35? THE WATCHFUL CHRISTIAN DYING IN PEACE. [DISC. 7I> parables in this chapter : But to enter into a detail of all the particular metaphors, which relate -to this one, whence I have borrowed my text, would be too tedious here, and would spend too much of the present hour. Without any longer preface, therefore, I shall apply myself to improve the words, to our spiritual profit, in the following method : I. I shall enquire, what is meant by the coming of Christ, in the text, and how it may be properlyapplied to our present purpose, or the hour of death. II. I shall consider, what is implied in the watchful- ness, which our Saviour recommends. III. I propose some considerations, which will dis- cover the blessedness of the watchful soul in a dying hour. IV. I-shall add some practical remarks. First, Let us enquire, what is meant by the coming of Christ in my text. The coming of Christ, in some of these parables, may have reference to his speedyappear- ance, in the course of his providence, in that very age, to judge and punish the Jewish nation, to destroy their 'city, and' put an end to their church and state, for their many heinous iniquities, and the most provoking crime ofrejecting and crucifying the Son of God. But these words, in their supreme and most important sense, al- ways point to the glorious appearance of Christ at the last day, when he shall come to shut up all the scenes of this frail life, to put an end to the present world, to finish all the worksof this mortal state, and to decide and de- termine the eternal states of all mankind by the general judgment. Yet Christ comes to each of us, in the hour of death, also, for "he hath the keys ofdeath and ofhell," or of the invisible world, Rev. i. 18. It is he, who appoints the verymoment, when the soul shall be dismissed from this flesh, he opens the doors of the grave for' the dying body, and he is Lord of the world of spirits, and lets in new inhabitants, every minute, into' those unseen regi- ons of immortal sorrow, or immortal peace. And, as Christ may be, said to come to us by the message or Summons of death, so the many solemn writings and commands of watchfulness, which attend these parables of Christ, have been usually, and with good reason, ap- 5
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=