2. We must carefully look to the grounds of these wishes and desires. Carnal wishes for death arise either (1.) out of violent anger and a pet against Providence, as Jonah 4. 8. The Sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to dye, and said it is better for me to dye than live. The children of Israel murmured when they felt the Famine of the Wilderness. Exod. 16. 3. And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had dyed by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, &c. When men are vexed with the world, they look upon death as a relief, to take vengeance upon God, to deprive him of a servant. 2. In deep sorrow, as Job 3. 3. Elijah, 1 King. 19. 4. He requested for himself, that he might dye; and he said, It is enough, now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am not better than my fathers. (3.) From the peevishness of fond and doting love, 2 Sam. 18. 33. And the King was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: as he went, thus he said, O Absalom, my son, would God I had dyed for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son: like the Wives of the East-Indians, that burn themselves to follow their dead husbands. (4.) From distrust and despair, when the evil is too hard to be resisted or endured. Job 7. 15. My soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life. In all these cases it is but a shameful retreat from the conflict and burden of the present life, from carnal irksomeness under the calamity, or a distrust of Gods help. There may be murder in a rash wish, if it proceed from a vexed heart. These are but froward thoughts, not a sanctified resolution. 2. Such desires of death and dissolution as are lawful, and must be cherished, come from a good ground, from a heart crucified and deadened to the world, and set on things above. Col. 3. 1. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. From a competent assurance of grace, Rom. 8. 23. Even we our selves groan within our selves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. From some blessed experience of heavenly comforts; having tasted the fruits, clusters of Canaan, they desire to be there. So Simeon, Luk. 2. 29. Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation.
2. We must carefully look to the grounds of these wishes and desires. Carnal wishes for death arise either (1.) out of violent anger and a pet against Providence, as Jonah 4. 8. The Sun beat upon the head of Ionah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to dye, and said it is better for me to dye than live. The children of Israel murmured when they felt the Famine of the Wilderness. Exod. 16. 3. And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had dyed by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, &c. When men are vexed with the world, they look upon death as a relief, to take vengeance upon God, to deprive him of a servant. 2. In deep sorrow, as Iob 3. 3. Elijah, 1 King. 19. 4. He requested for himself, that he might dye; and he said, It is enough, now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am not better than my fathers. (3.) From the peevishness of fond and doting love, 2 Sam. 18. 33. And the King was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: as he went, thus he said, O Absolom, my son, would God I had dyed for thee, O Absolom, my son, my son: like the Wives of the East-Indians, that burn themselves to follow their dead husbands. (4.) From distrust and despair, when the evil is too hard to be resisted or endured. Job 7. 15. My soul chuseth strangling, and death rather than my life. In all these cases it is but a shameful retreat from the conflict and burden of the present life, from carnal irksomness under the calamity, or a distrust of Gods help. There may be murder in a rash wish, if it proceed from a vexed heart. These are but froward thoughts, not a sanctified resolution. 2. Such desires of death and dissolution as are lawful, and must be cherished, come from a good ground, from a heart crucified and deadned to the world, and set on things above. Col. 3. 1. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. From a competent assurance of grace, Rom. 8. 23. Even we our selves groan within our selves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. From some blessed experience of heavenly comforts; having tasted the fruits, clusters of Canaan, they desire to be there. So Simeon,
