All Die

The righteous die in the same manner outwardly as the wicked do. For Christ, in his first coming, came not to redeem our bodies from death, but our souls from damnation. His second coming will be to redeem our bodies from corruption and raise them in glorious liberty. Wise men die as well as fools. Those whose eyes and hands have been lifted up to God in prayer, and whose feet have carried them to the holy place, as well as those whose eyes are full of adultery, and whose hands are full of blood, they all die alike. Often it looks the same in the eye of the world when death comes upon good and bad alike. But the difference is that to those in grace their death is for their greater glory; for the shell must be broken before they come to the pearl. Death fits them for the blessed life, after the body has laid a while in the grave, the soul being in the hands of God. Death also makes an end of sin, that brought death. Holy and gracious men are happy in their lives. While they live they are the sons of God, the heirs of heaven; they are set at liberty; they have access to the throne of grace; all things work for their good; they are the temples of the Holy Spirit. But they are more happy in their dying, and most happy and blessed after death.
Considering we have no long continuance here, while we are here, we must do that for which God put us here. Let us consider that we are sent here to get into a state of salvation, to furnish our souls with grace, to fit us for our dissolution to come. Let us do the work that God has put into our hands quickly and faithfully, with all our might. ‘The time is short, therefore let those that use the world be as if they used it not’ (1 Cor. 7:29-31). Let us beg of God to help us rightly use this fading condition.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
Balaam's Wish, Works, vol. 7, pp. 3-4, 6
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