THE following is an account of the dying moments of William Janeway, a pious minister of the gospel, who laboured in Kelshall during the latter half of the 17th Century. The account is taken from the biography of his son John, also a pious Christian.
Being greatly troubled in mind during his last illness, the father addresses the son as follows:—”Oh, John! this passing into eternity is a great thing; this dying is a solemn business, and enough to make any one’s heart ache that hath not his pardon sealed and his evidences for heaven clear. And truly, son, I am under no small fears as to my own state for another world. Oh! that God would clear His love; oh! that I could say cheerfully, I can die; and upon good grounds be able to look death in the face, and venture upon eternity with well-grounded peace and comfort.” His son, after making a suitable reply, which, however, did not restore his peace, retired to solitary prayer, earnestly imploring that his beloved father might be fitted with joy in believing, as a token for good in leaving the world. Upon returning to his father the son enquired how he felt. At first no answer was given, but the departing saint, though little subject to such emotions, wept for a long time in an extraordinary manner, till at last he broke forth in the language of impassioned exultation: “Ah, son! now it is come, it is come, it is come. I bless God I can die; the Spirit has witnessed with my spirit that I am His child. Now I can look upon God as my dear Father, and Christ as my Redeemer: I can now say, This is my Friend, and this is my Beloved! My heart is full; it is brimful; I can hold no more. I know now what that sentence means, “The peace of God which passeth all understanding.” I know now what that White Stone is, whereon a new name is written, which none know but they who have it. And that fit of weeping which you saw me in was a fit of overpowering love and joy, so great, that I could not for my heart contain myself; neither can I express what glorious discoveries God hath made of Himself to me. And had that joy been greater, I question whether I could have borne it, and whether it would not have separated soul and body. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name, that hath pardoned all my sins, and sealed the pardon. He hath healed my wounds, and caused the bones which He had broken to rejoice. Oh! help me to bless the Lord. He hath put a new song in my mouth. Oh! bless the Lord for His infinite goodness and mercy. Oh, now I can die! it is nothing, I bless God I can die. I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ.”