Lord, who had begun a good work in him, did not forsake him. After about three weeks' illness (which began with an inflammation in his wind-pipe, so that we were apprehensive of suffocation taking place), in one of the worst paroxysms he ever had, he suddenly rose up in his bed, to the surprise of all that were with him, he being so very weak, and sat without any outward support, and began to talk of God's work with him; of the views he had of God's saving sinners; of the evil of errors, and of a self-righteous spirit ; of the necessity of Christ in all his undertakings; and as such, the only ground of hope for poor sinners, and the certain salvation of all that were interested in his atonement and righteousness, and of God's acceptance of all such. This view of God's covenant he brought out with as much regularity as one could desire. Also of God's being the fountain of all happiness, and that if the beauty of Christ was once beheld-yea, said he, if one glimpse of his beauty be but seen, it will eclipse all the glory of the world. Also of the necessity of faith ONLY in Christ, and the setting aside all the work of man. He entertained us with these subjects (with his voice exalted in a louder tone than any one would have supposed him capable of), for an hour and a half, to the astonishment of all that heard him, which were about eight or nine persons. We ascribed it to the power of God, who strung his nerves, enlarged his mind, and prompted his speech"Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength to perfect praise." After this he laid for three hours as one exhausted, and the next morning we thought he would soon finish his earthly course, but about one o'clock he revived, and from that time he seemed to mend; and, indeed, his throat was never more so affected as it had been that night,

which was very remarkable. After he revived, he said to Mrs. B., "I thought I was going, and that it was not a time to hold my peace." He inquired who heard him; and, hearing of one that was there, he said he hoped it might be useful to him.

In a few days we perceived the inflammation extend towards his lungs in the interval he had entertained (and we also) thoughts of his recovery, and he told me he expected to have had the pleasure of telling some of his most intimate friends of what the Lord had done for his soul; and that he should now read the Bible without any of the threatenings which formerly alarmed him; and that he should hear the gospel with delight; for his faith and hope had been made clearer to himself that night than ever before; the comfort of which remained with him some time. The thoughts of getting better, however, and the pleasure he anticipated in the above things, "led my heart," said he, "from God, and so I lost my comfort:" and when he felt his health again on the decline, he wished for his comfort, and a comfortable word, though "I know," he replied, "it is not essential to salvation." He had long before given up the thoughts of living, and begged for faith and patience which, while longing for the return of his comforts, were sorely tried, and he sometimes expressed his fears lest his patience should fail. At intervals he had his revivals, and would talk pleasantly of the things that had passed upon his soul, and that lay between God and it. He sometimes was assailed with fears of falling short, and begged he might not be fiercely assaulted by the enemy of souls. He said to a friend who came to see him, "I do not believe the Lord will let me give up my hope." To another he said, "I believe the Lord

has fixed me upon the foundation-Jesu's blood and righteousness, though I have not gone so deep as some have."

He was well acquainted with the Bible, which, with several pieces of Mr. Huntington's, and a variety of hymns, were alternately read to him, and relished by him. God was pleased to crucify him to this world, and, as Mr. H. says, "When he was sick of it, he was not loath to leave it ;" for he would say, Father, cannot you pray for the Lord to take me? I answered, I must do it in submission to the Lord's will; and he would reply, Yes, to be sure! At his desire his books were sent for from London; these, about a week before he departed, he divided with his own hand, though very weak, some to one, and some to another; but he had few in English, his Latin books exceeded in quantity; some he directed to be sold, others, he said, might be useful, in future, to some part of the family he did this with all the placidity imaginable, but it tired his frame. Towards his end he told Mrs. B. his weakness was such he could pray but a little while at a time; the weakness of nature, and the strength of grace, were evident in him. And in this, the grace of God (differing from all that we are in ourselves) appears most clear. Several of his friends were anxious for his life to be spared, hoping it might, by the will of God, be of future use in the church. This, however, was not granted, but there is no doubt that their prayers, in other respects, were heard and answered.

As his departure grew nearer, he daily longed to be gone; the return of his comforts also were his daily desire. But this long looked-for blessing tried him, and others concerned for him. I often, as I sat by him, have felt my heart go up in desires that I might

that I might again see him bless God for his great salvation, before he was "gone to be no more seen; and also kindly to thank his two friends that had constantly attended him for the last two months, both gracious persons,-feeling this would be indeed a pleasing sight to me. But about this I was often violently beset with unbelief. Another friend, who was with him every day, had continued to put up many petitions for the restoration of his comforts; and in seeking for him, they had many promises sent, to encourage them to look for the fulfilment of their desires; they also were sorely tried, daily looking, and yet delayed; but the promises they had received they could not give up.

The day he departed, they came to see him in the morning, and found him about the same in his mind, but his body much weaker, and every appearance of his end drawing near. We had been accustomed to move him from one room to another in the middle of the day, to escape the heat, (which was done by two friends in a chair,) but on this day it greatly fatigued him ; and being almost overcome when put into the bed, he said "Father, kneel down and pray, for we can do nothing." I did so, and I perceived his eyes directed upwards most earnestly. I had only arisen from my knees a few minutes, when what we had sought for flowed into his heart; and although his poor body was tottering on the verge of death, he began to speak in blessing and praising God for his great salvation, and for bringing him to experience it; and his soul was lifted up for support in the bitter agony of death, which was granted him most abundantly. Nothing," said he, "could have taught me, short of the almighty power of God,-so sinful, vile, and helldeserving a wretch." He then spake sweetly of God

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the Father's love, of Christ's redemption, and of the work of the Holy Spirit; not in notion, but experimentally in the heart. He could not magnify the Lord enough for his grace. He mentioned one as in the kingdom of God whom he should soon see, and the glorious Son of God also, and that angels would convey his spirit through the skies to God. I offered him some linctus to moisten his mouth. "No," said he,

no more of that for ever; I have done with all medicine." Nor had he any more.

He was sensible of the near approach of death, and, lifting his tottering hand, held it out to one of his nurses before mentioned, and shook hands with her; and kindly thanking her for all that she had done for him, and the kindness she had shewn him, invoked for her the blessing of God; and then to the other that had attended him, in the same manner, and also to a third who had often sat up with him. One of the friends who helped to move him being near, and hearing him speak, came in, to whom also he held out his hand. For Mrs. B. he begged a blessing, and on the infant which was in her arms;-for his brother Ebenezer, who came in,-and also for his sister, who was present; adding, "Seek the Lord while he may be found, for it is of infinite importance." He then proceeded to invoke the blessing of God upon those of the family not present, and began in the following manner :-My dear brother Isaac, may the Lord bless him and his wife with manifold blessings; for the others also, differing in words according to circumstances, in which he displayed understanding and judgment. He also begged a blessing for John T., an old servant, who had attended him for eight or ten days.

We were all overcome with tears of joy for God's great goodness to him in his last hours. Then again,