When one said, “Sir, I think you have need of rest:” He answered, “I have no need of rest, were it not to put me in case, to finish my course with joy. Lo, here the power of Christ’s death, and the efficacy of his resurrection! I find the advantage of one at the right-hand of God, who is able to save to the uttermost! That is the sight I long for: he will but shut my eyes, and open them in glory. To have my soul entirely submissive to him in all things, that is my desire. And, so it will be shortly; then never will there be a reluctant thought, never one more estranged thought from God!”
*To one who asked, if he was not faint, he answered, “I am not faint, I am refreshed as with wine. O there is a sweet calm in my soul. My desires are towards him, and the remembrance of his name. Remember him! Why should not I remember him, that remembered me in my low condition? He passed by and said, live! And when he says, he gives life.”
He then desired to have read the former part of the first chapter of the second epistle to the Corinthians. And after the 9th and 10th verses were read, We had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God which raiseth the dead: who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver, in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us. He said, “Now there ’tis all. God hath delivered me, and I trust that he will deliver me, and bruise Satan shortly under my feet, and I shall get the victory over the cunning world, and the deceitful heart. Many a weary day have I had with my unbelief! If I had had faith to believe things not seen, to believe that my happiness lay not in things temporal but eternal: if I had had faith’s abiding impression realizing these things, I should not have known how to abide out of heaven a moment.”
*When he was desired to sleep, he answered, “Those I am going to, sleep not day nor night, but cry, Holy, holy, holy! They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength, and mount up with wings as of an eagle. I cannot get my heart in a right tune, as I would have it; but it will be so in a short time.” After he had lain still a little, one said, “You have not slept.” He answered, “No; I had much work; but blessed be God, pleasant work.”
Afterwards, when his wife asked how he was, he said, “My dear, I am longing for the salvation of God, and hastening to it.” Then seeing her very sad, he said, “My dear, encourage yourself; here is a body going to clay, and a soul going to heaven; where I hope you are to come.”
*3. Friday, September 19. About five in the morning, when he was desired to try if he could sleep, he answered, “No, no; should I lie here altogether useless? Should not I spend the last of my strength, to shew forth his glory?” He then held up his hands (which were much swelled) and said, “Lame hands, and lame feet! But see a lame man leaping and rejoicing!”
*Feeling some pain, he said, “This is one of the fore-runners of the change, the great change. O when shall I be admitted to see the glory of the higher house? Instead of that cloudy light of a created sun, to see that clear and perfect glory!”
After some time’s silence, he took leave of his wife and children, saluting and speaking to them all, one by one. Then he said, “A kind and affectionate wife you have been to me. The Lord bless you, and he shall bless you.” To a minister that came in, he said, “Brother, I am upon a piece of trying work. I am parting with my wife and children. I am resolved, I bless his name; though I have had one of the best of wives, yet she is no more mine, but the Lord’s.”
*Then to his son he said, “God bless the lad, and let my name be named upon him. But O, what is my name! Let the name of the Lord be named upon him. Tell the generation following, how good God is, and hand down this testimony.”
After that, he spoke to his servants and said, “My dear friends, make religion your business. I charge you all, beware of graceless masters; seek to be with them that fear the Lord.”