Death I The Fear of Death, and the Fear taken away TH HERE are some persons who have never known the fear of death; they have often seemed to be very nearly dying, but they have always rejoiced; they have hailed the Angel of death as a bright presence, they have spoken of death as a joyful prospect; of death itself as "beautiful." They have never had any sympathy with those who have spoken fearfully of it; they have thought it either want of moral courage, or great want of faith, or a proof of earthliness of heart; they have said hard words, or indulged in hard thoughts of others. They say that they cannot understand how any one can fear death. their turn is come at last! "Fearfulness and trembling are coming upon them" now, their "heart is sore pained, and withered like grass.' O how their hard words about others come back upon them now! But 1 Ps. lv. 5. 2 Ps. cii. 4. I am chief.' I give myself into the hands of a boundless love: as an infinite misery, I cast myself upon an infinite mercy. This is my only stay, but it is all-sufficing." But though some may desire death, others may shrink from it to their inmost souls; they may desire life under any form of suffering, rather than to meet death. In some minds there is an instinctive, a natural fear of death; from which they are "all their lifetime subject to bondage." The very idea of death is a terror to them; they can scarcely bear to hear the subject mentioned; they have tried by faith and earnest prayer to overcome this dread; but all their lifetime it abides with them until they are brought into the very presence of death. Then generally, either the fear is removed, or the soul that has been ever dreading the last hour, passes out of life unknowingly, and without suffering of body or mind. There may be instances to the contrary, but they are rare. All the prayers offered day by day that the fear of death might be removed, are answered now; they were not in vain, they were heard, and were not forgotten before God. Very many persons have a peculiar dread of a last illness; they know that it must come; but O how their soul shrinks from it! They would like to die suddenly, to escape it all. that makes you afraid? the thought that then, when the last hour is drawing nigh, pain will put forth its full strength: a strength that you have never known 5 Heb. ii. 15. Is it the fear of pain before; and does your whole soul shrink from this? He who said, "Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me,' "6 knows and understands your fear. He tasted the fear and shrinking from death, that He might understand it all, and that not one of His children might ever pass through it alone. Is it the helplessness of those last hours? the unspeakable suffering, which no heart but your own can share or realize, that distresses you? the possibility of doing or saying something wrong that haunts you? of being unable, through broken speech, to convey your meaning? Fear not; there is One who knows and understands it all; who looks at your thoughts and intentions, and looks into your heart the most tenderly, when He knows that none else can. You have given yourself to Him. Fear not; He will not leave you at the last hour, for He has called you to it, and He will lead you through it. He said, "I have a Baptism to be baptized with, and how am I straitened till it be accomplished." It was accomplished in Him: and when He said, "It is finished," then the loneliness of the deepest darkness of death was finished for each of His followers. He will come to fetch you; trust yourself to Him who says, Lo, I am with thee alway."" "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." It is in vain for you to think what you would like best-God will choose for you; and be sure that He will choose the very best 6 Matt. xxvi. 39. 66 7 Luke xii. 50. T 8 John xix. 30. 1 John xiv. I. thing for you—that which you will hereafter see was the best. Do not judge of your state by your desire for death or for life; it is a dangerous and false criterion. For those to whom life has been very sweet; who have enjoyed it; who have many ties-especially the nearest and closest ties, husband or wife or children;—who see a fair and bright prospect before them, and have comforts and blessings innumerable around them;-it is a very difficult thing to give up all with a willing and glad heart, or even, with the whole soul, to say, "Thy will be done." Whilst to others whose ties are few, and their prospects dark; who have none depending on them, and none “who loves them best,” it may be very easy to be willing, and thankful to lay aside the weary worn-out body. No one ought, in the sinful not to be more one case, to say that it is desirous to depart; or in the other, that it is a proof of readiness and submission to wish to go. You sometimes, perhaps, say to your friends, "Do not pray for my life." But ought you to have such a choice? Is it not better to pray God to give us life or death, sickness or health, as it pleases Hirn? It has been sometimes spoken of as a proof of a desire for, and readiness to depart, when these words have been said; but surely it is a higher state to leave all to Him, and scarcely to know yourself which you wish. We are poor judges: but let us leave off to judge each other, and leave |