With fome select portions of thofe admirable compofitions, he was much comforted in life, and ftrengthened in death.

The day following, he rofe from his bed by feven o'clock; and being afked, "Why, when he was fo weak and fick, he would not rather chufe to reft himself?" He answered, "I have been this whole night taken up with the meditation of the refurrection of Jefus Chrift, my Lord; and would with joy get into the pulpit, that I might communicate, to others, the comfort I have inwardly enjoyed from reflecting on that bleffed fubject." So intent was he on the work of the Lord, even to his laft breath; and when, for want of ftrength, he could fcarce be lifted out of bed by the affiftance of two fervants!

A few days after, he fent for all the minifters of the feveral churches in Edinburgh, to whom, being affembled round his bed, he thus addreffed himself: "That day is now at hand, which I have fo often and intenfely longed for: in which, having finished my labours, and gone through my various forrows, I fhall be diffolved, and be with Chrift. And I appeal to God, whom I have served in the spirit in the gofpel of his Son, that I have taught nothing but the true and folid doctrines of his word: having made this my main view, through the whole courfe of my miniftry, to inftruct the ignorant; to edify and comfort believers; lift up and confirm, with the promises of grace, thofe who were weak, fearful, and doubting, through the fear of wrath and confcioufnefs of fin; and to beat down haughty rebellious finners, with the threatenings and terrors of the Lord. And although many have frequently complained of my harthness in preaching, yet, God knows, that I did not thus deal out thunders and feverity, from hatred to the perfons of any though this I will acknowledge, that the fins, in which they indulge themselves, were the objects of my keenest hatred and refentment; and, in my whole ministry,

me.

this was my fingle aim, if I might by any means gain over their fouls to the Lord. My motive, for fpeaking freely and plainly, whatever the Lord gave me to fay, without refpect of perfons, was nothing but reverence to that God, who called me by his grace, and made me the difpenfer of his divine myfteries; before whofe tribunal I knew I must one day ftand, to give account for my difcharge of that embaffy and commiffion wherewith he had invested Wherefore 1 profefs, before God and his holy angels, that I have never knowingly adulterated his facred word, held back any of his counfel from my people, ftudied to pleafe men, or given way to my own or other's corrupt affections or fecular intereft; but have faithfully expended the talents committed to me, for the good of the Church over whom I was in the Lord. To the truth of this, my confcience beareth teftimony, which is a comfort to me, notwithstanding the various flanders which fome have made it their bufinefs to caft upon me. And do ye, my dearest brethren in the faith and labour of Jefus, perfist in the everlafting truths of his gofpel: look diligently to the flocks, with whofe overfight God hath intrusted you; and which he hath redeemed to himself by the blood of his Son. And do you, my brother Lufon, fight the good fight, and finifh the work of God, to which you are called, with alacrity and faithfulness. May God fhower down his bleffing from on high, upon you and your feveral charges in this city! which, fo long as they continue to hold fast thofe doctrines of truth, which they have heard of me, the gates of hell fhall never be able to prevail againft. And beware of thofe, who have not only oppofed the royal government, but even forfaken the truth which they once profeffed: against whom I denounce, that, unless they fincerely repent, and return to the good way which they have left, they fhall one day miferably perith in foul and body. I would fay more, but cannot, as I am fcarce

able

able to draw my breath." With these words he difmiffed them and afterwards fpoke in private to those who attended him, to admonifh one Grange, on whom that judgement afterwards fell, which Knox had predicted. He was then vifited by the chief nobility of the town, among whom was Lord Morton, afterwards viceroy of the kingdom, as alfo by fome godly ladies of the first quality: none of whom he fuffered to depart, without a word of comfort or exhortation, as their feparate cafes required.

