Directions for weak distempered Christians, to grow up to a confirmed state of grace…

LX. 1. A Christian indeed confirmed in Grace, is one that maketh it the business of his life to prepare for death; and delayeth not his serious thoughts of it, and preparations for it till it surprise him; and therefore when it cometh it findeth him prepared, ⟨p. 165⟩and he gladly entertaineth it as the messenger of his Father, to call him to his everlasting home. It is not a strange unexpected thing to him, to hear he must die: He died daily in his daily sufferings, and mortified contempt of worldly things, and in his daily expectation of his change. He wondereth to see men at a dying time, surprised with astonishment and terror, who jovially or carelessly neglected it before; as if they had never known till then that they must die? Or as if a few years time were reason enough for so great a difference: For that which he certainly knoweth will be, he looketh at as if it were even at hand; and his preparation for it is more serious in his health than other mens is on their death-bed. He useth more carefully to bethink himself, what graces he shall need at a dying time, and in what case he shall then wish his soul to be; and accordingly he laboureth in his provisions now; even as if it were to be tomorrow. He verily believeth that it is incomparably better for him to be with Christ, than to abide on earth, and therefore (though Death of it self be an enemy, and terrible to nature) yet being the only passage into happiness, he gladly entertaineth it. Though he have not himself any clear and satisfactory apprehensions of the place and state of the happiness of departed souls, yet it quieteth him to know that they shall be with Christ, and that Christ knoweth all, and prepareth and secureth for him that promised Rest, Joh. 12.26. 2 Cor. 5.1, 7, 8. Phil. 1.21, 23. Luke 23.43. Though he is not free from all the natural fears of death, yet his belief and hope of endless happiness doth abate those fears by the joyful expectation of the gain which followeth. (See my Book called The last enemy; and ⟨p. 166⟩