Book L of J B s u s C H R I s T. 59

a.W^rQo(ity for in fiicb an Hour as we think net, the So7JofM.7icomnh. Let not the Vr^- ^^^^'^- ^'^'^' paration I advife be negleded^ as a melan- choly unpleafant Thing, fuch as embitters Life , and damps Mens prefent Enjoyments ,• forbealTured, What- ever Satisfadion you may take now , when that laft Hour dravv^ on , it wili give you quite other Notions of the matter. And the Refledions upon your pafl Im- providence and Negle(5t wiij be more bitter and afflid:- ing then^ than a?iy the moft follicitous Forecaft for Dying well^ can poffibly be in the mean time.
O how VVife, how happy is that Man , who makes it his daily Care to be fuch while he Liveth, as he de- fires to be found when he comes to Die! And we may cherijQi a good Hope and great Aiilirance of leaving the World to our Comfort and infinite Advantage^ if, while we continue in it^ we can bring our felves to negled: and defpife it : If we be zealous to improve in Virtue 5* in love with Difcipline and Mortification; if we attend to the Exercife of Repentance; if we be of an humble and obedient Difpolition ; content to deny our felves, and ready to undergo any Hardfliip for Chrift 's fake. But if thefe Qualifications be neceffary, they are neceifary to be attained in Health: For then a Man is in a Condition to ftrive, and to exert him- felf ; but when Sicknefs is upon him, it is a great Que- ftion what he will be able to do, or v,/hether anything at all. Whatever the generality of the World may ima- gine, who put off their great Work v\\ fuch improper Seafons ; yet fure it is, that few^ but very few, are re- formed by a Sick Bed. And they who defer their Re- pentance and Amendment till then, feldom, alas ! re- pent as they ought, or are amended in good earnefl:.
Depend not upon the Affiftance of your Relations and Acquaintance : Nor cherifli an Imagination fo vain, as that their Prayers hereafter can effed, v^hat you never endeavoured to efFed here. Thefe can do you no
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oo €>f tt)e gimttatton Book L
Service ; But if they could, yet when once gone, you will be forgotten much fooner than you are willing to believe. And why fhould you reft upon Their Care, when you cannot be prevailed with for your Own ? Canitbefuppofed, they fhould be more concerned for your Salvation, than You, whofe proper Interefl: it is ? Allowing then, that thefe could do you good ^ yet even thus, 'tis better you fhould do your ownBufinefs; better , in regard of the Perfon , and better in re- gard of the Time ; For no72J h the Seafon of Accep- tance, now is the Day of Salvation. And therefore this moment is fjtteft for your Purpofe : The fooner you change, the better : Live then while you may • and begin from the prefent Minute to live fo ^ that you may live for ever. For if you fufFer the happy Ppportunity to flip through your Hands , you will wifii for it afterwards, when it is too late ; and may perhaps be reduced to fiich Circumitances, that One Day, One Hour, for making your Peace with God may not be obtained ; no, not when you would glad- ly give, were it at your Difpofal, the whole World to purchafe it.
Confider then , my Friend and Fellow-Chriflian, ccnfider what a Rifque you run by your Delays: Think, what Mifery and Danger , what Confufion and Defpair it is now in your Power to prevent, by living like a Man that remembers he muft die ; And therefore fo fpend every Hour , that when your lafl ciraws on , you may receive it with Joy and Hope, indead of Fear and Aftonifliment. Learn mvj to Die daily, to Die to Sin and the World , that you may then begin to Live with Chrift. Learn mw to de- fpife all here below , that you may then be difenga- ged", and at perfed liberty to leave all and follow Chrifl. Subdue your Body Ncti' by Mortification and Self-denial, and you fliall then have great Boldnefsin the Day df Tribulation, '■ ' ■ ' ^ Poes