session, but he continued to receive persons who came to visit him, and allowed none to leave without exhortations.
On Friday he was much engaged in prayer, and often repeated these words, "Come, Lord Jesus. Sweet Jesus, into thy hands I commend my spirit. Be merciful, Lord, to thy church which thou hast redeemed, give peace to this afflicted commonwealth. Raise up faithful pastors who will take the charge of thy church. Grant us, Lord, the perfect hatred of sin, both by the evidences of thy wrath and mercy. Lord grant true pastors to thy church, that purity of doctrine my be retained. Restore peace again to this commonwealth, with godly rulers and magistrates. Once, Lord, make an end of my trouble." In the midst of his meditations, he frequently addressed those who stood by, in such sentences as the following; "O serve the Lord in fear, and death shall not be terrible to yon. Nay, blessed shall death be to those who have felt the power of the death of the only begotten Son of God."
On Sabbath, the 23d, after lying a long time quiet, he exclaimed, “If any be present, let him come and see the work of God;" and on their coming to his bed-side, he said, “I have been these two last nights in meditation on the troubled state of the church of God, the spouse of Jesus Christ, despised of the world, but precious in the sight of God. I have called to God for her, and have committed her to her head, Jesus Christ. I have fought against spiritual wickedness in heavenly things, and have prevailed. I have been in heaven, and have possession. I have tasted of the heavenly joys, where presently I am." In reply to a question asked by one of his friends if he felt much pain, he replied that "he was willing to lie there for years, if so God pleased, and if he continued to shine upon his soul through Jesus Christ."
