The following fact I had from my late beloved friend and faithful minister of Christ, Mr. Jones: A poor infidel had conceived a strange notion that men need not die unless they would. Upon his death-bed he affected to be resolute and t6 bid God defiance. In his last moments he sprang up, gnawed his teeth, and with looks of horror cried out," God, I will not die!" With these words he expired. Oh the fearful death of the ungodly, who make not God their strength! O the joyful end of the righteous, whose strength is in the Lord! They have hope in their death; for they make God their strength in their life.
What can a vile sinner do to make God his friend to make God his strength? God is all that to every poor sinner which his word reveals him and faith receives him to be. Consider this. You say, I am a weak, needy creature. What saith the Lord?" Let him take hold of my strength." Isa. 27:5. "Thou hast been a strength to the poor: a strength to the needy in his distress." Isa. 25:4. Again, in that sweet 52d chapter of Isaiah, the title of which is, Christ persuadeth the church to believe his free redemption, the Lord calls upon poor and needy sinners, "Awake, awake, put on strength." Ver. 1. Thus, for the encouragement of our hearts, and to the joy of our souls, we see that the Lord is the strength of that soul who believes in him, chooses him, and receives him as such. Faith is the hand that takes hold of God's strength. Faith claims God as the strength of the poor and needy. And, because our poor hearts are apt to grow heavy, neglect and forget the strength of our heart and our portion, lo he cries to us with a mighty voice, "Awake, awake." Lift up your eyes: look unto me, who, "when ye were without strength, in due time died for the ungodly." Rom. 5:6.
Put on thy strength. Thou hast no inherent strength. Know thy strength is perfect weakness. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ: he is "the Lord Jehovah, in whom is everlasting strength." Isa. 26:4. Learn daily that blessed art, to say with St. Paul, "When I am weak, then am I strong." 2 Cor. 12:10. The Lord commands you, "Let the weak say, I am strong." Joel 3:10. "Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Ephesians 6:10.