# Great importance of a suitable preparation for death

THE GREAT IMPORTANCE OF A SUITABLE PREPARATION FOR DEATH.
A
S E R M O N,
O N
PSALM L X X X I X. 48.
What man is he that liveth, and ſhall not ſee death, etc.
BY THE LATE REVEREND
Mr. ANDREW GRAY,
MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL IN GLASGOW.
GLASGOW,
Printed by J. & M. Robertſon, Saltmarket, 1805.
THE GREAT IMPORTANCE OF A SUITABLE PREPARATION FOR DEATH.
A
S E R Μ Ο Ν,
ON
P S A L M L X X X I X. 48.
What man is he that liveth; and ſhall not ſee death, etc.
I T is very hard to determine, where all that are here ſhall be within thirty years; for even ere that time come, many (if not all) of us who are here, ſhall have taken up our everlaſting lodging. And whether we ſhall take it up in the eternity of joy, or in the eternity of pain, is also hard to determine; only this one thing I am ſure of, that all of us ſhall ſhortly be gone, and ere long the ſhadows of death ſhall be ſitting upon our eye-lids, and our eye-ſtrings ſhall begin to break. Therefore, I would the more ſeriouſly- enquire at you. what would you think if death were approaching this night unto you? Think ye that Jesus Chriſt is gone up to prepare a place for you ? even for you. Surely———I think we are all near to eternity, and there are ſome hearing me today, whom I defy the world to aſſure, that ever they ſhall hear another ſermon: therefore I entreat you all to hear this preaching, as if it were the laſt preaching that ever ye ſhould hear, and O that we could ſpeak it, as if it were the laſt ſermon that ever we would preach unto you. Believe me, death is another thing than we take it to be. Oh! what will many of us do in the day of our viſitation, when deſolation ſhall ​come from afar? where will we flee for reſt; and, where will we leave our glory? Old rich men, where will ye flee when death aſſaults you? Old poor men, where will ye flee when death aſſaults you! Old women, where will you flee when death aſſaults you? Young women, where will you flee when death aſſaults you? It was an ancient obſervation of David, Pſalm xxxix. 5. that 'God had made his days as an hand breadth.' This either may relate to the fourfold ſtate of man, viz. His infancy, his child-hood, his manhood, and his old age. Or, it may relate to the fourfold time of his life, viz. His morning, his forenoon, his afternoon, and his evening: yet, all our lifetime is but a day. And, O think ye not that our day is near unto a cloſe!
Now before that I begin to ſpeak any thing from the words, I ſhall ſpeak a few things to theſe two queſtions, which I conceive may not altogether be unprofitable.
Queſt. 1. Whether is it lawful for any to deſire to die, and return unto their long and endleſs home? Whether it be lawful for one to cry out, O time, time flee away (and all my shadows let them be gone) that ſo, long eternity may come?
Anſ. I ſay, It is lawful in ſome caſes, for one to deſire to die; for it was Paul's deſire, Philip. i. 23. 'I am in a ſtrait betwixt two, having a deſire to depart, and to be with Chriſt, which is far better.' And 2 Cor. v. 2. 'We groan earneſtly, deſiring to be clothed upon with our houſe, which is from heaven.' I long greatly till the twenty-firſt year of my age come, when my minority ſhall be overpaſt, that I may be entered heir to that matchless inheritance. But to clear in what caſes it is lawful to desire to die.
I. I ſay, It is lawful to deſire to die, when it floweth from a deſire of uninterrupted fellowſhip and communion with Chriſt, and conjunction with him, this is clear, 2 Cor. v. 6. 'Knowing that whilſt we are at home in the body, we are abſent from the Lord.' Therefore, Verſe 8. 'We are willing rather to be ​abſent from the body, and to be preſent with the Lord. Alſo it is clear, Philip. i. 23. 'I am in a ſtrait betwixt two, having a deſire to depart, and to be with Chriſt, which is far better.' I was his great end to have near and unmixed communion with Chriſt. What aileth you, Paul, (might one have ſaid) may you not be content to ſtay a while here? Nay, ſaith Paul, I deſire to be gone, and to be with Chriſt.' Waſt thou never with him here, Paul? I have been with him, ſaith he, but what is all my being with him here, in compariſon of my being with him above; Whilſt I am preſent in the body, I am abſent from the Lord? therefore, I will never be at reſt, ſaith he, get what I will, until I get Chriſt, until I get thoſe naked and immediate embracements of that noble Plant of Renown, the Flower of the ſtock of Jeſſe, who is the light of the higher houſe, the eternal admiration of angels.
2. It is lawful to deſire to die, when it floweth from the excellencies of heaven, from a deſire to partake of theſe excellent things that are there; this is clear, 2 Cor. v. 4 'We groan being burdened;' or, as the word is, We groan, as they who are preſſed under a heavy burden, that we may be clothed upon.' &c. What aileth you to groan ſo, Paul? O ſaith he, I groan that mortality may be swallowed up of life.
