JACOB BICKS was born in Leyden, in the year 1657. He was visited with
sickness upon the 6th of August, 1664. In his distemper he was very
sleepy till near his death, but when he did awake he was wont still to
fall a praying.
2. Once when his parents had prayed with him, they asked him if they
should once more send for the physician? "No," said he, "I will have the
doctor no more; the Lord will help me; I know he will take me to
himself."
3. When his parents had prayed with him, he said, "Come, now, dear
father and mother, and kiss me: I know that I shall die. Farewell, dear
father and mother; farewell, dear sister; farewell, all. Now shall I go
unto God and Jesus Christ, and the holy angels. Father, know you not
what is said by Jeremiah? 'Blessed is he who trusteth in the Lord.' Now
I trust in him, and he will bless me; and in 1 John ii, it is said,
'Little children, love not the world, for the world passeth away.'"
4. "Away then all that is in the world, away with all my pleasant things
in the world; away with my dagger, for where I go there is nothing to do
with daggers and swords; men shall not fight there, but praise God. Away
with all my books: there shall I learn true wisdom without books."
5. His father said, "My dear child, the Lord will be near thee, and
uphold thee."
6. "Yea, father," said he, "the Apostle Peter saith, 'God resisteth the
proud, but he giveth grace to the humble.' I humble myself under the
mighty hand of God, and he shall help me and lift me up."