Page:True religion a source of happiness.pdf/21

21 gs to futurity; for who knows what shall be on morrow, or even the next hour? "For what is your life?" saith the Apostle James, “it is even a our, that appeareth for a little time, and then nisheth away " May this solemn consideration lead all duly to appreciate and improve the present ment.

The important lesson to be learned from the consideration of the shortness and the uncertainty of e, is to improve it. "It is appointed unto men e to die, but after this the judgment." "For we ist all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, t every one may receive the things done in his ly, according to that he hath done, whether it good or bad." The consideration of a future gment produces very different effects, according to the two different views taken of it by the two different classes of men, the righteous and the wicked. ievers of the gospel, while in this world, like er men, are the subjects of various and numerous ictions, of sorrow, of disease and death. They know that it is through much tribulation they must er the kingdom. They know that all things work together for their good; and though "no chastening the present seemeth to be joyous but grievous; nevertheless afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruit  righteousness to them that are exercised thereby.". The consideration of the shortness of time, in one point of view, is not a subject of regret to the believer. looks forward to death as the happy period which ll terminate the scene of distress and dissappointment, with which he hath been surrounded in this of tears, this valley of the shadow of death. knows that “Jesus Christ hath abolished death, brought life and immortality to light by the gospel." He can adopt the language of the apostle im. iv. 6—8. “For I am now ready to be offered  the time of my departure is at hand. I have