It is true, that many, who are ignorant of Christ, are enabled to brave death on a field of battle, and even to look forward to it with composure in its more gradual approaches. But in both cases they either put away the thought of God's judgment altogether, or deceive themselves with the idea that they are prepared to meet it. Let them only be undeceived respecting the state of their own souls, and the state to which alone the promises of salvation are attached, and the most stout-hearted man in the universe will tremble : and it is uniformly found, that those persons who most appear to disregard death, are most averse to hear of it, or to reflect on its consequences on the souls of men. It is the knowledge of Christ only that affords a Scrij)tural hope of acceptance with God ; and there- fore it is that alone which will enable us to view with comfort the approach of death.]
2. Make it an object of desire —
[St. Paul tells us that to whomsoever " it is Christ to live, it is also gain to die:" and he speaks of himself as "having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which he considered as far better" than the happiest state he could enjoy on earth. Would we know what it was that made death so desirable to him? he tells us; " Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me." And in proportion as our views of Christ are clear, the same effects will follow : " We shall rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Who can hear that prayer of Christ's, " Father, I will that they whom thou hast given me may be with me, to behold that glory which thou hast given me ;" who, I say, can hear this, and not long for its accomplishment? There may remain in us somewhat of a natural fear of dissolution ; and a regard for our families may perhaps make us wish to prolong for a season our stay on earth: but when, like Stephen, we behold the Lord Jesus and the glories of the invisible world, we feel every other tie dissolved, and long to have " mortality swallowed up of life." We are like persons in a foreign land, who, after having formed many friendships there, are loth to quit it ; but, feeling the stronger attractions of their own family and country, relinquish present comforts, in the hope and prospect of others more sublime. This is represented as the state of all who have made any progress in the divine life ; they are " looking for, and hasting to, the coming of the day of Christ g." Some may enjoy more of triumph in their end, and others less ; but the testimony of David is found almost universally true, " Mark the perfect man, and behold the up- right ; for the end of that man is peace h."]
e 2 Pet. iii. 12. *> Ps. xxxvii. 37.