None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever: That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
— Psalm 49:7-9
For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.
— Job 30:23
Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
— John 8:51
But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
— Psalm 49:15
O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!
— Deuteronomy 32:29
Concerning Death, by Andrew Gray. The following contains an excerpt from his sermon, “How Christians are to deal with Death.”
Psalm 89:48, What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.
The second thing that I shall speak unto from this first observation, viz., This is a most certain and infallible truth, that all persons shall once see death- shall be to give you some considerations for pressing you to prepare for death.
The first consideration is this, to die well and in the Lord, is a most difficult work ; therefore I entreat you to prepare for death. It is a difficult work to communicate aright; it is a difficult work to pray aright; and it is a difficult work to confer aright ; but I must tell you, it is a still more difficult work to die aright than any of these. It is true, it is more difficult to communicate aright than to pray aright, yet it is much more difficult to die aright than to communicate aright, for it is a more difficult work to die in the Lord, Death will put the most accurate Christian that is here to a wonderful search: and therefore I will tell you of nine things that death will try in thee;
1. Death will try both the reality and strength of thy faith. It may be easy for thee to keep up faith under many difficulties, but death will put thy faith to the greatest stress that ever it did meet with. Yea, know this, that the faith of the strongest believer may get (and ordinarily doth get) a set at death, the like whereof it never got before: therefore prepare for death.
2. Death will try thy love to God: some persons pretend much love to him, hut death will propose this question to such a person, Lovest thou him more than these? Lovest thou him more than. thy wife, more than thy house, more than thy friends? But your unwillingness to die, giveth much ground to fear that many have little love to Christ, but much to the world, and so dare not answer the question, Lord thou knowest that I love thee?
3. Death will try thine enjoyments; some of you may be ready to think that ye meet with many enjoyments, so that ye may reckon (as you think) to forty enjoyments and sweet out-lettings; but beware that death bring them not down to twenty: I have known some, who thought they have met forty times with God, but when death came, it made them take down the account to the half; therefore seeing death will try the reality of thine enjoyments, O prepare for it.
4. Death will try thy patience. Thou mayest seem to have much patience now, but when death cometh (and thou art put to die) it will put thy patience to a great trial; therefore prepare for it.
5. Death will try the reality of thy duties, yea, even those duties wherein thou had most satisfaction, as thy communicating aright in such a place; thou hopest that is sure; thy reading the scripture at such a time aright, thou hopest that is sure; thou prayedst at such a time aright, and hopest that is sure; thou didst meditate in such a place aright, and hopest that is sure ; but (believe me) death may make thee change thy thoughts; for there are some persons who have communicated, and prayed, &c. as right as any in this generation, who (for all that) will not find six duties wherein they can find satisfaction at death ; therefore our need is great to prepare for it.
6. Death will exceedingly try thy sincerity when it cometh -an hypocrite may go all along his whole way undiscovered, yet death may bring him to light, and make him appear what man he is.
7. Death will discover unto thee many hid and secret sins of which thou never hadst a thought before; yet, albeit thou thoughtest these had been forgotten, death will let thee see them standing between thee and the light of His countenance.
8. Death will accurately try the mortification – some will think they have come a great length in mortification; but (believe me) death will try it, and put it to the touch-stone.
9. Death will try thy hope, whether it be real or not. I shall only say this, that all the other graces must lower the sail to faith, and so it is faith must carry us through, being that last triumphing grace, which must fit us for the field, when all the other graces will faint and lie by. It is faith that must enter us fairly within the borders of eternity; it is faith must gain-stand all the temptations of death, yea, all the other graces must (as it were) stand by, and see faith strike the last stroke in the war.
II. The second consideration to press you to mind death, is this, that ye are to die but once, and the wrong doing of which can never be helped; if ye pray not aright, ye may get that mended; if ye meditate not aright, ye may get that mended; and if ye communicate not aright, ye may get that mended: but alas! if ye die not aright, there is no mending of that; therefore O prepare for death, that ye may die well, seeing ye are to die but once.
