society of the celestial spirits, the blissful presence of the glorified humanity of thy dear Saviour: a life wherein thou hast ever consort with the glorious company of the apostles, the goodly fellowship of the patriarchs and prophets, the noble army of martyrs and confessors, the celestial synod of all the holy fathers and illuminated doctors of the church; shortly, the blessed assembly of all the faithful professors of the name of the Lord Jesus, that, having finished their course, sit now shining in their promised glory. See there that yet unapproachable light that divine magnificence of the heavenly King; see that resplendent crown of righteousness which decks the heads of every of those saints, and is ready to be set on thine, when thou hast happily overcome those spiritual powers wherewith thou art still conflicting; see the joyful triumphs of these exulting victors; see the measures of their glory different, yet all full, and the least unmeasureable; lastly, see all this happiness not limited to thousands, nor yet millions of years, but commeasured by no less than eternity. And now, my soul, if thou have received the infallible engagement of thy God, in that, having believed thou art sealed with that Holy Spirit of proImise which is the earnest of thine inheritance until the full redemption of thy purchased possession ;' if, through his infinite mercy, thou be now upon the entering into that blessed place and state of immortality; forbear, if thou canst, to be raised above thyself with the joy of the Holy Ghost, to be enlarged towards thy God with a joy unspeakable and glorious. See, if thou canst now breathe 21 Thes. i. 6. 1 Eph. i. 13, 14. forth any thing but praises to thy God, and songs of rejoicing bearing evermore a part in that heavenly ditty of the angels, Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might be unto our God, for ever and ever. '1 SECTION XIII. AND now what remains, O my soul, but that thou do humbly and faithfully wait at the gate of heaven for a happy entrance, at the good pleasure of thy God, into those everlasting mansions? I confess, should thy merits be weighed in the balance of a rigorous justice, another place, which I cannot mention without horror, were more fit for thee, more due to thee; for, alas, thou hast been above measure sinful, and thou knowest the wages of sin-death. But the God of my mercy hath prevented' thee with infinite compassion; and, in the multitude of his tender mercies, hath not only 'delivered' thee from the nethermost hell,'' but hath also vouchsafed to translate' thee to the kingdom of his dear Son.' In him thou hast boldness of access to the throne of grace; thou, who in thyself art worthy to be a child of wrath, art in him adopted to be a co-heir of glory, and hast the livery and sezin' given thee beforehand of a blessed possession, the full estating wherein I do in all humble awfulness attend. All the few days therefore of my appointed time 1 Rev. vii. 12. 3 Psalm, lxxxvi. 13. 2 Psalm, lix. 10. 4 Col. i. 13. 5 Delivery and possession.-ED. will I wait at the threshold of grace, until my changing come, with a trembling joy, with a longing patience, with a comfortable hope. Only, Lord, I know there is something to be done ere I can enter: I must die ere I can be capable to enjoy that blessed life with thee; one stroke of thine angel must be endured in my passage into thy paradise. And, lo, here I am before thee, ready to embrace the condition; even when thou pleasest let me bleed once to be ever happy. Thou hast, after a weary walk through this roaring wilderness, vouchsafed to call up thy servant to mount Nebo; and from thence aloof off to show me the land of promise, a land that flows with milk and honey. Do thou but say, "Die thou on this hill," with this prospect in mine eye; and do thou mercifully take my soul from me, who gavest it to me, and dispose of it where thou wilt in that region of immortality. Amen, amen. Come Lord Jesu, come quickly. Behold, Lord, I have by thy providence dwelt in this house of clay more than double the time wherein thou wert pleased to sojourn upon earth, yet I may well say, with thy holy patriarch, Few and evil have been the days of the years of my pilgrimage; few in number, evil in condition. Few in themselves, but none at all to thee, with whom a thousand years are but as one day.' But had they been double to the age of Methuselah, could they have been so much as one minute to eternity? Yea, what were they to me, now that they are past, but as a tale that is told and forgotten? 1 Gen. xlvii. 9. Neither yet have they been so few as evil. Lord, what troubles and sorrows hast thou let me see, both my own and others! what vicissitudes of sickness and health! what ebbs and flows of condition! how many successions and changes of princes, both at home and abroad! what turnings of times! what alteration of governments! what shiftings and downfalls of favourites! what ruins and desolations of kingdoms! what sacking of cities! what havocs of war! what frenzies of rebellions! what underminings of treachery! what cruelties and barbarisms in revenges! what anguish in the oppressed and tormented! what agonies in temptations! what pangs in dying! These I have seen, and in these I have suffered. And now, Lord, how willing I am to change time for eternity, the evils of earth for the joys of heaven, misery for happiness, a dying life for immortality! Even so, Lord Jesu; take what thou hast bought, receive my soul to thy mercy, and crown it with thy glory. Amen, amen, amen. THE END. J. Rickerby, Printer, Sherbourn Lane. |