3. It is lawful to deſire to die, when it floweth from a desire to be ſaved from the body of death; and from theſe temptations that doth aſſault us: And from theſe oppreſſions whereunto we are ſubjected by it. Doubtleſs Paul desired to die on this account, when he cried out, Romans xii. 24. 'O wretched man that I am, who ſhall deliver me from the body of this death!' he longeth greatly for that day, 'wherein he ſhall be made white like the wings of a dove, covered with ſilver, whoſe feathers are of yellow gold. O! ſaith Paul, I am as one impatient till I be above, where I ſhall be clothed with theſe excellent and cleanly robes. 'the righteouſneſs of Chriſt.' Oh! faith Paul, I think every day a year, till I be poſſeſſed of that kingdom where Satan cannot tempt, and the creature cannot ​yield, and where I ſhall be free from all my fears of ſinning. Now in all theſe reſpects who would not deſire to die? But to guard all theſe, I would give you theſe four cautions.
I. Caution. Your deſire to die ſhould not be peremptory, but you ſhould deſire to die with ſubmiſſion to the will of God; ſo that although he would fill up fifteen years more to your life, you should be content to live it out.
2. Caution. When your deſires are haſty and off hand, ſuſpect them: for ſome, when they meet with an outward croſs (without all deliberation) will cry out, “O to be gone, O that I were dead." But your deſire to die ſhould be deliberate, but not haſty, or raſh.
3. Caution. it is not lawful to deſire to die, becauſe of perſonal afflictions. Many, when they meet with bitter afflictions, will cry out, О to be gone; they long for death even upon that account; ſuch were Job's deſires, Job xxi. 22. and chapter vi verſe 8, 9. O that I might have my request! even that it would pleaſe God to deſtroy me.' This deſire was very unlawful.
4. Caution. It is not lawful to deſire to die, when thy predominant idol is taken away from thee: Yes ſuch was Jonah's deſire, chapter iv. 3. Jonah thought his credit and reputation (which was his idol) was gone, and could never be regained; therefore he wished to die. But I would ſay this to you, that ſome will have ten deſires for death, when they have not one deſire for heaven. And what moveth Chriſtians to be ſo deſirous to die? It is not ſo much becauſe of their hope, as becauſe of their anxiety; it is not ſo much becauſe of their confidence, as becauſe of their impatience. But I ſay unto you, when your deſires of death are not accompanied with deſires of heaven, ſuſpect them. 2. I would ſay this, that there are ſome who will have ten desires for death, when they will not have one for the death of the body of death; but it were good for thee (who art ſuch) to be deſiring the death of the body of death; then ſhould thou ​be in a more ſuitable frame to deſire to die.
3. Some will have hearty deſires to die, and yet, when death cometh, they will be as unwilling to die as any. It hath been obſerved, that ſome who haven much deſire to die, when death came, have cried out, 'O ſpare a little, that I may recover ſtrength,' &c.
There is a great difference between a deſire to die, and death itſelf. It is an eaſy thing to deſire to die, but it is a very great buſineſs to meet with death, and to look it in the face when it cometh. We think death (ere it come near as) to be but childrens' play, but when we meet with it, it maketh us change our thoughts; for it is a great buſineſs to die.
Queſt. 2. Is it lawful for a Chriſtian to deſire to live when he is ſummoned to die?
Anſw. In ſome caſes it is lawful for a Chriſtian to deſire to live, even when he is ſummoned to die; which is clear from the practice of David, Pſalm xxxix. 13. where he prayeth, 'that the Lord would ſpare hin a little.' It is alſo clear from the practice of good Hezekiah, Iſaiah xxxviii. 3. when he was commanded 'to ſet his houſe in order, for he ſhould die, and not live,' he crieth out, 'Remember now O Lord, how I lave walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy ſight: and Hezekiah wept ſore;' or, as the words are in the original, he wept with great weeping.' But, to guard this, take theſe two cautions:
Caution 1. Thy deſire to live (when thou art ſummoned to die) should not be peremptory, but with ſubmiſſion to the will of God, that if it be his pleaſure to remove thee preſently out of time, thou ſhould be content to die.
Caution 2. Thy deſire to live ſhould have gracious principles, and alſo a very gracious end, as is moſt clear from David, Pſalm xxxix. 13. where he ſaith, 'O ſpare me a little, that I may recover ſtrength, before I go hence, and be no more.' His deſire to live is, that he might have victory over his idols, As if he had ſaid, my deſire to live is, that I may ​have ſtrength to wreſtle with, and overcome my idols. And without all controverſy, Hezekiah's deſire was a moſt precious and well grounded deſire. However, I would ſay this into thee, that thou ſhoudſt examine thy deſires to live (as much if not more) as thy deſires to die; for, we are ready to ſhun death, if we could, but he is that universal King, unto whom all of us muſt be ſubject ere long.
Now, in the words which are read unto you, there are theſe ſix things, which might be clearly obſerved from them.
I. That it is a moſt clear and infallible truth, that all perſons ſhall once ſee death, as is clear in theſe words, 'who is he that liveth, and ſhall not ſee death?'
