ree," and
the vicar of Winchelsea had hard work to keep it from being cut to
pieces; for Methodists use to come from all parts to cut a twig in
remembrance of that last scene in the life of the venerable
field-preacher.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

CHAPTER XXXIX.

About his "Father's business."--Last
advice.--Singing and dying.--"The best of all is,
God is with us."--John Wesley passes through the
Golden Gates.

MOST people think it is time to stop working long before they are
eighty, but John Wesley at eighty-seven still went about his "Father's
business." His constant prayer was, "Lord, let me not live to be
useless." Every meeting he knew might be his last, and when he visited
the different societies, he used to ask the members to take as his last
advice: "To love as brothers, to fear God, and to honour the King." He
closed nearly all these meetings with his brother's hymn:

"O that without a lingering groan,
I may the welcome Word receive;
My body with my charge lay down,
And cease at once to work and live."

John Wesley's last sermon was preached in a gentleman's dining-room, at
Leatherhead, a small place about eighteen miles from London. It was on
February 23rd, 1791, and his text was, "_Seek ye the Lord while He may
be found, call upon Him while He is near._"--Isa. lv. 6. This was on a
Wednesday, and the day but one after, Friday, he felt very poorly, and
said he would like to lie down. At the end of half an hour, some one
went to his bedroom, and found him so ill that they sent for the doctor.
On Sunday he seemed better, and got up. He was so cheerful and happy;
and while sitting in his chair in his bedroom, he repeated a verse from
one of his brother's hymns:

"Till glad I lay this body down,
Thy servant, Lord, attend;
And oh! my life of mercy crown
With a triumphant end!"

On Monday night he couldn't sleep, and the next day, some one asked him
if he had any pain.

"No," he answered. And then he began singing:

"All glory to God in the sky,
And peace upon earth be restored;
O, Jesus exalted on high,
Appear our omnipotent Lord.
Who meanly in Bethlehem born,
Didst stoop to redeem a lost race;
Once more to Thy people return,
And reign in Thy kingdom o