lives, on our last breath! either an eternity of delights, or an eternity of torments; a life of happiness or a life of misery. What folly therefore must it be for the sake of a wretched momentary pleasure in this life to run the risk of making an evil end, and commencing a life of misery, which will never terminate! O God! what will become of me in the last moment of my life? O Jesus, who didst die for my salvation, suffer me not to be lost for ever, suffer me not to lose thee, my only good.
II. Oh God! how do those miserable criminals who are condemned to cast lots for their lives tremble when they throw the dice, upon the cast of which depends their life or death. Tell me Christian, if thou wert in such a situation, how much thou wouldst give to be liberated from it? But faith teaches thee that thou wilt one day arrive at that last moment, on which will depend thy eternal life or death. Thou wilt then say: “ Alas I must now be either happy for ever with God, or in despair for ever without him.” No, my God, I will not lose thee; if I have hitherto forfeited thy friendship, I am sorry for it and sincerely repent of it; I will never lose thee more.
III. Either we believe, or we do not believe. And if we believe that there is an eternity, that we can die only once, and that if we die ill, the consequences will be eternal, without the least hope of remedy; why do we not resolve to separate ourselves from all danger of being lost, and to use all the means in our power to secure for ourselves a happy death? No security can be too great when eternity is at stake. The days of our lives are so many favours from God, by which be allows us time to prepare our accounts against the arrival of death. Delay not, for thou hast no time to lose. Behold me, O God, tell me what I must do to be saved, for I will do all that thou requirest of me.
