But how shall I come thither? There are heights and
depths to hinder. Rom. 8:38, 39. Suppose the poor Christian is upon
a sick-bed, beset with a thousand fears, and ten thousand at the end
of that--sick-bed fears, and they are sometimes dreadful ones:
fears that are begotten by the review of the sin perhaps of forty
years' profession--fears that are begotten by fearful suggestions of
the devil, the sight of death and the grave, and it may be of hell
itself--fears that are begotten by the withdrawing and silence of
God and Christ. But now, out of all these the Lord will save his
people; not one sin, nor fear, nor devil shall hinder, nor the grave
nor hell disappoint thee. But how must this be? Why, thou must have
a safe conduct to heaven. What conduct? A conduct of angels. "Are
they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them
that shall be heirs of salvation?"
These angels therefore are not to fail them that are saved, but
must, as commissioned of God, come down from heaven to do this
office for them. They must come, I say, and take the care of our
souls, to conduct them safely into Abraham's bosom. It is not our
meanness in the world, nor our weakness of faith, that shall hinder
this; nor shall the loathsomeness of our diseases make these
delicate spirits shy of taking this charge upon them.
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