Advice to Mourners Under the Loss of Dear Relations, Paper 10
PAPER X.
I Sensibly find my outward Man perish and decay, but how comfortable would it be to me, if I could as easily perceive the inward Man to be renewed day by day? This Earthly Tabernacle is tottering, and e're long will tumble down; but in what plight is the poor Soul that now inhabiteth this ruinated Cottage? What Provision hath it made against that Day when it must be turned out? hath it got an Interest in, and a Title to an enduring Substance; a House above, eternal in the Heavens? This Life of mine is but a Vapour, it appeareth but for a little while, and then vanisheth away. Lord, teach me to number my Days, that I may know how frail I am. This outward Man is daily consuming, wasting, perishing and decaying, and shall I be careless, negligent, remiss and unconcerned about my future State, how it will go with me hereafter in the other World? Though my bodily Strength abate, yet let the inward Man be renewed every Day, and wax stronger and stronger: When the Comforts of this Life are, as Iob saith of the White of an Egg, unsavory, have no Relish, and are no Satisfaction to me, let me have Comforts and Cordials that this World knoweth not of, even the Light of thy Countenance, and that will put Gladness into my Heart, more than all the Treasures and Pleasures of this vain World. Whatever thou deniest me, deny me not thy self to be my God and Portion; and let me have an Interest in thy Son, my only Saviour and Redeemer: and do thou graciously give thy Holy Spirit to direct, guide, quicken, counsel and comfort me the remaining part of my sojourning here. How few Days may put a Period to my Life, I know not: In all probability it will not be long before I leave the Stage of this World, and be summoned before the Bar of God, to give a strict and impartial Account of my past Life. O it is an awful thing to die and come to Judgment! I beg, O Lord, I beg that I may be made meet for the Inheritance of the Saints in Light. Sanctify me wholly; let my whole Spirit, Soul and Body, be preserved blameless unto the Coming of my Lord Jesus Christ. O be thou pleased to preserve me unto thy Heavenly Kingdom. Many Fears, and much Ground for Fears have I, that I shall never enter into Rest: But blessed Lord, do not exclude me from thy comfortable Presence hereafter: Do thou make me fit to be a Member of those blessed Inhabitants of the New Ierusalem. Though I am altogether unworthy, yet if thou, O Lord, please to account me worthy, I may then be so happy as to stand before the Son of Man with Courage and Comfort. Keep thou me by thy Almighty Power, through Faith, unto Salvation. Let me be preserved from fainting, sinking, and desponding in my last Conflicts and Agonies. Let me see thee who art invisible, and with an Eye of Faith look within the Vail, whence I look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, to change this vile Body (of mine) that it may be fashioned like to his glorious Body. Let this Saviour be my Saviour and Redeemer, even the Lord Jesus Christ: and let me be assured that he is mine, and I am indeed his; and that this vile, contemptible, wretched Body shall be changed, and made like to his glorious and blessed Body. This is such an Honour and Privilege, that I have hardly a Face to ask: But I find a Warrant in thy Word, to look, long, expect, pant, and wait for so happy a Day and Time, as to be in a sinless State and Condition, where we shall see our Saviour, and be like him; where earthly Troubles and Sorrows shall vanish and decay; where the World, the Flesh, and the Devil, shall have no Power to tempt, molest or disturb those that thou, O Lord God Almighty, shalt admit into thy Heavenly Kingdom and Glory. O blessed Souls that are here owned by thee, approved by thee, and shall at last be received by thee into those Eternal Mansions above. Lord, I humbly put in for a Share in these inestimable Mercies and Privileges: Earthly things cannot content me, without some Hopes, some Prospect, some Glimpse of thy Love and Favour: If thou afford me this, I may then bear the Inconveniencies, the Hardships, and ill Usage I meet with here in this howling Desart. Let not my Unworthiness be a Bar and Hindrance to hinder good things from me. Look not on me as in my self, a vile, polluted, wretched, undone Creature; but behold me in and through thy well-beloved Son, and for his sake alone be gracious and merciful to me. I have been guilty of black and horrid Sins, and Millions of Sins have I been committing daily, without Sense, Sorrow or Remorse. O may such a Sinner as I find Mercy! Lord, I sometimes doubt and despair, and conclude there is no Hopes for me; I fear Heaven-Gate is shut against me; and though I cry and knock, it may all be in vain. Lord, I cannot bear such a Thought as to think I am rejected, forsaken, and cast off by thee. I e'n cry out with the Jailor, What shall I do to be saved? What shall I do to obtain Eternal Life? I find many comfortable Promises in thy Word to repenting and returning Sinners, that those that come to thee thou wilt in no wise cast out; and that the Blood of Jesus Christ thy Son cleanseth from all Sins. Lord, I desire to come to thee, and come in a right manner, and humbly beg thou wilt not cast me out, nor cast me off, as one whom thou no more canst love. Let me have the Benefit of that healing, cleansing, Peace-speaking Blood of the Lamb of God, which taketh away the Sins of the World. I find in thy Word a black Catalogue of Sins, and Sinners too, who have been guilty of gross Offences, whose Crimes would certainly exclude them Heaven, unless thy unlimited Mercy and Compassion had inclined thee to look with Pity on them. When the Apostle had mentioned those foul and horrid Sins that should deprive poor Souls of the Joys of Heaven, he immediately, for the Benefit of After-Ages, and the Comfort of desponding Souls, adds, But such were some of you, but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Iesus, and by the Spirit of our God. Lord, thou alone knowest what numberless Numbers of Sins I am guilty of, and for which e're long I shall be summoned to give a strict and severe Account. Lord, I have nothing to plead for my self why I should not be condemned, but I humbly cast my self at the Throne of thy Grace, and implore Mercy; Mercy, Lord, Mercy I need, without this I cannot live comfortably, nor die safely. O let me (even me) be washed, let me be sanctified, let me be justified; in the Name of the Lord Jesus let me be a Partaker of the Benefits of his Death, Resurrection, Ascension, and Intercession; and let me be assured I am one of those that shall live and reign with him, World without end. In my sorest Distresses, and last Agonies and Conflicts, let me see thee, a God in Covenant, and reconciled to me: Let not my Evidences for Heaven be then to get. When I come to die, let me have nothing to do but to die, and surrender up my Soul into the Hands of that God who gave it me. Let not the Foresight or Prospect of Death be so terrifying as to overwhelm me, and cause me to fall from thee. Be with me when I pass through the dark and dismal Passage of Death: When Flesh, Heart, and all Creature-Comforts fail and forsake me, O Blessed Lord, be thou the Strength of my Heart, and my Portion for ever-more.