self a faithful servant to my great Master. I have taken some pains in writing several books; I have seriously considered them; and am fully satisfied,' looking on those about him, that you may find in them the way to heaven. The Christian duties contained therein have been my practice, as well as study; and now I find the advantage of it. And therefore be careful to read them often and seriously; and live suitably thereunto, that when you come to the condition I am now in, you may die with comfort, as you see me do. I have some little pain, indeed; but my pain is nothing so extraordinary as my hopes: for I have earnestly repented of all my sins, and verily believe that, through the tender mercies of my God, and the merits of my blessed Saviour Jesus Christ, I shall be carried up into Abraham's bosom.' After which, it is said, he made this short prayer: 'I wait, O God, for that everlasting rest which I want at present, but shall not long. I am ready, when thou, my God, callest for me, yet can stay with patience till thou pleasest: for thy time is the best time, and thy pleasure the best pleasure.' Is there See here the end of a good man. How calm, how serene and comfortable is his death! any thing like this in the case of a wicked man in the hour of his dissolution? Alas! no. If you behold such a person in his last extremity (unless he die hardened and impenitent), you will hear little else but bitter reflections, sad bewailings, wretched upbraidings of himself, for the folly and madness of his past life; together with despairing sighs and groans, black and dreadful to himself, and very terrible to all about him. May God, of his infinite mercy, keep every one from such a dreadful hour! and teach us all so to number our days, as to ap ply our hearts unto wisdom!' that true wisdom, which will make us wise unto salvation, fill our minds with comfort and satisfaction while we live; and, what is of infinitely more value, give us, when we come to die, that peace of God which passeth' all understanding,' through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A PRAYER. O MOST great and mighty God! in whose hands are the issues of life and death! Thou orderest all things by thy infinite power and wisdom, and hast appointed for all men once to die; and, after this short life is ended, hast, of thy infinite goodness, provided for thy faithful servants a state of endless bliss and happiness. O! make me truly sensible of the frailty and uncertainty of my life; and teach me so to number my days, that I may apply my heart unto true wisdom. Let not death ever surprise me unawares, or find me in a state unprovided. But grant that I may live in such a constant preparation for my latter end, that, how suddenly soever thou shalt be pleased to take me out of this world, I may be found ready and prepared for that great account which I must one day give before the judgment-seat of Christ. Enable me, by the assistance of thy grace and Holy Spirit, to finish the great work of my salvation before the night comes, when no man can work, and to lay a good foundation of hope and comfort against the hour of my death; that, when the hour of my departure shall come, I may look back upon a wellspent life with joy and comfort, and may meet death without fear. Look upon me, O most gracious God, when the time of my dissolution draws nigh, as a reconciled Father in Christ Jesus. Speak peace unto my conscience, and say unto my soul, I am the God of thy salvation." Let not the cruel enemy of souls affrighten me with his terrors; but give thy holy angels charge over me, to keep me out of his hands; and let the comforts of thy Holy Spirit cheer and cherish my soul in its passage through this vale of tears and misery to a happy eternity. O Lord! leave me not to myself in that time of distress, when I shall stand in so much need of thee. Confirm my faith; support me in my dying agonies; and forsake me not when my strength faileth. Let thy merciful ears, O God, be then open to my prayers; and spare me, O Lord most holy, O God most mighty, O holy and merciful Saviour, thou most worthy Judge eternal! suffer me not at my last hour, through any pains of body, or weakness of mind, to renounce my dependance upon thee. But grant, O merciful Father, that, with an humble reliance on thy mercies, and the infinite merits of my dear Redeemer, and with an entire submission to thy blessed will, I may cheer fully resign up my soul into thy hands, and may be willing, and even desirous, to leave this world, when thou, my God, in thy great wisdom, shalt see it fitting. O Lord! let me never be separated from thee; but grant that my soul may be so united to thee, who art the fulness of all happiness, by the strongest ties of faith, love, and obedience, that, after a life spent here in thy service, I may dwell with thee in life everlasting, and be received into those mansions of eternal bliss and glory, which thou hast prepared for them that truly love and fear thee. Grant this, O Lord, through the merits, and for the sake, of thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our only Saviour. CHAP. III. HITHERTO I have considered the great advantages of religion as they respect only our well-being in this world, and our going comfortably out of it. But, as there are other advantages attending a good life, infinitely beyond all that have been mentioned; namely, that it will entitle us, through the merits of Christ Jesus, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away;" I shall endeavour to shew, in the last place, that a serious and conscientious observance of the duties of religion will most certainly be rewarded with eternal happiness in the life to come. And here I shall not presume so much as to aim at a description of that exceeding weight of glory' which God has reserved for those that truly love him. In the Scripture, indeed, the glories of the other world are represented to us, in condescension to our weak capacities, as a kingdom and a crown; an eternal kingdom, and a never-fading crown' but the state is so unknown to us, and so much above our imperfect conceptions, that we shall never be able fully to comprehend it, till we arrive at the actual enjoyment of it. For, though we know that we shall there see God, and the blessed Jesus, who loved us, and gave himself for us,' and shall to all eternity enjoy him who is the source and fountain of all good; that we shall there converse with saints and angels, and for ever be singing anthems of praise to our great Creator and Redeemer; yet, how great the pleasure of this will K be, and with what extasies and raptures our souls shall then break forth, when they taste of the 'fulness of that joy which is in the presence of God for evermore,' is what our infinite understandings cannot possibly reach. Of this, however, we may rest assured, that the things which God hath reserved for them that love him are such as neither eye hath seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive.' And as this is sufficient for us, at present, to know, in general, concerning this matter, all curious inquiries into the precise nature of the happiness of the next life will be of small use to us: they may fill our heads with fine speculations, but will signify little to direct our practice. What we are more concerned to know, and in the most explicit manner, is, that our sincere obedience to God's commandments will certainly be rewarded with eternal life and happiness. This, indeed, is a matter which it imports us to be well assured of; that we may not be weary of welldoing, but may run with patience the race that is set before us,' Heb. xii. 1. and press towards the mark for the 'prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus;' Phil. iii. 14. There are some, indeed (and a melancholy reflection it is that there are any such), who would have us believe, that we die like the beasts which perish; and that when we leave this world there is an end of our existence. But these, upon inquiry, I believe, will be always found to be persons who first live as if there was no God, and then endeavour to persuade themselves and others, that there really is none; so that, instead of regulating their practice by their faith, they do most preposterously suit their faith to their practice. I shall not concern myself at present with these men; my design |