A Brighter Day Begins with His Word.

Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 • SECTION 116

168.] The Israelites Discouraged By The Way. 121

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honours thou possessest here, thou needest feel no regret at parting with them. Thou hast found thy trials in this wilder- ness great and manifold : and happy mayest thou be to go unto the rest that remaineth for thee. Thou hast no need to be afraid of death : it should be regarded only as the stripping off of thy garments, to retire to rest; or rather, as the being " unclothed, in order to be clothed upon, that mortality may be swallowed up of lifeu." Go forward then in daily expecta- tion of thy summons : yea, be daily " looking for, and hasting unto, the coining of that blessed day x,"when thou shalt " depart, and be with Christ for ever." Who can conceive the bliss that awaits thee at that hour? To behold Him, " of whom the Law and the Prophets testified," and in whom their testimony re- ceived its full accomplishment ! To behold Him whom Aaron's love and services but faintly shadowed ! Him, " the brightness of his Father's glory, and the express image of his person ! " Were death a thousand times more terrible than it is, it were eagerly to be coveted as an introduction to such bliss. Methinks, impatience were a virtue with such prospects as these : or if you must wait with patience your appointed time, endeavour at least so to live, that, at whatever hour your Lord may come, you may be found ready, and have " an abundant entrance into the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ y."]

» 2 Cor. v. 4. x 2 Pet. iii. 12. y 2 Pet. i. 11.

Public domain historical edition (1832-33); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.

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