William Gouge-The Arch-Puritan

William Gouge (1575-1653), a renowned divine of his time was endowed with great powers of mind with which he not only mastered his studies but devoured Scripture. Exact and conscientious in all his ways, he became known as the arch-puritan. He became minister of Blackfriars, London, where his gifts as a preacher drew large congregations. Though many invitations to other spheres came his way, he refused them all. He used to say:

It is my highest ambition to go from Blackfriars to Heaven.

–which he did. At one time he was cast into prison for nine weeks for republishing a book on "The Calling of the Jews", but in 1643, he was nominated one of the Assembly of the divines, Westminister and exercised a tremendous influence in his denomination.

Toward the end of his life he was much afflicted with asthma and the stone, and under these painful maladies he often groaned but never murmured. Before he died after three days of drowsiness he spoke much of the rich grace and mercy of God in Christ Jesus. When he revived after his period of drowsiness, he enquired what day it was, and when told, he exclaimed:

Alas! I have lost three days.

As he died full of unspeakable comfort having been minister of Blackfriars for for forty-six years, his departing testimony was:

Now, I have not long to live. The time of my departure is at hand. I am going to my desired haven. I am most willing to die. I have, blessed be God, nothing else to do but to die. Death is my best friend next to Jesus Christ. I am sure I shall be with Christ when I die.

Cited from "Last Words of Saints and Sinners" by Herbert Lockyer
Some William Gouge quotes can be read at one of my sister sites, A Puritan at heart–William Gouge