I have showed you now how you may exercise this duty ; and I do reckon myself to be near my account, and speak as one that is sensible of it. Would I could prevail with you to bring it more or less into actual exercise, before you give rest to your eyes, or slumber to your eyelids !
THE CHRISTIAN'S WORK OF DYING DAILY. 345
Use 3. In the next place, who are they that do or can perform this duty as they ought, to live in this exercise of faith ?
I am certain that they do not do so who live as if they were to live here for ever. But this is an evident proof of that distemper and confusion which is come upon the mind and soul of man. Truly, if a man of sobriety and reputation did come to such kind of men, who live in their sensuality and wickedness, as the world is full of them, and tell them, " Sirs ! what do you do ? I am persuaded that there is a death to come, and an eternal state of blessedness or woe near approaching : the way wherein you are will certainly engulf you in eternal destruction;" — they would say to him, "This is your opi- nion." Yet one would think a wise man should prevail with them to do something according to his opinion. But it is not so. They have convictions in their minds they must die ; they will not only say it is mine or your opinion, but they themselves are convinced of a future state, and profess it. But will they do any thing from an influence of this conviction ? Nothing at all ; no more than if they were brute beasts. These are not able to come to the exercise of their duty.
Nor those who walk at all perad venture. They know they must die ; but they are apt to think they have other things to do before they die, and it will be time enough hereafter, at one season or an- other, to be preparing to die. The apostle did " die daily" indeed; but they have something else to do. When death knocks at then- neighbour's door, and they hear such a one is dead, and it comes to their own families, and takes away this or that person, then they have some thoughts for a little while ; but they quickly wear off, and they return to their common frame of spirit again. " ' Yet a little more slumber, a little more sleep, a little more folding of the hands to sleep ;' — a little more secure converse in the world, attending unto our affairs." But death will come as an armed man, and they shall not be able to escape.
There are, therefore, two things required of every one that would be found in the exercise of this duty : —
(1.) That he lay the foundation of it in some comfortable persua- sion of an interest in Christ ; which alone will enable him to die safely : and having obtained that, he may labour after that which will enable him to die comfortably and cheerfully. Some men die safely; but, upon many considerations not now to be mentioned, they do not appear to die comfortably. And some men die very comfortably, to all outward appearance, that do not die safely. This, therefore, is necessary, that there be this foundation laid, — some comfortable per- suasion of our interest in Christ, that we may die safely ; or else it is to no purpose to expect to die comfortably.
(2.) Many think a few words at last will do it, and there is an
346 the christian's work of dying daily
end ; but let me assure you, not only upon principles of Scripture truth, but of nature, there is no man can do it that hath not a view into the glory of spiritual and eternal things, outbalancing all his soul parts withal in this world. I hear men willing to die, and I find others do; but it is to go contrary to the principles of nature. No man under heaven (it implies a contradiction) can part with that which appears good to him, unless it be upon motives of a greater good. He must part with it; but he cannot willingly and cheerfully part with it. If you would be thus able willingly and cheerfully to resign a departing soul unto God, labour to have a view of those better things which are infinitely more great and glorious, which your souls shall come to the enjoyment of upon this departure.
The calls of God are great upon us, both public and private, and special to this congregation. God expects a special compliance with his calls from us ; or else we shall yet be exercised with farther tokens of his displeasure.
SERMON XXIX.1
That which I have been treating upon from these words is, to declare the ways and duties whereby a believer may come to die, not only safely, which all believers shall, but also cheerfully and comfort- ably,— so as to have a free and abundant entrance into the kingdom of God in glory.
I have spoken but to one thing; which is, the exercise of faith in the resignation of a departing soul entering into the invisible world into the sovereign hand and pleasure of God, to be disposed of accord- ing- to the tenor of the everlasting covenant.