A37028:118
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…
The blessedness of the death of these that die in the Lord and more especially in an evil time excellently discoursed in seven very searching but sweet sermons on Revel. 14, v. 13 : wherein several weighty cases relating to death in general and to dying in Lord in particular are succinctly, solidly and satisfyingly handled / by James Durham.The blessednesse of the death of these that die in the Lord and more especially in ane evil time excellently discoursed in seven very searching but sweet sermons on Revel. 14, v. 13 : wherein several weighty cases relating to death in genereal and to dieing in Lord in particular are succinctly, solidly and satisfieingly handled / by James Durham.
Glasgow? : s.n., 1681
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
First then, it is not the way of dying in the Lord, to die in external quietness, and with all our friends about us, or in a sort of calmness with little pain or sickness, many heathens, many carnal and civil men, and many hypocrites, have died that way; Its but a common outward thing, and many may, and do slip quietly into the pit. Nor 2. Is it to be much taken up with bare wishings and desyreings to die so, nay nor with some esteem of dying in the Lord, it is good indeed in so far, to wish and desire it, and to esteem of it, but Balaam who had a most miserable exit, and made a very wretched end, came that length, Numb. 24. and yet this is a great part of many folks Religion, yea, the almost all of ⟨p. 49⟩it, who it may be will now and then commend it when in a good mood. Nor 3. is this the way of dying in the Lord, to have some coldrife Prayers to die so, and to be good friends with God, as we use to speak, there are none so graceless but seeing that they must needs leave the world, would rather be in Heaven then in Hell, and will readily have some general desires after it, and words of Prayer for it, but that will not do the turn, for many will seek to enter, that shall not be able; Luke 13. v. 24, many will pray to be taken to Heaven that neve• walked, neither loved to walk, in the right way to it; Nor 4. Is this the way of dying in the Lord, to be taking some pains in the externals of holiness, to be hearing preachings, and frequenting Communions, if that be all, it will not do the turn neither: It will not be sufficient that ye heard Christ preach and sat at one table with him; halving of holiness is no holiness, to be almost a Christian will not make a Christian indeed, there is a necessity of being a Christian altogether; to have half holiness, and to be almost a Christian only, will be but to be half saved, and that will be indeed no salvation, but will period in eternal damnation, and so cannot be dying in the Lord. Nor 5. Is it to die with a persuasion in our own mind, but ill grounded, that we are in him and that all shall be well, many take themselves to be well and in a good and safe condition, because they trow it, and fancy that they are so, and they are very unwilling and loath to let themselves think ill of themselves: