54. The Dying One resolves to die in Jesus Christ

EXHORTATION.

"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!"—Acts vii. 58.

Dying men often complain of thoughts which they would fain banish, but which persist in haunting them. A believer will do well to drive them away.

1. The best means of doing so is to call to mind in faith and holy contemplation the form of Jesus on the cross, reflecting that, inasmuch as the wounds of Jesus were struck for him, Jesus should be his only refuge in death. The blood of Jesus was shed for him. Jesus died upon the cross that the death of the sinner might be calm, and he introduced by death into eternal life. 2. He must place all his reliance on this Saviour of the world, appropriate the justice and merit of Christ to himself, stand before God, and say, "Be gracious unto me for the righteousness, the blood, wounds, death and merits of my Jesus! In these I live and die, and by these I will enter into the joys of heaven."

Jesus, dearest Saviour, in quitting this world, I turn to thee alone, saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." O my Redeemer! thou hast re-

TO DIE IN JESUS CHRIST.

deemed me from sin and from the power of the devil with thy holy blood, with thy guiltless suffering and death. O let this thy blood bestead me, so that I may be justified before thy judgment seat. In my agony I cling to thy atoning sacrifice. Thou art my beatifier! O forgive me my sins, give me thy all-sufficient righteousness, take me to eternal bliss. Thou art the life, and therefore I shall not die, although my life must come to an end, because I live in thee and thou livest in me. Thou art the way; O lead me through the valley of the shadow of death into eternal life. Thou art the truth; thou hast heretofore fulfilled in me all the promises of thy grace; O fulfil those also which I am yet to prove. Thou hast promised that where thou art, there shall thy servant be also, and that when thou shalt be lifted up from the earth, thou wilt draw us all after thee. Now take me to thee, where thou art. Lord, let thy servant depart in peace, as thou hast said. I call to mind thy death upon the cross, how thou didst spread out thine arms, how thy holy blood was shed, how thou didst leave thy life for me. O let thy holy blood cleanse and purify me from all my sins; for the sake of thy holy wounds, let me find grace and mercy. Thou art the Lamb of God, which has suffered itself to be slain on the cross, and by thy blood I have been reconciled to God. Thou art my high priest, who prays for me; thou art the hero, my deliverer; the prince of peace, who receives me into the mansions of peace. O Jesus, I shall come to thee soon; meanwhile I cleave to thee, and will not let thee go. Aye, I will think on Jesus, he shall be the light and the salvation of my soul, the vigor of my life, my sun and my happiness, my desire and aim, my thought and reflection, and my all. Depart, ye idle thoughts; the merits and the blood of Jesus shall be my pastime, his holy wounds my study, his sufferings my consolation; my last word shall be the name, and my last thought the image of my Jesus. Amen. 1. With joyful spirit I in Jesus' heart will burrow,

When the dread course of death ploughs deep its horrid furrow;

Open thy heart to me! O let thy chicken find

Shelter and comfort there, from the relentless wind

2. The image of thy wounds shall occupy my spirit,

His blood and bitter death, and all-atoning merit,

His blood I call my own, on it I will rely,

And though my heart should break, my faith can never die.

THE DYING ONE PRAYS, ETC.

3. O blood, O seething blood, that never ceasest flowing,

On all believing hearts, that none can fail or knowing

Who honestly repent; O blood, O seething blood,

Forever be thou mine, thou chief and only good.

4. Lapped in these open wounds I have the best of shelter;

My covenant with thee, O Jesus, cannot welter.

Sorrow, nor joy, nor death, can ever part us more,

Thou ever shalt be mine, as thou wert heretofore.

5. And henceforth never will I from these wounds be parted,

Until the goal is reached, for which my race has started;

Forgiveness, peace and joy, the hopes for which I've sighed,

Draw my heart after thee, e'en through thy open side.