Chap. 19. A View of Death, at the Close of the Day. 191

§. 26. This, Reader, with the Alteration of a very few. Words, is the Letter I wrote to a worthy Friend, (now I doubt not with GOD,) about Sixteen Years ago: And I can assuredly say, that the Experience of each of these, Years has confirmed me in these Views, and established me in the Persuasion," that one Day thus spent is pre"ferable to whole Years of Sensuality, and the Neglect "of Religion." I chose to insert the Letter as it is, because I thought the Freedom and Particularity of the Advice I had given in it, would appear most natural in its original Form; and as I propose to enforce these Advices in the next Chapter, I shall conclude this with that Meditation, which I promised my Friend as a Postscript; and which I could wish you to make so familiar to yourself, as that you might be able to recollect the Substance of it, whenever you compose yourself to Sleep.

A Serious VIEW OF DEATH, proper to be taken as we lie down on our Beds.

O H my Soul, look forward a little with Seriousness " and Attention, and learn. Wisdom by the "Consideration of thy latter End (n). Another of thy "mortal Days is now numbered and finished: And as "I have put off my Clothes, and laid myself upon my "Bed for the Repose of the Night: so will the Day of

Life quickly come to its Period, so must the Body "itself be put off, and laid to its Repose in a Bed of "Dust. There let it rest; for it will be no more "regarded by me, than the Clothes which I have now "laid aside. I have another far more important Con66 cern to attend. Think, Oh my Soul, when Death "comes, thou art to enter upon the Eternal World, and "to be fixed either in Heaven or in Hell. All the "Schemes and Cares, the Hopes and Fears, the Plea"sures and Sorrows of Life, will come to their Period, " and the World of Spirits will open upon thee. And "Oh, how soon may it open! Perhaps before the return"ing Sun bring on the Light of another Day. To02

(n) Deut. xxxii. 29,

morrow's

192 A View of Death, at the Close of the Day. Chap. 19.

"morrow's Sun may not enlighten mine Eyes, but only "shine round a senseless Corpse, which may lie in the "Place of this animated Body. At least the Death of

many in the Flower of their Age, and many who were "superior to me in Capacity, Piety, and the Prospects "of Usefulness, may loudly warn me not to depend on a long Life, and engage me rather to wonder that I "am continued here so many Years, than to be surprised "if I am speedily removed.

"And now, Oh my Soul, answer as in the Sight of "GOD; art thou ready? Art thou ready? Is there no Sin unforsaken, and so unrepented of, to fill me with Anguish in my departing Moments, and to make me "tremble on the Brink of Eternity? Dread to remain "under the Guilt of it, and this Moment renew thy most "earnest Applications to the Mercy of GoD, and the "Blood of a Redeemer, for Deliverance from it.

"But if the great Account be already adjusted, if "thou hast cordially repented of thy numerous Offences, "if thou hast sincerely committed thyself by Faith, into "the Hands of the blessed JESUS, and hast not renounced "thy Covenant with Him, by returning to the allowed Practice of Sin, then start not at the Thought of a Separation: It is not in the Power of Death to hurt a Soul devoted to GoD, and united to the great Redeemer. It may take from me my worldly Comforts; it may disconcert and break my Schemes for Service on Earth: "But, Oh my Soul, diviner Entertainments, and nobler

Services wait thee beyond the Grave. For ever blessed "be the Name of GoD and the Love of JESUS, for these "quieting, encouraging, joyful Views! I will now lay

me down in Peace and Sleep (0), free from the Fears "of what shall be the Issue of this Night, whether Life or Death may be appointed for me. Father, into Thine Hand I commit my Spirit (p), for Thou hast redeemed me, O GOD of Truth (4), and therefore I can cheerfully refer it to Thy Choice, whether I shall wake in this World or another."

I

(0) Psal. iv. 8.

(p) Luke xxiii. 46.

(q) Psal. xxxi. 5.

СНАР.

Chap. 20. A Persuasive to follow those Directions. 198

CHAP. XX.

A serious Persuasive to such a Method of spending our Days as is represented in the former Chapter,

Christians fix their Views' too low, and indulge too indolent a Disposition, which makes it more necessary to urge such a Life, as that under Consideration; §. 1, 2. It is therefore enforced, (1.) From its being apparently reasonable, considering ourselves as the Creatures of GOD, and as redeemed by the Blood of Christ, §. 3. (2.) From its evident Tendency to conduce to our Com. fort in Life, §. 4. (3.) From the Influence it will have to promote our Usefulness to others, §. 5. (4.) From its Efficacy to make Afflictions lighter, §. 6. (5.) From its happy Aspect on Death, §. 7. And (6.) On Eternity; §. 8. Whereas not to desire Improvement, would argue a Soul destitute of Religion. 9. A Prayer suited to the State of a Soul, who longs to attain the Life recommended above,

1.

