362 THE SAINTS' REST [Chap. 10. would not themselves be so loath to change." 0 how are we ever able to repair the wrong which we do to God and souls by this scandal ? And what an honor to God, what a strengthening to believers, what a conviction to un- believers would it be, if Christians in this did answer their profession, and cheerfully welcome the news of rest ! -It also evidently shows, that we have spent much time to little purpose. Have we not had all our lifetime to pre- pare to die; so many years to make ready for one hour; and are we so unready and unwilling yet ? What have we done ? Why have we lived? Had we any greater matters to mind ? Would we have wished for more frequent warn- ings ? How oft hath death entered the habitations of our neighbors ! How oft hath it knocked at our own doors ! How many distempers have vexed our bodies, that we have been forced to receive the sentence of death ! And are we unready and unwilling after all this ? O careless, dead-hearted sinners! unworthy neglectors of God's warn- ings ! faithless betrayers of our own souls ! Consider, not to die is never to be happy. To escapa death is to miss of blessedness, except God should trans- _late us, as Enoch and Elijah, which he never did before or since. " If in this life only we have hope in Cbr4sT, we are of all men most miserable." If you would not die, and go to heaven, what would you have more than an epicure or a beast ? Why do we pray, and fast, and mourn ; why do we suffer the contempt of the world ; why are we Christians, and not pagans and infidels, if we do not desire a life to come ? Wouldst thou lose thy faith and labor, Christian ; all thy duties and sufferings, all the end of thy life, and all the blood of Christ, and be contented with the portion of a worldling or a brute ? Rather say, as one did on his death-bed, when he was asked whether he was willing to die or not, " Let him be loath to die, who is loath to be with Christ." Is God willing by death to glorify us, and are we unwilling to die, that we may be glorified ? Methinks, if a prince were willing to make you his heir, you would scarce be unwilling to accept it ; the refusing such a kindness would discover ingratitude and unworthiness. As God hath resolved against them, who make excuses when they should come to Christ, "None of those men, who were bidden, shall taste of my supper ;"
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