Sick and Dying Perfons. 26. cross Accidents and Disappointments do continually befall us? And therefore, let us Bless God that we are to Die: That we may leave this howling Wildernefs, and go to Rest. Bleffed are the Dead which die in the Lord, that they may reft from their Labours, Rev. 14. 13. In the Grave, There the Wicked ceafe from troubling, and there the weary be at rest; and they h ut the voice of the Oppreffor. ! 3. 17, 18. when O the Bleffed Time there shall be an end of Sin and Ser: When we fhall be out of the reach of Satan and TemptaWhen we fhall be eafed of Pains, and freed from all : When God h tears from our E El be no more De , nor Crying; For be any more Pa. Thefe Reflections do make the Thoughts of Death unpleafing to you. But let not your heart be troubled. Be not Discouraged, nor De jected. Tou Believe in God. You have a firm Perfwahion of the infinite Power, Wisdom, and Goodness of God. And a due Confideration of thefe Divine Perfections doth convince you; That the Providence of God doth Govern the whole World: But is more peculiarly concerned for Good Men; and that God hath a very tender and particular Care of them, and Regard to them; as you your Self have experienced in many Paffages of Your Life. Again. You Believe in God. God is Truth. And confequent ly, ly, whatever he hath Revealed, is to be received as true. Believe alfo in me, faith your Bleffed Saviour. Give the fame Credit and Regard to that which I now tell you. In my Father's house are many Manfions. This great Truth firmly Believed, and duly Confidered, may make you not only willing, but even defirous to Die. For the chief Reason why a good Man, who hath made his Peace with God, can be unwilling to Die; is a Fondness for this World, and the Enjoyment's of it. He hopes, indeed, and expects a future Happiness; but his prefent Circumftances are fo defirable, that he hath no mind, as yet, to be taken from them. His Houfe, if not Stately, is Convenient, and well Furnished. N 2 His His Gardens and Groves, Pleafant and Delightful. are His Eftate, if not Large, is very Competent. The Conversation of his Wife and Children, and the rest of his Relations, is fo Charming and Agreeable, that it is great Perplexity to be parted from them. But now, when he is thus pleafing himself with the Delights of this World, let him then be affured, that better Things are provided for him in the World to come. Now, according to the Rules of Prudence, what wife Man would not change for the bet ter? Suppofe his Houfe to be as well Built, as richly Furnished and Ornamental, as his Fancy can Project; is he not convinced, that an Heavenly Palace is to be preferr'd before an Earthly Cottage O! could he with St. the St. Paul, be caught up into the Third Heaven; there to behold, tho but for one Moment Splendor of that Glorious Place, (the peculiar Court and Refidence of the King of Kings;) how mean and contemptible how despicable and fordid, would the Nobleft Structures of this World then appear to be? Again. In my Father's house are many Manfions. There are many Royal Apartments in that Stately Palace, capable to receive and entertain those Millions of Glorified Beings, which fhall there Meet and Converfe together. And we may be sure, these Heavenly Mansions are most richly furnified, and exquifitely fitted for Pleafure and Satisfaction. For I go before, faith your Bleffed Saviour, to prepare a Place Nj for you. He |