Biographia Scoticana (Scots Worthies): A Brief Historical Account of the Lives, Characters, and Memorable Transactions of the Most Eminent Scots WorthiesHowie, John
History
Biographia Scoticana (Scots Worthies): A Brief Historical Account of the Lives, Characters, and Memorable Transactions of the Most Eminent Scots Worthies
Howie, John
Church of Scotland -- Biography; Scotland -- Biography
That night, Dr. Preston being come to him, and was told by some of his
constant attendants that he was often very uneasy in his sleep, the
doctor asked him after he awoke, how he did, and what made him mourn so
heavily in his sleep, he answered, "In my life-time, I have been often
assaulted by Satan, and many times he hath cast my sins in my teeth, to
bring me to despair; yet God gave me strength to overcome his
temptations: and now that subtile serpent, who never ceaseth to tempt,
hath taken another course, and seeks to persuade me, that all my labours
in the ministry, and the fidelity I have showed in that service have
merited heaven and immortality. But blessed be God, that he hath brought
to my mind that scripture, _What hast thou that thou hast not received_,
and _not I, but the grace of God which is in me_, with which he hath
gone away ashamed, and shall no more return, and now I am sure my battle
is at an end, and that I shall shortly, without pain of body or trouble
of spirit, change this mortal and miserable life, for that happy and
immortal life that shall never have an end."
Having, some time before, given orders for making his coffin, he rose
out of bed, Nov. 24. about ten o'clock, and put on his hose and doublet,
and sat up about the space of half an hour, and then returned to bed
again. Being asked by Kingincleugh, if he had any pain, he answered, "No
pain, but such as, I trust, will soon put an end to this battle, yea, I
do not esteem that pain to me, which is the beginning of eternal joy."
In the afternoon he caused his wife to read the 15th chapter of 1 Cor.
When it was ended, he said, "Is not that a comfortable chapter?" A
little after, "I commend my soul, spirit and body into thy hands, O
Lord." About five o'clock at night, he said to his wife, "Go, read where
I cast my first anchor;" this was the 17th chapter of John, which she
read, together with part of Calvin's sermons on the Ephesians. They then
went to prayer, after which Dr. Preston asked him, If he heard the
prayer? he answered, "Would to God that you and all men had heard it as
I have done; I praise God for that heavenly sound;" adding, "Lord Jesus,
receive my spirit." His servant, Richard Bannantyne, hearing him give a
long sigh, said, "Now, Sir, the time you have long called to God for,
doth instantly come, and, seeing all natural power fails, give us some
sign, that you live upon the comfortable promises which you have so
often shewed to us." At this speech he lifted up one of his hands, and
immediately after, without any struggle, as one falling asleep, he
departed this life about eleven o'clock at night, finishing his
Christian warfare, he entered into the joy of his Lord, to receive a
crown of righteousness prepared for him (and such as him), from before
the foundation of the world.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account