One Hundred and Ninety Sermons on Psalm 119

2. By correction; though it be lawful and expedient to desire death, yet we are not anxiously to long after it till the time come; there may be sin in desiring death, as when we grow weary of life out of desperation, and the tiresomeness of the Cross; and there may be grace in desiring life, that we may keep his word; longer express our gratitude to him here in the world, to mourn for sin, to promote his glory. More fully to make this evident to you, I shall show how we may desire death, how not. To answer in several propositions.

2. By correction; though it be lawful and expedient to desire death, yet we are not anxiously to long after it till the time come; there may be sin in desiring death, as when we grow weary of life out of desperation, and the tiresomeness of the Cross; and there may be grace in desiring life, that we may keep his word; longer express our gratitude to him here in the world, to mourn for sin, to promote his glory. More fully to make this evident to you, I shall shew how we may desire death, how not. To answer in several propositions.

1. There is a great deal of difference between serious desires, and passionate expressions. The desires of the children of God are deliberate and resolved, conceived upon good grounds, after much struggling with flesh and blood to bring their hearts to it. Carnal men are loth that God should take them at their word; as he in the Fable that called for death, and when he came, desired him to help him up with his burden. Alas! they do not consider what it is to be in the state of the dead, and to come unprovided and unfurnished into Gods presence. We often wish our selves in our graves; but if God should take us at our word, we would make many pauses and exceptions. Men that in their miseries call for death, when sickness cometh, will run to the Physician, and promise many things if they may be recovered. None more unwilling to dye, than those that in a passion wish for death.

1. There is a great deal of difference between serious desires, and passionate expressions. The desires of the children of God are deliberate and resolved, conceived upon good grounds, after much strugling with flesh and blood to bring their hearts to it. Carnal men are loth that God should take them at their word; as he in the Fable that called for death, and when he came, desired him to help him up with his burden. Alas! they do not consider what it is to be in the state of the dead, and to come unprovided and unfurnished into Gods presence. We often wish our selves in our graves; but if God should take us at our word, we would make many pauses and exceptions. Men that in their miseries call for death, when sickness cometh, will run to the Physician, and promise many things if they may be recovered. None more unwilling to dye, than those that in a passion wish for death.