upon them, are filled with inexpressible terror, through the roarings and tearings of a guilty accusing conscience, and the fore-thoughts of that horrible unsupportable torment they are so near unto. Now scaring dreams do terrify them, and fearfulness of the bottomless pit, and the burning lake below, doth surprise them; and some breaketh forth in the anguish of their despairing souls, "Who can dwell with devouring fire, who can inhabit everlasting burnings?" and however jovial and full of pleasure their life hath been, yet at their latter end they are utterly consumed with terrors. But mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, the end of that man is peace; whatsoever storms they have had in their passage through a rough sea, the wind blowing, and the waves roaring, and sometimes have been ready to sink through opposition and discouragement, sometimes have been overwhelmed with grief and doubtings, sometimes have been dashed upon the rocks of terror and perplexity; yet now they are come to the haven of death, the winds are hushed and still, the waves are smooth and silent, the storm is over, and there is a great calm upon their spirits; they are past the rocks, and are out of the danger they feared, when they are in the greatest danger of approaching death.

It was generally observed amongst us, that God's people who died by the plague amongst the rest, died with such peace and comfort, as Christians do not ordinarily arrive unto, except when they are called forth to suffer martyrdom for the testimony of Jesus Christ. Some who

have been full of doubts and fears, and complaints whilst they have lived and been well, have been filled with assurance, and comfort, and praise, and joyful expectation of glory, when they have lain on their death-beds by this disease. And not only more grown Christians, who have been more ripe for glory, have had these comforts, but also some younger Christians, whose acquaintance with the Lord hath been of no long standing.

I can speak something of mine own knowledge concerning some of my friends whom I have been withal: I shall instance only in the house where I lived. We were eight in family, three men, three youths, an old woman, and a maid, all which came to me, hearing of my stay in town, some to accompany me, others to help me. It was the latter end of September before any of us were touched; the young ones were not idle, but improved their time in praying and hearing, and were ready to receive instruction, and were strangely borne up against the fears of the disease and death, every day so familiar to the view. But at last we were visited, and the plague came in dreadfully upon us; the cup was put into our hand to drink, after a neighbour family had tasted it, with whom we had much sweet society in this time of sorrow. first our maid was smitten, it began with a shivering and trembling in her flesh, and quickly seized on her spirits; it was a sad day, which I believe I shall never forget; I had been abroad to see a friend in the city, whose husband was newly dead of the plague, and she herself visited

And

with it; I came back to see another whose wife was dead of the plague, and he himself under apprehensions that he should die within a few hours: I came home, and the maid was on her death-bed, and another crying out for help, being left alone in a sweating fainting fit. What was an interest in Christ worth then? What a privilege to have a title to the kingdom of heaven ?

But I proceed. It was on the Monday when the maid was smitten; on Thursday she died full of tokens: on Friday one of the youths had a swelling in his groin; and on the Lord's day died with the marks of the distemper upon him on the same day another youth did sicken, and on the Wednesday following he died on the Thursday night his master fell sick of the disease, and within a day or two was full of spots, but strangely beyond his own, and others expectations, recovered. Thus did the plague follow us, and came upon us one by one: as Job's messengers came one upon the heels of another, so the messengers of death came so close one after another, in such dreadful manner, as if we must all follow one another immediately into the pit. Yet the Lord in mercy put a stop to it, and the rest were preserved. But that which was very remarkable in this visitation, was the carriage especially of those youths that died, who I believe were less troubled themselves, than others were troubled for them. The first youth that was visited, being asked by his father concerning the provision he had made for his death and eternity; told him, he hoped, if he died,

he should go to heaven; being asked the grounds of his hopes, said, the Lord had enabled him to look beyond the world; and when he was drawing near to his end, boldly inquired whether the tokens did yet appear, saying, that he was ready for them, and so a hopeful bud was nipped: but let not the father or the mother weep, and be in sadness for him, he is, I do not doubt, with their father, and his heavenly Father, which may be their comfort. The other also was a very sweet hopeful youth, so loving and towardly, that it could not choose but attract love from those that were acquainted with him; but the grace he had gotten in those years, being I suppose under seventeen, did above all beautify him, and stand him in the greatest stead; in his sickness he had much quiet and serenity upon his spirit, and lay so unconcerned at the thoughts of approaching death, that I confess I marvelled to see it; the sting and fear of death were strangely taken out, through the hopes which he had of future glory; yet once he told his mother he could desire to live a little longer, if it were the will of God. She asked him why he deired it? He told her he desired to live till fire and faggot came; and above all, he would fain die a martyr. She said, if he died now, he should have a crown: he answered, but if he died a martyr, he should have a more glorious crown; yet he was not unwilling to receive his crown presently; and went away with great peace and sweetness in his looks, to his Father's house; and I could not blame the mother's grief for the loss of such an only son;

but to be so immoderate, was not well: now I am sure it is time to dry up tears, and lay aside sorrows for the loss of him who hath been so long filled with joys in the heavenly mansions.

I might speak of the carriage of the master in his sickness, under the apprehensions of death, when the spots did appear on his body, he sent for me, and desired me to pray with him; told me he was now going home, desired me to write to his friends, and let them know, that it did not repent him of his stay in the city, though they had been so importunate with him to come away; but he had found so much of God's presence in his abode here, that he had no reason to repent: he told me where he would be buried, and desired me to preach his funeral sermon on Psalm xvi. ult. "In thy presence is fulness of joy, and at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." But the Lord raised him again beyond the expectation of himself, friends, or physician. Let him not forget God's mercies, and suffer too much worldly business to crowd in upon him, and choke the remembrance and sense of God's goodness so singular; but let him show by his singularity in meekness, humility, self-denial and love, zeal, and holy walking, that the Lord hath been singularly gracious unto him. But when I speak of home concernments, let me not forget to look abroad.

The plague now increaseth exceedingly, and fears there are amongst us, that within a while there will not be enough alive to bury the dead, and that the city of London will now be quite depopulated by this plague.