A New Years Gift, Section 15
SECT. XV.
Of Dying in a Foreign Country, and of Dying Young. Conſiderations proper to Reconcile the Mind to both.
I May not live to the end of this Year; God in his Providence having called me abroad, I may never ſee my Native Country more. Let me ſtill remember, O my Soul! that where ever I am, I am travelling towards the Grave, and paſſing to another World: That I may live in all places, as a Pilgrim and Stranger here on Earth; with Affections ſuited to my condition, becoming one who is travelling in a Strange Land. Let me bear the Inconveniences I may meet with in this World, as Strangers in their Travels are wont to do. Let me not repine at the ill Accommodations of an Inn, where I am to lodge but a night or two; but encourage my ſelf with the aſſurance of better Entertainment at home, when my Pilgrimage is ended, and my Journey over.
One of my deareſt Holy Friends, and Fellow Travellers, (whoſe memory will be ever precious, (g)Mr. Thomas Bent, who dyed at Geneva, May 10. 1683.with thoſe who knew him) quickly arrived to his Journeys end, and is entred into Reſt betimes. Which of his Companions ſhall next follow, we know not, or how ſoon. Lord! Make me apprehend the nearneſs of my change in every place; and if I am prepared for dying, no matter where it be. There is no one Country farther from the Preſence of God than another. The whole World may be conſidered as one Great Houſe, and the ſeveral Kingdoms and Countries of it, but as different Apartments in the ſame Houſe; and they who tarry at home, are no more exempt from Death, than they who travel abroad.
The Earth is the Lords, and the fullneſs thereof; I can go no where to be out of his Territories, I ſhall ſtill tread upon my Father's Ground. I had rather be an Iſraelite in a Wilderneſs with the Preſence of God, than a Courtier in idolatrous Aegypt. Abraham, the Father of the Faithful, and the Friend of God, was baniſhed from his own Country; and ſhould I never ſet foot again on my native Soyl, there is no reaſon of murmuring againſt my God, who hath dealt thus with many of his Favourites. And while I have been in a ſtrange Land, he hath not ſuffered me to feel the wants and neceſſities, and heart of a Stranger. Among a People of a ſtrange Language he can, and doth provide for me all things richly to enjoy. I may ſet up my Ebenezer, hitherto hath God ſupplied all my wants.
The Preſence of my Gracious Father is every where the ſame; in ſome meaſure, Bleſſed be my God, I have hitherto found it ſo. And may I not rejoyce in God in a Deſert, though all the World ſhould forſake me; though all the World ſhould be againſt me? Should I have no other Friend or Helper; is not God, an infinite God Enough? and without his Favour and Preſence, what can all this World do for me? If I am ſick, and in danger of Death, among my Relations and Friends; if the comforts of the Almighty do not refreſh and delight my Soul, they cannot: And if I want not theſe in my laſt Agonies, no matter in what part or corner of the Earth I breath my laſt. If the word and promiſe of God be my Foundation, an holy Hope my Anchor, Chriſt my Pilot, and Heaven my Country, I ſhall not fail of being landed there at laſt. Suffer me not to forſake thee, O Heavenly Father! while I live; and do not thou forſake me in my laſt Hour; and let it come when, and where thou wilt! If my bleſſed Saviour will receive my departing Soul at Death, I am not ſollicitous in what Country or part of the Earth it be.
And that I may not be unwilling in the flower of my Age and Time, in Youth and Strength, to leave this World; let me think often, that no one age or part of Life is more priviledged againſt the ſtroke of Death than another. If I have done my work betimes, as my deceaſed Fellow Traveller had, is it not better to receive the bleſſed Recompence, than to to tarry longer, in a World of Sin and Suffering, abſent from the Lord? Shall I not thereby eſcape a multitude of Temptations, Sins, and Sorrows, which others by living longer are expoſed to? If my Peace be made with God, what ſhould make me willing to live at this diſtance from him? What ſhould render this World ſo deſirable, where God is ſo diſhonoured, where I am ſo often tempted to diſpleaſe him, and ſo often yield to ſuch Temptations? And may I not fear leſt I ſhould fall into ſuch ſcandalous and grievous ſins, that may bring a publick reproach on the Goſpel of Chriſt, and ſadden the Hearts of all my Acquaintance, who love the Lord Jeſus in ſincerity? By dying early, I ſhall contract leſs guilt, and commit leſs ſin, and ſee and feel leſs Sorrow than others who live longer. And tho' I ſhould maintain my Integrity, yet in this World my higheſt love and obedience to God, and my ſweeteſt Communion with him, is but imperfect. How many Impediments and Diverſions do I daily meet with, that deaden my Heart to Heavenly Contemplations and Affections? What diſappointments, and ſorrowful diſaſters, to convince me that this is not the place of Reſt and Happineſs? What ſmart afflictions may ſome of my Relations prove? What dangerous Snares may attend me in the remaining Portion of my Time? What Oppoſition and Hatred from Men may the ſtedfaſt profeſſing of the Truth, and Fidelity to God expoſe me to? what Publick, National Calamities may I have my ſhare in, &c.
But if I conſider Old Age it ſelf, which we do deſire to reach; what and how many are the Infirmities and Griefs, and troubleſome Circumſtances which attend that State, which dying young will prevent? Are not moſt Men, who reach a very great old Age, helpleſs Objects of Pity? A Burthen to themſelves, and to all about them? And (which commonly happens,) may I not then be as unwilling to dye, as at preſent? As loth then to leave the World as now, tho' in a manner it will have left me? For how many Old Men, paſt the Reliſh of Senſual Pleaſures, are yet inordinately fond of a longer Life!
Have I not been told by Heathens, as well as Chriſtians; that 'tis not the length of time, but it's improvement, that doth really make a Long Life? If I have anſwered the Ends for which I were born, 'tis not too ſoon to dye. No Man ever miſcarried as to his Everlaſting Intereſt, becauſe his Life was Short, but Evil. He that is prepared for Death, he that dyes in the Lord, hath lived long enough, and ſhould thank God for a ſpeedy Call to the Poſſeſſion of that Felicity, which the Holieſt Saints on Earth deſire and breath after. Gideon loſt nothing by returning from Victory, while the Sun was yet high. He hath fought long enough who hath gained the Victory. If I have wrought but a few Hours in a Vineyard, and done but little Service for my Lord and Maſter; and yet am diſmiſt, and rewarded, before the reſt of my Fellow-Labourers; ſhall I repine, and think my Lord doth not befriend me? If he hath any farther Service for me, he will prolong my Days, and make me Diligent, I hope, and contented. Otherwiſe I pray he would make me ready to dye, and make me willing, and deſirous to depart this Life. For to be only content to dye, that I may be perfectly Holy, and fully Bleſſed, is methinks too low for a Chriſtian, who acts like himſelf; believing the Certainty of his avowed Principles and Hopes, and knowing, that While we are preſent in the Body, we are abſent from the Lord.