Then with the utmost warmth he broke out, “Strange, this body is sinking into corruption, and yet my intellectuals are so lively, that I cannot say there is the least alteration, the least decay of judgment or memory. Such vigorous actings of my spirit toward God, and things that are not seen! But not unto us; not unto us; which I must have still on my heart, lest cursed self steal the glory from God!” Some time after he said, “Good is the will of the Lord. Every one of these throws is good; and I must not want one of them: I must not fly from my post, but stand as a centinel, for this is my particular work. This would be hard work without Christ: but ’tis easy with him who is the captain of my salvation.” He mentioned the pain in his head, but said, “In a battle there must be blood and dust. Every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood. ’Tis meet I should be so hard put to it, that I may know to whom I owe my strength. O that I were at the throne above, that my glimmering light were taken away, that this unsteady faith might terminate in vision!” Then he said, “If I am able, though I cannot speak, I’ll shew you a sign of triumph, when I am near glory!” To his wife he said, “My dear be not discouraged, though I should go away in a fainting fit. The Lord’s way is the best way. I am composed. Though my body be vexed, my spirit is untouched.” *One said, “Now you are putting your seal to that truth, that godliness is great gain. And I hope you are encouraging yourself in the Lord.” As a sign of it, he lifted up his hands and clapped them. And in a little time, about seven in the morning, he went to the land, where the weary are at rest. An EXTRACT of the LIFE of Monsieur DE RENTY, A late NOBLEMAN of FRANCE. CHAPTER I. _Of his birth, marriage, and general way of life._ 1. MR. _De Renty_ descended from one of the most noble houses of _Artois_. He was the only son of _Charles De Renty_, and was born in the year 1611, at _Beny_ in _Low Normandy_. There he was brought up till six or seven years of age, and then by his mother carried to _Paris_, where he lived with her about two years, till he was put into the college of _Navarre_; whence he was sent to _Caen_, till at seventeen he was removed to an academy, or school of genteel exercises at _Paris_. He was soon accomplished in all the exercises there taught: But what then pleased him most was, the mathematics. For these he slighted all sorts of diversions, till he understood them perfectly, and composed some books therein.