Works (Vol 4) - Bates - XXI - Sermon on the death of Clarkson concluded

Required reading
The Works (Vol 4) by William Bates (Available from Amazon or free here) - Conclude 'A sermon on the death of David Clarkson'.

My summary
Today we finish the sermon for the funeral of David Clarkson on 'In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you' (John 14:2).

Now that Bates has given his doctrine of heaven, he proceeds to application.  Bates says we should:
(i) adore the inconceivable love of God who hath prepared such a place of joy;
(ii) infer the great guilt of unbelievers in the Christian church who reject heaven;
(iii) make it our fixed aim to secure out title to this heavenly inheritance;
(iv) regulate our minds, affections and conversation becoming our present state and future hopes;
(v) let our conversation be in heaven;
(vi) let the belief that there are mansions of rest and joy prepared for the saints gloriously support us under our heaviest troubles;
(vii) reconcile death to us;
(viii) refresh our sorrows for the loss of our dearest friends that die in the Lord.

Then Bates gives his thoughts on the life of David Clarkson including Clarkson's:
(i) character;
(ii) conversation;
(iii) prayer life;
(iv) preaching;
(v) death.

What grabbed me
I enjoyed hearing about Clarkson's use of time: 'He was a conscientious improver of his time for acquiring of useful knowledge, that he might be thoroughly furnished for the work of his divine calling. And his example upbraids many ministers, who are strangely careless of their duty, and squander away precious time, of which no part is despicable and to be neglected. The filings of gold are to be preserved. We cannot stop the flight of time, nor recall it when passed. Volat irrevocabile tempos. The sun returns to us every day, and the names of the months every year, but time never returns. But this servant of God was faithful in improving this talent, being very sensible (to use his own words) 'That the blood of the soul runs out in wasted time.' When deprived of his public ministry, he gave himself wholly to reading and meditation, whereby be obtained an eminent degree of sacred knowledge, and was conversant in the retired parts of learning, in which many who are qualified to preach a profitable sermon, are unacquainted. '

A good example for us all.

Next week's reading
Read 'A sermon on the death of Benjamin Ashurst'.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.