Andrew Gray

“ I would give ten thousand worlds for Christ? Have not some persons (who have had the moon upon their head, and that have made their belly their god) been forced to cry out at death, O cursed person that I am, that ever I made the world my god? ”

“ And I fear many in this place may be afraid for death; and that when it cometh to them, they will say unto death, as Ahab said to Elijah, “Hast thou found me, O mine enemy?” Surely death will take you, and bring you to the judgment-seat of Christ ; therefore study, by all means, to think ofteu upon it, and make ready for it. Believe me, death is a very big word, for it will make you once stand with horror in your souls, if your peace be not made up with God! I know not a more dreadful dispensation than death and a guilty conscience meeting together. ”

“ Wherefore, O be active, while you are alive, for ye shall never work any more after ye are dead. And, if ye leave but one work undone, there is no doing of it after death: “There is no work (saith Solomon) in the grave:” Therefore, O be active.
Third. The faith of this truth, that we must all die, will help a Christian to be exceeding mortified to the things of a present world. Oh! covetous men and women, would you shake hands with cold death but once every morning, I should defy you to pursue the world so much as ye do. ”

“ He desireth not to die, yea, he would give a world for his life! but die he must, whether he will or not; for death will not be requested to spare a little when he cometh, And therefore I say unto you all, “Set your house in order, for ye shall surely die.” Old men and women, set your house in order, for tomorrow ye may die, and be cut off in the flower of your age. Think not that there be many who can sell time, for I say, ye shall never get time sold unto you— Alas! I fear that the most part of persons that die now, death findeth them at unawares ”

“ It is true, it is more difficult to communicate aright, than so pray aright; yet it is much more difficult to die aright, than to communicate aright; for it is a more difficult work to die in the Lord— Death will put the most accurate Christian that is here to a wonderful search; and, therefore, I will tell you nine things that death will try in thee.
1. Death will try both the reality and strength of thy faith. It may be easy for thee to keep up faith under many difficulties, but death will put thy faith to thegreatest stress that ever it did meet with. ”

“ Believe me, death is another thing than we take it to be. Oh ! what will many of us do in the day of our visitation, when desolation shall come from afar? Where will we flee for rest? And where will we leave our glory? Old rich men, where will ye flee, when death assaults you? Old poor men, where will you flee, when death assaults you? Old women where will you flee, when death assaults you? Young women, where will you flee, when death assaults you? It was an ancient observatio. of David Psalm xxxix. ”

“ Thy desire to live (when thou art summoned to die) should not be peremptory, but with submission to the will of God, that if it be his pleasure to remove thee presently out of time, thou shouldst be content to die. ”

“ For, if ye be nighted on yoar journey to heaven, before ye come up to the end of your race, there is no retiring place where-unto ye may turn aside to lodge. Therefore O work, work, work, while it is to-day; for, behold death is approaching, and then shall we all be called to an account.
Second. The faith of approaching death, will make a Christian exceeding active in duty; he will not only be diligent, but also exceeding serious and zealous in the exercise of his duty. ”

“ The Seventh advantage attending the faith of approaching death, is this, that it will make a Christian very careful in preparing for death. It is impossible for one to believe really that death is approaching, and not to prepare for it. Say what ye will, if ye be not careful in preparing for death, ye have not the soiid faith of this truth, that ye shall die. ”

“ Therefore, I intreat you delay not your repentance till death, lest the Lord take away your wit, so that you cannot repent for your senselessness, and stupid frame of spirit.
2. A second sort we find in a presumptuous fra (illegible text) saying, They have had a good hope all their days, and they will not quit it now; they will go down to their graves with their hope in their right hand; or, rather, they will “go down to the grave with a lie in their right hand:” They live in a presumptuous frame, and they die in the same delusion. ”

“ That it is certain and most sure that we shall once die, I hope there are none here who will deny; altho' I confess some few of you believe, what, was said by the woman of Tekoah, 2 Samuel xiv. 14. “We must all die, and be like water spilt upon the ground, that cannot be gathered up again. God doth not except the person of any.” ”

“ It is not lawful to desire to die, because of personal afflictions.— Many, when they meet with bitter afflictions, will cry out. O to be gone; they long for death even upon that account; such were Job’s desires, Job xxi. ”

“ Now, in speaking to this point, I shall, First, Speak a little to the advantages which attend those that live within continual sight of death. Second y I shall give you some considerations to press you to prepare for death. Thirdly ; I shall give you some directions to help you to prepare for death. ”

“ I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living. —And it is very clear, Eccles. viii. 8. “There is no man that hath power over the spirit, to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death ”