A Believer's Last Day, His Best Day
Part 2 A Believer's Last Day, His Best Day
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"You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory." Psalm 73:24
"Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart." Psalm 97:11
The Epistle Dedicatory
To my worthy and beloved friends, Mr. And Mrs. John Russell, and to Mr. Thomas Randall; all happiness in this world, and in that which is to come. The ensuing sermon was preached upon your importunity, and printed also upon the same account. You know that nothing would satisfy your spirits but the printing of it, which at last made me unwillingly willing to answer your desires; not that I did delight to deny your desires, nor because I prized it—but because I thought it not good enough for you, nor worthy of that weight which you laid upon it—it being but the fruit of some short broken meditations. I have now published these notes, which in all love I present to you. They were once in your ear, they are now in your eye—may the Lord keep them ever in your hearts! If there is anything in this sermon worth the having, it is not mine but the Lord's, through grace.
Dear friends, you know we must all die in the wilderness of this world, be gathered to our fathers—leave this earth, and be seen no more. Abraham and Sarah must part, Jacob and Rachel must be separated, David and his child must be severed. Our days are numbered, our period of time is appointed, and our bounds we cannot pass. "All flesh is as grass, and the glory thereof as the flower of the field," Psalm 103:15; therefore do not mourn as people "without hope," neither be like Rachel, who would "not be comforted." To that purpose take this counsel.
1. First, Dwell much upon the sweet behavior of others, under the loss of their near and dear relations. When God had passed the sentence of death upon David's child, "Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate." 2 Samuel 12:20. When his servants questioned this action, he answers, "Now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again?" verse 23.
Just so, when Aaron's sons were destroyed by fire for their offering up strange fire, Lev. 10:22-23, Aaron holds his peace; he bridled his passions, and submitted sweetly and quietly to divine justice. Just so, when it was told Anaxagoras that both his sons, which were all he had, were dead, being not terrified at the sad news, he answered, "I knew I begat mortal creatures!" The people in Thrace, bury their children with great joy—but at their birth lament grievously, in regard of the miseries which are like to befall them while they live.
2. Secondly, In time of crosses, losses, and miseries—it is the wisdom of believers to look more upon the crown—than upon the cross; to dwell more upon glory—than upon misery; to eye more the brazen serpent which is lifted up—than the fiery serpent which bites and stings. [2 Cor. 4:16-18; Heb. 10:34, 11:24-26, 35, and 12:1-3.] Basil speaks of some martyrs who were cast out all night naked in a frigid time, and were to be burned the next day, how they comforted themselves in this manner: "The winter is sharp—but paradise is sweet; here we shiver for cold—but the bosom of Abraham will make amends for all." Galen writes of a fish called Uranoscopos, which has but one eye—and yet looks continually up to heaven. A Christian under the cross should always have an eye looking up to heaven, so that his soul may not faint, and he may give glory to God in the day of visitation. It is recorded of Lazarus, that after his resurrection from the dead he was never seen to laugh; his thoughts and affections were so fixed in heaven, though his body was on earth, that he could not but slight temporal things, his heart being set upon eternal things. [Let heaven be a man's object—and the earth will be his abject.] "A man," says Chrysostom, "who would dwell in the contemplation of heaven, would be loath to come out of it." "Nay, says Augustine, "a man might age himself in the contemplation of heaven, and sooner grow old than weary."
3. Thirdly, Compare your mercies and your losses together, and you shall find that your mercies will wonderfully outweigh your losses. You have lost one mercy, you enjoy many mercies. What is the loss of a wife, a child, or any other temporal mercy, compared to a soul's enjoyment of the favor of God, pardon of sin, peace of conscience, hopes of heaven, etc.? Besides, you enjoy many temporal mercies, which many of the precious sons of Zion lack, etc.
4. Fourthly, Consider seriously of the reasons of God's stripping his people of their nearest and their dearest mercies. They are these—
[1.] For a trial of the strength and power of their graces. It is not every cross nor every loss, which tries the strength of a Christian's graces. Job held bravely in the face of many afflictions for a time—but when he was thoroughly afflicted in his body, then he acts like a man void of grace, rather than like a man who did excel all others in grace. [God tried the strength of Abraham's faith, and the strength of Job's patience, and the strength of Moses' meekness, and the strength of David's zeal, and the strength of Paul's courage—to the utmost. God will not only try the truth—but he will also, sooner or later, try the strength of every grace which is in a believer. Exod. 12:27, 30-31.]
When God burns up the shed—but leaves the palace standing; when he takes away the servant—but leaves the child; when he gathers here a flower and there a flower out of men's gardens—but leaves the flowers which are the delight of their eyes and the joy of their hearts; they bear it patiently and sweetly. But when he burns up the palace, and takes away thechild, and gathers the fairest flower in all our garden—then we usually show ourselves to be but men, yes, to be weak men, passionately crying out, "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! O that I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!" 2 Sam. 18:33.
[2.] God passes the sentence of death upon men's dearest mercies, that he himself may be more dreaded, and that his precious servants and their counsel may be the better minded and regarded. The Egyptians trembled not under several judgments, nor minded not what Moses and Aaron said, until God smote their firstborn—and then they tremble, and then the servants of the Lord and their counsel found better reception with them than formerly they had done. Ah, friends! has the Lord smitten your firstborn, as I may say? then look to it, as you prize the honor of God, the advancement of the gospel, the peace of your own consciences, the stopping of the mouths of the wicked, and the gladdening of those hearts that God would not have saddened, that God be more dreaded, and that his servants and his services be more owned, loved, and regarded.
