Page:Great importance of a suitable preparation for death (1).pdf/17

( 17 ) a reaſon, “Know ye, that for all theſe “things God will bring you into judgment.” Therefore, I ſay unto thee, who art often tempted to ſin, let death and reckoning with God, be ſtill in thy ſight, and I defy thee then to embrace half ſo many temptations, as now thou doſt. I intreat you to anſwer all your temptations with that one word, “What shall I anſwer when God riſeth up ? And what shall I anſwer, when he visiteth me?”

Fifth. When a Chriſtian liveth within the sight of this truth, that he shall ohce ſee death, it will make him exceeding patient under every croſs wherewith he meeteth. Such a Chriſtian will hardly meet with a croſs but he will quiet himſelf with this, Death will put me beyond this croſs; this is out a cloud that will quickly paſs away. And for this cauſe did David ſo compoſedly put up that desire, Pſalm xxx. 4. “Lord make me to know mine end, and the meaſure of my days.” He was ſure that the knowledge of his end, would put him in a ſober and patient frame.

The Sixth advantage is this, the faith of approaching death, will teach the perſon that hath it, to ſtudy ſaving wiſdom. This is clear, Pſalm xc. 12. where Moſes putteth up this requeſt, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wiſdom.” As if he had ſaid,