But Oh, when he is in the Spirit and sees in the Spirit, do you think his tongue can tell?  But if the sight of heaven at so vast a distance is so excellent a prospect, what will it be when one is in it?

No marvel, then, if the desires of the righteous are to be with Christ.

There is a man upon a bed of languishing; but Oh, he dares not die, for all is not as he would have it betwixt God and his poor soul; and many a night he lies thus in great horror of mind; but do you think that he doth not desire to depart?  Yes, yes; he also waits and cries to God to set his desires at liberty.  At last the visitor comes and sets his soul at ease, by persuading him that he belongs to God; and what then?  Oh, Now let me die; welcome death!

The dying Christian.

When men are faithful to God in this world, to do the work he hath appointed for them, by this means a dying bed is made easier.

1.  By reason of that present peace such shall have, even in their time of languishing.

2.  By reason of the good company such shall have at their departure.  The angels of heaven shall wait upon them, as they did upon the blessed Lazarus, to carry them into Abraham’s bosom.  I know all that go to paradise are by these holy ones conducted thither; but yet, for all that, such as die under the clouds for unchristian walking with God, may meet with darkness in that day—­may go heavily hence, notwithstanding that; yea, their bed may be as uncomfortable to them as if they lay upon nothing but the cords, and their departing from it, as to appearance, more uncomfortable by far.

But as for those who have been faithful to their God, they shall see before them; shall know their tabernacle shall be in peace; “the everlasting gates shall be opened unto them:”  in all which from earth they shall see the glory of heaven.

Death of Mr. Badman’s wife.

Attentive.  “And how did his good wife take it when she saw that he had no amendment, but that he returned to his old courses again?”

Wiseman.  “Why, it broke her heart; it was a worse disappointment to her than the cheat that he gave her in marriage; at least she laid it more to heart, and could not so well grapple with it.  You must think that she had put up many a prayer to God for him before, even all the time that he had carried it so badly to her; and now when he was so affrighted in his sickness, and so desirous that he might live and mend, poor woman, she thought that the time was come for God to answer her prayers; nay, she did not fail with gladness to whisper out amongst her friends that it was so.  But when she saw herself disappointed by her husband turning rebel again, she could not stand up under it, but fell into a languishing distemper, and in a few weeks gave up the ghost.”

Attentive.  “Pray how did she die?”