on of any strength durst be
used towards him. It came to that, he kept his chamber still to his death,
wearing and wasting hoasting, and sweating. Ten days before his death his
sweating went away, and his hoasting lessened, yet his weakness still
encreased, and his flux still continued. On Wednesday morning, which day
he began to keep his bed, his pain began to be very violent, his breath
more obstructed, his heart oppressed; and that growing all the next night
to a very great height, in the midst of the night there were letters
written to his brother, and Mr Rutherford, and Mr John Row, his death
approaching fast. On Friday all day, and Thursday all night, he was at
some ease. Friday at night, till Saturday in the afternoon, in great
violence, the greatness of pain causing want of sleep. Mr Rutherford and
Lord Craigihall came to visit him. Thus much for his body. Now I'll speak
a little of what concerns his soul, and the exercise of his mind all the
while.

Monday, December 11, 1648, came my Lords Argyle, Cassils, Elcho, and
Warriston to visit him. He did faithfully declare his mind to them, as
public men, in that point whereof he hath left a testimony to the view of
the world, as afterwards; and the speaking was very burdensome, yet he
spared not very freely to fasten their duty upon them. The exercise of his
mind all the time of his sickness was vary sad and constant, without
comfortable manifestations, and sensible presence for the time, yet he
continued in a constant faith of adherence, which ended in an adhering
assurance, his grips growing still the stronger.

"One day, a fortnight before his death, he had leaned down on a little
bed, and taking a fit of faintness, and his mind being heavily exercised,
and lifting up his eyes, this expression fell with great weight from his
mouth, 'O my dear Lord, forsake me not forever!' His weariness of this
life was very great, and his longing to be relieved, and to be where the
veil would be taken away.

"Tuesday, December 14, (1648) he was in heavy sickness, and three pastors
came in the afternoon to visit him, of whom one said to him, 'The Lord
hath made you faithful in all he hath employed you in, and it's likely we
be put to the trial; therefore what encouragement give you us thereanent!'
Whereto he answered in few words, 'I have gotten more by the Lord's
immediate assistance than ever I had by study, in the disputes I had in
the Assembly of Divines in England; therefor