After a life spent in the most laborious service of his Divine Master, when he apprehended his great change to draw near, he called for his family and spake to them, at several times, as he was able, as nearly as could be recollected, in the following words; with many other similar expressions:—
“I am going the way of all flesh: ‘The time of my departure is at hand.’ Knowing, therefore, that ‘shortly I must put off this tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shown me. I know also, that if this my earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, I have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.’ Therefore, to ‘me to live is Christ, and to die is gain; which increaseth my desire even now to depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better’ than to continue here in all transitory, vain, and false pleasures of this world, of which I have seen an end.
“Hearken, therefore, unto the last words of your dying father. ‘I am no more in this world, but ye are in the world. I ascend to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God,’ through the all-sufficient merits of Jesus Christ, my Redeemer; ‘who ever lives to make intercession for me;’ who is ‘a propitiation’ for my sins, and washed me from them all in his own blood; who is ‘worthy to receive glory and honour, and power; who hath created all things, and for whose pleasure they are and were created.’
“I had a desire and resolution to walk before God in every stage of my pilgrimage, from my youth up to this day, in truth and with an upright heart, and to do that which was upright in his eyes to the utmost of my power; and ‘what things were gain to me formerly, these things I count now loss for Christ: yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things; and I count them as nothing, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness, which is of God by faith.’
“Let nothing separate you from the love of Christ. ‘In all things we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us: for I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any creature, shall be able to separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus, my Lord.’ Therefore, ‘love not the world, nor the things of the world;’ but prepare daily and hourly for death, which besieges us on every side; and be faithful unto death, that we may meet together joyfully on the right hand of Christ at the last day, and ‘follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth;’ with all those that are clothed in white robes in sign of innocency, and palms in their hands in sign of victory; ‘which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.’”
Afterwards he blessed his children and those who stood about him, in these words,
“God of his infinite mercy bless you all, and present you holy and unblameable, and irreprovable in his sight, that ye may meet together at the right hand of our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ, ‘with joy unspeakable and full of glory.’ Amen!”
And after a little interval, he said,
“‘I have kept the faith’ once given to the saints; for the which cause I have also suffered these things: ‘but I am not ashamed, for I know in whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day.’”
After this, the good Bishop spake little more. His sickness increased, his speech failed, and he slumbered the remainder of his time away, till his discharge came.
Let Incredulity itself say, if this was not a desirable close of so useful a life as this excellent man is known to have lived. We may defy all the sons of Infidelity to show us an example among their brethren, of a life so useful, and a death so great, so noble, so glorious as this of the good Bishop.
Reader, these things are true. Consider them;—reflect upon them;—ask yourself which you wish to be your own case. Do you wish to die like an Infidel, or like a Christian?—upon this question there can be no doubt. Flee then, while there is time, to the only Refuge. Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near. Flee to Christ, who shed his blood upon the cross for a ransom for many; he has said that those who come to him in faith, he will not cast out. Read again the account of the last hours of Bishop Bedell; weigh carefully every word he uttered; and pray that the Holy Spirit may bless it to your soul, and that you may be of the number who are saved from everlasting perdition.
London: Printed by Augustus Applegath and Edward Cowper, Duke-street, Stamford-street; and sold by F. Collins, No. 56, Paternoster-row; and Evans and Sons, 42, Long-lane, Smithfield.