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 con- querors through him that loved us, and of having " our strength in all respects proportioned to our day of trial," may wrll stimulate us to exertion, and make us diligent in per- forming every thing which God requireth at our hands11.]
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 efficacy 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 expected by those who " abound in every good word and work," that God will be peculiarly present with them in the time of then- greatest need0: 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 cause1': 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 look to it, that we be daily ripening for glory : then shall we in due time be carried to it, " like a shock of corn " to the garner.]
Application —
You will naturally ask me, what directions I would give you for the attainment of this great ob- ject ? I answer,
1 . Let there be in you no allowed sin —
[The wisdom that is from above, is " without partiality and without hypocrisy q." One leak will sink a ship ; and one allowed sin will destroy the soulr. If ever you would be saved at last, you must be " Israelites indeed, and without guile s." Faith in Christ must be laid as the foundation; but every Christian grace must compose the edifice that is built upon it.]
2. Cry mightily to God to perfect and complete his work within you —
n 1 Cor. xv. 58. ° Ps. lxxiii. 2G. p 2 Tim. iv. G— 8.
i Jam. iii. 17. r Matt, xviii. 8, V. s John i. 47.