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REFLECTED LIGHT ----------------------- Near Death Testimonies of Some Old Time Believers ------------------- REV. WILLIAM ROMAINE From An Antique Book in Webmaster's Library - Editor Unknown

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Sweet glories rush upon my sight, And charm my wandering eyes; The regions of immortal light; The beauties of the skies. * * * * * * * * Short is the passage, short the space Between my home and me; There! there behold the radiant place! How near the mansions be! Immortal wonders! boundless things! In those dear worlds appear; Prepare me, Lord, to stretch my wings, And in those glories share. --- Toplady. All is clear, all is lovely, all brilliant in hue, And heaven effulgent bursts forth to his view. --- Townsend. "Mr. Romaine from the commencement of his illness had no anticipation of his recovery. On the morning of his attack, 'he came down to breakfast,' writes his biographer, 'at six o'clock as usual, presided at family devotion, and prayed. most earnestly to God that he would fit them for, and support them in their trials, that day, which might be many. He returned the same day to London, and conversed most profitably and comfortably on the way, on the approach of death and near prospect of eternity. He remarked, 'Oh, how animating is the view I have of death and the hope laid up for me in heaven full of glory and immortality.' "He replied to ________, 'that he had much of the presence of Jesus with him. . . He had been in the deep waters, but had enjoyed much support; that he waited to enter into the courts of the Lord; that his soul was athirst for God, yea, even for the living God.' He said that he had long laid --- at first in the arms of death, and if recovering, it was very slowly. 'But this,' he said, 'is but a poor, dying life at the best; however, he was in His hands who would do the best for him; and added with peculiar energy, 'that he was sure that he had lived to experience all he had spoken, and all he had written, and he blessed God for it!' After much the same expressions, he added to another friend, 'that he had the peace of God in his conscience, and the love of God in his heart, and that he knew was sound experience!' And again, 'he knew before the doctrines he preached to be truths, but now he experienced them to be blessings.' Thanking another friend for a visit, he said that he had come to see a saved sinner. This he had often affirmed should be his dying trust, and that he desired to die with the language of the publican in his mouth, 'God be merciful to me a sinner!' "He was frequently saying, 'Oh, how good is God. What entertainment and comfort does he give me. What a prospect do I see before me of glory and immortality! He is my God in life, and death, and throughout eternity.' "On Saturday, the twenty-fifth of July, he lay upon the couch all day in extreme weakness of body, but strong in faith, giving glory to God --- the power of Christ was resting upon him, and keeping him in the continual exercise of prayer and praise. This was the last day spent upon earth, and in the close of it, he was thought to have said, 'Yea, though I walk through the valley and shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me! About an hour before he died, his friend and host went up to him and said, 'I hope, my dear sir, you now find the salvation of Jesus Christ precious and valuable to you?' His answer was, 'He is a precious Saviour to me now.' These were the last words which he uttered to man. To the Lord he said, 'Holy! holy, holy, holy blessed Jesus, to thee be endless praise!' And in the first hour of the next clay, which was the Sabbath, he resigned his spirit to God who gave it." Go To Complete Index - Testimonies of Old Saints