drink of the wine of the wrath of GOD." Now to "worship the beast" is to set up the world, or any other idol in our hearts in the place of Christ our God. VIII. On the Death of the Righteous. NUMBERS Xxiii. 10.—“ Let me die the death of the Righteous, and let my last end be like his !" BUT what is the death of the Righteous, and what is his last end? One thing we cannot doubt, namely, that it is most blessed. So have we seen pass from our midst souls especially sanctified by our good GOD. He gives to each his different ending; to some it may be an end of peace, and outward calm; to others a fierce conflict and acute bodily pain down to the very end. We must augur nothing from the mere outward symptoms. The Spirit may pass to the presence of its Maker in calm or in storm, and yet it may in either case be the "death of the righteous." Bad men often die in perfect, unruffled repose, the features placid and tranquil as if they slept: good men, men whose lives we know to be in accordance and conformity with the Will of God, often seem to suffer in their death-struggle, and leave the traces of their suffering, almost like the impenitent thief. Let this be in some measure our consolation if we are called upon to witness painful deaths of those who are very dear to us. But what is the death of the righteous, and what is his last end? Surely it is far above all mere physical, and external appearances! Our real comfort is in the knowledge of their lives, our thorough conviction that the love of GOD, and of a Crucified LORD was in their hearts, of their being in charity with all men, and above all of their living with their LORD JESUS by means of the Sacrament of His Love. "Their souls are in the hand of GOD, and there shall no torment touch them. In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die; and their departure is taken for misery; and their going from us to be utter destruction: but they are in peace. For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality. And having been chastened they shall be greatly rewarded for GOD proved them and found them worthy for Himself. As gold in the furnace hath He tried them, and received them as a burnt-offering. And in the time of their visitation they shall shine, and run to and fro like sparks among the stubble." Most beautifully is it said of them “they shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the people, and their LORD shall reign for ever, they that put their trust in Him shall understand His truth and such as be faithful in love shall abide with Him: for grace and mercy is to His Saints, and He hath care for His Elect." O kindly medicine of Death! O inner Peace of them that love GOD! Who would not exchange the restlessness, the weariness, the wickedness, the continual warfare, the perpetual struggle against temptation of life, for the deathless death of the righteous, and the unending end of those who love GOD even to their last hour! |