from troubling； and the weary be at rest。〃 （Job iii。 17。）
The very moment that believers die they are in paradise。 Their battle
is fought： their strife is over。 They have passed through that gloomy
valley we must one day tread； they have gone over that dark river we
must one day cross。 They have drunk that last bitter cup which sin has
mingled for man： they have reached that place where sorrow and sighing
are no more。 Surely we should not wish them back again！ We should not
weep for them； but for ourselves。
We are warring still； but they are at peace。 We are labouring； but they
are at rest。 We are watching； but they are sleeping。 We are wearing our
spiritual armour； but they have for ever put it off。 We are still at
sea； but they are safe in harbour。 We have tears； but they have joy。 We
are strangers and pilgrims； but as for them they are at home。 Surely；
better are the dead in Christ than the living！ Surely the very hour the
poor saint dies； he is at once higher and happier than the highest upon
earth。 ＇46＇
I fear there is a vast amount of delusion on this point。 I fear that
many； who are not Roman Catholics； and profess not to believe in
purgatory； have； notwithstanding； some strange ideas in their minds
about the immediate consequences of death。
I fear that many have a sort of vague notion that there is some
interval or space of time between death and their eternal state。 They
fancy they shall go through a kind of purifying change； and that though
they die unfit for heaven； they shall yet be found meet for it after
all！
But this is an entire mistake。 There is no change after death： there is
no conversion in the grave： there is no new heart given after the last
breath is drawn。 The very day we go； we launch for ever： the day we go
from this world； we begin an eternal condition。 From that day there is
no spiritual alterationno spiritual change。 As we die； so we shall
receive our portion after death： as the tree falls； so it must lie。
If you are an unconverted man； this ought to make you think； Do you
know you are close to hell？ This very day you might die； and if you
died out of Christ you would open your eyes at once in in hell； and in
torment。
If you are a true Christian； you are far nearer heaven than you think。
This very day if the Lord should take you； you would find yourself in
paradise。 The good land of promise is near to you。 The eyes that you
closed in weakness and pain would open at once on a glorious rest； such
as my tongue cannot describe。
And now let me say a few words in conclusion； and I have done。
（1） This paper may fall into the hands of some humble…hearted and
contrite sinner。Are you that man？ Then here is encouragement for you。
See what the penitent thief did； and do likewise。 See how he prayed；
see how he called on the Lord Jesus Christ； see what an answer of peace
he obtained。 Brother or sister； why should not you do the same？ Why
should not you also be saved？
（2） This paper may fall into the hands of some proud and presumptuous
man of the world。Are you that man？ Then take warning。 See how the
impenitent thief died as he had lived and beware lest you e to a
like end。 Oh； erring brother or sister； be not too confident； lest you
die in your sins！ Seek the Lord while He may be found。 Turn you； turn：
why will you die？
（3） This paper may fall into the hands of some professing believer in
Christ。 Are you such an one？ Then take the penitent thief's religion as
a measure by which to prove your own。 See that you know something of
true repentance and saving faith； of real humility and fervent charity。
Brother or sister； do not be satisfied with the world's standard of
Christianity。 Be of one mind with the penitent thief； and you will be
wise。
（4） This paper may fall into the hands of someone who is mourning over
departed believers。Are you such an one？ Then take fort from this
Scripture。 See how your beloved ones are in the best of hands。 They
cannot be better off。 They never were so well in their lives as they
are now。 They are with Jesus； whom their souls loved on earth。 Oh；
cease from your selfish mourning I Rejoice rather that they are freed
from trouble； and have entered into rest。
（5） And this paper may fall into the hands of some aged servant of
Christ。 Are you such an one？ Then see from these verses how near you
are to home。 Your salvation is nearer than when you first believed。 A
