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 third sort, who have kept up more tenderness, and who would fain have their interest and peace clear, and to this day could never attain to it, or if once they had it clear its grown somewhat dim and dark, and even in a manner worn away again, they grow heartless when death comes and surprises them; to such I would say. 1. That believers may die without sensible comfort and die well, ⟨p. 78⟩for as sensible comfort is not essentially necessary to folks justification, so neither to their dying in Christ; folks may die sleeping, or in a distemper, or in a spiritual fear, and yet that fear have faith and love in the bosom of it; and that condition which mars not Christians peace once made with God in their life, and is not so sinful, may also be died in; they may be in the dark and yet die well. Secondly, distinguish and put a difference betwixt the sense of the joy of the Spirit, and that comfort and joy which a believer may have from Gods word of promise; believers both living and dying may want the one and have the other; though they have not the flowings of the Spirit in sensible comfort and joy, yet they may have solid peace and consolation, because they have Gods word of promise to rest on, who have fled to him for their life, and their conscience hath an inward testimony, that they have denied their own righteousness and betaken them to his, and in this they have peace; else how could a believer possibly lye down in any measure of true quietness under desertion, even for their trial, it may be, more then for their sin? And if we look to David dying though we will not peremptorily determine, yet it is like he had not much comfort, for in these that are called his last words, 2 Sam. 23. 5. He betakes him to Gods Covenant, though he did not so feel the fruits of it, and rests there as at an anchor; And therefore thirdly, they that are in this condition would with the more confidence put themselves in over upon, and within the compass of, the Covenant, and make their faith the sickerer because they want sensible comfort; and readily it is and will be so with believers at that time, for then they are most out of conceit with their own righteousness, and in a holy fear and solicitude in themselves;

As for the third sort, who have keeped up more tendernesse, and who would faine have their interest and peace clear, and to this day could never attaine to it, or if once they had it clear its grown somewhat dim and dark, and even in a manner worne away againe, they grow heartlesse when death comes and surprises them; to such I would say. 1. That beleivers may die without sensible comfort and die well,