Page:A short account of the life and death of John Dillon..djvu/12



to save all that will come to thee, yea, the very chief of sinners : otherwise I must have been lifting up my eyes in hell long ago. O Jesus, thou Saviour and lover of men, hasten to destroy the darkness of unbelief, and spread the light of faith over all the earth, that all may love and adore thee!

It is now near three months, that I have had, with little intermission, grievous pains of body. But my compassionate high priest has hitherto laid his everlasting arms of love underneath me. He has bore me up under all without a murmuring thought, without the least shadow of discontent. I cannot yet believe, I have one pain too much. The Lord give me to think the same to the end!

And now, O Lord God of love, look down in mercy upon me the meanest and weakest of all ; by thy free grace saved thus far, and save me, most holy and gracious God to the end. Forsake me not, O Lord, for a moment; for without thee I cannot stand; and whatever sufferings thou givest me, only increase thy love abundantly in my heart, and give me grace and patience,

And now into thy hands, O Saviour of sinners, I commit my body, soul and spirit! Be mercifully pleased to fulfil thy faithful promise to thy servant and hand-maid, (who, thou knowest, loveth thee, and has freely given me up to thee) and when thou callest me hence, be an husband to the widow, and a father to our fatherless babe, keep them from the evils of the present world : and of thine infinite mercy, bring us to meet round thy throne, to praise thee world without end!

He grew weaker in February, March and April 1769. May 10, his wife would fain have set up with him; but he would not suffer it. About seven in the morning, May 11, he changed : but still lay quiet and composed, till about ten he moved his head a little, and without any strugele or groan, fell asleep.