much that is painful and gloomy. Hence A death has been called the king of terrors. king, because of his universal empire; a king of terrors, because, abstractedly considered, his stroke produces effects at which nature trembles, and from which the mind recoils. The agonies which it brings, the ties which it ruptures, the separation which it effects, the cold tomb to which it introduces; these are far from being agreeable to the contemplations of men naturally; and hence there is a general dislike to think of it, and a greater dread to meet it. But however melancholy such a subject may be, to those who tenaciously cling to earthly existence, who are filled with agonizing apprehensions at the thought of leaving friends and earthly enjoyments behind them, yet it must be experienced. Some time or other the body must fall, the house must be taken down. It is the irrevocable decree of heaven, "for it is appointed unto men once to die;" it is the awful result of transgression; "for sin entered into the world, and death by sin." Nor is there any discharge in this war; two only of the human race have been spared the bitterness of death." The rich and the poor, the prince and the peasant, the old and the young, the good and the bad, must be subject to this last and painful conflict. But death is not viewed by all with alarm; it presents a different aspect to the righteous, to what it does to the ungodly. Death," says one, "considered as an enemy to nature, all 66 men must hate it; as the wages of sin, the wicked must dread it; but as the passage to heaven, believers desire it." Generally speaking, the Christian when laid upon a sick and dying bed, can view death without much terror, often with composure, and sometimes with fervent desire. In some cases he longs for immortality, and pants like the fearless warrior to enter the lists with this dreaded monster death. As one venerable servant of God once said, when feeling himself approaching the confines of eternity, and seeing the enemy in a menacing attitude, "Now I have at thee, death." The conflict commenced; death triumphed, and he triumphed. Death got the. victory over the body of the believer, which was of inferior moment; the believer achieved the victory over the sting of death, which was of infinite importance, and the conquering Christian entered the portals of the new Jerusalem with the triumphant exclamation, "The battle is fought, the victory is won; O death where is thy sting! O grave where is thy victory!" And what is dying to the individual who is resting his hopes upon the Saviour; whose faith unshakingly reposes upon the great atoning sacrifice for sin; whose soul purified from defilement, and enjoying the witness of the Spirit to its adoption? Surely it is but the name, the shadow of death. If there be a shivering on the brink of Jordan's flood, and a fear to launch a way, 'tis but the momentary shrinking of frail and feeble mortality, which is sometimes heard to say in the prospect of suffering, "If it be possible let this cup pass from me;" but faith instantly checks and subdues this weakness of trembling nature. One smile of Jesus, one thought of the promise, one glance at the atonement, one beam from heaven, restores the calmness and confidence of the soul, and no more agitation is felt. Let the believer feel his soul expanded with a hope full of immortality; let him by the exercise of faith rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory; then though the heart-strings break and inexpressible agonies rack the body, he with the world beneath his feet, the cross in his firm grasp, glory in his view, and Christ in his heart, can say, "Tell me, my soul, can this be death?" Dying to the believer is but going home; it is only exchanging the raiment of mortality and corruption, for the robes of praise and glory. It is but, as Dr. Watts remarks, passing through a dark entry out of one little dusky room of his father's house, into another that is fair, glorious, and divinely entertaining. You, afflicted friend may be approaching in your own apprehension, as well as in the judgment of all around you; the confines of another state of existence. The world recedes and will ere long disappear. This is the time when you need all the support and consolation of that gospel which has been professed by you. is the time of darkness and the shadow ༣༩༨ body, and the second death, even the eternal punishment of the soul; and hadst thou, O Lord, dealt with us as our iniquities have merited, we had now been suffering all the pains of death both in body and soul. But thou art a God of mercy and love, and though thou dost not revoke the sentence of death as it regards the body, thou hast in thy rich grace provided a deliverance from the pit of corruption. O blessed Redeemer, by the gospel thou hast abolished death, as to its most dreadful consequences, and brought life and immortality to light. In tender mercy look down upon him whose life draweth near to the grave-there is but a step between him and death. In such solemn circumstances, graciously manifest thy power and vouchsafe thy presence. Grant unto him in dying moments that which will bear up his soul; strengthen him for the last conflict with the last enemy; let not his faith nor fortitude fail. As far as consistent with thy will, grant him a mitigation of his bodily sufferings, that the last struggle may not be severe, but that an easy dismission may be experienced out of the present evil world: and above all, favour him with the light of thy countenance and the joy of thy salvation. May fear be subdued, and may confidence be strong in the dear Redeemer, who has promised to be with his people. O may the enemy of souls not be permitted to harass or disturb the soul at the closing scene. Disperse every cloud of dark ness, every distressing doubt, and may the soul be filled with joyful anticipations of the eternal world. O mercifully grant a triumph over every enemy, and an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. O Lord, grant that the living may know that they must die, and be prepared for the solemn scene. May the subject of death be more familiar to the mind of all, that should the last foe come either with slow or rapid strides upon us, we may have nothing to do but to fall asleep in Jesus. Pardon, O Lord, all our sins, which are the cause of all the sufferings and death which we must endure; and bring us all to that world above, where the inhabitant shall no more sin, and no more say, I am sick. These blessings we humbly ask, in the name of him who died that we may live, and lives that we may never die. "When death appears before my sight Unequal to the dreadful fight, But see my glorious leader nigh, And my faint heart revives. No more, O grim destroyer! boast To heaven-born souls thy sting is lost. |