320 NOTES UPON PART I. and to watch against the first incursions of this spiritual declension, it should also be observed, that the lamented infirmities and dulness of those who persist in using the means of grace, and striving against sin; who decidedly prefer the company of believers, and deem them the excellent of the earth; and who are severe in judging themselves, but candid to others, are of a contrary nature and tendency to the steps of TEMPORARY's apostacy. ..25. Country...The word BEULAH signifies married; and the prophet, in the passage whence it is quoted, predicted a very flourishing state of religion, which is yet in futurity: but the author accommodates it to the sweet peace and confidence which tried believers commonly experience towards the close of their lives. This general rule admits indeed of exceptions: but the author, having witnessed many of these encou raging scenes, was willing to animate himself and his afflicted brethren with the hope of similar triumphant joys. The communion of saints in prayer, praises, and thanksgivings, with liberty and ardour, and hearts united in cordial love; the beauties of holiness, and the consolations of the Holy Spirit; the healing beams of the Sun of righteousness, shining by the sweet light of divine truth upon the soul; exemption from darkening temptations and harassing doubts; lively earnests and near prospects of heavenly felicity; a chearing sense of union of spirit with the heavenly host, in their fervent adorations, and a realizing apprehension of their ministering care over the heirs of salvation; a comfortable renewal of the acceptance of CHRIST, sealed with the tokens, pledges, and assurances of his love; gratitude, submission, confidence in GOD, hope, and the sweet exercise of tenderness, sympathy, meekness, and humility, but little interrupted by the working of the contrary evils;-these things seem to constitute the happy state here represented. It is remarkable that the Psalms (which were intended, among other uses, to regulate the devotions and experiences of believers) abound at first with confessions, complaints, fears, and earnest' cries of NOTES UPON PART I. 381 distress or danger; but towards the close become more and more the language of confidence, gratitude, and joy, and conclude with unmingled praises and thanksgivings. 191..29. Desire... In the immediate view of heavenly feli city, PAUL" desired to depart hence and be with CHRIST, " as far better" than life; and DAVID " fainted for GOD'S "salvation." In the lively exercise of holy affections, the believer grows weary of this sinful world, longs to have his faith changed for sight, his hope swallowed up in enjoyment, and his love perfected, and secured from all interruption and abatement. Were this frame of mind habitual, it might unfit men for the common concerns of life, which appear very trifling to the soul when employed in delightful admiring contemplation of heavenly glory. 192..9. Whose?...Attendance on the public ordinances is always the believer's duty and privilege; yet he cannot at all times delight in them: but, when holy affections are in lively exercise, he sweetly rests in these earnests of heavenly joy; and speaks freely and fervently of the love of CHRIST and the blessings of salvation, to the edification of those around him; who often wonder at witnessing such a change, from reserve and diffidence to boldness and earnest. ness in urging others to mind the one thing needful. 193..3. These... Perhaps the author here alluded to those pre-intimations of death that some persons seem to receive; and he appears to have referred them to the common opinion of guardian angels watching over every individual believer.— Death and admission into the city were the only difficulties that awaited the pilgrims. ..15. Now...Death is aptly represented by a deep river without a bridge, separating the believer from his heavenly inheritance; as the JORDAN flowed between ISRAEL and the promised land. From this river nature shrinks back, even when faith, hope, and love are in lively exercise; but, when these decline, alarm and consternation may unite with reluc tance. The dreaded pangs that precede the awful separation 822 NOTES UPON PART I. of those intimate associates, the soul and body; the painful parting with dear friends and every earthly object; the gloomy ideas of the dark, cold, and noisome grave, and the solemn thought of launching into an unseen eternity, render death the king of terrors. Faith in a crucified, buried, risen, and ascended Saviour; experience of his faithfulness and love in times past; hope of an immediate entrance into his presence, where temptation, conflict, sin, and suffering, will find no admission; and the desire of perfect knowledge, holiness, and felicity, will reconcile the mind to the inevitable stroke, and sometimes give a complete victory over every fear yet if faith and hope be weakened, through the recollection of any peculiar misconduct, the with-holding of divine light and consolation, or some violent assault of the tempter, the believer will be peculiarly liable to alarm