We see how far all that is valued in this World, can go, The Wealth, the Pomp, the splendor of Attendance, the kind offices of Friends, and the Tears of dearest Relations, accompany what is Mortal but to the mouth of the Grave; and then, the Body once so cherisht, adorn’d, and honour’d is committed to the Earth, to silence and putrefaction. But yet, (blessed be God,) by whose just sentence all this comes to pass, there have been in other Ages, and are in this, very many Christians, who sensible of the weakness of their Bodies, and the stain of their Natures, of the terrors of Death, and the greater terrors of Judgment after Death; have yet not only with Patience waited for it; but thro Faith in the Blessed Jesus, have earnestly long’d for their dissolution.
Since then we cannot be so vain as to hope to live here for ever, since we know, that as Generations have past: so this Generation shall pass away: Of all them who have gone before us, whom would we chuse to be with? with whole Souls, of all such whom we have read of, or heard, or knew, would we venture to be in an Eternal State? We know that all the Sons of Men, or all that profess the Christian Faith, have not liv’d after the same manner: As their Faces, their Statures and Conditions have differ’d; so have their deeds been more unlike. There have been such as have been, and are yet, Children of disobedience, have liv’d without God in the World, as if they were sure to die as the Beasts: and there have been such, who perswaded that their Souls were Immortal, and that their Bodies shall be raised again, have serv’d and lov’d and prais’d God, and persever’d faithful unto Death.
Into these two sorts all the sons of Men are divided. Here they are not always to be distinguisht by us, by what they act, or by what they enjoy: But wondrous will the difference be of their future conditions. To all who are living, and hear the Word of Truth, God gives their choice which of these two sorts of Men they will follow, and hereafter be with them for ever. Which of these do we seriously think it wisdom to be in the number of? whose Lot would we covet? would we be with them, who have minded only temporal and sensual things: or would we, as this godly, deceased Person, mind above all things a future Eternal Concern: And wish each of us: Let me die the death of the Righteous, and let my latter end be like his.
These are the words of Balaam, a Prophet, hired by Balak King of Moab, and brought up into the high places of Baal, that from thence he might curse the People of Israel. But God put different words into his mouth; and by him pronounceth a Blessing on them: He foresees and foretels, v. 9. That Israel shall not dwell alone, nor be reckoned among the Nations: That he shall increase in this World, as the Sand of the Sea, or the Stars in Heaven, v. 10. Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? But, However he is amazed at the prosperity of God’s chosen People; however he admires their multitudes, or their strength, beyond all that, he sees somewhat that is far more desireable; and wishes for himself a different Blessing, and such as is beyond all earthly advantages: He prays not so much for the Life, as the Death of a True Israelite: That is, not only the easie and timely departure in a good old Age, which God promised to the Sons of Jacob, if they kept his Commandments; but in a more mystical sence (as some even ancient Jewish Interpreters explain it) Let me be as the Righteous, and where they are after Life: An Heir of Paradise, and with them who shall not see the face of Hell.
A very wise wish; if that had been enough to make Balaam happy: But he loving the wages of Unrighteousness, forsook the right way, and fell by the Sword of the Israelites, Numb. 31. 8. And may we not infer from S. Peter’s warning us, not to follow his way, That he died not the death of the Righteous.
The dumb beast rebuked the Prophet: And the Prophet, who possibly receiv’d no benefit from his inspired knowledge, may yet by this wish, instruct us: we may therefore inquire why we may desire to die the death of the Righteous, and to have our latter end like his.
For death it self is far from being desirable: And tho the rich will, with the Son of Sirach, cry out: O death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee, to a man that liveth at ease, and rest in his possessions; to a man that hath nothing to vex him? Yet even the Poor and the distressed, and the most Valiant cannot, without some trembling in secret, view it approaching; even Christ himself cryed out, O my father, if it be possible, let this Cup pass form me.
This dread is implanted in us (among other reasons) That we who groan under many Evils and Miseries, (which make Life often burdensom) may indure to live, till we are ordered to depart, by him, to whom alone belong the issues of Life and Death. Accordingly, He who made, hath past sentence on us. It is appointed for all men to die: No one hath been able to save himself, or those whom he love; tho he may have liv’d many years he shall see the Grave, and be gather’d to his Fathers. And yet tho this be most certainly known, together with the uncertainty of the Last Hour: yet few but are surpriz’d by it: and if it give long warning, it is fuller of Terror, the pains, and the ruins of the Body, with the decay of the Faculties of the Mind, together with the Agonies that are long strugled with, are more terrible than Death it self. And when the last moment is past, how amazing is the change? those Persons who were so much courted, or dreaded, how must they say to Corruption, thou art my Father, and to the Worm, thou art my Sister and Mother, when they go down to the bars of the pit, when they rest together in the Grave? For our days are appointed, beyond which we shall not go. The Light, and whatever is joyous in it, must be forsaken. Of all our Furniture we shall take with us but a Shrowd; in all the World only for a while we shall have a few feet of ground: Our Memory be forgotten, and our Place know us no more. The Righteous have no privilege or exemption. Original Sin hath tainted all Constitutions: To it the best of Men have added their own Offences to make them more Mortal: Their days are few, and evil: and they go to the house appointed for all the Living. For, Abraham is dead, tho stiled the Righteous Man by God himself: and the Prophets where are they? They are long since fallen asleep: nay, the Son of God himself gave up the Ghost: He humbled himself to death, even the death of the Cross. All his Disciples have drunk of the same Cup: even the most beloved one, the Evangelist who lay in his bosom, before his Lords coming, saw Death. And they of whom the World was not worthy, were afflicted, tormented, slain with the Sword.
Since then the Righteous die as the Wicked: since their days are few, and often fewer: since they even now suffer for righteousness sake: and are, many of them, in the eye of the World, most miserable: since the same event happens to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not, why should we desire to die the death of the Righteous, and have our latter end like his?
The Reasons for this Wish are very weighty. For,