the house in which we must all
abide at last. By Charles Simeon. I know that
you will bring me down to death, and to the house appointed for
all the living. Job chapter 30 verse 23. For all can see that wise men
die, the foolish and the senseless alike perish and leave their
wealth to others. Psalm chapter 49 verse 10. For the living know that they
will die. Ecclesiastes chapter 9 verse 5. It is appointed for
man to die once, and after that comes judgment. Hebrews chapter
9 verse 27. Nothing can be more certain than
that we shall all die. The grave is the house appointed
for all the living. Whether we have lived in a palace
or a cottage, the grave is the house in which we must all abide
at last. The certainty of death should
moderate our regards to the transient things of this world. We are
not greatly elated with the comforts of an inn, where we are to stop
but an hour, nor are we greatly depressed with any lack of comforts
which we may find there. The thought of our stay there
being so short renders us comparatively indifferent to the present accommodations. All is but a pageant passing
by, and whether the spectacle is mournful or joyous, it is
scarcely arrived, than it vanishes from before our eyes. Our joys
and our sorrows will both appear light and momentary, when viewed
in reference to the transitoriness of what is visible, and the endless
duration of invisible realities. So we fix our eyes not on what
is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary,
but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians chapter 4 verse
18. The certainty of death should
make us diligent in preparing for the eternal world. To know
that death and the grave are ready to swallow us up, and yet
to trifle with the eternal interests of the soul, which, if neglected
now, are gone forever, this, I say, is a madness, which credulity
itself could never imagine to exist, if its existence were
not daily and hourly before our eyes. we must ever live in the
light of eternal realities. Christians should look forward
to their death with joy, accounting it to be their greatest gain.
Philippians chapter 1 verse 21, and placing it among their choicest
treasures. First Corinthians chapter 3 verse
22. So teach us to number our days,
that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Psalm chapter 90
verse 12.