III. The third consideration to press you to mind death, is this, that they are pronounced blessed who die in the Lord, Rev. 14:13, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. O let that provoke you to prepare for death, that so ye may die in the Lord; that is the the only way to make you eternally happy. I confess it is a question difficult to determine, whether it be more difficult to die well or to live well ? I shall not answer it, but rather desire you to study both.
IV. The fourth consideration to press you to prepare for death, is this, viz. That though thou put all thy works by thy hand before death, yet shalt thou find that death shall have work enough for itself, yea, as much as thou shalt get done. It will then be much for thee to win to patience; it will be much for thee to win to the sight of thy justification; and then it will be much more for thee to win to assurance. O ! then is it not needful for thee to put all thy work by hand before thy latter end come? Wherefore I may say to you, as Moses said in his song, Deut. xxxii. 29, O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end! O that ye had this piece of divine wisdom! I pray you consider that sad word, Lam. 1:9, She remembereth not her last end; and what of it? therefore she came down wonderfully. So will the down-coming of many in this generation be wonderful, who consider not their last end.
V. The fifth consideration for pressing you to prepare for death, is this, viz. That their labour shall end, but their works shall not be forgotten, as is clear from that forecited place, Rev. 14:13. They rest from their labours, and their works do follow them: and is not that a glorious advantage.
VI. The sixth consideration to press you to prepare for death, is this, viz. That death may come upon you ere ye be aware; ye know not but death may surprise you this night before ye go home to your houses; and therefore let that press you to study a constant preparation for death.
VII. The seventh consideration to press you to prepare for death, is this, viz. That as death leaveth you, so will judgment find you; If death shall leave you strangers to Christ, ye shall appear before him strangers to him: therefore I entreat you all to prepare for it. I think that noble practice of Paul exceeding worthy of imitation, I Cor. 15:31, 1 die daily. Which, I think, doth comprehend these three things :
1. That Paul had death always in his sight.
2. It comprehendeth this, that he endeavoured to keep such a frame as every moment he should be ready to die; so that whensoever death should put a summons in his hand, he would be content to answer.
3. It comprehendeth this, that he laboureth to lay aside and remove all things out of the way, that might detain him from laying down his tabernacle. O ! saith Paul, I labour to clear myself from all hindrances, as that whenever I shall be summoned to remove out of time, I may willingly lay down my life. Therefore I would ask you this question, viz. When shall you make your last testament? I think it were suitable for us to be renewing our latter-will every day: for in so doing, Paul made an excellent testament, the better of which none that died since have made, 2 Tim. 4:7, 8, I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: these are very sweet articles; and then he added, henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give sue at that day. And think ye not that very sweet, that ye would leave something unto you in Christ’s name? viz. And that not for me only, but for all them that wait for his appearance.
Now I come to the third thing proposed, viz. To give some directions for helping you to prepare for death.
Direct. 1. I entreat you be much in preparation for death every day, for it is even a preparation for heaven, to be taking a sight of your grave and latter-end every day.
Direct. 2. I entreat you be much in these duties;
First, In self-examination ; that your counts may be clear with God, for many a ragged count shall we have when death and we shall meet.
Secondly, Be much in the exercise of repentance, that so ye may have every fault and corruption in you mourned for, before death and you meet.
Thirdly, Be much in the exercise of faith, making your calling and election sure.
Fourthly, Be much in the exercise of mortification, and that will help you to keep a loose grip, not only of the world, but also of your idols; and if ye be much in these, ye shall undoubtedly be prepared for death.
Direct. 3. Be much in minding the excellent things of heaven. A Christian that would be prepared for death, would have all his thoughts and conversation there. I think it should be an excellent help (in preparation for death) to take a sight of the crown every day.
Direct. 4. Labour always to keep a good concience, void of offence towards God and man: I say, labour to keep thy conscience clear, and that shall be a continual feast unto thee.
Direct. 5. Slight not any known duty, do not crucify any conviction, neither break any resolution; put these three together, and that will exceedingly help you to prepare for death : I say, see that ye adventure not to slight any known duty; see that ye adventure not to crucify any conviction, and see that ye adventure not to break your resolutions. Now we come to the Second thing which we observed from the words, viz. That this truth, that we shall once see death, is not much believed by any of us. And to make this appear, we shall only give some evidences unto you, to prove that we are not as yet prepared for death.
