3. Be mortified to the inordinate and fond love of life, as ever you expect relief against the fears of death. Reason thy self into a lower value of thy life: Methinks you have arguments enough to cure your fondness in this point: Have you found it such a pleasant life to you, for so much of it as is past? You know how the Apostle represents it, 2 Cor. 5. 4. We that are in this Tabernacle do groan being burdened. And is a burdened and a groaning life so desirable? You know also as he speaks in the next Verse, that whilst you are at home in the body, you are absent from the Lord; and is a state of absence from Jesus Christ so desirable to a soul that loves him? Can you find much pleasure so far from home? You may fancy what you will, but upon serious recollection you will be able to tell your selves, that till you be dead you will never be out of the reach of Satan's temptations, never freed from your own in-dwelling corruptions, these conflicts cannot have an end till life be ended. You also stand convinced that till you be dead, your Souls cannot be satisfied, nor your desires be at rest; have what comforts soever from God in the way of faith, and course of duties your hearts are still off the centre, and will still gravitate and gasp heaven-ward. You also know that die you must, and the time of your departure is at hand, and of all deaths, if you might have your choice, none is more honourable to God, or like to be so evidential and comfortable to you as a violent death for Christ; therein you come to him by consent and choice, not by necessity and constraint therein you give a public testimony for Christ, which is the highest use that ever our blood ⟨p. 92⟩can be put to, or honoured by; and for the pain and torment, as the Martyr said, He that takes away from my torment, takes away from my reward. But even in that point, God can make it easier to you than a natural death would be; he will be with you in your extremity, and administer such reviving cordials as other men must not look to taste, at least not ordinarily; they being prepared and reserved for such, against such an hour.
3. Be mortified to the inordinate and fond love of life, as ever you expect relief against the fears of death. Reason thy self into a lower value of thy life: Methinks you have arguments enough to cure your fondness in this point: Have you found it such a pleasant life to you, for so much of it as is past? You know how the Apostle represents it, 2 Cor. 5. 4. We that are in this Tabernacle do groan being burthened. And is a burthened and a groaning life so desirable? You know also as he speaks in the next Verse, that whilst you are at home in the body, you are absent from the Lord; and is a state of absence from Jesus Christ so desirable to a soul that loves him? Can you find much pleasure so far from home? You may fancy what you will, but upon serious recollection you will be able to tell your selves, that till you be dead you will never be out of the reach of Satans temptations, never freed from your own in-dwelling corruptions, these conflicts cannot have an end till life be ended. You also stand convinced that till you be dead, your Souls cannot be satisfied, nor your desires be at rest; have what comforts soever from God in the way of faith, and course of duties your hearts are still off the center, and will still gravitate and gasp heaven-ward. You also know that die you must, and the time of your departure is at hand, and of all deaths, if you might have your choice, none is more honourable to God, or like to be so evidential and comfortable to you as a violent death for Christ; therein you come to him by consent and choice, not by necessity and constraint therein you give a publick testimony for Christ, which is the highest use that ever our bloud ⟨p. 92⟩can be put to, or honoured by; and for the pain and torment, as the Martyr said, He that takes away from my torment, takes away from my reward. But even in that point, God can make it easier to you than a natural death would be; he will be with you in your extremity, and administer such reviving cordials as other men must not look to taste, at least not ordinarily; they being prepared and reserved for such, against such an hour.
