The blessedness of the death of these that die in the Lord and more…The blessednesse of the death of these that die in the Lord and more…

There are not a few that fancy they have the grace of repentance because they have some sadness for sin, or some little anxiety or a few challenges, who yet never took seriously with the corruption of their nature, and the quarrel that God hath with them on that account, Nor ever fled to Christ ⟨p. 44⟩for refuge, but go away in their fit of carnal sorrow, and this is another great mistake. 4. Some lay down a mould of religion of their own, and if they have a civil life with men, and some formality of Religion towards God, they think themselves well enough; how many such are there who thus break their neck at death? O! sad mistake.

There are not a few that fancy they have the grace of repentance because they have some sadnesse for sin, or some litle anxietie or a few challenges, who yet never tooke seriously with the corruption of their nature, and the quarrell that God hath with them on that account, Nor ever fled to Christ ⟨p. 44⟩for refuge, but goe away in their fit of carnall sorrow, and this is another great mistake. 4. Some lay downe a mould of religion of their own, and if they have a civil life with men, and some formalitie of Religion towards God, they think themselves well enough; how many such are there who thus breck their neck at death? O! sad mistake.

A third cause of folks not dying in Christ may be this, that there are many who have some right thoughts and apprehensions of dying well, but they never seriously endeavour to bring them to practice, they seek not to have their practice answerable to their light, they in effect make a prisoner of their light, by putting a guard of corrupt affections about it; for either they take an absolute dispensation to themselves, as to some particular lust or sin, or a liberty for such a time, & when that time is by they intend to quite & abandon such a lust and to think on death, but they will not quite it yet, nor prepare themselves for dying; they must needs first have their families in such a posture, they must have their children, or such a child provided for & disposed of, they must have such or such a business put by their hand first; not knowing or not considering that this hardens them and that they daily become further slaves to such things, and that Judgment may surprise them unawares, before their time come; there are many that will not deny but a strict way of holiness is requisite, but they dow not, they cannot prevail with themselves to fall about it yet; and are like that ill and slothful servant who because the Lord delayed his coming, went to eat and drink and to take his pastime, but his Master comes in an hour when he is not looked for, nor the servant aware, & on the sudden appoints him his portion with Hypocrites; Ah! is it not thus with the most part, who if they get such a sickness put by or such a cross dispensation over, they think that Christ will bid a while longer, and so still they putt off till it becomes too late.