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…

As for the first sort, we say to you, it is no wonder that ye slip away securely, and fall into the pit of destruction that live senselessly and stupidly till death come upon you, ye that never think of death till ye and it meet, what can ye expect should be spoken to you for your comfort? always we shall lay down some grounds to be made use of, even in such a deplorable and desperate-like condition, when folk have quite neglected preparation for death in their health, if such have but one hour to live, they would consider 1. That repentance is then possibly attainable, they are within trysting terms with God as long as they are in the land of the living and the sentence not past. Secondly, That there is then no peace to be had with God, but in the same way it is gotten now, that is by faith in Jesus Christ, which goes along with repentance, and by folks betaking themselves to a new way of living were it but in a sincere resolution; Christ is the way the truth and the life, none can come to the father but by him, and without faith there is no union with him, and whoever look for eternal life, must have it through faith in him. Thirdly, That though a person were to live but one hour, somewhat of these must be, some faith, some repentance, some endeavoured clearness of interest, some peace, some holiness though it were but in the bud, so as to speak but a few words to God, or to others standing by, as we may see in the thief on the cross, grace wherever it comes were it but of one hours age or standing, is grace and hath the same virtual substantial fruits, or fruits in the bud, as I said, that grace of older age and longer standing hath. Yet fourthly, where short time is, there is need that there be some difference from what is ordinary in the death of Christians of longer standing in the state of grace in pursuing of these things; 1. In respect of time, to go the speedilier through them, that is, to run (as it were) the more ⟨p. 76⟩swiftly and speedily through repentance and self-examination, fleeing to Christ, and the fruits of holiness; If time be short these would be contracted, not that they would be slighted, but there would be endeavouring to put them some way together, The Lord sayeth, Matth. 11. 12. The Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force;

As for the first sort, we say to you, it is no wonder that ye slip away securelie, and fall into the pit of destruction that live senselesslie and stupidlie till death come upon you, ye that never think of death till ye and it meet, what can ye expect should be spoken to you for your comfort? alwayes we shall lay downe some grounds to be made use of, even in such a deplorable and desperat-like condition, when folk have quite neglected preparation for death in their health, if such have but one hour to live, they would consider 1. That repentance is then possiblie attainable, they are within trysting termes with God as long as they are in the land of the living and the sentence not past. Secondlie, That there is then no peace to be had with God, but in the same way it is gotten now, that is by faith in Jesus Christ, which goes along with repentance, and by folks betakeing themselves to a new way of living wer it but in a sincere resolution; Christ is the way the truth and the life, none can come to the father but by him, and without faith there is no union with him, and whoever look for eternal life, must have it thrugh faith in him. Thirdlie, That though a person wer to live but one hour, somewhat of these must be, some faith, some repentance, some endeavoured clearnesse of interest, some peace, some holinesse though it wer but in the bud, so as to speak but a few words to God, or to others standing by, as we may see in the theife on the crosse, grace wherever it comes wer it but of one houres age or standing, is grace and hath the same virtual substantial fruits, or fruits in the bud, as I said, that grace of older age and longer standing hath. Yet fourthlie, where short time is, there is need that there be some difference from what is ordinarie in the death of Christians of longer standing in the state of grace in pursueing of these things; 1. In respect of time, to goe the speedilier through them, that is, to run (as it wer) the more