Chap. VIII. Of DEATH. To conclude this Argument, let us ferioully ~onfider the Revelation God has afforded ot himfelfin the G~~pel. He is a Father and aJudg_;, Jull:icc and Holinefs as well as Jl:1ercy are elfential to JiiS Nature, that our Affechons may be accordmgly .moved towards h1m. If ye cAll on the Father,_ who_without rejfe/J of Perfons Ja1geth a<Cording to every . Man's work, paji the trme of your foJourmng here znfear. Prefumpnon anil Dcfpm arc very ddhonourablc ro God, and pernicious t~ the Soul: the one dell:roys the Fear, the other ~he f:ove of God. But Hope contemper'd w1th Fear, has an excellent Influence 1~ theChnl1:1~n Ltfe. As the Ballall: and the Wind are both neceifary, that the Shtp may la1l fafcly; wtthout the Wmil rhe Ship can make no way; and without Ballall: 'tis in danger of ovetfctting by every Gulf. Thus Hope and Fear are neceffary to bring us fafcly to "f:Ieavcn. Fear withouc Hope chills, and ll:upifies the vigour and alacnty of the Soul, that tt cannot come to God : and Hope without Fear, ~akes it vain and carelefs of Its Duty, and hable,t_o be overthrown by every pleafing Temptation. Brtefly, let us nghtly_ underll:and the Tenor of the Evan~ gelical Promifes of Pardon and Grace; _they are cond111onal, and appltcableonly to pemtent Believers. And unfeigned Faith purifies the Heart , works by Love, and is the living Principle of univerfal Obedience. And Repentance unto Life is _productive of al! good Fruits in thetr Seafon. W1thout Fatth and Repentance we can netther be JUll::fied m th1s World nor glorified in the next. Be not deceived, God is not mocked: as a Man fows, fo fball he ~eap. He thatJows to the Flefb,Jb.U of the Flefb reap Corruption: he that Jaws to the Spirit, {ball of the Spirit reap Life everlajling. CHAP. Vlll. 1/Je prefervi>rg our fel_~e' from pre(umptu01u Sim, a means to render 'Deat/, comforta• ble. 1he zsalou.dijclwge of the Duttes of our Ca!lmgs, a)td mdeaVours to glorify God 1 and do good according_ to our Abilities, tvill fweetw the thoughts of 'Death. An indifference of Mmd and dfjeElwm to EartMy thmgs nuku 'Death le(s fearful. Freqtwtt conVerfe tvith God in Holy 'Duties, makes 'Death dejirabte. AJledfajl beliefof futt<re Happine(s make! 'Deat/, dejirab/e. _ An Exntation to tTJe Saints to die with Cou~ rage and Chearfulnefs. 'Tu our 'Duty to dte with r]?_e(tgnation and IPith Patience, and earmjl dejires to be with CIJYijl. 'Tii Very btconwrg a Chriflian to die IPith JOY and T/Jank_{givilrg. 2 • THE careful preferving our felves from wilful prefumptuous Sins, is a happy means to render Death comfortable to us. Sms of 1gnorance and in6rmity of fudden furreption and furprize, the_bell: Men are not freed from in the prefent fiate: ~nd being the daily motive of our Grief, and ferious cil·cumfpeB:ion to prevent them are conlill:cnt with the regular Peace of Confcience, and the Friendfl1ip and Favou:- of God. ~~~c~:e~~ ~\~~ ~~e~~:P~~~ein ~h~~;~n~~n~f;6ci~c~%%~~<;~,11 1~;~c:~ ~~~c[:Jfi.~~u:h~ choice of thepetverfe Will againlt the inlightned Mind, whatever the matter or l<ind of them ?•• are direff Rebellion againll: God, a defpifin& of his Command, and provoke his pure Eyes, and make the afl"'a of Death fearful. The Spll'lt fea ls our Pardon and Title to Heaven as the Holy S~trlt; hiS Tel1:1mony, that we are the Chtldren of God, and Heirs 1re1~~ti~sn~'bJi~de~~j~~t~r~~~~'de~.~~'{[~:~~~), ~r~~~~~~o~~~,·ctl~o~,!~~~~ir;fn~ Spirit he ?ill:ingui!hes true Chrill:ians f~om the loll: World, appro~riates them toGod, confirms the:r ptefent Interell: m the Prom1fes of the Gofpel, and the:r future Hopes. Briefly Grace is the moll: fenfible effea and fign of God's fpecial Favour, the frutt of Elecrioni and the earnell: of Glory : and the Truth of Grace is moll: clearly and certainly made evident by the continual efficacy of it in the Converfation. The obfervatton of our Hearts _ tofupprefsunholy Affections, and of ourSenfes topreventthem, aconltantcourfe of Holinefs in our Lives (though many Frailties will cleave to the belt) is ufually rewarded with great Peace here. God has eltabli!h'd a connexion between our Obedience and his Comforts. Thofe that keep rhemfelves pure from the defilements of the World, have_ the white Stone promifed, the bnght Jewel ofaffurance of God's par~omnt;; and rewardmg Mercy. We read of Enoch, that he w•lk'dll!tth God, was a Star !hmmg m a corrupt Age; the tenour of his Life was holi, and he was crannaced to Heaven without feeing Death. Though ·tl,_is wa.s •(I extra• 443
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