An essay on early rising, as it is favourable to health, business, and devotion / [Samuel Bottomley].

  • Bottomley, Samuel
Date:
1822
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An essay on early rising, as it is favourable to health, business, and devotion / [Samuel Bottomley]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    10/16 page 10
    it leaves the body, it returns to God who gave it. There Is nothing here that suits its spiritual essence, or satisfies its immense desires. Its redemption could not be effected by cor¬ ruptible things, such as silver and gold. The blood of bulls and goats could not atone for its sins. They required a sacri¬ fice of nobler name and richer blood. Nothing less would suffice than the blood of the incarnate God. He purchased the Church with his own blood. Acts, 20. 28. It was for its salvation that the Lord Jesus laid aside the glory which he had with the father before the foundation of the world; that he clothed himself in a body like our own; that in it he fulfilled all righteousness, endured the contradiction of sinners against himself, agonised in Gethsemane, and expired on mount Gol¬ gotha. The soul is that which men cannot kill. Its nature is immortal. Its salvation is endless bliss, yea, everlasting glory. But its loss is the never-dying worm, and the unquenchable flame of the fire of Hell. What a dreadful thing must that be, which can destroy body and soul in Hell for ever! What a valuable consideration must that be, which can prevent such loss, and secure endless happiness ! Who would not leave his bed in pursuit of an object so grand ! Numbers rise early, and late take rest, in quest of objects not to be compared with this. What toilsome labours are wrous^ht to obtain the bread that perisheth ! What perils and painful struggles have been en¬ dured, by sea and land, to conquer men! What study and contrivance, caution, intrepidity and exertion have some dis¬ played, to make their escape from foreign captivity 1 What little things are these compared with the bread which endureth unto eternal life—with the conquest of the flesh, the world, the devil and deathi—with the glorious liberty and endless felicity of the children of God ! What folly and stupidity must possess the man, who idles away the fleeting hours which might be
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3