I. Evidence. Doth not the unspeakable stupidity that hath overtaken many, say, that we are not a people prepared for death? Alas! many of us would find ourselves in a most stupid temper, if we were presently to die; for many of us are no more moved with the threatenings and terrors of God, than if they did not belong unto us ; and this saith, we are not as yet prepared for death.
II. Evidence.That we are not prepared for death, is our pursuing so much after the vain and passing delights of a present world. Many of us rise up early, and go late to bed at night, and eat the bread of sorrow all the day, and load ourselves with the thick clay; and I am sure that such a person (being night and day taken up with the world) is not prepared for death. I remember a word recorded of such a wretched one, who was exceedingly rich ; said he, I would give so many thousands of money, if death will give me but one day; yet he got it not. And, O! how suddenly will death surprise many of us, as it did him.
III. Evidence. Which speaketh forth our unpreparedness for death, is our impatience under every petty cross that we meet with; for the prepared Christian will be patient under very sharp crosses.
IV. Evidence. That we are not prepared, is our not endeavouring to live within sight of our interest in God. O! if we were prepared for death, durst we live in so much uncertainty of our interest in God, and of our assurance of heaven?
V. Evidence. Some of us can let our idols lie in our breast six years without repentance, and will never study to mortify them, nor to repent for them; and surely such are not prepared for death.
Now I entreat you seriously to mind what hath been said; and that ye may the more seriously think upon it, I will tell you some material challenges that your conscience at death will present unto you; therefore take heed, that ye may know how ye will answer.
1. Challenge, Is the slighting of much precious time, and sinning away the precious offers of grace. O! what will ye answer to that challenge when death shall present it unto you? Death will say (or rather thine own conscience at death) what ailed thee to sin so many hours, without either praying, reading, or meditating? Now, have ye anything to answer when death shall present his challenge to you? I entreat you to premeditate what ye will say:
I entreat you to prevent death, by presenting it first seriously to yourselves.
2. Challenge, That death will present unto you, will be for the killing of many precious convictions which we have had. What will each of you answer at death, when your conscience proposeth this challenge unto you? You met with such a challenge at such a time, and went home and crucified it: when at another time you met with another challenge, and went home and crucified it; these challenges will be laid to thy door, therefore think on them.
3. Challenge. Death will challenge you for a formal hypocritical way of going about duties; I say, your conscience will then tell you that ye went to such a communion with a selfish end; and at another time ye prayed hypocritically and formally. And what will ye have to answer when ye meet with these challenges? I confess, I know not what ye can answer to these; but I charge you, be thinking what ye will answer, for it may be that these convictions shall lie on your consciences, that even this day ye have heard two searching sermons, and did meet with some convictions, but made no good use of them? yea, and it may be ye did sleep all the time. O ! what shall ye answer, when it shall be said to you, ye went to such a sermon, and slept all the time? and ye went to such a communion, with no other end before your eyes, but to be seen of men? I entreat you consider presently what ye will answer to these.
4. Challenge, Will be for your breaking of many precious resolutions. It will be said to some of you, that at the communion, in this place, ye took on vows, and did break them; I am sure ye cannot question the justice of the challenge, therefore see what ye will answer.
5. Challenge. Ye slighted many precious offers of the gospel. O men and women in this city, what will ye answer to this? I was often exhorted to take Christ, and yet never would take him. What will conscience say to that, when death shall table it before you? I tell you what ye must then answer: O cursed I, that ever I refused Christ in the gospel! And ye shall then be confounded because this is your sin ; believe me, there was never an offer of this everlasting gospel, and of Christ in it, made unto you, that shall not at death (before or after) be brought to your remembrance. And O! how sad and doleful will it be to you, when Christ shall open the book wherein all your sins are written, and begin with the sin of slighting the great salvation? Thus I invited you, when you were twelve years old, but you would not come. What will ye answer to this? Have ye anything to say? Or must ye not stand speechless before your Judge, when he shall put home this challenge unto you? Therefore think seriously upon it, how ye will answer it.
