stupor. Saturday, the 26th, he continued much in the same state'; taking very little, either of medicine or nourishment. Sunday morning, he seemed better, got up, and took a cup of tea. Sitting in his chair he looked quite cheerful, and repeated these words of his brother Charles. "Till glad I lay this body down, Thy servant, Lord attend; Aud, O! my life of mercy crown Soon after he emphatically said, "Our friend Laza "I the chief of sinners am, But Jesus died for me." *" He Monday, the 28th, his weakness increased. slept most of the day, and spoke but little; yet that little At the Bristol Conference, in 1783. Mr. Wesley was taken very ill: neither he nor his friends thought he could recover. From the nature of his complaint, he supposed a spasm would seize his stomach and probably occasion sudden death. Under these views of his situation, he said to Mr. Bradford," I have been reflecting on my past life: I have been wandering up and down, between fifty and sixty years, endeavouring in my poor way, to do a little good to my fellow creatures: and now it is probable, that there are but a few steps between me and death; and what have I to trust to for salvation? I can see nothing which I have done or suffered, that will bear looking at. I have no other plea than this, I the chief of sinners am, but Jesus died for me." The sentiment here expressed and his reference to it in his last sickness, plainly shews how steadily he had persevered in the same views of the Gospel with which he set out to preach it. little testified how much his whole heart was taken up in the care of the societies, the glory of God, and the promotion of the things pertaining to that kingdom, to which he was hastening. Once he said, in a low but distinct manner, "There is no way into the holiest, but by the blood of Jesus." He asked what the words were, from which he had preached a little before at Hampstead. Being told they were these; Brethren, ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, though he was rich, yet for your sakes became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich. He replied, "That is the foundation, the only foundation, and there is no other."-This day Dr. Whitehead desired he might be asked, if he would have any other physician called in to attend him? but this he absolutely refused.—It is remarkable, that he suffered so little pain, never complaining of any during his illness, but once of a pain in his breast. This was a restless night.--Tuesday morning, he sang two verses of a hymn then lying still, as if to recover strength, he called for pen and ink; but when it was brought he could not write. A person said, "Let me write for you, Sir: tell me what you would say." He replied, "Nothing, but that God is with us." In the forenoon he said, "I will get up." While they were preparing his clothes, he broke out in a manner that astonished all who were about him, in singing, I'll praise my Maker while I've breath, Praise shall employ my nobler powers: My days of priase shall ne'er be past, Or immortality endures!" Having got him into his chair, they observed him change for death. But he, regardless of his dying body, body, said with a weak voice, "Lord, Thou givest strength to those who can speak, and to those who cannot. Speak, Lord, to all our hearts, and let them know that Thou loosest tongues." sung, "To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Who sweetly all agree" He then Here his voice failed. After gasping for breath he said, "Now we have done all." He was then laid on the bed, from whence he rose no more. After resting a little, he called to those who were with him, “To pray and praise." Soon after he said, "Let me be buried in nothing but what is woollen, and let my corpse be carried in my coffin, into the chapel." And again called upon them to "Pray and praise," and taking each by the hand, and affectionately saluting them, bade them farewell. Attempting afterwards to say something which they could not understand, he paused a little, and then with all the remaining strength he had, said, "The best of all is, God is with us." And again, lifting his hands, he repeated the same words in holy triumph, "The best of all is, God is with us." Something being given him to moisten his lips, he said, "It will not do ; "It will not do; we must take the consequence. Never mind the poor carcase." Being told that his brother's widow was come, he said, giveth his servants rest ;" thanked her as she pressed his hand, and affectionately endeavoured to kiss her. His lips being again wet, he repeated his usual grace after a meal; "We thank Thee, O Lord, for these and all thy mercies: bless the Church and King, grant us truth and peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord." After some pause, he said, "The clouds drop fatness. The Lord is with us; the God of Jacob "He Jacob is our refuge." He again called them to prayer, and appeared fervently to join in their petitions. Most of the following night, he often attempted to repeat the psalm before mentioned; but could only get out, "I'll praise, I'll praise." On Wednesday morning, his end drew near. Mr. Bradford, his old and faithful friend, who, with the affection of a son, had attended him for many years, now prayed with him; and the last word he was heard to articulate, "Farewell."-A few minutes before ten, on the second day of March, while a number of friends were kneeling around his bed, was Died Mr. John Wesley, without a groan ! He was in the eighty-eighth year of his age, had been sixty-five years in the Ministry; and the preceding pages will be a lasting memorial of his uncommon zeal, diligence, and usefulness in his Master's work, for more than half a century.-His death was an admirable close of so laborious and useful a life. March the 9th, was the day appointed for his interment. The Preachers then in London, requested that Dr. Whitehead should deliver the Funeral Discourse; and the executors afterwards approved of the appointment. The intention was, to carry the corpse into the chapel, and place it in a raised situation before the pulpit during the service. But the crowds which came to see the body while it lay in the coffin, both in the private house, and especially in the chapel the day before the funeral, were so great, that his friends were apprehensive of a tumult, if they should proceed on the plan first intended. It was therefore resolved, the evening before, to bury him between five and six in the morning. Though the time of notice to his friends was short, and the design itself was spokeu of with great caution, yet a considerable number of persons attended at that early hour. The late Rev. Mr. Richardson, who now lies with him in the same vault, read the funeral service in a manner that made it peculiarly affecting: when he came to that part of it, "Forasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God to take unto himself the soul of our dear Brother, &c." he substituted, with the most tender emphasis, the epithet Father instead of Brother; which had so powerful an effect on the congregation, that from silent tears, they seemed universally to burst out into loud weeping. Inscription on his Coffin. JOHANNES WESLEY, A.M. The Discourse by Dr. Whitehead was delivered + in the chapel at the hour appointed in the forenoon, to an astonishing multitude of people; among whom were many Ministers of the Gospel, both of the Establishment, and Dissenters. The audience was still and solemn as night; and all seemed to carry away with them, enlarged views of Mr. Wesley's character, and serious impressions of the importance of religion, and the utility of Methodism. The *"John Wesley, Master of Arts, formerly Fellow of Lincoln-College, Oxford, died on the second day of March, 1791, in the eighty-eighth year of his age. This excellent Discourse is subjoined in the Appendix to this volume. |