Page:Great importance of a suitable preparation for death (1).pdf/23

( 23 ) But your unwillingneſs to die, giveth us much ground to fear that many have little love to Chriſt, but much to the world, and ſo dare not anſwer the queſtion, “Lord, thou knoweſt that I love thee.”

3. Death will try thy enjoyments.— Some of you may be ready to think, that ye meet with many enjoyments, ſo that ye may reckon (as you think) to forty enjoyments and ſweet out-lettings: But, beware that bring them not down to twenty. I have known ſome, who thought they had met forty times with God; but when death came; it made them take down the count to the half. Therefore, ſeeing death will try the reality of thine enjoyments, O prepare for it.

4. Death will try thy patience. Thou mayeſt ſeem to have much patience now, but when death cometh (and thou art put to die) it will put thy patience to a great trial; therefore prepare for it.

5. Death will try the reality of thy duties, yea, even thoſe duties wherein thou hadſt moſt ſatisfaction, as praying, reading, &c.

6. Death will try thy ſincerity, and make in appear what you really are.

7. Death will diſcover unto thee, many hid and ſecret ſins, which you knew not.

8. Death will accurately try thy mortification, and put it to the touch-ſtone.

9. Death will try thy hope, whether it be real or not.