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Gravet, one of the prebendaries of St. Paul's, and vicar of St. Sepulchre's, came to him, not as he said to instruct him; "for I know you are amply employed on all points, by the words of that venerable man, Alexander Nowell, and by your own learning: but to administer comfort, and to perform my duty." "I am in great pain," said Ascham, “ and my disorder is heavy. This is my confession and faith; this is my prayer, and all that I long for; I desire to depart and be with Christ," words which he had often repeated to Nowell, and they were now the last that he spoke*.

JOACHIM CURÆUS.

Born 1532. Died 1570-1, aged about 40.

Happy the day that breaks our chain!
That manumits, that calls the exile home.

AN eminent physician of Freystadt, in Silesia. Pity, kindness, amiability, and a remarkable placidity of manners and disposition, had shone conspicuously throughout the life of Curæus, who, in his last moments, possessed a mind so well framed to a religious, mild, and tranquil submission to the will of God, that his latter days were in perfect harmony with the tenor of his whole life; exemplifying the remark of Plato, that one's life and death mutually

Life by Graunt. Churton's Life by Nowell.-Biog. Dict.

me, for I am poor and defenceless. By thy Holy Spirit increase the light of faith in me, and weak as I am, sustain, rule, protect, and save me. In thee, Oh Lord, have I hoped, let me never be confounded.

Almighty and Holy Spirit, the Comforter, pure, living, true! illuminate, govern, sanctify me, and confirm my heart and mind in the faith, and in all genuine consolation: preserve and rule over me, that dwelling in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, I may be, and remain for ever in the temple of God, and praise him with a joyful spirit, and in union with all the heavenly Church. Amen.

An interval of tranquil repose having elapsed after repeating this last prayer, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and turning to his son-in-law, he said, "I have been in the power of death, but the Lord has graciously delivered me." This was supposed to refer to some deep conflicts of mind, as he repeated the expression to others. When some of the bye-standers said, "There is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus," he soon added, "Christ is made to us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption." "Let him that glorieth, glory in the Lord," and often repeated, "Lord have mercy upon After this he took a little refreshment for the last time, and though he attempted to proceed with

me."

the testamentary paper he had begun the preceding day, he found it impossible to support such an effort, but signified his acquiescence in the divine disposal. The coldness of death was now creeping over him, but his mental faculties continued unimpaired to the very last breath of mortal existence. Having expressed a wish to hear some passages from the Old and New Testaments, his ministerial attendants read the 24th, 25th, and 26th Psalms, the 53d chapter of Isaiah, the 7th of St. John, the 5th of the Romans, and many other passages. The saying of John respecting the Son of God, he said was perpetually in his mind, "the world knew him not, but as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in his name."

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Besides the passage of Scripture already mentioned, he frequently solaced himself with the following, "God so loved the world, that he sent his only begotten Son into the world, that whosoever believeth on him, might not perish, but have everlasting life." "Whoso seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, hath everlasting life." Being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ," and expressed the great consolation they afforded his mind. He earnestly exhorted his son-in-law to the study of peace, and whenever the prevailing religious contentions were mentioned, he would continually reply in the language of the son of Jesse, "Let them curse, but bless thou;" and "my soul hath

me, for I am poor and defenceless. By thy Holy Spirit increase the light of faith in me, and weak as I am, sustain, rule, protect, and save me. In thee, Oh Lord, have I hoped, let me never be confounded.

Almighty and Holy Spirit, the Comforter, pure, living, true! illuminate, govern, sanctify me, and confirm my heart and mind in the faith, and in all genuine consolation: preserve and rule over me, that dwelling in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, I may be, and remain for ever in the temple of God, and praise him with a joyful spirit, and in union with all the heavenly Church. Amen.

An interval of tranquil repose having elapsed after repeating this last prayer, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and turning to his son-in-law, he said, "I have been in the power of death, but the Lord has graciously delivered me." This was supposed to refer to some deep conflicts of mind, as he repeated the expression to others. When some of the bye-standers said, "There is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus," he soon added, "Christ is made to us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption." "Let him that glorieth, glory in the Lord," and often repeated, "Lord have mercy upon me." After this he took a little refreshment for the last time, and though he attempted to proceed with

the testamentary paper he had begun the preceding day, he found it impossible to support such an effort, but signified his acquiescence in the divine disposal.

The coldness of death was now creeping over him, but his mental faculties continued unimpaired to the very last breath of mortal existence. Having expressed a wish to hear some passages from the Old and New Testaments, his ministerial attendants read the 24th, 25th, and 26th Psalms, the 53d chapter of Isaiah, the 7th of St. John, the 5th of the Romans, and many other passages. The saying of John respecting the Son of God, he said was perpetually in his mind, "the world knew him not, but as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in his name."

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Besides the passage of Scripture already mentioned, he frequently solaced himself with the following, "God so loved the world, that he sent his only begotten Son into the world, that whosoever believeth on him, might not perish, but have everlasting life." "Whoso seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, hath everlasting life." Being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ," and expressed the great consolation they afforded his mind. He earnestly exhorted his son-in-law to the study of peace, and whenever the prevailing religious contentions were mentioned, he would continually reply in the language of the son of Jesse, “Let them curse, but bless thou;" and "my soul hath

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