August 9

I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only. - Psalms 71:16.

AND this will be the support and song of the believer in his dying moments. It is an awful thing to die, not only to bid farewell to hills and vales, and weeping friends, but to enter upon a new and untried state of existence, and to enter into the presence of a pure and holy God.

Christians will then have a greater sense of their unworthiness and guilt than ever they had in all their lives. They may be more affected by the review of life than ever, with a consciousness of the nearness of death, and eternity at their elbow. Perhaps, too, the enemy may thrust sore at them, and, as Cyrus gathered together all the forces of Asia in his last action with Alexander, so the devil may come down upon them, because he knows that his time is short! And how are they to meet him? What are they to say then? They have to “make mention of his righteousness, and his only.” What said Marshal? “I cannot say that I have so lived as that I am not afraid to die, but I can say that I have so learned Christ as that I am not afraid to die.”

The excellent Howe said, “I am looking for eternal life, not as a profitable servant, but as a pardoned sinner, and I go into eternity as one who has sought and found mercy.” What said the amiable Goodman, who had been so much in bondage through fear of death? “Is this that which has inspired me with so much terror? Is this dying? Oh, how precious does the righteousness of Christ now appear! He cannot love me better than he does, and I think I cannot love him more than I do.” So said another eminent divine, “I can now smile upon death, because I feel that God is smiling upon me.”

After eulogizing Onesiphorus, the apostle says, “The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day.” Will he need mercy, then, at the last? Yes, and more than ever at the last. Where is the Christian who can think of that day without falling on his knees, saying, “O Lord, if thou shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?” “Enter not into judgment with thy servant, O Lord!” Mr. Cecil, not long before his death, said, “I frequently think of my last remove; and all my comfort is, when I must give up my account, my Saviour will appear, and he will answer for me.” Yes, he will answer for the Christian then:-“Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died; yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” All joy to the believer, he can speak tremblingly, but he can speak with confidence; yes:-

“Since the dear hour that brought me to his foot

And cut up all my follies by the root,

I never trusted in an arm but thine,

Nor hoped but in thy righteousness divine.”