-DISC. 1I.3 .THE wAT,C}uUL CHRISTIAN DYING IN PEACE. 359 blessed is the pure in heart, who bath watched against the pollutions of the world, for he ,shall see God, Mat. V. 8. It is certain, that when the soul departs from the body, "it returns to God, who gave it," Eccles. xii. 7. And probably to God, as a Judge too; Heb. ix. 9.7. " after death, judgment." There is some sort of determination of the state of each single person at death before the great and general judgment-day, because that day is äp- pointed rather for the public vindication of the equity of God, in his distribution of rewards and punishment9t and is particularly put into the hands of bur Lord Je- sus: Now, since the, separate soul returns to God who gave it, it is of vast importance, that we be then prepared to come before him. Some of us here would be ,mightily afraid of appear- ing before a prince, or a great and honourable person in an undress; but for our souls, in a naked state, or . in a garment of sinful pollution, to be surprized by the great and holy God, to be set on a sudden in his pre- sence, what terror is contained in this thought! Now the watchful christian has this blessedness, that he is washed, from his defilements, in the blood of the Lamb, " he is clothed with the robe of righteousness, and the garments of salvation," Is. lxi. 10. He is prepared to .appear before a God of infinite holiness without terror, for he is made like him, he bears his image, he appears as one of his children, and he is not afraid to see his Father. However .some commentators may confine, and impo- verish the senseof David, in the end of thexvii. Psalm, yet, I am persuaded, the Spirit of.God in him designed to express his faith and joy, either at the hour o£death, or in the morning of the resurrection, I shall behold thy face in righteousness, I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness:" When the Psalmist had de- scribed, what were the satisfactions of the men of this world in death, verse 14. viz. that they had filled their houses with children, and leave their substance, or riches to them, he then declares what was hissupport and hope in his dying hour, "As for me, saith he, I have other views : I am not afraid, Omy God, to appear before thee in the other world, for I shall see thy face, not as a 2, x4
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