know I must die. What
shall I do, for I dare not venture in gripes with death, because I find
my sins grievous and so many that I fear my account is out of order, and
not so as becomes a dying man."

The minister for some time discoursed to him anent this weakness of
nature, which was in all men, believers not excepted, which made them
afraid of death, but he hoped Christ would be his second in the combat,
willing him to rely upon the strength of Christ; but withal said, "My
lord, I fear more the ground of your fear of death, which is (as you
say) the consciousness of your sins, for there can be no plea betwixt
you and your Lord if your sins be not taken away in Christ, and
therefore make that sure, and fear not." My lord answered, "I have been
too late in coming to God, and have deferred the time of making my
account, so long that I fear I have but the foolish virgins part of it,
who came and knocked at the door of the bridegroom so late, and never
got in."

The minister having resumed somewhat both of his own and his father's
sins, particularly their cares for this world and worldly honours, and
thinking his lordship designed to extenuate his fault in this, he drew
several weighty propositions in way of conference about the fears of
death and his eternal all, which depended upon his being in or out of
Christ, and obtested him in these words,--"Therefore I intreat you, my
lord, by the mercies of God, by your appearing before Christ your Judge,
and by the salvation of your soul, that you would look ere you leap, and
venture not into eternity without a certificate under Jesus Christ's
hand, because it is said of the hypocrite, Job xx. 11. _He lieth down in
the grave, and his bones are full of the sins of his youth._"

My lord replied, "When I begin to look upon my life, I think all is
wrong in it, and the lateness of my reckoning affrighteth me, therefore
stay with me, and shew me the marks of a child of God, for you must be
my second in this combat and wait upon me." His lady answered, "You must
have Jesus Christ to be your second," to which he heartily said
"Amen--but, continued he, how shall I know that I am in the state of
grace, for while I be resolved my fears will still overburthen me." The
minister said, "My lord, scarcely or never doth a cast-a-way anxiously
and carefully ask the question, Whether he be a child of God or not?"
But my lord excepted against that saying, "I do not think there is any
reprobate i