The Wilmingtonian., 1824-03-11

|syMEON'S DYING IN PEACE.-John 2, 90, 80.
Thi. peace, this tranquility, this admirable re
Ipose of believer, is composition ut several in
leredents, OF which is formed of various DISPOSE
ltons and the following are the principal of which,
lit is composed, and from which it is produced.-I
1.-The first is contempt Of the world, and renun-
ciation of all sublunary things as our portion. For
1.-The love Of the world fills the soul of those who
are unduly attached to it, with horrible anguish,
and dreadful dismay at the hour of dissolution III
exci,es bitter lamentations, furious contests, and
Undesirable agpnies because they feel them
selves torn from that on which they had previ
lously placed their affections and wholly engaged
their ,us,s. Shall quit my dear friends, they
each exclaim, in whose conversations, have so
|aereeably spent my life Shall l abandon my
'|desrIy beloved children, the sight of whom was
$50 gratifying to me, and whose amiable qualities
inspired me with such flattering hopes? Shall ]
lforsake my habitation, which have erected, and
lembe llished with so much care and exPence, and
In which am so commodiousy accommodated,
Isnrrounded with my valuable and magnifcen,
furniture Shall no longer behold my delight
HUI estate which has cost me so much trouble TO
bring it TO the state in which must now leave it?
IShall be deprived of my blessings and enjoy
Iments. which have procured me the respect Of
t,be world, and which have excited the envy of all
lwho have beheld me ! These are the reflections
(which agitate Christless, worldly man, upon the
kard Of tepth But .he trn- believer IN Jesus die
lin peace; for he is not attached to earth. Hi
mind is entirely turned towards heaven, afte
(which he constantly aspires; his affections ant
lhopes become sort of Mount Nebo, upon which
being elevated, he contcmplates the immorts
beauties and delights Of the Celestial Canaan ant
transported with the wonders he there surveys
Ihe advances thither with all his strength, an
hourly exclaims, with holy Impotence, (Psalr
I42, 81 "When shall I come and appear befor
lGod THE second disposition, whence this peac
Originates is faith. which enables the Christian
firmly to embrace the merits ofhis dear and love
lly Redeemer, and which assures him Of the Low
Iof his Heavenly Father-heijustly reviews his sin
he condemns thcm-he feels horror al thcr
land groaning with anguish, he cries with tn
iPsalmist (l30, 81 off thou Lord shouldest mar
jniuuites, 0 Lord who shall stand.' But he add
Ialso, "but there is forgiveness with thee" an
lembracing with one hand the infinite mercy {
lGod, who cries Grace. Grace" and with tn
lother, the perfect merits of his Son Jesus Chris
Iwho has said, abe of good courage, thy sins al
Jail forgiven thee" he exercises firm assuranc
lof the love Of God, and the peace Of God shed
broad in his beart. If faith contributes to furn's
he peace Of the dying believer; hope is not lei
lscrviceabe, and is one of the principal source
For genuine believer does not resemble TIL
miserable monarch lAdrian) who was ignorant
his destiny after death, and who, il that drcadt
uncertainty, said to his soul, "my soul, my con
)panon, dear inhabitant of my body, whittier
thou journeying. all pale, atlrghted, and detenc
lessi u He is not like that infdel Phiosoph
(Aristotle) to whom they attribute this excam
ltion, from which we may easily discover the IA
llacy ofhs pretended wisdom; 81 have lived
doubt die in uncertainty: Being of Being
have pity on me-" On the contrary, the beliey
has true assurance Of his eternal blessednes:
he rests upon the promises of his covenent Go
which are more firm than the pillars of heave
and the props of the earth and upon this il
moyeabe foundation, he boldly and triumphant
exclaims with holy David, As for me, shall b
- hold thy face in righteousness, shall be sslish
when awake with thy likeness" I.