,transcribed from the #ahajs8 ,augustus ,applegath and ,edward ,cowper edition by ,david ,price1 email ccx#jgdpglaf4org ,picture3 ,pamphlet cover ,,christians ,,and ,,infidels4 ,picture3 ,decorative wood cut with people and angels ,,london3 ,printed by ,,augustus ,,applegath and ,,edward ,,cowper ,duke-street1 ,stamford-street2 ,sold by ,f4 ,,collins1 #ef1 ,paternoster-row2 and ,,evans and ,,sons #db1 ,long-lane1 ,smithfield4 ,price ,one ,penny4 ,,christians ,,and ,,infidels4 8,,if there is one condition in life more happy than another1 it is surely that of him who founds all his hopes of futurity on the promises of the ,gospel40--,these are the words of a respected author1 and deserve the consideration of every one4 ,the hour of death puts these principles still more strongly to the test than any events of our lives4 ,there are many men who laugh at the ,bible1 and reject the idea of a ,saviour1 and say they are happier than those who are shackled with the restraints of religion4 ,they say they are happier2 yet their lives generally prove the falsity of the assertion1 and their deaths always do4 ,their death-beds shew the miserable state of those who thus reject the hope that is set before them2 and1 when contrasted with the last hours of believers1 the difference appears still more strongly marked4 ,a strong instance of this is stated in a letter from the ,rev4 ,j4 ,hervey to the well-known ,beau ,nash of ,bath4 ,it is as follows3-- 8,sir1 ,i was not long since called to visit a poor gentleman1 erewhile of the most robust body1 and of the gayest temper ,i ever knew4 ,but when ,i visited him2 ,oh6 how was the glory departed from him6 ,i found him no more that sprightly son of joy which he used to be2 but languishing1 pining away1 and withering under the chastening hand of ,god4 ,his limbs feeble and trembling2 his countenance forlorn and ghastly2 and the little breath he had left1 sobbed out in sorrowful sighs6 ,his body hastening apace to lodge in the silent grave1 the land of darkness and desolation4 ,his soul just going to ,god who gave it2 preparing itself to wing away unto its long home2 to enter upon an unchangeable and eternal state4 ,when ,i was come up into his chamber1 and had seated myself on his bed1 he first cast a most wishful look upon me1 and then began1 as well as he was able1 to speak4 #8,oh6 that ,i had been wise1 that ,i had considered my latter end4 ,ah6 ,mr4 ,hervey1 death is knocking at my doors3 in a few hours more ,i shall draw my last gasp2 and than judgment1 the tremendous judgment6 how shall ,i appear1 unprepared as ,i am1 before the all-knowing1 and omnipotent ,god8 ,how shall ,i endure the day of his coming8' ,when ,i mentioned1 among many other things1 that strict holiness1 which he had formerly so slightly esteemed1 he replied with a hasty eagerness3 #8,oh6 that holiness is the only thing ,i now long for4 ,i would gladly part with a world to obtain it4 ,now my benighted eyes are enlightened1 ,i clearly discern the things that are excellent4 ,what is there in the place whither ,i am going1 but ,god4 ,or what is there to be desired on earth but religion8'--,but if this ,god should restore you to health1 said ,i1 do you think you should alter your former course8--#8,i call heaven and earth to witness1' said he1 #8,i would labour for holiness1 as ,i shall soon labour for life4 ,as for riches and pleasures1 and the applauses of men1 ,i count them as dross--no more to my happiness than the feathers that lie on the floor4 ,oh6 if the righteous ,judge would try me once more2 if he would but reprieve1 and spare me a little longer2 in what a spirit would ,i spend the remainder of my days6 ,i would know no other business1 aim at no other end1 than perfecting myself in holiness4 ,whatever contributed to that2 every means of grace2 every opportunity of spiritual improvement1 should be dearer to me than thousands of gold and silver4 ,but1 alas6 the best resolutions are now insignificant1 because they are too late4 ,the day in which ,i should have worked is over and gone1 and ,i see a sad horrible night approaching1 bringing with it the blackness of darkness for ever4 ,heretofore1 woe is me6 when ,god called1 ,i refused3 when he invited1 ,i was one of them that made excuse4 ,now1 therefore1 fearfulness and trembling are come upon me2 ,i smart1 and am in sore anguish already2 and yet this is but the beginning of sorrows6 ,it doth not yet appear what ,i shall be2 but sure ,i shall be ruined1 undone1 and destroyed with an everlasting destruction6' 8,this sad scene ,i saw with mine eyes2 these words1 and many more1 equally affecting1 ,i heard with mine ears2 and soon after attended the unhappy gentleman to his tomb40 ,let us compare this account with the last moments of ,mr4 ,,hervey himself4 ,we are told1 that when his dissolution drew near1 he said to those about him3 8,how thankful am ,i for death6 ,it is the passage to the ,lord and ,giver of eternal life4 ,o welcome1 welcome death6 ,thou mayest well be reckoned among the treasures of the ,christian2 #8,to live is ,christ1 but to die is gain6' #8,lord1 now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace1 according to thy most holy and comfortable word2 for mine eyes have seen thy precious salvation4'--,here is my cordial6 what are all the cordials given to support the dying1 in comparison of that which arises from the