The people of God, and the ordinances of God—are to God as his firstborn; and those who make light of God's firstborn, God will make as light of their firstborn. These Egyptians had slain Israel, God's firstborn, and therefore God smites their firstborn. My desire and prayer shall be that God's removing and taking away your firstborn, as I may say, may be the making of more room in your bosoms for God, Christ, saints, and ordinances, so that your great loss may be turned into the greatest gain. And certainly, if this remedy, this potion which is given to you by an outstretched hand from heaven does not work this—the next potion will be far more bitter! John 5:14.
[3.] God passes the sentence of death upon men's nearest and dearest mercies, that he may win them to a more complete and full dependence upon his blessed self.Man is a creature apt to hang and rest upon creature props. "Look to my right and see;" says the psalmist, "no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life." Psalm 142:4. Well, what does he do, now that all props fail him? Why, now he sweetly leans upon God: verse 5, "I cry to you, O Lord; I say—You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living."
Cynaegeirus, an Athenian captain, used great valor in the Persian war, pursuing his enemies who were laden with the rich spoil of his country, and were ready to set sail and be gone; he held the ship with his right hand, and when that was cut off, he held it with the left, that also being cut off, he held it with the stumps, until his arms were cut off, and then he held it with his teeth until his head was cut off. It is the very temper of most men and women in the world—they will hold upon one prop, and if God cuts off that, then they will catch hold on another, etc., until God cut off all their props, and then they will come and rest and center in God, and say, "All my fountains are in you!" Psalm 87:7.
[4.] God strips his people of their dearest mercies, that he may work their hearts to a more strict and diligent search and examination of their own hearts and ways, that they may say with the church, "Let us search and try our ways, and turn to the Lord our God," Lam. 3:39-40, 48. When God's hand, when God's rod is upon our backs—our hands must be upon our hearts, and we must cry out, "What evil have we done! what evil have we done!"
Seneca reports of Sextus, who would every night ask himself three questions—
(1.) What evil have you healed today?
(2.) What vice have you stood against this day?
(3.) In what part are you bettered this day?
When the storm beats strong upon you, you had need to see what Jonah is asleep at the bottom of your souls, so that, he being discovered and cast overboard, your souls may be safe, for in the drowning of your sins, lies the security of your soul.
[5.] God strips his people of their dearest outward mercies, that they may be more compassionate toward those who are, or shall be, in the same condition with themselves. The Jews at this day, in their very nuptial feasts and mirth, break a glass with wine in remembrance of Jerusalem, saying, when they throw it down, "Thus was Jerusalem broken!" What they spill in wine, they fill with tears. Is it not a shame to have the same name, the same faith, the same Christ, the same profession, etc.—and to desire always to tread on roses? Is it not a shame to to be embarked in this great ship of Christianity with so many brave spirits—and to hide under hatches? Saints should be like two lute strings which are tuned one to another; no sooner one is struck but the other trembles.
[6.] God strips his people of their nearest and dearest outward mercies, that they may the more prize and the better taste spiritual and heavenly mercies. Diogenes noted the folly of the men of his time--that they undervalued the best things--but overvalued the worst things. Ah, that this were not the sin and shame of professors in these days! God sometimes strips His people of their nearest and dearest outward mercies--that they may the more prize and the better taste, of spiritual and heavenly mercies. God takes away uncertain riches--that His people may the more prize certain riches! God takes away natural strength--that His people may the more prize spiritual strength! God takes away the creature--that His people may more prize their Savior. Spiritual and heavenly things can alone satisfy the soul. The language of a godly man is this, "Ah, Lord! the good things which I have from You, though they may refresh me--yet they cannot satisfy me without Yourself!" "Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever!" Psalm 73:25-26
5. The fifth and last word of counsel that I shall give you is this, Consider seriously and frequently, that God's taking away or removing of one mercy is but his making of way for another, and usually for a better mercy. God took from David a Michal—and gave him a wise Abigail. God took from David an Absalom—and gave him a wise Solomon. "But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you." John 16:7. God took away the bodily presence of Christ from his disciples—but gave them more abundantly of his spiritual presence, which was far the choicer and the sweeter mercy. God will always make that word good, "I will not leave you comfortless," or as the Greek has it, John 14:18, "I will not leave you as orphans, or fatherless children." No! I will come and comfort you on every side, and I will make up all your needs, and be better to you than all your mercies: "For your brass I will give you silver, and for your iron you shall have gold," etc., Isaiah 60:17.
To draw to a close—"When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous have a refuge!" Proverbs 14:32. We should lament over that dead man or dead woman whom hell harbors, whom the devil devours, whom divine justice torments! But let rejoice over those departed believers whom Christ embosoms—and whom all the court of heaven comes forth to welcome!"Let me die the death of the righteous, and may my end be like theirs!" Numbers 23:10. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints!" Psalm 116:15.
I desire you, and all others who shall read what is here written, to overlook the mistakes of the printer, if you meet with any, I having no time to wait upon the press to correct what may be found amiss. The perusal and acceptance of what I here present in love, I shall leave to your judgments.
In the love and service of our dearest Lord,
Part 2 A Believer's Last Day, His Best Day
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