a preacher. To whom he replied, "It becometh best a bishop to die preaching in the pulpit;" alluding peradventure to the apophthegm of Vespasian, Oportet imperatorem stantem mori, and seriously thinking upon the comfortable euloge of his Master, "Happy art thou, my servant, if, when I come, I find thee so doing." Wherefore, that he might not deceive the people's expectation, he ascended the pulpit; and now nothing but spirit (his flesh being pined away and exhausted), reads his text out of the fifth to the Galatians, "Walk in the Spirit;" and with much pains makes an end of it. 34. Presently after his sermon, his disease growing more upon him, forced him to take his bed, and to think of his dissolution, now not far off. In the beginning of his extreme fits, he made his will, considering therein his brother J. Jewell and his friends with some kind remembrances, but bestowing the rest more liberally upon his servants, scholars, and the poor of Sarum. The Saturday following, nature with all her forces (being able no longer to hold fight with the disease) shrinking and failing, he calleth all his household about him, and, after an exposition of the Lord's prayer, Cantator cygnus funeris ipse sui, thus beginneth his sweet song: "I see I am now to go the way of all flesh, and I feel the arrows of death already fastened in my body; wherefore I am desirous, in few words, while yet my most merciful God vouchsafeth me the use of my tongue, to speak unto you all. It was my prayer al ways unto Almighty God, since I had any understanding, that I might honour his name with the sacrifice of my flesh, and confirm his truth with the oblation of this my body unto death in the defence thereof; which, seeing he hath not granted me in this, yet I Onewhat rejoice and solace myself, that it is worn away and exhausted in the labours of my holy calling. For while I visit the people of God, God my God hath visited me. With Mr. Harding, who provoked me first, I have contended, in my writings, not to detract from his credit and estimation, nor to patronize any error to my knowledge, nor to gain the vain applause of the world, but, according to my poor ability, to do my best services to God and his church. My last sermon at Paul's Cross, and conference about the ceremonies and state of our church, were not to please any man living, nor to grieve any of my brethren, who are of a contrary opinion, but only to this end, that neither part might prejudice the other, and that the love of God might be shed in the hearts of all the brethren, through the Spirit that is given us. And I beseech Almighty God, of his infinite mercy, to convert or confound the head of all these evils, and ringleader of all rebellions, disorders, and schism, the Bishop of Rome, who, wheresoever he setteth foot, soweth seeds of strife and contention. I beseech him also long to preserve the Queen's Majesty, to direct and protect her council, to maintain and increase godly pastors, and to grant to his whole church unity and godly peace. Also, I beseech you all that are about me, and all other whom I ever offended, to forgive me. And now that my hour is at hand, and all my moisture dried up, I most earnestly desire of you all this last duty of love, to pray for me, and help me with the ardency of your affection, when you perceive me, through the infirmity of my flesh, to languish and wax cold in my prayers. Hitherto I have taught you and many others; now the time is come wherein I may, and desire to be taught and strengthened by every one of you." 35. Having thus spoken, and something more to the like purpose, with much pain and interruption he desired them to sing the 71st Psalm (which begins thus: "In thee, O Lord, I put my trust, let me never be confounded"), himself joining, as well as he could, with them; and when they recited those words, "Thou art my hope, O Lord God, my trust even from my youth," he added, " Thou only wast my whole hope;" and as they went forward saying, " Cast me not off in time of age, forsake me not when my strength faileth me; year even to mine old age, and gray head, forsake me not, O God;" he made this application to himself: "He is an old man; he is truly gray-headed, and his strength faileth him, who lieth on his death-bed." To which he added other thick and short prayers, as it were pulses, so moved by the power of God's spirit, saying, "Lord, take from me my spirit; Lord, now let thy servant depart in peace. Break off all delays; suffer thy servant to come unto thee; command him to be with thee; Lord, receive my spirit." 36. Here, when one of those that stood by prayed with tears, that (if it might stand with God's good pleasure) he would restore him to former health, Jewell, overhearing him, turned his eyes, as it were offended, and spake to him in the words of St. Ambrose: "I have not lived so, that I am ashamed to live longer, neither do I fear to die, because we have a merciful Lord. A crown of righteousness is laid up for me; Christ is my righteousness. Father, let thy will be done; thy will, I say, and not my will, which is imperfect and depraved. O Lord, confound me not. This is my to-day; this day quickly let me come unto thee; this day let me see the Lord Jesus." With these words the door was shut by the base sound of the grinding, and the daughters of singing were abased, the silver cord lengthened no more; the golden ewer was cracked, and the pitcher broken at the well; yet the keepers, though with much trembling, stood erect, and they that looked out of the windows, though dark, yet were fixed towards VOL. VII. heaven, till after a few fervent inward prayers of devotion, and sighs of longing desire, the soul returned to God that gave it. M. Ridley, the steward of his house, shut his eyes in the year of our Lord 1571, Sept. 22, about three of the clock in the afternoon, ann. æt. almost 50. 37. Such was the life and death of Bishop Jewell, a most worthy trumpet of Christ's glorious Gospel... What now remains, but that we mournfully complain, in the words of St. Jerome, concerning the death of Fabiola, "Pretiocissimum de locis sanctis monile perdidimus."-" The spouse of Christ hath lost a most precious jewel." Or rather, because he shined so bright in divine virtues, both in his life and death, we are to rejoice for his happy translation. This Jewell is not lost, which Christ hath taken from off the ring of his spouse, which is his church, and set it in a crown of purest gold upon her head, which is himself the Saviour of his elect, where he shineth in glory for evermore. Lord, adorn and enrich continually thy church with such jewels; deck her cheeks with rows of such rubies, and her neck with chains make her borders of gold, with studs of silver. Amen, |