90 THE WORLD TO COME. Phil. i. 20. Ile spent his life in the service of Christ, and he could rejoice in death as his gain. It is a glory to the gospel, when we can lie down and die with courage, in the hope of its promised blessings. It is an honour to our common faith, when it overcomes the terrors of death, and raises the christian to a song of triumph, in view of the last enemy. It is a new crown put upon the head of our Redeemer, and a living cordial put into the hands of mourning friends, in .our dying hour, when we can take our leave of them with holy fortitude, rejoicing in the salvation of Christ. No sooner does he call, but we are ready, and can answer with holy transport, " Lord, I come." This is a blessing that belongs only to the watchful christian. May every one of us be awake to salvation in our expiring moments, and partake of this glorious blessedness ! [" Here this discourse may be divided. "] I proceed now to a few remarks, and particularly such as relate to the necessity and duty of constant watchfulness, and the hazardous case of sleeping souls. Remark I. " To presume on long life is a most dangerous temptation, for it is the `common spring and cause of spiritual sleep and drowsiness.' Cpuld`we take an inward view of the hearts of men, and trace out the springs of their coldness and indifference about eternal things, and the shameful neglect of their most important interests, we should And this secret thought in the bottom of their hearts, " that we are not like to die to -day or to- morrow." They put this evil day afar off; and indulge them- selves in their carnal delights, without due solicitude to prepare for the call of God; There is scarce any thing produces so much evil fruit in the world, so much shameful wickedness amongst the sensual and the profane, or such neglect of lively religion among real christians, as this bitter root of presumption upon life and time before us. Mat. xxiv. 48, 49. C0 The evil servant did not begin to smite his fellows, and to eat and drink with the drunken, till he had said in his heart, my lord delayeth his coming : It was while the bridegroom tarried, and they ima- gined he would tarry longer, that even the wise virgins fell into slumbers; Mat. xxv. 5. Ask your own hearts my friends; does not this thought secretly lurk within you when you comply with a temptation, " Surely I shall not die yet, I have no sick- ness upon me, nor tokens of death, I shall live a little longer and repent of my follies P' Vain expectation and groundless fancy ! when you, see the young, and the strong, and the healthy seized away from the midst of you, and a final period put at once to all their works and designs in this life. Yet we are foolish enough to imagine our term of life shall be extended, and we presume upon months and years which God bath not
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