DISCOURSE Ill. g4') God ; Gal. ii. 20. vi. 14. When he was ready to be offered up and the time of his departure was at hand, from the edge of the sword, and the borders of the grave, he could look back upon bis former life, and say, I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith, henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me; 2 Tim. iv. 7, 8, '5. " The unwatchful christian, at the hour of death, has the pain and anguish of reflecting, that he has omitted many duties to God and man, and these can never be performed now ;" that he has done scarce any services for Christ in the world, and those must be left for ever undone : There is no further work or device, no labours of zeal, no activity for God in the grave, whi- ther we are hastening; Ec. ix. 10. " Alas ! I have brought forth but little fruit to God ; and it is well if I be not cast away as an unprofitable servant. My talents have laid bound up in rust, or been but poorly employed whilst I have lain slumbering and in- active The records of my life, in the court of heaven, wilt shew but very little service for God amongst men : I have raised few monuments of praise to my Redeemer, and I can never raise them now. I shall have but few testimonies for my love and zeal to appear inn the great day of account, when the martyrs, and the confessors, and the lively christians shall be surrounded with the living ensigns of their victories over sin and the world, and their glorious services for their Redeemer. Wretch that I am ! that I have loved my Lord at so cold a rate, and lain slum- bering on .a bed, of ease, whilst 1 should have been fighting the battles of the Lord, and gaining daily honours for my Saviour t" 6. " As such sort of christians give but little glory to God in life, so they do him no honour in death ; they are no ornaments to religion while they continue here, and leave perhaps but little comfort with their friends when they go hence :" Doubtings and jealousies about their eternal welfare, mingle with our tears and sorrows for a dying friend ; these anxious fears, about the de- parted spirit, swell the tide of our grief high, and double the inward anguish. They are gone, alas ! from our world, but we know not whither they are gone, to heaven or to hell. A sad farewell to those whom we love ! A dismal parting- stroke and long heart -ache! And what honour can be expected to be done to God or his Son, what reputation or glory can he given to religion, and the gospel, by a drowsy christian, departing, as it were, under a spiritual lethargy ? He dies under a cloud, and casts a gloom upon the christian faith. St. Paul was a man of another spirit, a lively and active saint, full of vigour and zeal in his soul : It was the holy resolution and assurance of this blessed apostle, that Christ should be rnagräjiied in his body, whether by life or death;
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