It is therefore highly rational for a Wicked Man to fear Death. And it is his Duty, with the greatest earnefiness to Pray against it.

That God would Spare him, that he may recover his ftrength,. before he go hence, and be no more.

Let him beg the continuance of God's Patience a little longer, that he may live. Not to enjoy his Sins, but to Repent of them.

Let him beg that he may live; to evidence the Truth and Sincerity of his Repentance.

Let him beg that he may live; to Redeem the time that he hath mif-fpent; and to do fome Good in the World before he leaves it.

and!!

2. But having thus Repented of his Sins, and fincerely endea voured to work out his Salvation, though with fear and trembling; Having left his former vain Converfation,"

M 5

verfation, and begg'd of God, to fit and qualify him for the Soci ety of Heaven;

I fay, the Sick Man being thus reconciled to God, thus fitted and prepared for a Bleffed Eternity; let him not then be a fraid to Die, But let him chearfully Sing his Nunc dimittis: Lord, now let thy Servant depart in peace; that mine Eyes may fee thy Salva

tion.

But to treat of this Matter more distinctly.

I'll fuppofe that you are laid upon a languishing Bed, and are admonished by your Physician to prepare for Death. This ftrikes you with Terror puts you into great Disorder. But now let us ftrictly examine, What is the true Cause of all this Confternation?

To which I Answer;

and

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This Fear of Death must pro

eeed, either

1. From:

1. From the Stroke of Death it Selfore ar, LYONNOR

2. From the Confequents of

Death,

The Stroke of Death, whereby the Soul is feparated. from the Body, is apprehended: to be very painful and torment ing. 'Tis compared to the tearing off a Limb, a Leg or an Arm, from the reft of the Body. The expectation of which is. dreadful and furprizing.

But why fhould the ftroke of Death be thought fo intolerable; fince the weakest Conftitutions, Women and Children, are able to bear it?

And if we may be allowed to pass a judgment of what we ne ver yet experienced, it would be no rafhnefs to declare; That moft Men, do fuffer tar greater Pains, in the time of their Life, than what they endure. in the Agonies of Death But

But allowing, That the Pangs of Death are very painful; What then Ought we not Patiently, nay Thankfully to endure them? In other Inftances we submit to a prefent Pain in order to fa future Eafe (as in cutting off a Gangreen'd Limb, and drawing a Stone out of the Bladder, &c.) and why not in this?

Since therefore a few Mortal Pangs will cure us of all Difeafes, and will recover us into everlasting Health and Happiness, we ought in all reafon most chearfully fubmit to them. Which I fhall further explain by confi dering,

2. The Confequents of Death.

Indeed the Confequents of Death, to Wicked Impenitent Men, are dreadful and amazing. But thofe Terrors do not concern our present Enquiry. Which is only to examine Whe

Whether Good and Pious Men, who are reconciled to God by the Merits and Mediation of our Bleffed Saviour; I fay, Whether fuch good Men, have any juft Caufe to be afraid of Death? To convince them that they have not, let them confider thefe Two Things.

1. The Evils from which they are freed by Death...

"

.

2. The Happiness into which they are admitted by Death.

The Evils from which we are freed by Death, are. Sin 2. Sorrow.

A

I. Sim.

7

S Sin is the Caufe of all other Evils, fo it is the

greatest Evil in it Self.

Indeed a Carnal Unregenerated Man can fee no Evil in Sin, but

doth

1.