Practical meditations upon the four last things viz. I. Death, II. Judgment, III. Hell, IV. Heaven / by R. Sherlock ...

III.

There is no consideration our blessed Lord hath so frequently inculcated by commands, counsels, exhortations, admonitions, para∣bles, similitudes, arguments and reasons, as this of the Christian watch, i. e. to pre∣pare, to provide, to be ready, to wait for the coming of the Lord, or for the approach of Death; whether he shall come in the first, or in the second, or in the third watch: whe∣ther in the time of youth, or manhood, or old age: at all times, and in all ages he commands all men to be upon their watch.

This watch implies many particulars, which are so many preparatives, unto death.

1. To watch, is to have our eyes open, or our minds enlightned by the holy true Chri∣stian Faith.

2. That the affections of our hearts, and the actions of our lives be framed according to what we rightly profess to believe.

3 To have our eyes not only opened, but uplifted towards Heaven above, and not still poring upon the Earth below.

4. In our watch we must carefully ob∣serve all the orders and commands given us by Christ the Captain of our Salvation.

5. That we shake off all drowziness and sluggishness, being active and vigorous in the execution of all such commands; and in all the respective duties we owe to God and Man.

6. That when the Lord cometh, and knocketh at the door, by the batteries of death, we be both willing and ready to open unto him: And in order hereunto,

7. That our hearts be prepared to receive the Lord, being so swept and cleansed, that nothing be found in any corner thereof, which may offend him, who is the searcher of all hearts.

8. We must stand upon our watch with our loins girded, or all irrational lusts re∣strained; that we may be expedite and rea∣dy to execute whatever our duty to God or Man requires: Thus S. Jerome stood upon his watch, professing that whether he did eat or drink, rest or labour, sleep or wake, he always heard the voice of the last Trum∣pet sounding in his ears, Awake and come to Judgment.

9. Lastly, In this watch we must perse∣vere, not to be taken off by any wiles of Sa∣tan, concerns of the world, or allurements of the flesh; but to stand fix'd and immo∣vable in our respective stations of Christian duty, untill the great Captain and Lord of life and death shall remove us hence.

And may I thus, blessed Lord, continually wait for thy coming, with my loins girt, in

the restriction of all the unruly lusts of my heart, and of all the irrational imaginations of my head also: and my Lamp of the holy Christian Faith burning continually; being fed with the oil or unction of the holy Spi∣rit of God, and shining in and through all the whole course of my life, by all such good works as may glorifie thee our Father which art in Heaven. This is that sacred light (even faith which worketh by love) which will infallibly guide me through all the mazes of this mortal life, and convey me safely through the gloomy shades of death, into the Region of light, and life everlasting. Amen.

Notes

• Luke 12.38.
• Mark 13.34, 35, 36, 37.