Family-histories and genealogies : containing a series of ...

CJtfstnoUr
Nantucket. And A Cure for his Leg. Here I may not omit my Thankful Acknowl-
edgment of the Kindness of some Good People whose Hearts God stirred up to
have Compassion on my Child in his Low Estate. There was a Gentleman of Boston
who had some Lameness in his Knees (whose name I have forgot) : He
in the Voyage
from New-foundland to Nantucket supplied him with Money, and was very kind to
him. At Nantucket several were exceeding kind to him, Entertained him at their
Houses, gave him Monies and Garments. When I revolve the Charity of these Good
People, it often makes me think of what we read Mar. xiv. 8, 9. But I have not as
yet had an opportunity in the least to retaliate their Kindness. My Son coming to
Rhode Island got a Passage home from thence by Water.
" Thus, after Four Years were near Expired, I received my Son, The truest Peni-
tent that ever my Eyes beheld !
This
he freely manifested both in Public and in
Private. Whilst as yet in perfect Health, he took diverse Opportunities to discourse
privately with me. Once he told me He verily believed he had but a very little time to
live J Said he, Tho' 1 am in perfect Health, I believe I have but a very little Time remaining.
And, since God has been Exceeding Merciful to me, I greatly desire to spend the Remainder of
my Time very much to His Glory. In farther Discourse he told me that a Man, whom
he then named, had formerly done him Great Wrong, and that he had often resolved
to revenge himself. Said he, / now freely forgive him. He added, / have not in my
Childhood behaved myself so Respectfully towards such a Man (whom he also named) as I
ought. I must take a Time to beg his Pardon. And upon Enquiry I since find that he
did so. He now quickly fell sick ;
and
he now said to me, Sir, my Business home was
to make my Peace with you, and to Dy. I asked him with what Comfort he could look
Death in the face. He answered me, My most dear Father, I will hide nothing from
you. When I was in Irons, at Paten, / had a clear Manifestation of the love of God in
Jesus Christ unto me. I had after this no Burden remaining on my Conscience, but only my
wicked Departing from you. For which cause I Farnestly begged of God that I might Live
to see your Reconciled Face. This I now do, and I bless God for it. Had it not been for
that one thing, I tvould much rather have chosen at that Time to have died than to Live. I
could now desire to Live, if God please to grant it, that I may Glorify Him, and be a Comfort
to you in vour Old Age. But I think you will find it otherwise. When I perceived that he
drew near his End, 1 Earnestly desired, if it might be the Will of God, that he might
have some Promise in the Word of God fixed on his Mind at the Time of his Depart-
ure. And after I had spake to him. Endeavouring to gain his stedy Attention, I said,
' At what time a Sintier '—'
'—' Altho' your Sins have been as Crimson There is a Fountain.
— 'Ho, every one that thirstcth,' With other Scriptures; in all which I purposely left
out the Latter part of the Text, which he readily fill'd up, and made the sense com-
32
'