II. That this truth (that we ſhall once ſee death) is not much believed or thought upon by many; therefore, it is that the Pſalmiſt doubleth the aſſertion, 'What man is he that liveth, and ſhall not ſee death; ſhall he deliver his ſoul' (that is his life) 'from the hand' (that is) 'from the power of the grave.'
III. That ſometimes a Chriſtian may wiſh to die ſolid ſaith of this truth, that once he canst die, this the Pſalmiſt wan unto, as it is alſo clear in that word (who) 'Who is he that liveth, and ſhall not ſee death?'
IV. That the certainty of this, that once we ſhall die, ſhould be ſtill kept in our mind; therefore, that note of attention, Selah, is put to it. As if he had ſaid, take heed, that there is none living that ſhall not die.
V. That howbeit ſome perſons put the evil day far away, as if they were not to ſee death; yet, is the day coming when they ſhall ſee death, and death ſhall take them by the hand.
VI. We ſhall take notice of this from the context, that the Chriſtian, who is much in minding the brevity of his life, will believe the certainty of his death: the Pſalmiſt was ſpeaking of the ſhortneſs of his life in the preceding verſe, and, in this verſe, he ſpeaketh of the certainty of death. ​Now, as for the firſt of theſe things obſerved, viz That it is certain and moſt ſure, that we ſhall all once die. I hope there are none of you here who will decry, altho' I confeſs ſome few of you believe, what was ſaid by the woman of Tekoah, z 2 Samuel xiv. 14. 'We muſt all die, and be like water ſpilt upon the ground, that cannot be gathered up again. God doth not except the perſon of any.' And Job xxx. 23. 'I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the houſe appointed for all living.' And it is very clear, Eccleſ. viii. 8. 'There is no man that hath power over the ſpirit to retain the ſpirit ; neither hath he power in the day of death; and there is no diſcharge in that war, neither ſhall wickedneſs deliver thoſe who are given to it.' It is clear, Heb. ix. 27. 'It is appointed unto men once to die.' So that it is most clear that we muſt die. I remember of one Philip, king of Macedonia, who had one ſubſtituted for this very end, to cry at his chamber door every morning. Memento mori, memento mori, memento mori, Remember thou art to die. And, it is reported to have been the practice of the nobles of Greece, and in the day wherein their emperor was crowned, that they preſented a marble-ſtone unto him, and he was enquired after what faſhion he would have his tomb-ſtone made? Which practice ſpeaks forth this unto us, that altho' theſe were moſt deſtitute of the light of the ſcripture, they were very mindful of death. Believe me, death may ſurpriſe us before we be aware : for, it is moſt certain, that we muſt die ; but, there is nothing more uncertain than the way how, and the time when we ſhall die.
Death will ſurpriſe ſome as it did Abel in the open field, Geneſis iv. 8. Death will ſurpriſe ſome, as it did Eglon in his parlour, Judges iii. 21. And, death will ſurpriſe ſome, as it did Saul and Jonathan in the fight, I Samuel xxxi.
Now, in ſpeaking to this point, I ſhall, Firſt, Speak a little to theſe advantages which attend thoſe that live within continual ſight of death. Secondly, I ſhall give you ſome conſiderations to preſs you to ​prepare for death. Thirdly, I ſhall give you ſome directions to help you to prepare for death. And then we ſhall proceed unto the ſecond point of doctrine, which we obſerved from the text, and I ſhall ſpeak a few things from it unto you, and ſo come to a cloſe for this time.
Firſt then, We conceive there are theſe ſeven advantages which attend thoſe who live within the continual fight of this truth, that they muſt die.
Firſt. The faith of approaching death, will make a ſoul exceeding diligent in duty: this was our bleſſed Lord's divinity, John ix. 4. 'I must work the work of him that ſent me, while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work,' that is, death is approaching, therefore I muſt work. It is clear also, z Peter i. 12. compared with verse 14. In the .iz. verſe Peter is exceeding diligent in his duty, and the ground of his diligence is in the 14 verſe, 'Knowing, that ſhortly I muſt put off this my tabernacle,' &c. Yet it is even the Epicure's argument, 'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die.' And, should not the Chriſtian much more cry out, 'Let me watch and pray, for tomorrow I may die. I ſay, if the Epicures did make uſe of this notion, to make them vigorous in the purſuit of their pleaſures, O how much more ſhould a Chriſtian improve it, for making him vigorous in the purſuit of his duty. Therefore I ſay unto you all, O be ye diligent, for your night is drawing near. 0 Chriſtians and expectants of heaven, are ye not afraid leſt ye be nighted before ye have walked the half of your journey ? For, if ye be nighted on your journey to heaven, before ye come to the end of your race, there is no retiring place whereunto ye may turn aſide to lodge. Therefore, 'O work, work, work, while it is to day;' for, behold death is approaching, and then ſhall we all be called to an account.
