I Wish that all the days of my appointed time I may exercise my self herein,1 to keep a conscience void of offence towards God, and towards all men. There ⟨p. 692⟩are but two which can afford me real comfort in a dying hour, which always take the same side and join together; God and my conscience. Humane friends often stand afar off, when they should be most near, and I have most need; Some of them are loth to come to a sick mans chamber. Mournful objects must not disturb their jollity and mirth. They are sworn enemies to sorrowful occasions, and banish such foes their quarters, or themselves from such coasts. Others if they come to visit me, love not to see my ghastly countenance, like not to hear my deep and deadly groans. But be they never so full of pity, they can only sympathize with me, they cannot relieve, refresh me. The most they can do, is to accompany me to my grave, and there they leave me; But, O the comfort which a loving God, and a conscience sprinkled with the blood of Christ, and purged from dead works, will afford me in a dying hour! The smiles of a God, and cheerings of a good conscience, will be music indeed, to welcome me to the shore, after all my tumblings and tossings in this tempestuous Ocean. They will make my bed in my sickness, help me to lye easy, hearten me in my sighs and groans, be my feast at my funeral, bid me Be of good cheer, for my sins are forgiven me; tell me that my Redeemer liveth, and because he liveth, I shall live also; lodge my body in a grave, as in a Bed of Spices, and convey my soul into my Saviours Bosom and Embraces; when my Houses, Lands, Honours, Friends, Wife, Children leave me, they will cleave to me: nay when my breath, life, heart, flesh forsake me, they will not fail me; yea, when faith, hope, patience, repentance, shall bid me farewell weeping, as Orpah ⟨p. 693⟩did Ruth, these like Naomi will stick to me, go with me, and seek rest for me; O that my heart may be so upright in the service of my God, that when I •hall receive the sentence of death, I may be able to say with good Hezekiah; Remember now, I beseech thee, O Lord, how I have walked before thee, in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. O my soul, what a friend shouldst thou be to thy God, thy conscience, how faithful to their warnings, now in life if thou wouldst have them thy friends at death!
I Wish that all the days of my appointed time I may exercise my self herein,1 to keep a conscience void of offence towards God, and towards all men. There ⟨p. 692⟩are but two which can afford me real comfort in a dying hour, which always take the same side and joyn together; God and my conscience. Humane friends often stand afar off, when they should be most near, and I have most need; Some of them are loth to come to a sick mans chamber. Mournful objects must not disturb their jollity and mirth. They are sworn enemies to sorrowful occasions, and bani•h such foes their quarters, or themselves from such coasts. Others if they come to visit me, love not to see my gastly countenance, like not to hear my deep and deadly groans. But be they never so full of pity, they can onely sympathize with me, they cannot relieve, refresh me. The most they can do, is to accompany me to my grave, and there they leave me; But, O the comfort which a loving God, and a conscience sprinkled with the blood of Christ, and purged from dead works, will afford me in a dying hour! The smiles of a God, and chearings of a good conscience, will be musick indeed, to welcom me to the shoar, after all my tumblings and tossings in this tempestuous Ocean. They will make my bed in my sickness, help me to lye easie, hearten me in my sighs and groans, be my feast at my funeral, bid me Be of good chear, for my sins are forgiven me; tell me that my Redeemer liveth, and because he liveth, I shall live also; lodge my body in a grave, as in a Bed of Spices, and convey my soul into my Saviours Bosome and Embraces; when my Houses, Lands, Honours, Friends, Wife, Children leave me, they will cleave to me: nay when my breath, life, heart, flesh forsake me, they will not fail me; yea, when faith, hope, patience, repentance, shall bid me farewel weeping, as Orpah ⟨p. 693⟩did Ruth, these like Naomi will stick to me, go with me, and seek rest for me; O that my heart may be so upright in the service of my God, that when I •hall receive the sentence of death, I may be able to say with good Hezekiah; Remember now, I beseech thee, O Lord, how I have walked before thee, in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. O my soul, what a friend shouldst thou be to thy God, thy conscience, how faithful to their warnings, now in life if thou wouldst have them thy friends at death!
- 1Conclusion.
