21.4 TwentyReafons for denying Life. where there is no ftrangenefs ; This is not the time = or place of moft intimate acquaintance. If you would be acquainted, you should draw neerer andnot draw back. Its death that muft open you the door into that prefence where itrangenefs will be no more. And if it be the doubts of your intereft inChrift and life that makes you shrink and loth to die : Confider, that to refufe to die for Chrift,is the way above all to increafe thofe doubts ; but to give up your lives for him, or -cheerfully to furrender your fouls to him at his call, is the readieft fureft way in the world to prove you at prefent in a Rate of grace; betides that youwill be haftened into a 'late of glory, where you fhall be quickly and fully paft all doubts of your ftate of former gt ace.In aword,as all the fears andSorrows of this life will thenbe at end , fo with the rest will our fears of death.: And therefore death should be the more welcome, becaufe it is the end, as of all other troubles, fo of thefe difturbing fears. 14. Confider, alfo what a multitude have trod this bloody way before you. Almoft all that ever were born have died, and are now in the world that you are palling to. You are not the firft that entred at this narrow gate. The deareft Saints of God have died. IfAbraham, illofes,leAtta, David, Peter and Paul could not efcape theftroakof death, what are you that you fhouldmurmurto follow fuch and fo many that have gone before you ? You need not fear being folitary in heaven. There are millions and millions more of Saints, then there areon earth:Many that you knew;and millions more that will then be as dear to you as if you had known them. Is it not better be among innocent fouls,then a defiled guilty world? Is it not better be where no fin entereth, and never a Tuft or paffion comes,then to live as among Wild heaps, with furious tuareafonable sinners? Is it not better be whereLight is perfect, and all your doubts are fully refolved,then indarknefs and per- plexity, and among an ignorant blind generation, that are erkewies to thelight which you defire I Is it not better be where is nothingbut the perfect love of the Infinite God , in perfect Saints and bleffed Angels, then to live among perverfe ungodly
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=