promises of ,salvation by ,christ8--,this1 this supports me60 ,many instances might be given1 proving that men1 although learned1 are as fools1 if ignorant of ,christ and the way of salvation2 one will be sufficient4 ,mr4 ,,hobbes1 was a celebrated ,infidel in the last age1 who1 in bravado1 would sometimes speak very unbecoming things of ,god and his word4 ,yet1 when alone1 he was haunted with the most tormenting reflections1 and would awake in great terror1 if his candle happened only to go out in the night4 ,he could never bear any discourse of death1 and seemed to endeavour to cast off all thoughts of it4 ,he lived to be upwards of ninety4 ,his last words were1 when he found he could live no longer1 8,i shall be glad to find a hole to creep out of the world at40 ,and1 notwithstanding all his high pretensions to learning and philosophy1 his uneasiness constrained him to confess1 when he drew near to the grave1 that 8he was about to take a leap in the dark40 ,consider this in contrast with ,dr4 ,,john ,,leland4 who1 after spending a long life in the service of the ,gospel1 closed it with the following words3--8,i give my dying testimony to the truth of ,christianity4 ,the promises of the ,gospel are my support and consolation4 ,they1 alone1 yield me satisfaction in a dying hour4 ,i am not afraid to die4 ,the ,gospel of ,christ has raised me above the fear of death2 for #8,i know that my ,redeemer liveth4'0 ,dr4 ,,leechman1 late ,principal of the ,college of ,glasgow1 at the close of life1 this addressed a young man1 whose education he had partly superintended3 8,you see the situation ,i am in4 ,i have not many days to live3 ,i am glad you have had an opportunity of witnessing the tranquillity of my last moments4 ,but it is not tranquillity and composure alone2 it is joy and triumph2 it is complete exultation40 ,his features kindled1 his voice rose as he spake4 8,and whence10 says he1 8does this exultation spring8--,from that book1 7pointing to a ,bible that lay on the table7--from that book1 too much neglected indeed1 but which contains invaluable treasures6 treasures of joy and rejoicing6 for it makes us certain that #8this mortal shall put on immortality4'0 ,let us now take a stronger contrast2 namely1 of the horrors of despair in an unbeliever1 and the triumphant confidence of one who had fled to ,christ for salvation1 and whose hopes were founded thereon4 ,many instances of awful deaths of ,infidels and ,deists are well known2--those of ,voltaire1 ,newport1 and many others1 are so fully before the public1 it is unnecessary to cite them here2 but the reader probably has not met with the following account4 ,it occurred a few years since in ,london1 and the truth of it is well known4 ,mr4 ,b4 was a man of considerable abilities1 his manners were gentlemanly1 and being lively and gay1 as well as good tempered1 his company was much sought after3 with these advantages it is not surprising that he was what the world usually calls a happy man2 but we must add1 that he was in the fullest sense of the word1 an ,infidel4 ,his greatest pleasure was to laugh at religion and to burlesque the ,bible4 ,thus he went on for several years1 enjoying a state of strong health1 and every circumstance which could contribute to his worldly gratification4 ,at length he was attacked by a severe illness4 ,in a few days the progress of disease was rapid2--he was alarmed1 and eagerly enquired1 whether he was supposed to be in danger4 ,his friends observing his alarm1 and fearing a knowledge of his real state would hasten his end1 concealed his danger from him1 as is too frequently done1 endeavouring to assure him that his illness would soon abate4 ,at length1 he was considered as decidedly past hope of recovery and it was become necessary to acquaint him with his danger4 ,his friends did this in the mildest manner1 still endeavouring to buoy up his hopes1 and to prevent him from being alarmed2 but the truth could be no longer concealed2--he now saw his awful state4 ,instantly he broke out into the most dreadful exclamations1 crying out1 that his soul was lost1 and1 for some hours1 continued to repeat similar expressions1 at the same time groaning deeply4 ,after a short interval1 he renewed his exclamations1 declaring he was now convinced the ,bible was true1 and that there was reality in religion1 and expressed the most earnest desire that his life might be spared for a year1 for a month1 or even for a week1 that he might declare he was convinced of the falsehood of his former opinions4 ,in this state he continued for some time1 when feeling his end approaching1 he renewed his earnest wishes1 that if he could not be spared for a week1 a day1 a single day1 might be granted1 8that he might warn others1 as he himself was going to hell40 ,at length he cried out1 8,i am sinking into hell6--,oh6 the burning--the burning--the torments of hell60 ,this1 and similar exclamations1 he continued to utter1 while life lasted1 7for about thirty hours longer17 shrieking and groaning so dreadfully that his friends all fled from his bed-side1 and even the nurse1 accustomed as she was to death-bed scenes1 could scarcely be induced to continue in the room4 ,at length he expired1 on the third day after his danger was communicated to him2 the whole interval having been a continued scene of horror and despair1 which the pen fails to describe1 and