Second, The faith of approaching death, will make a Chriſtian exceeding active in duty, he will not only be diligent, but alſo exceeding ſerious, and zealous in the exerciſe of his duty; this is clear from that notable ​exhortation. Eccleſ. ix. 10. 'Whatſoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might:' and the reaſon is, 'for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wiſdom, in the grave, whither thou goeſt.’ Wherefore, O be active, while you are alive, for ye ſhall never work any more after ye are dead; and, if ye leave but one work undone, there is no doing of it after death. ‘There is no work’ (ſaith Solomon) ‘in the grave:' therefore. O be active.
Third. The faith of this truth, that we muſt all die, will help a Chriſtian to be exceeding mortified to the things of a preſent world. Oh! covetous men and women, would you ſhake hands with cold death but once every morning. I ſhould defy you to purſue the world ſo much aſ ye do. Paul was much in the meditation of his change, which made him, 2 Cor. iv. 13. to overlook theſe things that are temporary, ‘While we look not’ (ſaith he) ‘at the things which are ſeen, which are temporal, but at the things which are not ſeen, which are eternal:’ therefore, chapter v. 1, 2. 'Knowing, that if our earthly houſe of this tabernacle were diſſolved, we have a building of God, an houſe not made with hands, eternal in the heavens : therefore, in this we groan earneſtly, deſiring to be clothed upon with our houſe which is from heaven.’ What aileth you, Paul (might one have ſaid) may ye not take a look of the world ? No, ſaith he, ‘For I know, that if this earthly houſe of this tabernacle were diſſolved, I have a houſe with God, not made with hands, but eternal in the heavens:' that is, I know that ere long the pins of my tabernacle will be looſed, and it will fall down about my ears; therefore, I muſt look for another dwelling-houſe. And, I Cor. vi. 31. ‘The faſhion of this world paſſeth away.' Therefore, ſaith he, verſe 32. ‘I would have you without carefulneſs caring how to pleaſe the Lord.' And, Philippians iv. 5. ‘Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.' As if he had ſaid, death is approaching, and at hand ; therefore, I intreat you to he ſober. But I think many of ​us will be found like Saul, hid among the ſtuff; that is, we will be lying amongst the midst of the pleaſures of this paſſing world. But I ſay unto thee, who art ſuch an one, that death will break the ſtrings of thy harp, thy muſic will quickly ceaſe. O but death will make thee to have a low eſteem of the world. O bleſſed is the perſon who hath theſe thoughts of the world all along in his way, which he ſhall have of it at death ! have not the moſt curſed wretches been forced to cry out. Oh! I would give ten thouſand worlds for Chriſt ? Have not ſome perſons (who have had the moon upon their head, and that have made their belly their god) been forced to cry out at death, O curſed perſon that I am, that ever I made the world my God ? Alas ! that I contented myſelf with the world. Therefore, I ſay unto thee, who art ſuch as one, O ſtay thy purſuit after the world, for death is approaching, that will cauſe all thy worldly comforts to cvaniſh.
Fourth. When a Chriſtian believeth this truth, that he muſt die, it will be an exceeding great reſtraint to keep him from ſinning, as is clear, Job xxxi. 13. compared with verſe 14. where Job reckoning over many good deeds done by himſelf, ſaith, ‘ What then ſhall I do when God riſeth up ? and when he viſiteth, what ſhall I anſwer him ? ’ As if he had ſaid, ſirs, miſtake me not, I am not boaſting much of myſelf, for I could not have done otherwiſe, elſe what ſhould I do when God riſeth up ? how could I anſwer to God if I had done otherwiſe, I think it were a notable practiſe of each of you, to ſay, ‘ O temptation, what will I anſwer to God, when he riſeth up to reprove me, if ſhould yield unto thee ?’ likewiſe, Eccleſ. xi. 9. where Solomon, diſſuading young men to purſue after their vanity, bringeth this as a reaſon, ‘know ye, that for all theſe things God will bring you into judgement.' 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 entreat you to answer ​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 ​death will not be requeſted to ſpare a little when he cometh. And therefore I ſay unto you all, 'ſet your houſe in order, for ye ſhall furely die.' Old men and women, ſet your houſe in order, for tomorrow ye may die, and be cut off in the flower of your age. Think not that there be many who can ſell time : for, I ſay, ye ſhall never get time ſold unto you. Alas! I fear that the moſt part of perſons that die now, death findeth them at unawares: for indeed the perſons that die amongſt us, when we come to viſit them we may give you a ſad account of them, for we think they are comprehended under theſe four ſorts.
1. When we go to viſit ſome perſons on their death-beds, they are like unto Nabal, 'their heart is dying and ſinking' (like unto a ſtone) 'within them,' they are no more affected with death, than if it were a fancy : alas ! for the great ſtupidity that hath overtaken many; therefore, I intreat you delay not your repentance till death, leſt the Lord take away your wit, ſo that ye cannot repent for your ſenſeleſſneſs and ſtupid frame of ſpirit.
2. A ſecond ſort we find in a preſumptuous frame ſaying, They have had a good hope all their days, and they will not quit it now; they will go down to their grave with their hope in their right hand, or rather, they will go down to the grave, 'with a lie in their right hand;' they live in a preſumptuous frame and they die in the ſame deluſion. For, when we tell them, by all probability they are going down to hell, they anſwer, God forbid, I was all my time a very honeſt man or woman : but I love not that confeſſion, for there are many ſuch honeſt men and women in hell this day.
