The Brevity of Life Considered as the Fruit of Sin
The brevity of life considered as the fruit of sin* There are but three ways of leaving this worlds as AbeU Adam or Enoch. A diligent improvement of time further pressed and the neglect of it be* wailed.
The shortening of our days is the fruit of sin. AH the funerals that have ever been in the world have been caused by sin. We die because we have sinned, and yet we should not sin as now, if this were not forgot, that we must die. From the first transgression of Adam we derive our death; and therefore some of his posterity lived longer thao he. Which proves that the lengthening of oui days is the peculiar gift of God; and yet it is such a gift as was more desired formerly than since the appearance of Christ: for we read of none in the New Testament, since life and immortality an brought to light by the gospel,” who desired a long continuance here on earths
Were we delivered from sin, the sting of death, by having made our peace with God by the blood oi Jesus, death would not be frightful, or put on sucl a ghastly vizor, as to most it doth. But we are uncertain of our justification, we waver between hopei and fears, as to our final sentence; and are conscioui to ourselves that we are not ready for our great ao count. This makes death so terrible; considering withal that it is inevitable; ^’ the way of all the living.” For, though the curse be removed, and the sting be taken out by our blessed Saviour, so that the souls of believers are safe, and shall not be touched by the second death, yet God hath not taken away the stroke of it from the body. Though a Christian is assured of deliverance from hell, he is not exempted from the grave, as his passage to heaven.
Prepare me, Lord, by the free remission of all my sins, and make me meet for the blessed inheritance by thy sanctifying grace; and then thy time is best; “thy holy will be done.” No matter, then, whether my death be violent, or that we call Datural. It will be one of the two, for I cannot expect to be translated by a miraculous change, as holy Enoch was; and as they shall be, who shall be found alive in the world, when our glorious Judge shall come again. There are but those three ways of leaving earth; and the three first men, of whose departure we read in Scripture, are instances of all three. Abel of a violent death, Adam of a natural one, and Enoch of a translation. The variety and order of their departure, as one observes, are very admirable, and deserve to be considered. For all mankind must follow one or other of those three examples. Every man or woman, that is born into the world, must leave it by one of those three ways; either be cut off by a viglent death, as Abel, the first man who died; or die a natural death, as Adam did, who was the second; or be translated, as Enoch, who was the third we read of.
But though I know, that within a few years, at farthest, I must leave this world by one or oVVvet oi these ways; though I have been dying ever since I began to live; and am dead to the last year, and to all the preceding portions of my time; and know withal, that what remains will quickly pass and be gone after the same manner; yet how have I overloved this body, as if I should never live out of it! and set my heart and affections on this world, as if I should never remove to another! and trifled away my precious time and life, as if a change would never come!
That few do so seriously admit such thoughts, is too evident by the general course and practice of their lives. For to what hazards do men expose themselves? what pains will they take? what inconveniences will they bear? with what unwearied industry will they toil and labour to get a little money or honour in this world, though they know not but they may be called out of it before the end of this year! And yet the same persons are remiss aiicl slothful about a future life; negligent and unconcerned about an eternal state; careless and indiflferent, yea, sottishly stupid, about the welfare of their immortal souls. Henceforward, O my soul! whatever others do, let me resolve to live in the expectation of a change, which I know is certain, and may be very near.