the Period of his Days, and God had given a very fignal Return to his Prayers, and had lifted up the Light of his Countenance upon his Soul, and heightned his Hope into full Affurance; he could then rejoice in the near Views of Death, with Joy unspeakable and full of Glory. And now I am fpeaking of God's answering his Prayers, it may not be improper to mention, that about four Hours before his Death he pray'd with a great deal of Submiffion to the Divine Will, that his Paffage into the other World might be eafy, and that, as a Token for good, God would be pleas'd to grant him a little Reft. He had no fooner ended his Prayer, but he fell asleep for above two hours, which was more than he had done for fome time before; and when he awoke, 'tis not to be exprefs'd with what Thankfulnefs and Joy he fpake of the Divine Goodness: "How good

is God (fays he) to me, that he fhould hear 66 my Prayer, and condefcend to answer my 66 poor Petition in the very pun&tilio of it? "This is an Encouragement for us to believe, "that God will answer the other part of my "Petition alfo, and that I fhall have an eafy "Paffage."

And as 'twas faid of Stephen, That his Face fhone, fo I am told by thofe who faw him expire, That the extreme Joy of his Mind spread fuch a Serenity and Alacrity in his Countenance, that no words can defcribe; much less can I tell you what Satisfaction reign'd in his Mind. He was got above the Fears of Death, or the Defires of Life; for he declar'd, "That he would not come back "for a Thoufand nor a Thoufand, yea not for Ten Thoufand Worlds. I am going,

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"faid he, where I long to be, in my Father's "Houfe that is not made with Hands, whofe "Builder and Maker is God, Eternal in the "Heavens. Oh I am going to the bleffed Je"fus, and to the innumerable Company of "Angels, and the Spirits of Juft Men made. "perfect! I am going juft now, presently, prefently, to fee him Face to Face as he is, "and not in a Glafs. Oh I am in pain till I "am there! I long to be at home with my "Heavenly Father, and with the Bleffed Je"fus, that I may enjoy him for ever!" Then bowing (as he fat in his Chair) to each Perfon in the room, he took his folemn leave of them, in hope, as he faid, to meet them again in Heaven; but stretch'd out his Hand to one of his Brothers with more than ordinary earneftnefs, exhorting him more than once to forfake his Sins.

And as long as he could raise his dying Arms, he wav'd them to fhew his Joy and Triumph; and while he fat fmiling, the Union betwixt Soul and Body eafily diffolv'd, and his Spirit fled to the Regions of Eternal Blifs. Let us not therefore forrow as thofe without hope, for if we believe that Jefus dy'd and rofe again, even fo those that fleep in Jefus will God bring with him.

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