I

empt

HAVE been assigning, in the preceding Chapter,, what I fear will seem to some of my so hard a task, that they will want Courage to it; and indeed it is a Life in many Respects. so far above that of the Generality of Christians, that I am not with out Apprehensions, that many, who deserve the Name, may think the Directions, after all the Precautions with which I have proposed them, are carried to an unnecessary, Degree of Nicety and Strictness. But I am persuaded, much of the Credit and Comfort of Christianity is lost, in Consequence of its Professors fixing their Aims too low, and not conceiving of their high and holy Calling in so elevated and sublime a View as the Nature of Religion

194 The Reasonableness of such a Life,

Chap. 20, Religion would require, and the Word of God would direct. I am fully convinced, that the Expressions of walking with GOD, of being in the Fear of the Lord all the Day long (a), and above all, that of loving the Lord our GOD with all our Heart, and Soul, and Mind, and Strength (b), must require, if not all these Circumstances, yet the Substance of all that I have been recommending, so far as we have Capacity, Leisure, and Opportunity: And I cannot but think, that many might command more of the latter, and perhaps improve their Capacities hey would take too, if they a due Care in the Government of themselves; if they would give up vain and unnecessary Diversions, and certain Indulgencies, which only suit and delight the lower Part of our Nature, and (to say the Best of them) deprive us of Pleasures much better than themselves, if they do not plunge us into Guilt. Many of these Rules would appear easily practicable, if Men would learn to know the Value of Time, and particularly to redeem it from unnecessary Sleep, which wastes many golden Hours of the Day: Hours in which many of GoD's Servants are delighting themselves in Him, and drinking in full Draughts of the Water of Life; while these their Brethren are slumbering upon their Beds, and lost in vain Dreams, as far below the common Entertainments of a rational Creature, as the Pleasures of the sublimest Devotion are above them.

༢

§. 2. I know likewise, that the Mind is very fickle and inconstant; and that it is a hard Thing to preserve such a Government and Authority over our Thoughts, as would be very desirable, and as the Plan, I have laid down will require. But so much of the Honour of GOD, and so much of your own true Happiness, depends upon it, that I beg you will give me a patient and attentive Hearing while I am pleading with you, and that you will seriously examine the Arguments, and then judge, whether a Care and Conduct like that which I have advised, be not in itself reasonable: and whether it will not be highly conducive to your Comfort and Usefulness in Life, your Peace in Death, and the Advancement and Increase of your Eternal Glory. ter mit 19 vit e 26360

(a) Prov. xxiii. 17.

(b) Mark xii. 30,

§. 3. Let.

Chap. 20. from the Obligations to GOD and Christ. 195

§. 3. Let Conscience say, whether such a Life as I have described above, be not in itself highly reasonable. Look over the Substance of it again, and bring it under a close Examination; for I am very apprehensive, that some weak Objections may rise against the Whole, which may in their Consequences affect the Particulars, against which no reasonable Man would presume to make any Objection at all. Recollect, O Christian, and carry it with you in your Memory and your Heart, while you are pursuing this Review, that you are the Creature of Gon; that you are purchased with the Blood of JESUS; and then say, Whether these Relations in which you stand, do not demand all that Application and Resolution which I would engage you to. Suppose all the Counsels I have given, reduced into Practice: Suppose every Day begun and concluded with such devout Breathings after GoD, and such holy Retirements for Morning and Evening Converse with Him and with your own Heart: Suppose a daily Care, in contriving how your Time may be managed, and in reflecting how it has been employed: Suppose this Regard to GoD, this Sense of His, Presence, and Zeal for His Glory, to run through your Acts of Worship, your Hours of Business and Recreation Suppose this Attention to Providence, this Guard against Temptations, this Dependance upon Divine Influence, this Government of the Thoughts in Solitude, and of the Discourses in Company: Nay, I will add farther, Suppose every particular Direction given, to be pursued, excepting when particular Cases occur, with respect to which you shall be able in Conscience to say,

I wave it not from Indolence and Carelessness, but "because I think it will be just now more pleasing to "Gon to be doing something else," which may often happen in Human Life, where general Rules are best concerted: Suppose, I say, all this to be done, not for a Day, or a Week, but through the Remainder of Life, whether longer or shorter; and suppose this to be reviewed at the Close of Life, in the full Exercise of your rational Faculties: Will there be Reason to say in the Reflection, I have taken too much Pains in Religion:

The Author of my Being did not deserve all this "from me: Less Diligence, less Fidelity, less Zeal than 1) choDIC 26 thist