the imagination is unable fully to conceive4 ,from this dreadful picture1 let us turn to a brighter scene--the following extracts present us with an account of the last hours of the learned and excellent ,bishop ,,bedell4 ,after a life spent in the most laborious service of his ,divine ,master1 when he apprehended his great change to draw near1 he called for his family and spake to them1 at several times1 as he was able1 as nearly as could be recollected1 in the following words2 with many other similar expressions3-- 8,i am going the way of all flesh3 #8,the time of my departure is at hand4' ,knowing1 therefore1 that #8shortly ,i must put off this tabernacle1 even as our ,lord ,jesus ,christ hath shown me4 ,i know also1 that if this my earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved1 ,i have a building of ,god1 a house not made with hands1 eternal in the heavens4' ,therefore1 to #8me to live is ,christ1 and to die is gain2 which increaseth my desire even now to depart1 and to be with ,christ1 which is far better' than to continue here in all transitory1 vain1 and false pleasures of this world1 of which ,i have seen an end4 8,hearken1 therefore1 unto the last words of your dying father4 #8,i am no more in this world1 but ye are in the world4 ,i ascend to my ,father and your ,father1 to my ,god and your ,god1' through the all-sufficient merits of ,jesus ,christ1 my ,redeemer2 #8who ever lives to make intercession for me2' who is #8a propitiation' for my sins1 and washed me from them all in his own blood2 who is #8worthy to receive glory and honour1 and power2 who hath created all things1 and for whose pleasure they are and were created4' 8,i had a desire and resolution to walk before ,god in every stage of my pilgrimage1 from my youth up to this day1 in truth and with an upright heart1 and to do that which was upright in his eyes to the utmost of my power2 and #8what things were gain to me formerly1 these things ,i count now loss for ,christ3 yea1 doubtless1 and ,i count all things but loss1 for the excellency of the knowledge of ,jesus ,christ my ,lord2 for whom ,i have suffered the loss of all things2 and ,i count them as nothing1 that ,i may win ,christ1 and be found in him1 not having my own righteousness1 which is of the law1 but that which is through the faith of ,christ1 the righteousness1 which is of ,god by faith4' 8,let nothing separate you from the love of ,christ4 #8,in all things we are more than conquerors1 through him that loved us3 for ,i am persuaded1 that neither death1 nor life1 nor angels1 nor principalities1 nor powers1 nor things present1 nor things to come1 nor height1 nor depth1 nor any creature1 shall be able to separate me from the love of ,god in ,christ ,jesus1 my ,lord4' ,therefore1 #8love not the world1 nor the things of the world2' but prepare daily and hourly for death1 which besieges us on every side2 and be faithful unto death1 that we may meet together joyfully on the right hand of ,christ at the last day1 and #8follow the ,lamb whithersoever he goeth2' with all those that are clothed in white robes in sign of innocency1 and palms in their hands in sign of victory2 #8which came out of great tribulation1 and have washed their robes1 and made them white in the blood of the ,lamb4'0 ,afterwards he blessed his children and those who stood about him1 in these words1 8,god of his infinite mercy bless you all1 and present you holy and unblameable1 and irreprovable in his sight1 that ye may meet together at the right hand of our blessed ,saviour ,jesus ,christ1 #8with joy unspeakable and full of glory4' ,amen60 ,and after a little interval1 he said1 8#8,i have kept the faith' once given to the saints2 for the which cause ,i have also suffered these things3 #8but ,i am not ashamed1 for ,i know in whom ,i have believed1 and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which ,i have committed to him against that day4'0 ,after this1 the good ,bishop spake little more4 ,his sickness increased1 his speech failed1 and he slumbered the remainder of his time away1 till his discharge came4 ,let ,incredulity itself say1 if this was not a desirable close of so useful a life as this excellent man is known to have lived4 ,we may defy all the sons of ,infidelity to show us an example among their brethren1 of a life so useful1 and a death so great1 so noble1 so glorious as this of the good ,bishop4 ,reader1 these things are true4 ,consider them2--reflect upon them2--ask yourself which you wish to be your own case4 ,do you wish to die like an ,infidel1 or like a ,christian8--upon this question there can be no doubt4 ,flee then1 while there is time1 to the only ,refuge4 ,seek the ,lord while he may be found2 call upon him while he is near4 ,flee to ,christ1 who shed his blood upon the cross for a ransom for many2 he has said that those who come to him in faith1 he will not cast out4 ,read again the account of the last hours of ,bishop ,bedell2 weigh carefully every word he uttered2 and pray that the ,holy ,spirit may bless it to your soul1 and that you may be of the number who are saved from everlasting perdition4 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,london3 ,printed by ,,augustus ,,applegath and ,,edward ,,cowper1 ,duke-street1 ,stamford-street2 and sold by ,f4 ,,collins1 ,no4 #ef1 ,paternoster-row2 and ,,evans and ,,sons1 #db1 ,long-lane1 ,smithfield4