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…

The first use then is to put us all to be more seriously exercised how to die well, & that is to die in the Lord; seeing happiness and such a happiness depends on it, & only on it, then sure folks should be exceedingly concerned to walk by this middle, of dying in him as they would meet with happiness at the end. There are many things that press this; as 1. if peace and tranquillity of mind and conscience be of concernment, then this is of concernment, for how can they possibly have peace that know not whither they shall go to heaven or hell? 2. If comfort in any thing or all things be of concernment, then this is of concernment, for how can men's sleep, meat, drink, apparel, or any thing they enjoy be comfortable to them if they know not that they are in him and shall die in him? This one word may mar all their mirth and happiness, that they that are not in him shall die miserably and so lo•e all other comforts. 3. If it be of concernment to have boldness and confidence to god-wards at death, this is of concernment; for if death sadly surprise men how can they have peace, confidence or boldness since they are not in him? All the world cannot buy nor purchase a quiet and good conscience to them. 4. If we think heaven or happiness to be of concernment, then this is no doubt of concernment, for heaven and happiness are knit to dying in him; and therefore let me in the name of the Lord lay it upon you, by all suitable means to endeavour to bear it upon your very hearts to have your peace with God made in time, that die when ye will, it may be ⟨p. 24⟩made sure that it shall be in him; think ye that to be eternally in •e•ven or in hell is of little concernment? Its your way of dying that makes the difference, as the tree falls so it will lie; there will be no revoking of that sentence nor any change of your state after death; and knows any of you when it will come? Are any sure to get time or grace then to make peace with God when sickness and death comes? Are there not many stricken wish hardness, senselessness and conscience benumbing stupidity at their death? Remember therefore that death is coming and study to have this much in your eye.

The first use then is to put us all to be more seriouslie exercised how to die well, & that is to die in the Lord; seeing happinesse and such a happiness depends on it, & only on it, then sure folkes should be exceedingly concerned to walk by this midle, of dieing in him as they would meet with happinesse at the end. There are many things that presse this; as 1. if peace and tranquillitie of mind and conscience be of concernment, then this is of concernment, for how can they possiblie have peace that know not whither they shall goe to heaven or hell? 2. If comfort in any thing or all things be of concernment, then this is of concernment, for how can men's sleep, meat, drink, apparrell, or any thing they enjoy be comfortable to them if they know not that they are in him and shall die in him? This one word may marr all their mirth and happinesse, that they that are not in him shall die miserablie and so loe all other comforts. 3. If it be of concernment to have boldnesse and confidence to god-wards at death, this is of concernment; for if death sadlie surprize men how can they have peace, confidence or boldnesse since they are not in him? All the world cannot buy nor purchasse a quiet and good conscience to them. 4. If we think heaven or happinesse to be of concernment, then this is no doubt of concernment, for heaven and happinesse are knitt to dieing in him; and therefor let me in the name of the Lord lay it upon you, by all suteable means to endeavour to bear it upon your verie hearts to have your peace with God made in time, that die when ye will, it may be