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to eternity, depends upon it. Who can dwell with devouring fire? Who can endure everlasting burnings? Spare me a little, that I may recover ftrength, before I go hence, and be no more.

2. Strength, as it refpects grace in exercife, and fatisfaction as to our intereft in Christ, and title to heaven: this is neceffary to our dying comfortably, and finishing our courfe with joy.

And how earnestly fhould we be concerned for time, in order to get this? confidering it will be far from being eafy to go from hence never to return, uncertain what fhall become of us for ever. To believe there is an everlasting hell, and be in doubt, whether I fhall be delivered from it : a state of glory, and not to know, whether I fhall be received into it: To be entering upon my unchangeable state, and at a loss of what kind it fhall prove; how dejecting must this be? And on the other hand, how transporting will it be, to be able to look to heaven, and fay, my Father is there? To Chrift, and at the fame time be able to add, 1 know whom I have believed, and I am perfuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day? I am leaving the world, and I do it freely, knowing I shall have, in exchange, better and more enduring fubftance. Farewel earth, welcome heaven, where I fhall dwell with my

ever.

Lord for

V. To get strength thus to go hence, is the great thing, good men have, and ought to have in their eye, in defiring life.

VOL. II.

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It was not to be rich, or great, or honourable, that the Pfalmift here prayed for; but that he may recover ftrength, fuch ftrength as the change he was going to make called for, viz. that he might die fafely, and that he might depart in peace, or die comfortably. And the children of God may, and ought, with fubmiffion to his will, to defire this:

1. That they may be fresh, and renewed inftances, that when flesh and heart faileth, God can be the ftrength of his people's heart, by giving them a lively hope that he will be their portion for ever.

2. That Chrift may be glorified in their death, as well as life, by making them more than conquerors over the king of terrors: he. having loved and died for them, and enabling them to triumph in him, in whom they have righteoufnefs and ftrength, and in whom all the houfe of Ifrael is to be justified and to glory.

That their grand enemy Satan may be the more fignally baffled, when feeing them rejoice as dying, and going finging to glory, where he

can never come.

4. That fuch as furvive may have a cordial to reconcile them to their own removal, from the comfortable manner in which they fee them. go off

5. That thefe may be encouraged too to trust the fame Jefus, for all the grace they shall need living, or dying. And

6. Lastly, That they may be quickened to follow them in the fame way, as ever they would go off in the fame manner, and finish well.

There

There is one thing more under the doctrinal part, viz.

VI. When may a child of God be led to pray with the Pfalmift, O fpare me?

1. After fome great or grievous fall; that fo they may live to teftify the truth of their repentance, and repair the difhonour which the glory of God, and their holy profeffion may have fuffered through their tranfgreflion.

2. Under fad and fenfible decays as to grace; that they recover the ground they have loft.

3. When deprived of the light of God's countenance; that they may not fet in a cloud, or be fnatched away under darkness or doubt of their relation to him, or acceptance with him; that they may not fadden the hearts of thofe that God would not have to be faddened, nor leave the enemies of God any ground to imagine, That there was no difference between the death of the righteous and the wicked, tho' it be faid, The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous bath hope in his death, Prov. xiv.

22.

If it be asked, To what purpofe should any put up the request, Lord, Jpare me, when prayer cannot change God's mind, or fet death and the grave at a greater diftance? The answer is obvious.

1. We may, and ought to pray, whilft we

are uncertain as to the event. God knows the day of our death, but we do not: and his revealed will is to be our rule, who has faid, Is any afflicted? let him pray; Call upon me in the day of trouble, &c. Pfal. 1. 15.

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2. We

2. We are always to pray in fubmiffion to the will of God; faying after the utmost importunity we have ufed, that God would not now take us away, Not my will, but thine be done: prepare me for whatever thou haft determined; and here I am, do with me as feemeth best in thy fight.

3. It may be prayer is the means by which our lives are to be prolonged. God waits to be gracious to put an honour upon the duty he himself hath enjoyned, and encouraged our faith in. When it is loweft with us, his arm is not shortened, nor his ear heavy. And having lodged our request with him, we may humbly hope for anfwers of peace: peace or however that we shall be no lofers by serious application to a throne of grace, as he faid not to the feed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain.

APPLICATION.

1. Muft we at death bid adieu to all this world: how cautious fhould we be that we do not over-love or over-value it; as that will make our parting with it the more difficult.

When it goes well with you, be not too much transported; and let not affliction overwhelm and fink you.

Remember you muft e'er long leave both the one treatment and the other; and therefore are to be more concerned about the world you are going to, than that in which your stay is so uncertain and fhort.

2. How miferable are they who have their portion in the present life, which upon their going hence they must leave for ever?

3. When

3. When gone from hence are we to come back no more, how much are we concerned before-hand, to make provision for, and send our best concerns before-hand into that state, in which we are to dwell for ever?

If our lives have been in danger and fpared, let us endeavour to answer the end by labouring after ftrength neceffary to our dying fafely and comfortably: that when others upon receiving the fentence of death, cry bitterly, O Spare; upon the notice that Chrift is coming to call for you, you may fay, Amen, Come Lord Jefus, come quickly.

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