3. The third ſort we find having ſome convictions that they have been playing the fool all their days: but we can get them no further: I ſhall only ſay to ſuch, to go down to the grave with convictions in their breaſts, not making use of Chriſt, is to go down to hell with a candle in their hand, to let them ſee the way: and truly the greateſt part that die, die in that manner. ​4. There are ſome whom we find in a ſelf-righteous frame, reſting upon the covenant, of works, and their own merits, and truſting by theſe to go to heaven; yet neglecting the offer of Chriſt's righteouſneſs. But alas ! we find not one of a thouſand of this frame. 'I deſire to be diſſolved and to be with Christ, which is beſt of all.' And ſcarce do we find any in ſuch a frame, 'O wretched man that I am, who ſhall deliver me from the body of this death!' therefore I ſay this unto you all who are here, O! will ye mind death, before it take hold on you? Oh! mind your work now; for ye will find that death will be work enough for itself, though ye leave no work till then.
The Eighth advantage that attendeth the Chriſtian in believing this truth, that once he muſt die, is this, death will not be ſo terrible to him as it is unto many when it cometh. What (think ye) maketh death a king of terrors? What maketh many to ſhake as the leaf of a tree, when they are ſummoned to appear before God's tribunal? It is even becauſe of this, they have not been thinking on death before it came, ſo as to prepare for it. And I fear many in this place may be afraid for death, and that when it cometh to them, they will fay unto death, as Ahab ſaid to Elijah, 'Haſt thou found me, O mine enemy ?' Surely death will take you, and bring you to the judgement-ſeat of Chriſt; therefore ſtudy by all means to think often upon it, and make ready for it; believe me, death is a very big word, for it will once make yon ſtand with horror in your ſouls, if your peace be not made up with God: I know not a more dreadful diſpenſation than death and a guilty conſcience meeting together.
The Second thing that I ſhall ſpeak unto from this firſt obſervation, (viz. This is a moſt certain and infallible truth, that all perſons ſhall once fee death) ſhall be to give you ſome conſiderations for preſſing you to prepare for death.
The Firſt conſideration is this, 'to die well, and in the Lord,' is a moſt difficult work; therefore I entreat you to prepare for death, It is a difficult work to communicate aright, it is a difficult work to pray aright ​and it is a difficult work to confer aright; I muſt tell you, it is a more difficult work to die aright, than any of theſe. It is true, it is more difficult to communicate aright, then to pray aright, yet it is much more difficult to die aright, than to communicate aright, for it is a more difficult work to die in the Lord. Death will put the most accurate Chriſtian that is here to a wonderful ſearch, and therefore I will tell you nine things that death will try in thee; 1. Death will try both the reality and ſtrength of thy faith. It may be eaſy for thee to keep up faith under many difficulties, but death will put thy faith to the greateſt ſtreſs that ever it did meet with. Yea, know this, that the faith of the ſtrongeſt believer may get (and ordinarily doth get) a ſet at death, the like whereof it never got before; therefore prepare for death. 2. Death will try thy love to God: ſome perſons pretend much love to him, but death will propoſe this queſtion to ſuch a perſon, 'Loveſt thou him more than theſe? Loveſt thou him more than thy wife, more than thy houſe, more than thy friends?' 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 the 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 death bring them not down to twenty: I have known ſome, who thought they have 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 theſe duties wherein thou hadſt moſt ſatisfaction, as thy communicating aright in ſuch a place, thou hopeſt that is ſure; thy reading the ſcripture at ſuch a time aright, thou hopeſt that is ​ſure; thou prayedſt at ſuch a time aright, and hopeſt that is ſure; thou meditatedſt in ſuch a place aright and hopeſt that is ſure: but (believe me) death may make thee change thy thoughts ; for there are ſome perſons who have communicated, and prayed, &c. as right as any in this generation, who (for all that) will not find ſix duties wherein they can find ſatisfaction at death; therefore, our need is great to prepare for it. 6. Death will exceedingly try thy ſincerity when it cometh: an hypocrite may go all along his whole way undiſcovered, yet death may bring him to light, and make it appear what man he is. 7. Death will diſcover unto thee many hid and ſecret ſins of which thou never hadſt a thought before, yea, albeit thou thoughteſt theſe had been forgotten, death will let thee ſee them ſtanding between thee an the light of his countenance. 8. Death will accurately try thy mortification, ſome will think they have come a great length in mortification; but (believe me) death will try it, and put it to the touch-stone. 9. Death will try thy hope, whether it be real or not. I ſhall only ſay this, that all the other graces muſt low the fall to faith, and ſo it is, faith muſt carry us through, being the laſt triumphing grace, which muſt fit the field for us, when all the other graces will faint and ly by. It is faith that muſt enter us fairly within the borders of eternity; it is faith muſt gain-ſtand all the temptations of death, yea. all the other graces muſt (as it were) ſtand by, and ſee faith ſtrike the laſt ſtroke in the war.
