36. The Patient calls to mind that he is human and therefore Mortal

EXHORTATION.

"Man that is born of woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down; he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not."—Job xiv. 1, 2. Although all men are mortal, and men die and are buried every day, yet very few reflect upon their mortality, particularly while in good health, and while fortune favors them; therefore, it is necessary for God sometimes to remind them of their mortality, which is done by sickness, for when he suffers the strong to become feeble, the rose to fade, they become aware of their transitory condition. Righteous Christians should never spend a day without thinking of their mortality. It is a delusion of Satan to think that if we do not think of death we shall not die; whether we think of it or not, our end will come when God is pleased to send it. My God! in thy holy will and counsel it has pleased thee to lay me on this bed of sickness, and thereby to remind me that I must die. Lo, my days are as a handbreadth in thy sight, and my life is as nothing before thee. O how nothing HE IS HUMAN AND THEREFORE MORTAL.

are all men, who live in such fancied security. My God! I am dust, and to dust must I return. Therefore, I look upon my open grave as a mother's lap, where my body shall gently rest and sleep. I also know that it is the lot of man to die, and after that the judgment; therefore, in my days of health I have often prayed, "Lord, teach me that there must be an end of me, and that my life has a period, and that I must away." I also know that I must leave all things behind, my house, my goods, my honor and my fortune, and all that I have in the world. Here I have no resting place, but seek that which is beyond. Thou didst remind king Hezekiah to set his house in order because he must die, and his life have an end. If by this disease thou wouldst in like manner remind me of my end, grant that I may cheerfully meditate upon my mortality and my coming end. Perhaps this is my last repose, and the last year of my earthly being; perhaps this illness denotes that the days of life written in thy book are numbered; that with prayer and penitence, and a conscientious investigation of my past life I must prepare for death. Here I am, my God and Father! take my soul into thy bosom, but first prepare it well, that I may die in thy grace and be happy. I have left my fate to God's disposal; he will do with me according to his holy will; if I am to live longer here THE PATIENT CALLS TO MIND, ETC.

below, I will not murmur at his dispensation.

My hours are at his choice, I do not presume to limit him; the hairs of my head are numbered, great and small, and none falls without his will.

Amen.

1. How great our nothingness! who does regard this rightly,

Will worship God alone, and hold all others lightly;

For who his nothingness does fully contemplate,

He will within himself thus humbly meditate:

2. "What am I? Nothing; for God gave me life and being:

These are of his free gift, and not of my foreseeing.

I was not, 'till the day when his creative hand

Drew me from nothingness, and set me in the land.

3. What have I? Nothing; for I came in destitution,

And when I leave I must of all make restitution.

From God comes all I have, or be it great or small,

What I have not from God, I do not have at all.

4 What know I? Nothing; for the light of life within me

Is but my faith in God, and nothing else shall win me.

Should he withdraw his word, and take away his light,

My senses would be left in everlasting nigh.

THE PATIENT RESIGNS HIMSELF, ETC.

5. What can I? Nothing; for from God are all the forces,

The strength which through the soul and through the body courses.

In him alone I have life, being, motion, thought,

Should he withdraw his hand I soon would come to nought.

6. O world of nothingness, farewell! thou hast no pleasures

For those who can discern thy dross from better treasures.

My God shall be my all! for him I live and die,

And by him I shall find comfort and bliss on high.

The Patient resigns himself into the will of God for life or for death.

EXHORTATION.

"And he went a little further, and fell on his face and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt."—Matt. xxvi. 39. The will of God is best at all times. This we all profess to believe, but when the time comes to submit wholly and unconditionally to his will, we often find ourselves perverse and discontented. This state of mind should be dispelled by suitable reflections. THE PATIENT RESIGNS HIMSELF

1. The believer whom God has laid upon a sick bed, must therefore reflect that it is the will of God, which has placed him in this situation.

2. He must contemplate the example of Jesus Christ, who, in the height of his agony, when his sweat was in drops of blood which fell upon the earth, still cried, Father, not my will but thine be done. 3. It is best for the patient to say, Lord, here am I; do with me according to thy pleasure, I will live longer if it is thy will, and I will die if it is thy will.

Gracious, good, and merciful God! With prayers and sighs I come before thy most holy throne. I see that it is thy will that I should be here sick, and forego for a time, the precious gift of health. I was born according to thy will, and will die when it is thy pleasure. According to thy will I have long enjoyed health, at thy desire I will now submit to sickness. Aye, if I could recover health against the will of my God, I would not do so, but would fulfil thy holy counsel on my bed of sickness. Therefore, in this condition, I will say unto my Jesus, Father, not my will but thine be done. And again, the will of the Lord be done; if I am to continue in the land of the living, I will continue to praise INTO THE WILL OF GOD.

thee, and the coming years which thou wilt give me, shall be devoted to thy honor and to true piety. But if thou shouldst be pleased not to raise me from this couch again, and to let me die of this present illness, then prepare me for a happy death and a glad eternity. I know that I must leave this mortal tenement, but I also know that thou hast prepared a mansion for thy faithful, which was not made with hands, and which shall be eternal in heaven. In heaven is my inheritance, my birthright, my allegiance; should I not rejoice to come into my inheritance, to hasten to my home, and to enjoy the glory of the children of God? If I have reason to pray for a longer lease of life, I cannot but hesitate and reflect, whether it would not be better to be dissolved and with Christ, to behold my Jesus, whom I have loved when I did not see him. Therefore, my God, I resign all things into thy care, thou best knowest the things that are good for me. Here I am, O Lord! do with me according to thy pleasure. Lord arrange all things for me in life and death, for this alone is my desire, suffer me not to perish. But keep me in thy gracious favor, and then do with me as thou wilt, give me patience to submit to thy will, for it is best. Amen. 22*

1. I will what Jesus wills. Such still shall be my motto,

While I must linger in this dismal earthly grotto,

Mine is a wayward will, which often runs astray;

Therefore, on Jesus' face it shall be bent alway.

2. I will what Jesus wills. If he would have me tarry

Upon this nether earth, his angels will me carry.

The waving of his hand my life and death decides,

He guides my steps and I still follow where he guides.

3. I will what Jesus wills. If he would have me languish,

So be it! I am here, prepared to bear all anguish.

If Jesus goes before, I gladly follow him;

His presence smooths the path, and makes all sorrow dim.

4. I will what Jesus wills. If he would have me weeping,

So be it! I still know that I am in his keeping;

After the clouds are past his sun will shine again,

For still his mercy comes to banish every pain.

5. I will what Jesus wills. If he from earth will take me,

'Tis well! I know that then his grace will ne'er forsake me.

I shall derive the rich fulfilment of his word;

And hold my entrance to the kingdom of the Lord.

THE PATIENT REFLECTS, ETC.