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To a young Gentleman, a _Candidate_ for the _Ministry_, written at the same time.
_Very dear Sir_,
HOW amazing it is, that the _living_ who _know they must die_, should notwithstanding “put far away the evil day,” in a season of health and prosperity: and live at such an awful distance from the grave, and the great concerns beyond it! And especially, that any whose minds have been divinely ♦enlightened, to behold the important things of _eternity_ should live in this manner. And yet, how ♠frequently is this the case? *How rare are the instances of those who live and act, from day to-day, as on the verge of _eternity_; striving to fill up all their remaining moments, in the service of their great _Master_? We insensibly trifle away time, while we seem to have enough of it; and are so strangely amused, as in a great measure to lose a sense of the holiness, necessary to prepare us to be inhabitants of the heavenly _paradise_. But, Oh, dear Sir, a _dying bed_, if we enjoy our reason, will give another view of things. I have now, far more than three weeks, lain under the greatest weakness; the greater part of the time, expecting daily and hourly to enter into the eternal world. And Oh, of what vast importance has a holy, spiritual life, appeared to me to be in this season! I have longed to call upon all my friends, to make it their business to _live to God_; and especially all that are designed for, or engaged in the service of the sanctuary. O dear Sir, do not think it enough, to live at the rate of _common Christians_. Alas, to how little purpose do they often converse, when they meet together! The visits, even of those who are called Christians indeed, are frequently quite barren; and conscience cannot but condemn us for the misemployment of time, while we have been conversant with them. But the way to enjoy the divine presence, and be fitted for his service, is to live a life of _great devotion_ and _constant self-dedication_ to him; observing the motions and dispositions of our own hearts, whence we may learn the corruptions that lodge there, and our constant need of help from God for the performance of the least duty. And Oh, dear Sir, let me beseech you frequently to attend the great and precious duties of _secret fasting_ and _prayer_.
♦ “enlightend” replaced with “enlightened”
♠ “frequent” replaced with “frequently” per Errata
Oh labour to be prepared and qualified to do much for God. Suffer me to entreat you earnestly to “give yourself to prayer, to reading and meditation” on divine truths: strive to penetrate to the bottom of them, and never be content with a superficial knowledge. By this means, your thoughts will grow weighty and judicious; and you thereby will be possessed of a valuable treasure, out of which you may produce “things new and old,” to the glory of God.
And now, “I commend you to the grace of God;” earnestly desiring, that a plentiful portion of the divine Spirit may rest upon you; that you may _live to God_ in every capacity, and that you may be richly qualified for the “inheritance of the saints in light.”
I scarce expect to see your face any more in the body; and therefore intreat you to accept this as the last token of love, from
_Your sincerely affectionate dying friend_,