have not, as too many do, put off the great work of your life to the end of it; and then you have nothing to do, but as well as you can under your present weakness and pains to renew your repentance for all the errors and miscarriages of your life; and earnestly to beg God's pardon and forgiveness of them for his sake, who is the propitiation for our sins; to comfort yourself in the goodness and the promises of God, and the hopes of that happiness you are ready to enter into; and in the mean time to exercise faith and patience for a little while; and be of good courage, since you see land; the storm, which you are in, will soon be over, and then it will be, as if it had never been; or rather, the remembrance of it will be a pleasure. I do not use to write such long letters; but I heartily compassionate your case, and should be glad if I could suggest any thing that might help to mitigate your trouble, and make the sharp and rugged way, through which you are to pass into a better world, a little more smooth and easy. I pray God to fit us both for that great change, which we must once undergo; and, if it be but in any good measure fit, sooner or later makes no great difference. I commend you to the Father of mercies, and the God of all consolation, through the merits of his dear Son; beseeching him to increase your faith and patience, and to stand by you in your last and great conflict; that when you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you may fear no evil; and when your heart fails, and your strength fails, you may find him the strength of your heart, and your portion for ever. Farewell, my good friend; and whilst we are here let us pray for one another, that we may have a joyful meeting in another world. So I rest, Your truly affectionate friend and servant, G JOHN TILLOTSON. Consolations (especially in sickness) for one who is aged. 1. Frequently reflect, that God has long continued your life through the many casualties which have surrounded and threatened it. Entreat him, in the words of David, "not to cast you off in the "time of old age, nor to forsake you when your "strength faileth." Psal. lxxi. 9. 2. Be thankful for the many deliverances with which you have been favoured, and for the many supports God has been graciously pleased to give you from time to time, (especially during your present illness,) and for the many years you have securely enjoyed, without the apprehension, approach, or fear of evil. 3. But principally you should consider what returns you have made for such distinguished mercies. 4. Be ever mindful that you must be accountable at the bar of God for a long and sinful life, and for the use and abuse of many favours, which will appear before God either to your joy or terror. * 5. Happy are you, if under the decay of nature you have the support of your conscience! Miserable are you, if under the infirmities of old age you have the terrors of a guilty mind. 6. God has hitherto spared you: entreat him, that he may still further spare you for the purposes of repentance, faith, and renewed obedience. 7. Dedicate your heart and soul to his service in the short remainder of your life: short indeed, if this present sickness should not speedily summon you away, and render it still even shorter. 8. Persevere in an established course of piety, Age, thou the loss of friends and health shalt mourn: and let not former habits of sin discourage you from attempting any thing towards making your peace with God on the terms of the Gospel. 9. Pray fervently, that you may be enabled "to "finish your course with joy," with good resolutions, and good deeds, and thus gradually prepare your heart (as well as your infirmities will permit) to obtain the heavenly kingdom, and enter into it with comfort and gratitude. 10. These mercies you should daily and strenuously solicit God to grant for the sake and through the merits of his Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Advocate. Helps for selecting passages from Scripture for consolation, particularly in sickness. We should attend to the commands of God; we should pray for grace and strength to perform them; and we should treasure up in our memory suitable promises for our encouragement. I might bring many texts to this purpose; but I shall only mention the following as a specimen; which, though they are not found connectedly in the same chapter, may yet be pertinently applied for our direction and comfort. 66 The command.] "Make you a new heart, and a new spirit; for why will ye die?" Ezek. xviii. 31. The prayer.] "Create in me a clean heart, O "God, and renew a right spirit within me.' li. 10. " Ps. The promise.] “A new heart will I give you, "and a new spirit will I put within you; and I "will take away the stony heart out of flesh, "and will give you an heart of flesh." Ezekiel xxxvi. 26. your The command.] "Thus saith the Lord, Stand in "the ways, and see; ask for the old paths, where "is the good way, and walk therein." Jer. vi. 16. The prayer.]" See if there be any wicked way "in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Ps. cxxxix. 24. The promise.] "They shall ask the way to Zion " with their faces thitherward." Jer. 1. 5. The command.]" Keep thy heart with all dili66 gence." Prov. iv. 23. 66 The prayer.] "Oh! keep my soul, and deliver me !" Psal. xxv. 20. The promise.] "I, the Lord, do keep it: lest any "hurt it, I will keep it night and day." Isaiah xxvii. 3. The command.] "Believe in the Lord your "God." 2 Chron. xx. 20. The prayer.] "Lord, I believe: help thou "mine unbelief." Mark ix. 24. The promise.] "They shall trust in the name "of the Lord," Zeph. iii. 12. 66 The command.] "Turn ye to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope." Zech. ix. 12. The prayer.]" Be thou my strong habitation, "whereunto I may continually resort." Ps. lxxi. 3. : The promise.] "He will dwell on high his "place of defence shall be the munition of rocks." Isai. xxxiii. 16. The command.] "Learn of me, for I am meek, and lowly in heart." Matt. xi. 29. The prayer.] "That which I see not, teach "thou me." Job xxxiv. 32. The promise.] "They shall all be taught of "God." John vi. 45. The command.] "Let not sin reign in your "mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts "thereof," Rom. vi. 12, The prayer.] " "Keep back thy servant from "presumptuous sins: let them not have dominion ." Ps. xix. 13. 66 over me. The promise.] "Sin shall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under the law, but "under grace." Rom. vi. 14. The command.] "Be not thou ashamed of the "testimony of our Lord." 2 Tim. i. 8. The prayer.] "Let none that wait on thee be "ashamed." Ps. xxv. 3. The promise.] "They shall not be ashamed "that wait for me." Isai. xlix. 23. The command.] "Watch ye, and pray, lest ye "enter into temptation." Mark xiv. 38. The prayer.] "Lead us not into temptation." Matt. vi. 13. The promise.] "God is faithful, who will not "suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able." 1 Cor. x. 13. The command.]"Be strong in the Lord, and " in the power of his might." Eph. vi. 10. The prayer.]" My soul melteth for heaviness; "strengthen thou me according to thy word." Ps. cxix. 28. I The promise.] "I will strengthen thee; yea, "will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isai. xli. 10. 66 The command.] "Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians v. 17. The prayer.] "Lord, teach us to pray." Luke xi. 1. The promise.]" I will pour upon the house of "David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem "the spirit of grace and supplication." Zech. xii. 10. |