Meditation CXIX.

THE EXPECTED CHANGE.

Jan. 10, 1762, Lisbon River.

Whatever horrors may beset the carnally-minded, when they think of their death; yet no prospect affords me such pleasure as that of my death and final change! I have exceeding great cause to rejoice, when I compare what I now am and suffer—with what I shall then enjoy and be! Now my joys are future, and in expectation—for I walk by faith, and live on hope.

But then they shall be present, and in possession—for I shall dwell in light, and feed on fruition! Now I am daily struggling with death and sin—but then I shall eternally triumph over both! Now I toil along a tiresome road—but then I shall walk above these skies in the very heavens! Now my eyes rove from vanity to vanity—but then they shall see, yes, fix on the King in his glory, on the King of kings in his divinest glory!

Now I dwell among fire-brands, and surrounding sinners daily give me pain—but then I shall dwell among the multitudes of the redeemed, see angels and archangels increase the throng, cherubim and seraphim join the song, and not one sinner among all the heavenly multitudes!

Now I often bewail myself as a frail inhabitant of feeble clay—but then I shall find myself possessed of all the vigor of immortality—of all the briskness of eternal life! Now I am often puzzled about the providences of my lot—but then I shall approve, and see a divine beauty shining through the whole conduct of providence, in the light of glory.

Now, in the noblest subjects my ignorance often leaves me greatly in the dark—but then shall I know, and that even as I am known. Now I have foes without, and foes within, the sin of my nature, and the idols of my heart, enemies from earth and hell to grapple with—but then, triumphing over every foe, I shall sing the conquest of the Captain of my salvation, the victories of the divine Conqueror, and never cease from this matchless, this unexhaustable theme!

Now sometimes, I am debarred from the precious ordinances and sacred courts of God—but then shall I be a pillar in the temple of God, and go no more out—and always worship at his throne! Now the cruel hand of death comes among my friends and family, and leaves me like a sparrow on the house-top alone, or mourning in the wilderness—but then not one of all the numerous inhabitants shall so much as say, "I am sick," because they are an assembly of sinless ones.

Now my Sun often conceals himself, so that I go mourning without him; but then in the light of his countenance, in the brightness of his glory, shall I walk on forever! Now I am crawling along the road of life in company with fellow-worms, who dwell in cottages of clay, and are crushed before the moth—but then, dignified with his divine likeness, I shall dwell with the Ancient of days, and enjoy the dearest and most intimate communion with Jehovah and the Lamb forever! Now my time is wasting away, and I may be very near my latter end—but then an endless eternity shall be mine, and my bliss be as durable as it is desirable; and as permanent as it is pleasant. O! then, who would not prepare and wait for a change that is so pregnant with glory and bliss?

Meditation CXX.

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