The Second conſideration to preſs you to mind death, is this, that ye are to die but once, and the wrong doing of which, can never be helped. If ye pray not aright, ye may get that mended, and, if we meditate not aright, ye may get that mended, and, if ye communicate not aright, ye may get that mended: but alas! if ye die not aright, there is no mending of that; therefore, O prepare for death, that ye may die well, ſeeing you are to die but once.
The Third conſideration to preſs you to mind death, is this, that they are pronounced bleſſed who die in the Lord, Rev. xiv. 13. 'Bleſſed are the dead which die ​in the Lord.' O let that provoke you to prepare for death, that ſo ye may die in the Lord, that is the only way to make you eternally happy, I confeſs it is a queſtion difficult to determine, whether it be more difficult to die well or to live well? I ſhall not anſwer it, but rather deſire you to ſtudy both.
The fourth conſideration to preſs you to prepare for death, is this, viz. That tho' thou put all thy works by thy hand before death, yet ſhalt thou find that death ſhall have work enough for itſelf, yea, as much as thou ſhalt get done. It will then be much for thee to win to patience, it will be much for thee to win to the fight of thy juſtification ; and it will then be much more for thee to win to aſſurance. O! then is it not needful for thee to put all thy work by hand before thy latter end come; Wherefore, I may ſay to you as Moſes ſaid in his ſong, Deut. xxxii. 29. 'O that they were wiſe, that they underſtood this, that they would conſider their latter end !' O that ye had this piece of divine wiſdom ! pray yon conſider that ſad word, Lam. 1. 9. 'She remembereth not her laſt end;' and what of it? 'therefore ſhe came down wonderfully.' So will the down coming of many in this generation be wonderful, who conſider not their laſt end.
The fifth conſideration for preſſing you to prepare for death, is this, viz. 'That their labour ſhall end, but their work shall not be forgotten, as is clear from that forecited place. Rev. xiv. 13. 'They reſt from their labours, and their works do follow them;' and is not that a glorious advantage?
The Sixth conſideration to preſs you to prepare for death, is this, viz. That death may come upon you ere ye be aware ; ye know not but death may ſurpriſe you this night before ye go home to your houſes; and therefore let that preſs you to ſtudy a constant preparation for death.
The Seventh conſideration to preſs you to prepare for death, is this, viz. 'That as death leaveth you, ſo will judgement find you;' If death ſhall leave you ſtrangers to Chriſt, ye ſhall appear before him ſtrangers to him; therefore, I intreat you all to prepare for it. I think ​that noble practice of Paul exceeding worthy of imitation, 1 Cor. xv. 31. 'I die daily.' Which I think doth comprehend theſe three things: 1. That Paul had death always in his ſight. 2. It comprehendeth this, that he endeavoured to keep ſuch a frame as every moment he ſhould be ready to die; ſo that whenſoever death ſhould put the ſummons into his hand, he would be content to anſwer. 3. It comprehendeth this, that he laboureth to lay aſide and remove all things out of the way, that might detain him from laying down his tabernacle. Oh! ſaith Paul, I labour to clear myſelf of all hinderances, as that whenever I ſhall be ſummoned to remove out of time, I may willingly lay down my life. Therefore, I would aſk you this queſtion, viz. When ſhall ye make your laſt teſtament? I think it were ſuitable for us to be renewing our letter will every day; for, in ſo doing, Paul made an excellent teſtament, the better of which none that died ſince have made, 2 Tim. iv. 7-8. 'I have fought a good fight, I have finiſhed my courſe, I have kept the faith ;' theſe are very ſweet articles; and then he addeth, 'henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteouſneſs, which the Lord, the righteous judge, ſhall give me at that day.' And think ye not that very ſweet, that he would leave ſomething to you in Chriſt's name? viz. 'And that not for me only, but for all them that wait for his appearance.' Now I come to the third thing propoſed, viz. To give ſome directions for helping you to prepare for death.
Direction 1. I entreat you be much in preparation for death every day, for it is even a preparation for heaven, to be taking a ſight of your grave and latter end every day.
Direction 2. I entreat you be much in those duties: Firſt, In ſelf- examination; that your counts may be clear with God, for many a ragged count ſhall we have when death and we shall meet. Secondly, Be much in the exerciſe of repentance, that ye may have every fault and corruption in you mourned for, before death and you meet. Thirdly, Be much in the exerciſe of faith, making your calling and election ​ſure. Fourthly, Be much in the exerciſe of mortification; and that will help you to keep a looſe grip, not only of the world, but alſo of your idols: and if ye be much in theſe, ye ſhall undoubtedly be prepared for death.
Direction 3. Be much in minding the excellent things of heaven. A Chriſtian that would be prepared for death, ſhould have all his thoughts and converſation there. I think it would be an excellent help (in preparation for death) to take a ſight of the crown every day.
Direction 4. 'Labour always to keep a good conſcience, void of offence towards God and man:' I ſay, labour to keep thy conſcience clear, and that ſhall be a continual feaſt unto thee.
