And so he passed away. “Being (to use the descriptive words of a writer of old day) high in his communion with God, holy and unblameable in his walkings with God—it was still day with his soul. He lived and died in the joys and comforts of the Holy Ghost. And now that his sun is set, his glass out, his work, done, his race over, he rests in the everlasting arms of Divine love.”
And now, brethren, what remains for us? What for me but to speak home to your consciences? What for you but to act upon what may be spoken to the point?
I say then—Remember the charge here given, and consider the life of God’s servant and its end.
He has been God’s gift to His church—God’s gift to us in this neighbourhood, that through him our souls might be helped on to salvation—God’s name become more abundantly honoured.
Shall we not take this view of him? Consider this, you that are Christless—consciously without Christ—without a well-grounded hope—what effect should this life and death have on you?
You have watched the one, you have heard of the other. You know in your heart of hearts that there has been no sham, not a shadow of unreality. If ever a real Christian was to be seen, you have seen one in him. There is no doubt in your minds that he believed no lie, followed no shadow. You know that he has found all, and more than all, that he expected to find in Christ.
You feel convinced that he chose wisely when he chose for God—because he chose a certainty. With some here this is no new conviction. As friend, or neighbour, or tenant, or servant, or labourer, you have felt him to be in the right, and have wished to be as he was.
I would to God, brethren, that you felt equally convinced that hitherto all has been uncertainty with you. Think for one moment. Are not your fears more than your hopes? Do you not feel sometimes that the end of your mirth may be heaviness, the end of your pleasure pain? Does your name to live give you any real satisfaction? Will a gained world outweigh a lost soul? Have you any real settled peace? Is not all vague, dark, cheerless, uncertain.
O that these convictions might sink down deeply into your hearts, and bring you to the desire to be found of God in peace, and to put aside everything that now stands in your way.
Only begin where he began—where he, if he were now in my place, would urge me to begin—with Christ. Go to the Lord Jesus this very day. He who received and taught his servant, will receive and teach you, for He is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. “This man receiveth sinners. None teacheth like him.”