few more days of labour and sorrow； and the King of kings shall send
for you； and in a moment your warfare shall be at end； and all shall be
peace。
__________________________________________________________________
＇42＇ 〃O Saviour； what a precedent is this of Thy free and powerful
grace！ Where Thou wilt give； what unworthiness can bar us from Thy
mercy？ When Thou wilt give； what time can prejudice our vocation？ Who
can despair of Thy goodness； when he； that in the morning was posting
to hell； is in the evening with Thee in Paradise？〃Bishop Hall。
＇43＇ 〃He that puts off his repentance and seeking for pardon to the
very last； in reliance upon this example； does but tempt God； and turn
that to his own poison； which God intended for better ends。 〃The
mercies of God are never recorded in Scripture for man's presumption；
and the failings of men never for imitation。〃Lightfoot。 Sermon。 1684。
〃Most ungrateful and foolish is the conduct of those who take
encouragement from the penitent thief to put off repentance to a dying
moment； most ungrateful in perverting the grace of their Redeemer into
an occasion of renewing their provocations against Him； and most
foolish to imagine that what our Lord did in so singular circumstances；
is to be drawn into an ordinary precedent。〃Doddridge。
＇44＇ 〃I know not that since the creation of the world there ever was a
more remarkable and striking example of faith。〃Calvin/s mentary on
the Gospels。 〃A great faith that can see the sun under so thick a
cloud； that can discover a Christ； a Saviour； under such a poor；
scorned； despised； crucified Jesus； and call Him Lord。 〃A great faith
that could see Christ's kingdom through His cross； and grave； and
death； and when there was so little sign of a kingdom； and pray to be
remembered In that kingdom。〃Lightfoot。 Sermon。 1684。 〃The penitent
thief was the first confessor of Christ's heavenly kingdomthe first
martyr who bore testimony to the holiness of His sufferingsand the
first apologist for His oppressed innocence。〃Quesnel on the Gospel。
〃Probably there are few saints in glory who ever honoured Christ more
illustriously than this dying sinner。〃Doddridge。 〃Is this the voice
of a thief or a disciple？ Give me leave； O Saviour； to borrow Thine own
words； Verily I have not found so great faith； no not in Israel。' He
saw Thee hanging miserably by him； and yet styles Thee Lord。 He saw
Thee dying； and yet talks of Thy kingdom。 He felt himself dying； yet
talks of a future remembrance； O faith； stronger than death； which can
look beyond the cross at a crown； beyond dissolution at a remembrance
of life and glory！ Which of Thine eleven were heard to speak so
gracious a word to Thee in these Thy last pangs？〃Bishop Hall。
＇45＇ 〃We ought not to enter into curious and subtle arguments about the
place of paradise。 Let us rest satisfied with knowing that those who
are engrafted by faith into the body of Christ are partakers of life；
and there enjoy after death a blessed and joyful rest； until the
perfect glory of the heavenly life is fully manifested by the ing of
Christ。〃Calvin's mentary on the Gospels。
＇46＇ 〃We give Thee hearty thanks； for that it hath pleased Thee to
deliver this our brother out of the miseries of this sinful
world。〃Church of England Burial Service。 〃I have some of the best
news to impart。 One beloved by you has acplished her warfare； has
received an answer to her prayers； and everlasting joy rests upon her
head。 My dear wife； the source of my best earthly fort for twenty
years； departed on Tuesday。〃Venn's Letter to Stillingfleet；
announcing the death of his wife。
__________________________________________________________________
XII。
THE RULER OF THE WAVES
〃And there arose a great storm of wind； and the waves beat into the
ship； so that it was now full。
〃And He was in the hinder part of the ship； asleep on a pi How： and
they awake Him； and say unto Him； Master； carest Thou not that we
perish？
〃And He arose； and rebuked the wind； and said unto the sea； Peace； be
still。 And the wind ceased； and there was a great calm。
〃And He said unto them； Why are ye so fearful。 How is it that ye have
no faith？〃Mark iv。 37…40。
IT would be well if professing Christians in modern days studied the
four Gospels more than they do。 No doubt all Scripture is profitable。
It is not wise to exalt one part of the