Direction 5. Slight not thy known duty, do not crucify any conviction, neither break any reſolution, put theſe three together, and that will exceedingly help you to prepare for death: I ſay, See that ye adventure not to ſlight any known duty. See that ye adventure not to crucify any conviction, and fee that ye adventure not to break your reſolutions.
Now we come to the ſecond thing, which we obſerved from the words, viz. That this truth, that we ſhall once ſee death, is not much believed by any of us. And to make this appear, we ſhall only give ſome evidences unto you, to prove that we are nor as yet prepared for death
1. Evidence. Doth not the unſpeakable stupidity that hath overtaken many, ſay, That we are, not a people prepared for death? Alas! many of us would find ourſelves in a moſt ſtupid temper, if we were preſently to die; for many of us are no more moved with the threatenings and terrors of God, than if they did not belong unto us; and this faith, we are not as yet prepared for death.
2. Evidence. That we are not prepared for death, is our purſuing ſo much after the vain and paſſing delights of a preſent world. Many of us riſe up 'early, and go late to bed at night, and eat the bread of ſorrow all the day, and load ourſelves, with the thick clay;' ​and I am ſure that ſuch a perſon (being night and day taken up with the world) is not prepared for death. I remember a word recorded of ſuch a wretched one, who was exceedingly rich, ſaid he, 'I would give ſo many thouſands of money, if death would give me but one day;' yet he got it not. And, O how ſuddenly will death ſurpriſe many of us, as it did him.
3. Evidence. Which ſpeaketh forth our unpreparedneſs for death, is our impatience under every petty croſs that we meet with; for the prepared Chriſtian will be patient under very ſharp croſſes.
4. Evidence. That we are not prepared, is our not endeavouring to live within ſight of our intereſt in God. Oh! if we were prepared for death, durſt we live in ſo much uncertainty of our intereſt in God, and of our aſſurance of heaven.
5. Evidence. Some of us can let our idols ly in our breaſts ſix years without repentance, and will never ſtudy to mortify them, nor to repent for them; and ſurely ſuch are not prepared for death.
Now I intreat you ſeriouſly to mind what hath been ſaid, and that you may the more seriouſly think upon it, I will tell yon ſome material challenges that your conſcience at death will preſent unto you, therefore take heed, that you may know how ye will anſwer.
1. Challenge, Is the ſlighting of much precious time, and ſinning away the precious offers of grace. Oh! what will ye anſwer to that challenge when death ſhall preſent it unto you? Death will ſay (or rather thine own conſcience at death) what ailed thee to ſin ſo many hours without either praying, reading, or meditating ? Now, have ye anything to anſwer when death ſhall preſent this challenge to you? I intreat you premeditate what you will ſay: I intreat you prevent death, by preſenting it firſt ſeriouſly to yourſelves.
2. Challenge, That death will preſent unto you, will be for the killing of many precious convictions which ye have had. What will each of you anſwer at death, when your conſcience propoſeth this challenge unto you?Thou metteſt with ſuch a challenge ​at ſuch a time, and went home and crucified it: When at another time, thou met with another challenge, and went home and crucified it: theſe challenges will be laid to thy door, therefore think on them.
3. Challenge, Death will challenge you for a formal hypocritical way of going about duties: I ſay, your conſcience will then tell you, that you went to ſuch a communion with a ſelfiſh end: And, at another time, ye prayed hypocritically and formally, And, what will ye have to anſwer when you meet with theſe challenges? I confeſs, I know not what ye can anſwer to theſe, but I charge you, be thinking what ye will anſwer, for it may be that theſe convictions ſhall ly on your conſciences, that even this day ye have heard two ſearching ſermons, and did, meet with ſome convictions, but made no good uſe of them; yea, and it may be ye did ſleep all the time. Oh! what will ye anſwer, when it ſhall be ſaid to you, ye went to ſuch a ſermon, and ſlept all the time? And ye went to ſuch a communion, with no other end before your eyes, but to be ſeen of men? I intreat you conſider preſently what you will anſwer to theſe.
4. Challenge, Will be for your breaking of many precious reſolutions. It will be ſaid to ſome of you, that at the communion in this place, ye took on vows, and did break them: I am ſure ye cannot queſtion the juſtice of the challenge, therefore ſee what ye will anſwer.
5. Challenge, Ye ſlighted many precious offers of the goſpel. O men and women in this city, what will ye anſwer to this? I was often exhorted to take Chriſt, and yet would never take him. What will conſcience ſay to that, when death ſhall table it before you? I tell you what ye muſt then anſwer; O curſed I, that ever I refuſed Chriſt in the gospel. And ye ſhall then be confounded becauſe this is your ſin; believe me, there was never an offer of this everlaſting goſpel, and of Chriſt in {missing text}, made unto you, that ſhall not at death (before or after) be brought to your remembrance. And Oh! how ſad ​and doleful will it be to you, when Chriſt ſhall open the book wherein all your ſins are written, and begin with the ſin of ſlighting the great ſalvation? Thus I invited you, when ye were twelve years old, but you would not come. What will ye anſwer to this? Have ye any thing to ſay? Or, muſt you not ſtand ſpeechleſs before your Judge, when he ſhall put home this challenge unto you? Therefore, think ſeriouſly upon it, how you will anſwer it.
