Of Dying in a Foreign Country, and of Dying Young

Of dying in a foreign country and of dying youn. 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 nevof see my native country more. Let me still remeuHber, O my soul! that, wherever I am, I am travel* ling towards the grave, and passing to another world:’ that I may live in all places as a pilgrim abd strangtt here on earth; with affections suited to my conditiooj 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 myself 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-travdlers, (whose memory will be ever precious* with those who knew him,) quickly arrived to his jour* ney’s end, and is entered into rest betimes. Which

Mr. Thomas Bent, who died at Geneva, May 10, 1683L This companions shall next follow, we knownotf or ow soon. Lord! make me apprehend the nearness f my change in every place i and, if I am prepared pr dying, no matter where it be. There is no one luntry farther from the presence of God than anther. The whole world may be considered as one reat house, and the several kingdoms and countries f it but as different apartments in the same house; nd they who tarry at home are no more exempt roin death than they who travel abroad.

“The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness theref.” I can go no where to be out of his territories; shall still tread upon my Father’s ground. I had itber be an Israelite in the wilderness, in the pretence of God, than a courtier in idolatrous Egypt. Abraham, the father of the faithful, and the friend i God, was banished from his own country; and ihonld I never set foot again on my native soil, there is no reason of murmuring against my God, who hath lealt thus with many of his favourites. And while I have been in a strange land, he hath not suffered ne to feel the wants, and necessities, and heart of a itranger. Amongst a people of a strange language, be can and doth provide for me all things richly to enjoy. I may set up my Ebenezer; hitherto bath 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 rejoice in God in a desert, though all the world ibould forsake me, though all the world should be igainst me? Should I have no other friend or helper is not God, an infinite God, enough? and without his fatour and presence, what can all thb

world do for me? If I be sick, and in danger sf

death, among my relations and friends, if the cooh

forts of the Almighty do not refresh and delight n (

soul, they cannot; and if I want not these in my laik

agonies, no matter in what part or comer of the earth ‘|;^

I breathe my last. If the word and promise of God

be my foundation, a holy hope my anchor, Christ mj

pilot, and heaven my country, I shall not fail d(

being landed there at last. Suffer me not to forsaks

thee, O heavenly Father! while I live; and do not

thou forsake me in my last hour; and Jet it comft

when and where thou wilt. If my blessed Saviour

will receive my departing soul at death, I am not

solicitous in what country or part of the earth it bsL

And that I may not be unwilling, in the flower

of my age and time, in youth and strength, to leave

this world; let roe think often, that no one age or

part of life is more privileged against the stroke of J

death than another. If I have done my work be-

times, as my deceased fellow-traveller had, is it not I

better to receive the blessed recompense, than to ]

tarry longer in a world of sin and suffering, absent

from the Lord! Shall I not thereby escape a mot

titude of temptations, sins, and sorrows, which othen:

by living long are exposed to! If my peace be made j

with God, what should make me willing to live at 1-

this distance from him! What should render thii t

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 v,

fear lest I should fall into such scandalous and grievous

sins, that may bring a public reproach on the gospel.

r Christ, and sadden the hearts of all fny acquabt- (i€e who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity! By dyig early I shall contract less guilt, and commit less Oy and see and feel less sorrow, than others who we longer. And, though I should maintain my itegrity, yet in this world my highest love and obeience to God, and my sweetest communion with im, is but imperfect. How many impediments and iversions do I daily meet with, that deaden my heart heavenly contemplations and affections! what di»- ppointments and sorrowful disasters, to convince me hat this is not the place of rest and happiness I iVhat smart afflictions may some of my relations prove! What dangerous snares may attend me in the remaining portion of my time! What opposition 9nd hatred from men may the steadfast profess* «ig of the truth and fidelity to God expose me to! What public national calamities may I have my ibare of, &c.

But if I consider old age itself, which we do denre 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, liless objects of pity, a burthen to themselves and to all about them? And (which commonly happens) may I not then be as unwilling to die as at present? as loath then to leave the world as now, though in a manner it will have left me? For, how many old men, past the relish of sensual pleasures, are yet inordinately fond of longer life!

Have I not been told by heathens, as well as Christians, that it is not the length of time) W..’^

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improvement) that doth really make a long life? If I have answered the ends for which I was born, it is not too soon to die. No roan ever miscarried as to his everlasting interest, because his life was short, but evil. He that is prepared for death, he that dies 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 breathe 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 a little service for my Lord and Master; and yet am dismissed 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 die, and make me willing and desirous to depart this life. For to be only content to die, 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.”