from flagrant transgressions ; and shall, in respect of them, " be preserved blameless unto God's heavenly kingdom."
Numberless are the promises of God to this eftect''
And O, what encouragement do they afford to those who know their weakness and their frailty ! Surely the hope of being enabled to " do all things through the strength of Christ," and of being made " more than conquerors through him that loved us," and of having " our strength in all respects proportioned to our day of trial," may well stimulate us to exertion, and make us diligent in performing every thing which God requireth at our hands'.]
2. A triumphant death —
[A variety of things may occur to affect the mind of a dying saint, and to prevent him from displaying the full effi- cacy of his principles in his last hours : but, in the general, the peacefulness of his departure will be proportioned to the integrity and diligence of his life. Indeed, it may be ex- pected by those who " abound in every good word and work," that God will be peculiarly present with them in the time of their greatest need™: they may hope to be favoured with Pisgah-views of the heavenly Canaan, and, like Stephen, to behold their Saviour standing ready to receive them. Such was Paul's departure, after a life of unremitting exertion in his Master's cause " : and such " an abundant entrance into the kingdom of our Lord shall be ministered to us" also, if we follow the steps of that distinguished Apostle.
Who that has ever seen the insensibility of some, or the terrors of others, would not wish to have this promise fulfilled to him in a dying hour ? Let us then live the life of the righteous, if we would die his death. Let us be daily ripening for glory ; and we shall in due time be carried to it, " like a shock of corn " to the garner.]
' 1 Sam. ii. Q. Ps. xxxvii. 23, 24. ' 1 Cor. xv. 58.
"' Ps-. Jxxiii. 26. " 2 Tim. iv. 6—8.