Page:Great importance of a suitable preparation for death (2).pdf/12

12 anſwer all your temptations with that word, 'What ſhall I do 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 once 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 but a cloud that will quickly paſs away. And for this cauſe did David ſo composedly put up that deſire, Pſalm xxxix. 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, Pfalm 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, I will never think myſelf wiſe, till I know that bleſſed part of arithmetic, 'how to number my days.' I would deſire every one of you all to think with yourſelf every morning when you riſe, now I am a day nearer unto eternity than I was before ; I say, think often, yea, always thus, I was never so near my death as I am now; for, Oh! are we not all nearer unto eternity to day, than we were yeſterday?

The Seventh advantage attending the faith of approaching death, is this, that it will make a Christian very careful in preparing for death. It is impoſſible for one to believe really that death is approaching, and not to prepare for it. Say what ye will, it ye be not careful in preparing for death, ye have not the ſolid faith of this truth, that ye hall die. Believe me, it is not every one that thinketh he believeth this truth, that believeth it indeed. And, O how dreadful is it for an unprepared man to meet with death? He deſireth not to die, yea, he would give a world for his life, but die he muſt, whether he will or not; for