Wesley Corpus

291 “So soon as I came to town, January, 1767, she sent for me. I found her confined to her bed, and frequently in such racking pain, that it was thought she could not live many minutes; but she said, ‘My pain is nothing; the presence of the Lord bears me up above it all. I have not a murmuring thought; neither the shadow of a doubt. My way to glory is plain before me.’ I asked if she was not afraid of having great sufferings before the soul and body were parted. She said, “Not in the least. I expect to have sharp pain just before I depart;’ (which was so;) “but I do not concern myself about what I shall suffer. It is all at the disposal of the Lord.” “Two days after, I went again to see her. She said, “My happiness is much increased. For a day and a night my pains have been exquisite; yet in the midst of all, my heart did dance and sing. The Lord so smiles upon me, I cannot express it in words.’ February 6. She sent for me again. I found her in a rapture of love, singing and praising God; so that I was constrained to say, “O Lord, thou hast highly favoured me, in permitting me to see such a Christian l’ I cannot attempt to describe how she then appeared; it was with such a smile as I never saw before. Most of the preceding day she had spent in singing praise to God, and telling of his goodness to all that came near her; her soul, she said, being so happy, that she could not be silent. “When I spoke to her of death, she said, ‘It is not death to me; it is only sleep; death is my friend! Death is welcome: Its sting is gone ! I shall soon be with my Lord! O that I could sing on to all eternity! My work of praise is begun, and shall never end.’ I asked, “Do you find the greatest inclina tion to prayer or praise?” She said, “O praise! praise ! I am full of love; and I cannot doubt but I shall love and praise him to all eternity.’ I then asked her concerning her former profession, of being saved from sin. She said, ‘Sir, I have it now !