A good man making a good end. The life and death, of the Reverend…

V. If you would successfully Commit your ⟨p. 20⟩Spirits into the Hand of the Lord Jesus Christ, when you Die, you are to Do it for your Spirits before you Dy. Indeed, what should all our Life be, but a preparation for Death? And all of our Life truly is little enough. So thought our Devout Baily. It was the Counsel which he often gave to his Friends, Let not one day pass you, without an earnest prayer, that you may have a CHRIST, for to stand by you in a Dying Hour. And his own practice, was according to that Counsel, as is well known to them that Lived with him in his Family. Sirs, you are not sure, that when the Decretory Hour of Death overtakes you, you shall have one minute of an Hour allowed you, to Commit your Spirits into the Hand of the Lord Jesus Christ. Is not a Sudden Death a Frequent Sight? There are very many so suddenly Snatched away, by the Whirlwind of the Vengeance of the Almighty, that they have not opportunity, so much as to say, Lord have mercy upon me! And, Let me tell you, That a Sudden Death is most likely to be the portion of those who most presumptuously put off to a Death bed, the work of Committing their Spirits, into the Hand, that can alone befriend them. I have Read, That of old, according to the Laws of Persia, a Malefactor had Liberty, for an Hour before his Execution, to ask what he would, & what he asked was granted him. One that was under Sentence of Death, being Admitted unto ⟨p. 21⟩the use of this Liberty, desired neither one Thing, nor another, but only, That he might see the Kings Face; which being allowed him, he so plied the King, in that Hour, that he obtained his pardon: Whereupon the Persians altered their Custom, and covered the Face of the Malefactor, that he might never see the King any more. I will not now Enquire, how far this passage, will Illustrate the Story of Haman; but I will observe, That the Face of God, is the Name of the Messiah; and in this observation, I have given you a Golden Key, to come at New Treasures in •s•ores of Scriptures. And I will apply i•, with saying; You have it may be an Hour, and no more, allowed you, to address the Face of God in the Lord Jesus Christ. In this Hour, you may obtain His Favour and Mercy, and Pardon. Don't slip this Hour, Lest it be Too Late Or, peradventure, (and alas, 'tis but a peradventure!)