SUBMISSION.
When Mr Thomas Goodwin, who died in the prime of life in the year 1658, was on his deathbed, a friend visited him and recommended submission to the will of God. Goodwin assented to the propriety of the counsel given, and added, “But my desire is to reach further, and not only to submit, which an ordinary Christian may do, but to raise myself to courage and cheerfulness under the rod. Blessed be God that hitherto I can date His choicest mercies from some great affliction.” Have the afflictions of the reader been thus sanctified?
A few days before his death he overheard the physician expressing his fears that the disease would prove fatal. This led him to a very solemn self-examination. “I did all along in my sickness,” said he, “set my heart to labour for a sanctified use of the Lord’s hand; but overhearing that, I thought it needful to look most carefully into my heart as to evidences for eternity; and truly, upon a thorough search of my heart, I bless God I find good old evidences though I be but a young man, and they stick very close to me. But one thing troubles and afflicts my spirit very much, that when I grew very serious, being exercised about serious work, the search of my heart for eternity evidences, I perceived this seriousness of mine was judged by some to be melancholy for fear of death. Now this, indeed, troubles me very much, that any should take me to be such an one who am afraid to die.”
Just before his death he discoursed with great power concerning the sweetness and fulness of Christ. His last words were—”Well, it is a sweet thing when he that speaks of Christ hath Christ dwelling in him at the time when he speaks.” Why should not every Christian possess the same clear eternity evidences and attain the same nearness to Christ?
HALYBURTON’S DEATHBED.
“I shall shortly get a very different sight of God from what I have ever had, and shall be made meet to praise Him for ever and ever. O, the thoughts of an incarnate Deity are sweet and ravishing! O, how I wonder at myself that I do not love Him more, and that I do not admire Him more! What a wonder that I enjoy such composure under all my bodily pains, and in the view of death itself! What a mercy that, having the use of my reason, I can declare His goodness to my soul; I long for His salvation; I bless His name. I have found Him, and die rejoicing in Him. O, blessed be God that I was born! O, that I was where He is! I have a father and mother and ten brothers and sisters in heaven, and I shall be the eleventh. O, there is a telling in this Providence, and I shall be telling it for ever! If there be such a glory in His conduct towards me now, what will it be to see the Lamb in the midst of the throne! Blessed be God that ever I was born!”