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…

Therefore to stir you up seriously and timeously to mind dying that ye may not with the sluggard say yet a little sleep yet a little slumber, and yet a little folding of the hands to sleep, whereby the fool is slain, consider 1. that it will not be bare wis• as that will make ⟨p. 9⟩you die well, Balaam had many such wishes to die the death of the righteous and yet was nothing the better of them, spend not your days idly, trifle not away your time unprofitably, for death is always coming on and will not stay and wait for your preparation when it comes; seek therefore to be found in a watchful and praying frame, blest is that servant who when his master comes is found in that posture waiting for the coming of his Lord and ready to open to him immediately (or at the very first knock) as it is, Luke 12. vers. 36. O! Strangely Emphatic word! 2. Consider how few they are who at death are ready and how few they are who at death get the liberty and blessing to make themselves ready; some I grant as one thief on the cross finds mercy, that none may despair, yet its but one that none may presume, but that all may be alarmed to look well and watchfully to themselves; many will go to hell no doubt who will seek to enter into heaven and yet will not be able, a sort of whinging and yowling at death may be in very godless and Atheistical persons, because they did not begin in time to seek to enter, as the scope of that parable showeth; if ye heard the language of many in hell. O! How would they to the life preach this point? Beware of dallying and putting off the time, many that are there did ye hear them speak would readily say. O! That was our ruin and did undo us; but if the word of God do not affect you, nor work you up to the serious consideration of this though one should rise from the dead and preach to you, it would not affect you to any advantage. 3.

Therefore to stirr you up seriously and timeously to mind dying that ye may not with the sluggard say yet a litle sleep yet a litle slumber, and yet a litle folding of the hands to sleep, whereby the fool is slaine, consider 1. that it will not be bare wis• as that will make ⟨p. 9⟩you die well, Balaam had many such wishes to die the death of the righteous and yet was nothing the better of them, spend not your dayes idlie, triffle not away your tyme unprofitablie, for death is alwayes coming on and will not stay and wait for your preparation when it comes; seek therefore to be found in a watchfull and praying frame, blest is that servant who when his master comes is found in that postour waiting for the coming of his Lord and readie to open to him immediatly (or at the verie first knock) as it is,