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 all creatures say that wisdom is not in them, Job 28, So they all cry with one voice that happiness is not in them; Its not in riches, for they take to themselves wings and flee away; Its not in honour, for man that is in honour and understandeth not, is like the beast that perisheth, and he that is high in court to day, may be hanged the morrow; neither is it in pleasures, for the laughter of the fool is madness, and hath grief and •adnesse of heart with it and even in the midst of it.

As all creatures say that wisedome is not in them, Job 28, So they all cry with one voice that happinesse is not in them; Its not in riches, for they take to themselves wings and flee away; Its not in honour, for man that is in honour and understandeth not, is like the beast that perisheth, and he that is high in court to day, may be hanged the morrow; neither is it in pleasures, for the laughter of the fool is madnesse, and hath greife and •adnesse of heart with it and even in the midst of it.

A 2d Use is, and it hath other two branches, If happiness follow them that die in the Lord; 1. It calls for a willingness as well as a readiness to die when ever God calls you believers to it. 2. It serves to condemn a general unwillingness to die, and possibly somewhat of it, even among the people of God. 1. I say if happiness be in dying in Christ, then they that are in the way to it should be ready, willing, and cheerful to die. And 2. It must be an exceeding great ⟨p. 81⟩distemper when folks dow not hear of death with patience, and it argues strongly that either folk are out of the way, or not through and clear as to their being in the way; Therefore reflect on your condition; what if God should call any of you this night, are ye willing to die? I believe there is not one amongst many that could heartily say it, there is scarce one among many, but when death comes they would fain shift it, I speak not this to condemn the use of lawful means in sickness for recovering health, but to check our great loathness and unwillingness to die, which is such that we would always suspend and putt it off; which speaks either; 1. Little faith of this truth that they are happy who die in the Lord, otherwayes it could not be but if it were solidly believed, folk would be more willing to die and to be with Christ, yea, there would be a desire to be there; if it were testified to men by persons worthy of credit, that there were a good, pleasant, and fertile land to be inhabited in such a place of the world, many would repair thither for making a good fortune (as ye use to call it) in this life, And yet for all Gods testimony (who cannot possibly lie nor deceive) of the happiness that follows dying in Christ, yet its not believed, and therefore few are willing or desirous to go through death to enjoy it, very few are like Paul, who desired to be dissolved and be with Christ which was best of all, weakness of faith makes want of willingness to die. Or 2ly, it speaks out great want of love to Jesus Christ, unwillingness to die is no little sin, but want of love is greater, when folks prefer the being with Husband, or Wife, or Children, or Friends, to being with Christ; O! love to Christ strangely looseth the heart from these, and makes the soul breath after being with him, as that which is best of all;