The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 39

HOMILETICS. Ver. 1.-Th~ duty of mm, ,,. tiiew of death, to set tMir ho?JS11 In order. N othlng I■ more manifest than the duty of all men, in view of that departure which they know to impend over them as an absolute certainty, only doubtful in re~pect of its date to RrrlLnge their worldly affairs e.s prudence requires, and not leave them in confu;ion. In complicated societies, nod in et.ates where civilization is advanced, the duty presses more especially, since the greatest care constantly reqnires to be taken lest, if affairs are not arranged, the most undesirable results should arise. J. 1T IS MOST CONVENIENT THAT TRE HOOSE SHOULD DE SET IN ORDEB DEFORE ANY IMMEDIATE rnosPRCT OF DEATH APPEARS. 'l'he circumstances of a dangerous illness are gem•rally such as to render it extremely inexpedient that the arrangement of a man's worldly affairs should be put off to such a time. The time is, for the most part, nil too short for the consideration of a man's spiritual affairs-for repentance, confession restitution, exchange of forgiveness, and the like, which often occupy a considerabl; i;pacc, and need much thought and att,!ntion. Worldly affairs distract the mind from the tl,ings which most vitally concern it, and, if they are not arranged until the last illness sets in, the result too commonly is that " to the mercy of a moment" are left "the l"ast concerns of an eternal scene." Further, in sickness the mind is far less fit to make judicious arrangements than in health; it is soon fatigued, often not clear sometimes altof:ether confused and incapable of sound judgment--not to mention that it may wholly fail, or be quite unequal to any exertion. Men need to be reminded continually, while they are in health, of the duty of arranging their worldly affairs at once, and not waiting till the fiat has gone forth-till their hours are numberen., and whate,;er has to be done must be done in haste. JI. STILL, IF THE DOTY HAS BEEN NEGLECTED IN HEALTH, THE IMMEDIATE PROSPECT OF DEATH IS A rEREMrTOBY CALL ON us TO DISCHARGE IT. "Set thine house in order," is Isaiah's first, nay, his sole, charge to Hezekiah, when he warns him that he is to die shortly. The interests of others are involved; and our neglect of them hithert-0 gives them a claim on us which is more binding than any interests of our own. "If a man provide not for . . . those of his own house, .. , he is worse than an infidel" (1 Tim. v. 8). The neglected duty must first be attended to; the rights, interests, fair claims of others must be considered, and, so far as possible, secured; and then our own advantage may occupy us, but not before. No man, we may be sure, will be made to sulfer in another world for having postponed his ow:a advantage to that of others in this.