Westminster divine, and great expositor of Job:
"That famous and laborious minister, Mr. Joseph Caryl, your ancient friend and companion, is departed this life, aged 71 years. His death is greatly lamented by the people of God throughout this city. About the beginning of his sickness I was with him, and he inquired concerning you, as he was wont to do; and perceiving him to be somewhat weak, though he did not then keep his chamber, I desired him, while he was yet alive, to pray for you, which motiona he cheerfully and readily embraced. And coming to him again, about three days before his death, found him very weak and past hope of life. He told me, as well as I could understand him, for his speech was low, that he remembered his promise to me concerning you. I think good to metnion this particular (circusmstance) to provoke you to all seriousness in regard to your own soul, whose eternal welfare lay so much upon the heart of this servant of Christ. His labours were great; his studies incessant; his conversation unspotted; his charity, faith, zeal and wisdom gave a fragrant smell among the churches and servants of Christ. His sickness, though painful, was borne with patience and joy in believing; and so he parted from time to eternity under the full sail of desire and joy in the Holy Spirit. He lived his sermons. He did at last desire his friends to forbear speaking to him, that so he might retire in himself; which time they percieved he spent in prayer; oftentimes lifting up his hands a little; and at last his friends, finding his hands not to move, drew near and percieved he was silently departed from them, leaving many mourning hearts behind.” [A letter written by his friend Mr Henry Dorney after Joseph Caryl's death]
And below part of a eulogy to Joseph Caryl
Room for our tears; for here are thousands come
To vent our founts at his commanding tomb.
But oh! What mortal’s genious can devise
A decent flood for such a sacrifice?-
His pious sermons did declare his worth,
His expositions set his learning forth;
And whilest we lament his being gone,
Angels with anthems, welcome him at home.
Caryl, whose coversation was free from ill,
Can be expressed but by an angels quill:
As in some mirror you might clearly see
In him, a perfect map of piety;
The beauty of whose virtues may incite
The world to imitation and delight.”