Perceiving death to approach nearer and nearer, he gave orders for his coffin to be made: after which, he burst forth to this effect: "Lord Jefus, fweetest Saviour, into thy hands I commend my fpirit. Look, I befeech thee, with favour, upon this Church which thou haft redeemed, and reftore peace to this afflicted commonwealth. Raife up paftors after thine own heart, who may take care of thy Church; and grant that we may learn, as well from the bleffings as from the chastisements of thy providence, to abhor fin, and love thee with full purpose of heart." Then, turning to thofe about him, he faid, "O wait on the Lord with fear, and death will not be terrible: yea, bleffed and holy will their death be, who are interested in the death of the Son of God." Being asked, by an intimate friend, "whether he felt much pain?" he replied, "I cannot look upon that as pain which brings on the end of mortality and trouble, and is the beginning of life." Having then ordered thofe paffages of Scripture, abovementioned, to be diftinctly read to him, he repeated the Lord's Prayer and the Apoftles' Creed; enlarging, as he went on, moft fweetly and fpiritually, upon each of the feparate petitions and articles, to the great comfort and edification of them that were by. Afterwards, lifting up his hands towards heaven, he cried out, " To thee, Lord, do I commit myself. Thou knoweft how intense my pains are, but I do not complain: yea, Lord, if

fuch

I

fuch be thy will concerning me, I could be content to bear these pains for many years together: only do thou continue to enlighten my mind through Chrift Jefus." He paffed that night with more ease and complacency, than ufual: the 15th chapter of 1 Cor. being frequently read to him, at his own defire : which being done, he would cry out, "O what fweet and heavenly confolations does my Lord afford me, from this bleffed chapter!" But, when one of his eyes grew blind, and his fpeech began to fail, he cried, faintly, "Turn to the 17th of St. John, and read it carefully; for there I have caft my anchor." When that was read, he refted a little: but foon began to utter very heavy groans and deep fighs; fo that the by-ftanders plainly perceived, he was grappling with fome very great temptation. There were, at this time, prefent in the room, one John Johnson, a holy man, and Robert Campbell, a great friend to the gofpel, Mrs. Knox, and others; who, obferving his agonies, thought him to be in the pains of death. At length, however, contrary to their expectation, he recovered, like one awaked from sleep: and, being asked how he did, answered, Many have been my conflicts with Satan, in the courfe of my frail life, and many the affaults which I have fuftained: but that roaring lion never befet me, fo furiously and forcibly, as now. Often has he fat my fins in array before me; often has he tempted me to despair, and often ftrove to enfnare me with the enticements of the world: but, I being enabled to hew his fnares in pieces with the fword of the spirit, which is the word of God, he was not able to prevail against me. But now he has found out a new way. That crafty ferpent has endeavoured to perfuade me, that, becaufe I have faithfully and fuccefsfully discharged my minifterial office, I am on that account deferving of eternal life and an happy immortality. But God was pleased to make me triumphant over this temptation alfo, by powerfully

fuggefting

fuggesting to my memory thofe texts, What haft thou, that thou didst not receive? And, by the grace of God, I am what I am: and, Not I, but the grace of God which was with me: and others, with which I foiled the enemy, and quenched his fiery darts. I thank my God, therefore, through Chrift, who has vouchfafed me the victory; and I have a certain perfuafion in my own breaft, that Satan fhall not be permitted to return, or moleft me any more, in my paffage to glory: but that I fhall, without any pain of body, or agony of foul, fweetly and peacefully exchange this wretched life for that bleffed and immortal one, which is through Chrift Jefus.” Then evening prayers were faid; and being afked, whether he could hear them diftinctly? he answered, "Would to God you all heard with fuch ears, and perceived with the fame mind, as I am enabled to do! And now, Lord Jefus, receive my fpirit. Whereupon certain fymptoms of immediate death appearing, he was defired to give fome fign, whereby they might know, that he died in the ftedfaft belief and enjoyment of thofe gofpel-truths, which he had taught when living; and, likewife, of his comfortable affurance of a blissful immortality through Christ. On which, as if he had received fresh strength, he triumphantly lifted up his hand toward heaven, and continued waving it, for a confiderable time; and then quietly departed to the rest which remaineth for the people of God, on Nov. 24, 1572, about eleven o'clock at night.