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…

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.

A third cause of folkes not dieing in Christ may be this, that there are many who have some right thoughts and apprehensions of dieing 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 ane absolute dispensation to themselves, as to some particular lust or sin, or a libertie 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 dieing; they must needs first have their families in such a postour, they must have their children, or such a child provided for & disposed of, they must have such or such a bussinesse put by their hand first; not knowing or not considering that this hardens them and that they dayly become further slaves to such things, and that Judgment may suprize them unawares, before their time come; there are manie that will not denie but a strict way of holinesse is requisite, but they dow not, they cannot prevail with themselves to fall about it yet; and are like that ill and sloathful servant who because the Lord delayed his comeing, went to eat and drink and to take his pastime, but his Master comes in ane hour when he is not looked for, nor the servant awar, & on the sudden appoints him his portion with Hypocrites; Ah! is it not thus with the most part, who if they get such a sicknesse put by or such a crosse dispensation over, they think that Christ will byd a while longer, and so still they putt off till it becomes too late.