God in his great Wifdom hath left us all at Uncertainties, as to the Time of our Death, that we may be always on our Guard, and improve our Time. Let us frequently put this Question to our felves, where muft I be for ever? I have lived fo long, what have I • done all this while? Do I find my felf better than I was fome Years < ago? Am I more heavenly-minded? Do I prepare for another World before I am called out of this?

About two Months before he died, he began to read Monfieur Drelincourt's Confolation against the Fear of Death. "I purpofe (faith he) to tranfcribe feveral Things out of it, fince it is a Book which treats much of Death; for fuch Books I have much ftudied of late Years. The laft Thing he wrote in his Book, and we fuppofe the laft he ever wrote was, a Prayer proper for one dying, out of Drelin

court.

June 1st, 1709. (which was about ten Days before he died) he thus wrote; It hath been my Defire these 'many Years, to prepare for my Death; to that End, I have used

.

my best Endeavours to make my Peace with God; it is my great Comfort that I have taken this Method for 8 or 10 Years, to be always expecting Death's Approach. 'Thefe Endeavours I have used with 'much Weakness and Imperfection, fo that I may well fay, I am but C an unprofitable Servant; if my Heart doth not much deceive me, I defire to renounce all Things, and to reft only upon Chrift; Lord, what need have I of thy Grace and Favour, and the Affiftance of thy holy Spirit; which I humbly beg for the Sake of my bleffed Lord and Saviour.

Almoft every Page of his Books, hath fome Paffage or other concerning Death: Over his Chamber-door was written, Memento mori; many of thofe Scriptures, which fpeak of Death, he got fairly written, and hung up in a Frame, with a Death's Head under them.

XVIII. The Meditations and Prayers;
which he prepared for the Use of his
Death-bed:

He

He began these about 1700, and continued them at Times after. He called to his Son to read them to him, a few Hours before he died.

me;

'I am going the Way of all Flefh, and find that Death is very near and I am now launching into Eternity. What may be the Iffue of this Illness, God knows, who is only wife; I am often affaulted with Doubts and Fears, concerning the State of my precious Soul, which is my chief Concern; yet I hope, I fhall never defpair of the Mercies of God, for they are infinite, and the Sufferings of Chrift are meritorious here is my main Stay and Strength; here is the Hope of my Salvation.

I humbly confefs, to my Shame and Sorrow, that my Sins have been many and great; I cannot plead Innocency of Life, no, nor juftify the beft of my Actions, but acknowledge my felf finful, and an unprofitable Servant; O wretched Man that I am, who fhall deliver me from this Body of Sin and Death! None but Chrift, none but • Chrift.

My

My only Hope and Comfort is, I have to do with a merciful God, who will abundantly pardon all.pe• nitent Sinners; and a bleffed Saviour, who hath redeemed me with his precious Blood, and is now interceeding with his Father in my Behalf: O what a Comfort is this to a poor doubting Sinner.

I will fay with Mr. Gearing; ‘O Lord, thy Son hath offered Satisfaction, and Thou haft accepted it; Thou, O my Saviour, haft laid down thy Life for mine: And thy Father and my Father is well pleafed with it; Blood is paid, Juftice is fatisfied, Heaven Doors are widen'd, thy Arms open to receive C me, nothing wanting but my Heart; make it fuch as Thou wouldeft have it (good Lord,) then take it to thy felf. I have finned against Mercy, but not above Mercy; for Thou art a God of infinite Mercy to all that repent.

L

Lord, I owe Thee a Death, O let it not be terrible, then take thy own Time! What shall I fay or do, to make my Peace with God, whom I have fo much of

•fended;

fended; Lord, I repent of all my Sins from the very Bottom of my Heart; I will with Sorrow and Shame confefs them, and will beg pardon and Forgivenefs of my merciful Fa* ther ; I will caft my felf on the Rock Chrift Jefus, my only Saviour, who laid down his Life to fave my precious Soul; bleffed be God for Jefus Chrift, the ineftimable Gift. Lord, increase my Faith, without which it is impoffible to please Thee.

Why should I be loth to part from this troublesome World, or unwilling to die, and enter into thofe Joys which my bleffed Saviour hath purchafed for me; all this is for want of Affurance: Doubts and Fears are apt to arife; yet in Thee, O Lord, do I put my Trust.

'O merciful Lord God, whenever Thou pleaseft to caft me upon my fick Bed, and bring the bitter Pangs of Death upon me; then be with < me, fupport and comfort me in that Time of my Diftrefs; ftrengthen me and help me, that I may have Power to refift my Enemy, who may ftrongly affault me when I am

weak