how small a remnant it may prove to those who have seemingly the best reasons for making themselves large promises, we can never know amidst the perpetual accidents, that cut off such great numbers in the prime of their days; and are many of them too sudden to leave room, even for that miserable comfort, a death-bed repentance. It appears very harsh, and is extremely painful, to give people, in a dangerous sickness, the slightest intimation how little this remedy is likely to avail them. And therefore they ought to be the more frequently and strongly reminded of it, whilst they may hear it with less terror, and greater benefit. A presumptuous or thoughtless mortal lives negligently and sinfully year after year, in hopes of repenting of his sins, when he comes to the end of his days: that is doth a multitude of ill actions, in hopes that hereafter he shall heartily wish he had never done them. Can this be? Are such persons in earnest? No; but they are trying, if possible, to cheat God and themselves at the same time; to disobey his will so artfully as to avoid punishment, and obtain reward. Now what imaginable prospect is there, that, from a heart so deliberately false, any true repentance will ever come? Besides, what certainty is there, that any one will have time allowed him, or that his understanding will not fail, or that he will not grow hardened instead of penitent; or indeed, that he shall have spirits and attention sufficient in the midst of pain and sickness and languor, to recollect his numerous transgressions, and to apply earnestly for pardon? If he hath, undoubtedly it is the best and only thing that he can do for himself: and omitting it is making a very bad case greatly worse. But still, to be grieved for our sins only when we can live no longer in them, and are afraid of being immediately condemned for them, is a very suspicious kind of sorrow and moreover, it is not to mere sorrow, that God hath promised forgiveness, nor to mere faith; but to such only, as will produce amendment, for which, in these circumstances, there is little or no room. Nor can either bye-standers, or the dying man himself, know in the least, whether it would produce any, were a longer life to be granted: or whether he would not relapse as thousands of others, notwithstanding the most promising appearances, have done, into his former wickedness. And therefore no one can, on sure grounds, either administer comfort to others, or take it to himself, in such a case how dreadful soever it will be to have none in that hour, when we shall want it most. Since therefore our preparation must be made before our end comes; which will come soon, and may come when we think of it least; how vigilant should we be not to spend any of our time in sin; and how unwilling to spend more than is necessary in trifles! how studious to make our common employments in life consistent with and subservient to our heavenly calling! how careful to be always in readiness, to have our loins girded and our lights burning, like men that wait for their Lord; lest, coming suddenly, he find us sleeping! How frequently should we imagine ourselves in the condition, in which we must be shortly; when the pleasures, the profits, the preeminences, that we have pursued so eagerly, will vanish into nothing; when the duties that we have slighted so boldly, will appear the most important of all things; and the only firm support will be, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, by the grace of God, we *Heb. iii. 1. + Luke xii. 35, 36. Mark xiii. 36. had our conversation in the world! Why should we not think now as we certainly shall then? Why should we not act now, as we shall wish from the bottom of our hearts we had done; and wish in vain hereafter for what at present is undoubtedly feasible, and but moderately difficult? Such reflections as these, may be disagreeable to us: but they will become very supportable. God, in great mercy, hath framed us so, that the consideration of mortality, however awful, is not too strong for us. We can look upon it without overpowering our faculties; and turn our thoughts from it with ease to the daily business and even amusements of life. But it would be a most unworthy and pernicious return, because he doth not force it upon our minds constantly, which would unfit us for this world, therefore to lay it out of them entirely; or so near it as to neglect providing for the next. And the more averse any one is from meditating on these things, the more needful it is for him. Not thinking of death, will ward it off never the longer; but only make it infinitely terrible, when it comes: and thinking of it effectually will bring it never the sooner; but only dispose us to wait for it in peace, and receive it with calm resignation, if not with joy. O that men were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end †! 2. The shortness of this life, when we view it as an introduction to another, besides proving in the strongest manner the necessity of diligence in our duty, gives also the greatest encouragement to persevere in it, against all difficulties and temptations. Indeed the pains that we take, to lay aside our faults and cultivate our virtues, will seldom fail to * 2 Cor. i. 12. † Deut. xxxii. 29. reward themselves plentifully even here, by the peaceable fruits of righteousness *. But were it commonly otherwise, were the yoke of our Master heavy and his burthen grievous; it is not long that we have to bear it. The warfare against our spiritual enemies, the sorrow of being too often unsuccessful in it, the watchfulness over our bad inclinations, the painfulness of self-denial, the ridicule and censure of a world that lieth in wickedness †, all this will soon be past, and we shall receive the end of our faith and obedience, the salvation of our souls. If the other life were very distant, and the crown of glory § not to be given us, till we had been some hundreds of years, like the ancient patriarchs, fighting the good fight ||, and enduring hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ, it were less wonder, if any should grow weary, and faint in their minds **. But since the days of our trial are thus few, and eternal felicity is annexed to so short a struggle; we may cheerfully hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, and provoke one another to love and good works ; and so much the more continually, as we see the day approaching tt. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient, stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh ‡‡. And as the nearness of another state lessens very considerably the difficulties of virtue; so doth it also the advantages of sin: which indeed are seldom real, even here, but much the contrary, were all duly considered, whatever bad men imagine, whom their Heb. xii. 11. § 1 Pet. v. 4. ** Heb. xii. 3. + 1 John v. 19. ↑ 1 Pet. i. 9. James v. 7, 8. as they well deserve it own wickedness blinds should. But supposing them ever so often in the right, the utmost benefit they can receive is but for the present life, it may be, for a small part of it: and all that we can possibly get or lose, enjoy, or suffer in this world, bears no proportion to that which is to come. Indeed, whatever must have an end can bear no proportion to that which hath none. And consequently, were we to live ever so long, provided we were to die at all, there could be no reasonable comparison between our interest in the present life and the future. But when the present not only ought in reason to be looked on as nothing, but shews itself to our very senses to be as nothing; when we can so easily reckon up the few years it is composed of, the bounds appointed, which it cannot passt: even then to let ourselves be cheated with it, and the poor false promises it makes us; and for these to quit the hopes of an immortality, just ready to be conferred on us, the blessedness of which exceeds our imagination, and will be continually increasing for ever; this is what nothing, but the melancholy experience of it, could make one believe was possible. But so the fact stands. Men give up eternity in exchange for a moment: here they will have their portion, whatsoever shall come after. And though they must know, would they think at all, that the judgment of the wicked lingereth not, and their damnation doth not slumber; yet either they fly from the conviction, or they harden themselves against it; and desperately resolve, that nothing, but what is present, shall make any impression upon them: whereas in just reckoning every thing present should be regarded almost only as it promotes or obstructs our prepara* Wisd. xi. 21. t Job xiv. 5. 12 Pet. ii. 3. |