Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

put a period to my life, I know not in all probability it will not be long before I leave the stage of this world, and be summoned before the bar of God, to give a strict and impartial account of my past life.

O it is an awful thing to die and come to judgment! I beg, O Lord, I beg that I may be made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light. Sanctify me wholly; let my whole spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless unto the coming of my Lord Jesus Christ. O be thou pleased to preserve me unto thy heavenly kingdom. Many fears, and much ground for fears have I, that I shall never enter into rest: but blessed Lord, do not exclude me from thy comfortable presence hereafter: do thou make me fit to be a member of those blessed inhabitants of the New Jerusalem. Though I am altogether unworthy, yet if thou, O Lord, please to account me worthy, I may then be so happy as to stand before the Son of man with courage and comfort.

Keep thou me by thy almighty power,

through faith, unto salvation. Let me be preserved from fainting, sinking, and desponding in my last conflicts and agonies. Let me see thee who art invisible, and with an eye of faith look within the veil, whence I look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, to change this vile body (of mine) that it may be fashioned like to his glorious body. Let this Saviour be my Saviour and Redeemer, even the Lord Jesus Christ: and let me be assured that he is mine, and I am indeed his; and that this vile, contemptible, wretched body shall be changed, and made like to his glorious and blessed body. This is such an honour and privilege, that I have hardly a face to ask: but I find a warrant in thy word, to look, long, expect, pant, and wait for so happy a day and time, as to be in a sinless state and condition, where we shall see our Saviour, and be like him; where earthly troubles and sorrows shall vanish and decay; where the world, the flesh, and the devil, shall have no power to tempt, molest, or disturb those that thou, O Lord God Al

mighty, shalt admit into thy heavenly kingdom and glory. O blessed souls that are here owned by thee, approved by thee, and shall at last be received by thee into those eternal mansions above.

Lord, I humbly put in for a share in these inestimable mercies and privileges: earthly things cannot content me, without some hopes, some prospect, some glimpse of thy love and favour: if thou afford me this, I may then bear the inconveniences, the hardships, and ill usage I meet with here in this howling desert. Let not my unworthiness be a bar and hindrance to hinder good things from me. Look not on me as in myself, a vile, polluted, wretched, undone creature; but behold me in and through thy well-beloved Son, and for his sake alone be gracious and merciful to me. I have been guilty of black and horrid sins, and millions of sins have I been committing daily, without sense, sorrow

or remorse.

O may such a sinner as I find mercy! Lord, I sometimes doubt and despair, and

conclude there is no hope for me; I fear heaven's gate is shut against me; and though I cry and knock, it may all be in vain. Lord, I cannot bear such a thought as to think I am rejected, forsaken, and cast off by thee.

I even cry out with the jailor, What shall I do to be saved? What shall I do to obtain eternal life? I find many comfortable promises in thy word to repenting and returning sinners, that those that come to thee thou wilt in no wise cast out; and that the blood of Jesus Christ thy Son cleanseth from all sins.

Lord, I desire to come to thee, and come in a right manner, and humbly beg thou wilt not cast me out, nor cast me off, as one whom thou no more canst love. Let me have the benefit of that healing, cleansing, peacespeaking blood of the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world. I find in thy word a black catalogue of sins, and sinners too, who have been guilty of gross offences, whose crimes would certainly exclude them heaven, unless thy unlimited mercy and

compassion had inclined thee to look with pity on them. When the Apostle had men

tioned those foul and horrid sins that should deprive poor souls of the joys of heaven, he immediately, for the benefit of after-ages, and the comfort of desponding souls, adds, And such were some of you, but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Lord, thou alone knowest what numberless numbers of sins I am guilty of, and for which ere long I shall be summoned to give a strict and severe account. Lord, I have nothing to plead for myself why I should not be condemned, but I humbly cast myself at the throne of thy grace, and implore mercy; mercy, Lord, mercy I need, without this I cannot live comfortably, nor die safely. O let me, even me, be washed, let me be sanctified, let me be justified; in the name of the Lord Jesus let me be a partaker of the benefits. of his death, resurrection, ascension, and intercession; and let me be assured I am one

« VorigeDoorgaan »