The anniversary of the death of John Wesley

John Wesley on his deathbed, from a painting by Marshall Claxton

The Rev. John Wesley died on March 2, 1791, in his eighty-eighth year.

He begged the friends who had gathered round him to "pray and praise," responding with a fervent "Amen" to their petitions.  He grasped their hands and said repeatedly, "Farewell, farewell."  

As others entered the room he tried to speak, but finding they could not understand him, he summoned all his remaining strength and cried out, "The best of all is, God is with us."

Then lifting up his dying arms in token of victory, and raising his feeble voice with a holy triumph not to be expressed, he again repeated the heart-reviving words, "The best of all is, God is with us."

(Just a small footnote - the painting depicts early Methodist leaders and not those actually present)