6. Challenge, Will be for your sinning oftentimes against light; and O ! how painful and sad a challenge will that be at the day of death, when it will be said, thou sinnedst with a witness in thy bosom that thou wast doing wrong? Thy conscience will say, oftentimes did I tell thee, this was sinful1 yet wouldst thou not abstain from it; and what will ye answer to this?
7. Challenge. Oftentimes ye sinned upon very small temptation, and what will ye answer to that? Must ye not then confess it, and say, O ! how often have I deserted Christ, and embraced my idols upon a small temptation? Now, I entreat you, be thinking what ye will answer to these seven most material challenges, which certainly shall be presented to you at death. I assure you, ye must either answer all your challenges in Christ, else ye will not get them well answered. Therefore, I would exhort you to embrace the gospel, and Christ in it; and so let death propose never so many challenges unto you, ye may answer them all as David did, viz., God hath made n,ith me an everlasting covenant, (and that will answer all your challenges) though my house be not so with God, yet I have the everlasting covenant to build my salvation upon.
Now, to press you to make use of Christ, I shall give you these four considerations :
Consideration 1. If ye embrace not Christ now, death will be very unpleasant unto you. O what else can comfort thee, when going through the region of the shadow of death, but this, I am Christ’s, I am Christ’s? Is there any other thing can comfort thee in that day, but only this, I am Christ’s, and he is mine?
Consideration 2. If ye embrace not Christ, and the great salvation now, it will be a hundred to one if ever ye get time or liberty to do it, when ye are going to die. For although many delay their closing with Christ till death, yet scarcely one of a hundred getteth favour to lay hold on Christ at death ; therefore, think on it, for ye will not get your mind so composed at death as ye imagine, nor all things done as ye suppose; therefore, now, embrace the great salvation.
Consideration 3. If ye delay your closing with Christ till death seize upon you, ye shall never be able to make up that loss: for will the dead rise and praise God? or shall any come from the land of forgetfulness, to take hold upon a crucified Saviour? Therefore, O! will you take him for your salvation?
Consideration 4. If ye will take Christ now, he shall be your guide, when ye are going through the valley and shadow of death. And O how blessed is the person that can sing that song, Psalm xlviii. 14, This is my God, he will be my guide even unto death. If ye can sing that pleasant song, O how may ye be comforted, when your eye-strings shall begin to break? O how happy is he who can say, though I waite through the shadow of death, yet will I fear no ill; for I know the Lord is with me? Now this is the acceptable day, and the year of salvation; therefore, do not delay, but embrace Christ, lest death surprise you ere ye be aware, and so that acceptable day be lost. But unto those who think they may delay till death, I say, surely there are many damned atheists in hell that sometimes did think as ye think :-I will make all wrongs right when death and I shall meet; I hope that three days’ repentance will satisfy for all my wrong. For I am sure, there are many in hell who did never get three days to think upon their former ways; therefore, O come. come, and embrace Christ presently. Now, are ye all persuaded of this truth, that ye shall once see death? Then study a tender walking; for, believe me, there are many of us who shall go through death with many bruised bones, because of untencler walking before God. We know it is not the multitude of words can persuade you to embrace Christ; for many of you never minded the thing. But, believe me, death will preach these things to you in a more terrible manner than we can do at this time. Therefore, I say to each of you, O prepare to meet thy God; for if death find you in an estranged state from God, I defy the angels in heaven to free you out of that estate: and the day is coming, wherein thou shalt cry out, O slighter of the great salvation that I am, I would give ten thousand worlds for one sermon again that I once heard, wherein Christ was freely offered to me, when thou shalt be tormented without hope of remedy. Therefore, while it is to-day, harden not your hearts, for your late wishes shall not be granted, (when ye are gone) if ye make not haste. O therefore, haste, haste in time, and come out from the land of your captivity, and from the house of your bond-age, and take Christ for your Redeemer, the guide of your youth and old age,- Now unto Him, who can lead you through all the steps betwixt you and heaven, be eternal praise. Amen.
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