6. Challenge, Will be for your ſinning oftentimes againſt light; and, O! How painful and ſad a challenge will that be at the day of death! when it will be ſaid, thou ſinnedſt with a witneſs in thy boſom that thou waſt doing wrong! Thy conſcience will ſay, oftentimes did I tell thee, this is ſinful, yet wouldſt thou not abſtain from it: and what will ye anſwer to this?
7. Challenge, Oftentimes ye ſinned upon very ſmall temptations, and what will ye anſwer to that? muſt ye not then confeſs it, and ſay, O! how often have I deſerted Chriſt, and embraced my idols upon a ſmall temptation! Now I entreat you, be thinking what ye will anſwer to theſe ſeven moſt material challenges, which certainly ſhall be preſented to you at death. I aſſure you, ye muſt either anſwer all your challenges in Chriſt, elſe ye will not get them well anſwered. Therefore, I would exhort you to embrace the goſpel, and Chriſt in it; and ſo let death propoſe never ſo many challenges unto you, ye may anſwer them all as David did, viz. 'God hath made with me an everlaſting covenant,' (and that will anſwer all your challenges) 'though my houſe be not ſo with God, yet I have the everlaſting covenant to build my ſalvation upon.'
Now to preſs you to make uſe of Chriſt, I ſhall give you theſe four conſiderations
Conſideration 1. If ye embrace not Chriſt now, death will be very unpleaſant unto you. O what elſe can comfort thee, when going through the region of the ſhadow of death, but this, 'I am Chriſt's, I am Chriſt's.' Is there any other thing can comfort ​thee in that day, but only this, I am Chriſt's, and he is mine!'
Conſideration 2. If ye embrace not Chriſt, and the great ſalvation now, it will be an hundred to one if ever ye get time or liberty to do it, when ye are going to die. For, although many delay their cloſing with Chriſt till death; yet ſcarcely one of a hundred getteth favour to lay hold on Chriſt at death; therefore, think on it, for ye will not get your mind ſo compoſed at death as you imagine, nor all things done as ye ſuppoſe: Therefore, now embrace the great ſalvation?
Conſideration 3. If ye delay your cloſing with Chriſt till death ſeize upon you, ye hall never be able to make up that loſs : For, will the dead riſe and praiſe God? Or, ſhall any come from the land of forgetfulneſs, to take hold upon a crucified Saviour? Therefore, O! will you take him for your ſalvation !
Conſideration 4. If ye will take Chriſt now, he ſhall be your guide, 'when you are going through the valley and ſhadow of Death.' And, O how bleſſed is the perſon that can ſing that ſong, Pſalm xlviii. 14. 'This is my God, he will be my guide even unto death.' If ye can ſing that pleaſant ſong, O how may ye be comforted, when your eye ſtrings ſhall begin to break? O how happy is he who can ſay, 'though I walk through the ſhadow of death, yet will I fear no ill?' for I know the Lord is with me? Now this is the acceptable day, and the year of ſalvation; therefore, do not delay, but embrace Chriſt, lest death ſurpriſe you ere you be aware, and ſo that acceptable day be loſt. But unto theſe who think they may delay till death, I ſay, Surely there are many damned atheiſts in hell that (ſometimes) did think as ye think: I will make all wrongs right when death and I ſhall meet: I hope that three days repentance will ſatisfy for all my wrong. For I am ſure. There are many in hell, who did never get three days to think upon their former ways; therefore, O come, come, and embrace Chriſt preſently. Now, are ye ​all perſuaded of this truth, that ye ſhall once ſee death? Then ſtudy a tender walking for (believe me) here are many of us who ſhall go through death with many bruiſed bones, becauſe of untender walking before God. We know it is not the multitude of words can perſuade you to embrace Chriſt, for many of you never minded the thing. But (believe me) death will preach theſe things to you in a more terrible manner than we can do at this time. Therefore, I ſay to each of you, 'O prepare to meet thy God;' for, if death find you in an eſtranged ſtate from God, I defy the angels in heaven to free you out of that ſtate; and the day is coming, wherein thou ſhalt cry out, О ſlighter of the great ſalvation that I am, I would give ten thouſand worlds for one ſermon again, that I once heard, wherein Chriſt was freely offered to me: when thou ſhalt be tormented without hope of remedy: Therefore, 'while it is to day, harden ant your hearts,' for your late wiſhes ſhall not be granted (when ye are gone) if ye make not haſte. O therefore, haſte, haſte in time, and come out from the land of your captivity, and from the houſe of your bondage, and take Christ for your Redeemer, the guide of your youth and old age. Now, unto him, who can lead you through all the ſteps betwixt you and heaven, be eternal praiſe. Amen.
F I N I S
G L A S G O W,
Printed by J. & M. Robertſon, Saltmarket, 1805.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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