that he was nigh to death being himself a Stranger to Religion and Piety yet convinced that it could not but be well with so holy a man as Mr. Rollock entreated of him That when he came to Heaven he would Mediate for him and the rest of his Friends here below But how grievous this ignorant and impious request was to the Soul of this blessed Saint will be easily guessed by those that as he did love the honour of Christ more than their own lives Though before he lay as one ready to give up the Ghost at the hearing of this his Zeal was so stirred in him that he raises himself upright and with a great fervency replyes I refuse that Office Christ is the only Mediator And so deep was the impression of trouble this made upon his Spirit that a while after when his elder Brother came to visit him he left this charge upon him Do you said he rebuke that Kinsman of ours and admonish him that he take another course otherwise there is no Salvation for him but most certain ruine § 9. The next instance I shall touch upon is that of Mr. John Oecolampadius Oecolampadius who while he lived was also an eminent Instrument in the Reformation of Religion and one of the first with