and distress. His reflecting mind, having long been accustomed to consider the subject in its important nature and consequences, has very different apprehensions of GOD, of eternity, of judgement, of sin, and of himself, than other men have. Sometimes experienced saints are more desponding in these circumstances than their junior brethren: constitution has considerable effect upon the mind; and some men (like CHRISTIAN) are, in every stage of their profession, more exposed to temptations of a discouraging nature, than to ambition, avarice, or fleshly lusts. It has before been suggested, that the author probably meant to describe the peculiarities of his own experience, in the character of CHRISTIAN; and he may perhaps here have intimated his apprehension lest he should not meet death. with becoming fortitude.-A conscientious life indeed is commonly favoured with a peaceful close, even when forebodings to the contrary have troubled men during their whole lives: this is so far general, that they best provide for a comfortable death, who most diligently attend to the duties of, their station and the improvement of their talents, from evangelical principles: whereas they who live negli gently, and yield to temptation, make, as it were, an assignation with terror to meet them on their death bed, a season when comfort is more desirable than at any other. The Lord, however, is no man's debtor: none can claim consolation as their due: and, though a believer's experience and the testimony of his conscience may evidence the sincerity of his faith and love, yet he must disclaim to the last every other dependence than the righteousness and blood of CHRIST, and the free mercy of GOD in him. 194..14. Also he...The temporary distresses of dying be lievers often arise from bodily disease, which interrupt the free exercise of their intellectual powers. Of this SATAN will be sure to take advantage, as far as he is permitted; and will suggest gloomy imaginations,not only to distress them, but to dishearten others by their example.-What may in this state be painted before the fancy we cannot tell: but it is generally observed, that such painful conflicts terminate in renewed hope and comfort, frequently by means of the conversation and prayers of christians and ministers; so that they, who for a time have been most distressed, have at length died most triumphantly. 196..3. The two...When " LAZARUS died, he was car"ried by angels into ABRAHAM'S bosom;" and we have every reason to believe, that the services of these friendly spirits to the souls of departed saints are immediate and sensible; and that their joy is such as is here described. The beautiful description that follows admits of no elucidation some of the images indeed are taken from modern customs; but in all other respects it is entirely scriptural, and very intelligible and animating to the spiritual mind. 199..23. Blessed...The commandments of GOD, as given to sinners under a dispensation of mercy, call them to repentance, faith in CHRIST, and the obedience of faith and love: the believer habitually practises according to these commandments, from the time of his receiving CHRIST for salvation; this evidences his interest in all the blessings of the new covenant, and proves that he has a 324 NOTES UPON PART I. 66 66 right through grace to the heavenly inheritance.-May the writer of these remarks, and every reader, have such an "abundant entrance," as is here described, into the "everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour JESUS "CHRIST!" 201..6. And saw...We frequently hear of persons that have lived strangers to evangelical religion, and the power of godliness, dying with great composure and resignation: and such instances are brought forward as an objection to the necessity of faith, or of a devoted life. But what do they prove? What evidence is there, that such men are saved? Is it not far more likely that they continued to the end under the power of ignorance and self-conceit; that SATAN took care not to disturb them; and that GOD gave them over to a strong delusion, and left them to perish with a lie in their right hand? Men,who have neglected religion all their lives, or have habitually for a length of years disgraced an evangelical profession, being when near death visited by pious persons, sometimes obtain a sudden and extraordinary measure of peace and joy, and die in this frame. This should in general be considered. as a bad sign: for deep humiliation, yea distress, united with some trembling hope in God's mercy through the gospel, is far more suited to their case, and more likely to be the effect of spiritual illumination. But when a formal visit from a minister of any sect, a few general questions, and a prayer, with or without the sacrament, calm the mind of a dying person, whose life has been unsuitable to the christian profession; no doubt, could we penetrate the veil, we should see him wafted across the river in the boat of VAIN-HOPE, and meeting with the awful doom that is here described. From such delusions, good Lord, deliver us. Amen. END OF NOTES UPON PART I. |