His fifth brother was Joseph, whom he blessed in this manner; Let him bless thee, Oh Joseph, that blessed him that was separated from his brethren. O that his everlasting arms may take hold on thee! It is enough, if yet thou mayest live in his sight. My heart hath been working toward thee poor Joseph; and I am not without hopes, that the arms of the Almighty will embrace thee. The God of thy father bless thee with the blessing of heaven above.
The next was his sister Mary, to whom he spoke thus, poor sister Mary, thy body is weak and thy days will [♦]be filled with bitterness; thy name is Marah; the Lord sweeten all with his grace and peace, and give thee health in thy soul. Be patient, make sure of Christ, and all is well.
[♦] “he” replaced with “be”
Then his other sister whose name was Sarah was called; whom he thus blessed, Sister Sarah, thy body is strong and healthful: Oh that thy soul may be so too! The Lord make thee first a wise virgin, and then a mother in Israel; a pattern of modesty, humility, and holiness.
Then another brother, Jacob was called, whom he blessed after this manner; The Lord make thee an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile! Oh that thou mayest learn to wrestle with God, and like a prince mayest prevail, and not go without a blessing.
Then he prayed for his youngest brother Benjamin, who was then but an infant; Poor little Benjamin, O that the Father of the fatherless, would take care of the poor child, that thou, which never sawest thy father upon earth, mayest see him with joy in heaven; The Lord be thy Father, and portion: mayest thou prove the son of thy mother’s right hand, and the joy of her age.
‘O that none of us all may be found amongst the unconverted in the day of judgment! Oh that every one of us may appear (with our honoured father and dear mother) before Christ with joy, that they may say, Lord, here are we, and the children which thou hast given us. Oh that we may live to God here, and live with him hereafter.’
“And now my dear mother, brethren and sisters, farewell; I leave you for awhile and I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified.”
“And now dear Lord, my work is done. I have finished my course, I have fought the good fight; and henceforth there remaineth for me a crown of righteousness! Now come, dear Lord Jesus, come quickly.”
Then the minister came to give him his last visit, and to do the office of an inferior angel, to help to convey his blessed soul to glory. When the minister spake to him, his heart was in a flame of love, and joy, which drew tears of joy from him, to hear a man just dying, talk as [♦]if he came from the immediate presence of God. One might have read grace and glory in his countenance. Oh the praise, the triumphant praises that he put up! And every one must speak praise about him, or else they made a jar in his harmony.