Invisibles, realities, demonstrated in the holy life and triumphant death of Mr. John Janeway, Fellow of King's Collegde in Cambridge. By James Janeway, Minister of the Gospel

CHAP. IX.

His Retire into the Country; and His first Sickness.

HE now leaves the Doctors house, and re∣tires himself into the Country, to his Mo∣ther and eldest Brother; who did not spare to use their utmost diligence and tenderness to re∣cruit the decays of nature: but hard study, fre∣quent and earnest prayers, and long, and in∣tense meditations, had so ruinated this frail Ta∣bernacle, that it could not be fully repaired: yet, by Gods blessing upon care, and art, it was under-propped for some time.

Whilst he was in this declining condition, in which he could have little hopes of life; he was so far from being affrighted, that he recei∣ved the sentence of death in himself with great joy; and wrote to his dearest relations, to di∣spose them to a patient compliance with such a dispensation, as might separate him and them for a while: And to wean their affections from him, he solemnly professed, that as for him∣self, he was ashamed to desire and pray for life. O, saith he, Is there any thing here, more de∣sirable than the injoyment of Christ? Can I ex∣pect any thing below, comparable to that bles∣sed Vision! O, that Crown! that Rest which re∣mains for the people of God! and (blessed be God) I can say, I know it is mine. I know that when this Tabernacle of Clay shall be dissolved, that I have a house, not made with hands; and there∣fore I groan, not to be uncloathed, but to be cloathed upon with Christ. To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

I can now, through infinite Mercy, speak in the Apostles Language, [I have fought the good fight, henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown incorruptible that fadeth not away.]

When he perceived one of his nearest Rela∣tions distressed at the apprehensions of his Death; he charged him, not to pray for his Life, except it were purely with a respect to the Glory of God. I wish (said he) I beg you, to keep your minds in a submissive frame to the will of God concerning me. The Lord take you nearer

to himself, that you may walk with Him; to Whom if I go before, I hope you will follow af∣ter. Yet after this, he was through mercy finely recovered, and his friends were not with∣out some hopes of his living to be eminently instrumental for Gods glory, in his genera∣tion.

After he was recovered in some measure, he fell again to his former practice of ingaging deeply in the secret & great duties of Religion, which he constantly practised (except when God discharged him by sickness:) secret prayer, at least three times a day somtimes seven times, yeamore; besides family, and Colledge-duties, which were before hinted, he set a part an hour every day for set and solemn meditation; which duty he found unspeakably to improve his graces, & to make no small addition to his com∣forts: His time for that duty was most common∣ly in the evening, when he usually walked into the field, if the weather would permit; if not, he retired into the Church, or any empty solitary room. Where (observing his constant practice, that, if possible, I might be acquainted with the reason of his retiredness) I once hid my self that I might take the more exact notice of the inter∣course, that, I judged, was kept up between him & God. But, O what a spectacle did I see! Sure∣ly, a man walking with God, conversing inti∣mately with his Maker, and maintaining a holy familiarity with the great Jehovah. Me-thought, I saw one talking with God; me-thoughts, I

saw a spiritual Merchant in an heavenly Ex∣change, driving a rich trade for the treasures of the other world. O what a glorious sight it was! Me-thinks, I see him still; how sweetly, did his face shine! O, with what a lovely coun∣tenance did he walk up and down, his lips go∣ing; his body oft reaching up, as if he would have taken his flight into Heaven! His looks, smiles, and every motion spake him to be upon the very Confines of Glory. O, had one but known what he was then feeding on! Sure, he had meat to eat which the world knew not of! Did we but know how welcome God made him when he brought him into his banqueting-house! That which one might easily perceive his heart to be most fixed upon, was, The infinite love of God in Christ, to the poor lost Sons and Daughters of Adam. What else meant his high expressions? What else did his own words to a dear friend signifie, but an extraordinary sense of the freeness, fulness, and duration of that love? To use his own words, God (saith he) holds mine eyes most upon his Goodness, his unmeasurable-Goodness, and the Promises which are most sure, and firm in Christ. His love to us is greater, surer, fuller than ours to our selves. For when we loved our selves so as to destroy our selves, he loved us so as to save us.