March 28.—He said, Aunt, I am not desirous to live, but I hope I shall not go off in agony. Oh! Oh! let me be the subject of your prayers, continually! Oh! spend all your time in wrestling for me.
Lord’s day, March 31.—In the afternoon a few friends came to see him, and a few hours he was cheerful, and free from pain. About ten, his pains became intolerable. It was a time of great distress. Between eleven and twelve, he became more easy, and a sweet colour appeared in his countenance. He said, Aunt, when I am in glory I shall sing as loud as any one, The crowned Lord of all. Oh! I long to go—I long to be singing hallelujah! He then sung Hallelujah, hallelujah! He then repeated the whole of the hymn, Grace, ’tis a charming theme; laying a particular emphasis on the words, Wrote my name—repeating (My name). Oh! I long to be singing. Crown him Lord of all! Calling to his Uncle in the next room, to come, Crown him Lord of all! On its being complied with, he joined with the sweetest voice. On our retiring to the next room, he sung alone, in a soft voice, a great part of the hymn, called Gethsemane. He then called, Uncle; come and sing again? On his replying, My dear; I am very low, he said, never mind, I will help you! He then sweetly joined in, Grace, ’tis a charming sound. At the conclusion, he said, It is all of grace. Oh! I long to Crown him Lord of all! He requested his Uncle to go to prayer? When concluded, he shook him by the hand, saying, I thank you, I thank you.—Monday.—Extremely low all day. On turning him in bed, he said, Oh! what should I do without you? but instantly added, in a louder voice, What should I do without the Lord?
Tuesday, April 2nd.—A day full of pain and distress indeed. About noon, he said, I shall not be long here! I expressed a hope of meeting him in glory. He answered, Yes, I do not fear that. I replied, yes, for He is able to save to the uttermost. He replied, If he has not saved you, he never will—adding, Saved from the beginning of the world! What a mercy Aunt, to be in Christ?—Wednesday.—Very low all day. Several times in the day he expressed a desire to depart, and be with Christ. He cried out, Oh! this poor sinful body—a body of sin and death!—Late at night, he sighed, and said, Lord, what is man!—Thursday.—Suffered much all day. About noon, he said, To-morrow is Good Friday—Ah! what did the Lord suffer for us? And in a very emphatic manner, said, Oh Gethsemane!—Friday.—Evidently much worse. About noon he was very restless. I said, My dear, who can place your pillow easy? He replied, Only one God—must be my physician. About noon, he said, Oh! pray to the Lord to take me very soon? Then you are willing to go to him? He replied, Yes, before tea time, if it was the Lord’s will! Oh that I could fall asleep in his arms. Oh! wrestle Aunt, Oh! wrestle! On uttering a few short petitions in his behalf, he affectionately thanked me, saying, Oh that our united prayers may be answered. About three o’clock, he said, Oh! why doth he tarry so long? Oh that his chariot was waiting for me! On assuring him that was the case—that the holy angels were surrounding him, to convey him before the throne of God and the Lamb, he cried, Oh that he would come quickly! Oh! to hear the sound of his chariot wheels! Why doth he tarry so long? When about to fall asleep in his arms, he whispered:
Cease fond nature, cease thy strife,
Let me languish into life.
The remainder of the evening spent in great pain, but fervent expressions after the coming of the Lord, often crying, Oh! ask the Lord why is his chariot so long in coming! About three in the morning, he fell into a sleep, and without pain or groan, sweetly fell asleep in Jesus.
Thus terminated the life of this believer in Jesus. May you, and I, and all his dear friends, be partakers of the like precious faith. Amen.
Your’s, most affectionately,
E. Bonner.
Farewell, my dear son—and while I embalm thy memory with tears, a Gospel hope points me to a time when I shall meet you again, in the sacred blissful presence of a reigning Saviour, and a smiling God. Amen.
FINIS.