both in public and private (e), viz. a ⚫ friend and lover of GOD; in whofe • favour thou centereft all thy present and future hopes, Carry this view with thee thro' life, and dare not, in any instance, to act inconsistently with it."

С Н А Р. XVIII.

How to know the true State of our Souls; and whether we are fit to die.

Laftly,

T

HE most important point of felf-knowledge, is to know the true state of our fouls towards God; and in what condition we are to die.

These two things are infeparably connected in their nature, and therefore I put them together. The knowledge of the former will determine the latter, and alone can determine it; for no man can tell whether he be fit for death, till he be acquainted with the true ftate of his own foul.

This

(α) Ταξιν τινα ηδη χαρακτηρα σε αύλω, και τυπον, ον φυλαξης επι τε σεαυλό, και ανθρωποις Erluyxarar. Epit. Enchir. cap. 40.- Fix your character, and keep to it; whether alone or in company.

Part I. This is a matter of fuch great moment, that it is amazing any confiderate man, or any one who thinks what it is to die, can be fatisfied, fo long as it remains an uncertainty. -Let us trace out this important point, then, with due perfpicuity; and see if we cannot come to fome fatisfaction in it upon the moft folid principles.

In order to know whether we are fit to die, we muft firft to know what it is that fitteth us for death. And the answer to this is very natural and eafy, viz. that can only fit us for death, that fitteth us for happinefs after death.

This is certain.-But the question returns, What is it that fits us for happiness after death?

Now in answer to this, there is a previous queftion neceffary to be determined, viz. What that happiness is?

It is not a fool's paradife, or a Turkish dream of fenfitive gratifications: it must be a happiness suited to the nature of the foul, and what it is capable of enjoying in a ftate of feparation from the body; and what can that be, but the enjoyment of GOD, the beft of beings, and the Author of ours?

The

The question then comes to this; What is that which fits us for the enjoyment of GoD in the future ftate of feparate fpirits ?

Perhaps we may bring this matter to a determinate iffue; by faying it is that which makes us like to him now.-This only is our proper qualification for the enjoyment of him after death, and therefore our only proper preparation for death. For how can they, who are unlike to God here, expect to enjoy him hereafter? And if they have no juft ground to hope that they fhall enjoy GOD in the other world, how are they fit to die ?

4

So that the great queftion, Am I fit to die ? refolves itself into this, Am I like to GOD? For it is this only that fits me for heaven; and that which fits me for heaven, is the only thing that fits me for death.

Let this point, then, be well fearched into, and examined very deliberately and impartially.

Moft certain it is, that GOD will not approve of any but those that are like Him; and it is as certain, that none but those that are like Him can take pleasure in Him. But GOD is a moft pure and holy Being; a Being of infinite Love,

Mercy

Mercy and Patience; whofe Righteoufness is invariable, whofe Veracity is inviolable, and whofe Wifdom is unerring: thefe are the moral attributes of the Di vine Being, in which he requires us to imitate Him; the exprefs lineaments of the Divine Nature, in which all good men bear a refemblance to Him; and for the fake of which only they are the objects of his delight; for GoD loveth none but those who bear this impreffion of his own image on their fouls. - Do we find then these visible traces of the Divine Image there ? Can we make out our likeness to Him in his Holiness, Goodnefs, Mercy, Righteousness, Truth and Wifdom ? If fo, it is certain we are capable of enjoying Him, and are the proper objects of his love. By this we know we are fit to die, because by this we know we are fit for happiness after death.

Hence, if we are faithful to our confciences, and impartial in the examination of our lives and tempers, we may foon come to a right determination of this important question, What is the true ftate of our fouls towards GOD? and in what con

dition

dition we are to die? Which, as it is the most important, fo it is the last instance of Self-Knowledge I fhall mention: And with it close the first part of this Subject.

*Nor do I apprehend the knowledge of our ftate (call it affurance if you please) fo uncommon, and extraordinary as fome are apt to imagine. I understand by affurance a fatisfactory • evidence of the thing, fuch as excludes all rea• fonable doubts and difquieting fears of the contrary, though, it may be, not all tranfient fufpicions and jealoufies: Such an affurance and certainty multitudes have attained, and enjoy the comfort of; and indeed it is of fo high importance, that it is amazing any thoughtful • Chriftian, who believes an eternity, can be easy one week or day without it.' Bennet's Chrift. Orat. pag. 569.