be in a more ſuitable frame to deſire to die.
3. Some will have hearty deſires to die, and yet, when death cometh, they will be as unwilling to die as any. It hath been obſerved, that ſome who haven much deſire to die, when death came, have cried out, 'O ſpare a little, that I may recover ſtrength,' &c.
There is a great difference between a deſire to die, and death itſelf. It is an eaſy thing to deſire to die, but it is a very great buſineſs to meet with death, and to look it in the face when it cometh. We think death (ere it come near as) to be but childrens' play, but when we meet with it, it maketh us change our thoughts; for it is a great buſineſs to die.
Queſt. 2. Is it lawful for a Chriſtian to deſire to live when he is ſummoned to die?
Anſw. In ſome caſes it is lawful for a Chriſtian to deſire to live, even when he is ſummoned to die; which is clear from the practice of David, Pſalm xxxix. 13. where he prayeth, 'that the Lord would ſpare hin a little.' It is alſo clear from the practice of good Hezekiah, Iſaiah xxxviii. 3. when he was commanded 'to ſet his houſe in order, for he ſhould die, and not live,' he crieth out, 'Remember now O Lord, how I lave walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy ſight: and Hezekiah wept ſore;' or, as the words are in the original, he wept with great weeping.' But, to guard this, take theſe two cautions:
Caution 1. Thy deſire to live (when thou art ſummoned to die) should not be peremptory, but with ſubmiſſion to the will of God, that if it be his pleaſure to remove thee preſently out of time, thou ſhould be content to die.
Caution 2. Thy deſire to live ſhould have gracious principles, and alſo a very gracious end, as is moſt clear from David, Pſalm xxxix. 13. where he ſaith, 'O ſpare me a little, that I may recover ſtrength, before I go hence, and be no more.' His deſire to live is, that he might have victory over his idols, As if he had ſaid, my deſire to live is, that I may
