"Lord, now lettest thy servant depart in peace," etc. --- Luke 2:29, 30.
Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, etc. --- Isaiah 35:4.
Wilful unbelief only is damnable, and not the weak faith of a fearful and tempted believer. If I do not reject the ransom of Christ, my Surety, but feel my utter need of it, and am heartily desirous to accept it by faith, God can no more reject me than he can reject my Surety, or his own eternal decree. Yet, since I have very weak faith, and am often ready to sink into despair, it passeth my understanding to conceive how I can depart this life in peace.
But as thy peace is said to pass all understanding, Philipians 4. 7. it is sufficient to keep the weakest or most fearful soul; because it is not by any power of our own, but solely by thy Divine power, that we shall be kept "through faith unto salvation." And it is equally the same to thee to carry the weakest or the strongest through the gates of death; for since thou art always the same wise, gracious, and mighty God, in all circumstances, and must do the work alone for both, I trust thou wilt lend me also, a poor and weak creature, thine all-sufficient help in time of need.
Saints by the power of God are kept,
Till the salvation come;
We walk by faith, as strangers here,
Till Christ shall call us home.
Lord, at thy temple we appear,
As happy Simeon came,
And hope to meet our Saviour here;
Oh, make our joys the same!