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…

It may be objected or queried here, is it possible that a believer can always actually remember Christs coming and carry the thoughts of death along with him? Answ. It is in this duty as in others, as when ⟨p. 59⟩it is said do all to the Glory of God, it is not so to be understood as if we could actually mind it all-along in every thing we do, our minds being but finite, and so unable actually to mind many things or different things in the same instant of time or at once, that is impossible, but as there is a habitual minding of the glory of God, so there is a habitual minding of Christs appearance, which implies these three things. 1. That when in cold blood (to say so) and at ourselves, we resolve to wait for, and carry ourselves suitably to the expectation of his appearing, and to do nothing that we would shun or think shame of, or would not desire to be found doing, if he were appearing; which is in effect to be continually on our watch. 2. That when ever we take ourselves napping, we stir up ourselves to an actual minding of it, and endeavour to square the actions of our life accordingly, asking our own hearts, if we durst do this or that if he were to appear, and accordingly to be swayed with the awe of his appearing. 3. That in our ordinary walk, we be often reviving the thoughts of Christs appearing, putting ourselves often in mind of this rule, even to walk so as if he were immediately to appear; hence believers are often styled in the Scripture, waiters for, and lovers of, his appearing; and hence also the duty of watching is so frequently commended to them: so then we would not have this so universally to be understood, as if believers were to do nothing more, nor if it were spoken by a voice from heaven that they would presently die, or that Christ were presently to appear, for then they would leave many actions undone, and leave off lawful Journeys and Voyages, and other actions they are called to, but the meaning is, that we endeavour to be found in, or at, nothing, we will think shame of when he appears, and in all things always to keep a good conscience, a conscience void of offence towards God and towards man.

It may be objected or queried here, is it possible that a beleiver can alwayes actually remember Christs coming and carie the thoughts of death along with him? Answ. It is in this dutie as in others, as when ⟨p. 59⟩it is said doe all to the Glorie of God, it is not so to be understood as if we could actuallie mind it all-alonge in everie thing we doe, our minds being but finit, and so unable actually to mind many things or different things in the same instant of time or at once, that is impossible, but as there is a habituall minding of the glorie of God, so there is a habituall minding of Christs appearance, which implyes these three things. 1. That when in cold blood (to say so) and at ourselves, we resolve to wait for, and carie ourselves sutablie to the expectation of his appearing, and to doe nothing that we would shun or think shame of, or would not desire to be found doeing, if he wer appearing; which is in effect to be continuallie on our watch. 2. That when ever we take ourselves napping, we stirr up ourselves to ane actuall minding of it, and endeavour to squair the actions of our life accordingly, asking our own hearts, if we durst doe this or that if he wer to appear, and accordingly to be sweyed with the aw of his appearing. 3. That in our ordinary walk, we be often reviveing the thoughts of Christs appearing, putting ourselves often in mind of this rule, even to walk so as if he wer immediatly to appear; hence beleivers are often stiled in the Scripture, waiters for, and lovers of, his appearing; and hence also the dutie of watching is so frequently commended to them: so then we would not have this so universallie to be understood, as if beleivers wer to doe nothing more, nor if it wer spoken by a voice from heaven that they would presently die, or that Christ wer presently to appear, for then they would leave many actions undone, and leave off lawfull Journeys and Voiadges, and other actions they are called to, but the meaning is, that we endeavour to be found in, or at, nothing, we will think shame of when he appears, and in all things alwayes to keep a good conscience, a conscience void of offence towards God and towards man.