25. _Elizabeth Thomas_ being with him on _Friday_ night, he asked her to pray, and said, “I can pour out my whole heart, and soul, and spirit, and life in prayer.” She asked, “Can you rejoice in God?” He replied, “Yes; I have not the least doubt of my salvation. _I know that my Redeemer liveth_, and that I shall stand before him in that day. I know my Saviour is now at the right hand of God, and that he is praying for me. I see the gates of heaven stand open, and Jesus stands with open arms to receive me.” Then he cried, “Let me go! I must be gone!” She asked him, “Whither he would go?” He said, “To my God;” and burst out, “Come, Lord Jesus! The harvest is ready. Come, Lord, and put in the sickle!”
26. The next morning, _Saturday 16_. his sweats stopped. All proper means were used to recover them. He said, “I believe they will not return. But I have left all to God. My heart is full of God. I know he will _appear the second time, without sin, unto salvation_.”
After lying a short time he broke out into vehement prayer, first for the church, and then for himself: crying out aloud, “Open the heavens, O my God, and come down into my soul! Come, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and plunge me into God! Carry me ye angels, to the bosom of my God. Bear me to the feet of Jesus!” Then with smiles of triumph, not to be exprest, he cried, “Jesus is coming! Now I shall see the unclouded face of Jesus! ’Tis finish’d! ’Tis finish’d! Jesus is come! Jesus is come!
“For us is prepar’d The angelical guard, The convoy attends A minist’ring host of invisible friends!
“Ready-wing’d for their flight To the regions of light The horses are come, The chariots of _Israel_ to carry me home!”
*One called aloud to his mother to come. He said, “You may call; but God will not stop one moment.” He spake no more till he resigned his spirit into the hands of God.
A short ACCOUNT Of the LIFE and DEATH of NATHANAEL OTHEN,
Who was shot in _Dover-Castle, October 26, 1757_.
1. I WAS born at _Ogham_ in _Hampshire_, of honest parents, and when about thirteen years old, went to service to a farmer near _Ogham_, whom I served faithfully for a year. I was then for a year and a half postilion to the _Exeter_ stage-coach. Afterwards I went up to _London_, and hired myself again, in the place of a postilion. It was here I was soon led into drunkenness, and by that means not long after into lewdness. Leaving this place after six months, I hired myself for another year as a postilion, at the _White-Horse_ in _Piccadilly_. Here I got more money, but could keep none, squandering it all away in drink and debauchery. My mistress reproving me for this, I was so enraged, that I went and entered on board a privateer. I went down as far as _Exeter_, in my way to _Plymouth_, in order to embark. But my mind then changed: so I came back to _London_, and hired myself in the _Hay-Market_ as a second coachman. I soon quitted this place, and served Lord _H――――_ in the same post for a year and a half, who when he wanted me no longer, recommended me to Colonel _B――――_ with whom I had large wages. But I wasted all among lewd women, ’till I embarked with my master for _Holland_.
2. In eight days we arrived at _Williamstadt_. Thence we went to _Breda_, where I was again drawn into drunkenness. My master hearing ♦of it, desired the groom to reprove me, which made me reflect on my past life. I went out into the fields, and went to prayers, repeating the prayers which I had been taught by my parents. And this I did many times while we staid at _Breda_: And I had more power over sin than formerly.
♦ duplicate word “of” removed
3. We now removed to _Mastricht_. Soon after my master parted with the horses I took care of, and recommended me to another master. But I stayed with him only a fortnight, before I relapsed into drunkenness, and was persuaded to inlist among the _Welch_ Fusileers, in the year 1747. I remained at camp till _Michaelmas_: thence we marched to _Rudenburgh_, where I remained all the winter. On the first day of _March, 1748_, we marched to _Ruremond_, where we encamped, tho’ the weather was cold and the snow deep. After the cessation of arms, we removed from place to place, till in _November_ we came to _Williamstadt_.