Ecclesiastes 9:5

For the living know that they shall die.

A funeral sermon

I. Whence it is that the living attain the sure and infallible knowledge of their own death.

1. There be many things from whence we may collect the necessity of dying.

(1) We may collect it by those harbingers and forerunners of death, diseases, pains, and natural decays which are incident to all men.

(2) The observation of death’s universal empire over all other things, and over all other men, may give us a certain knowledge that we also must shortly die.

(3) We may certainly know ourselves mortal by knowing ourselves sinful creatures. There is a double necessity of death on account of sin. As a punishment. As a purgation of it.

2. Now, though, by these and other such-like considerations, we may arrive at a certain knowledge that we shall die; yet the particular circumstances of the time and manner of our death are known to God only.

(1) He only knows the critical and punctual time of our death; for He hath determined it, to a very moment.

(2) In what manner our death will appear to us, we know not: this is a secret of God’s own breast.

II. Whence it proceeds, that men are so stupidly irrational, that, though they all know they. Shall die, yet so few seriously prepare themselves for it.

1. Men are generally so immersed in the businesses and pleasures of life, that these swallow up all serious thoughts of death and preparations for it. They are employed about other things: like a heap of ants, that are busily toiling to get in their provision, without regarding the foot that is ready to crush them. Such are the impertinent and vain cares of men! The riches and honours, which are but the dust and smoke of this world, have so blinded our eyes, that we cannot discern the near approaches of death; and thus, while we, Archimedes like, are busily drawing projects and designs in the dust, and are wholly intent about vainer speculations than his, we mind not the alarm, nor perceive the enemy is upon us, till we are stricken dead through the reins.

2. Men delay serious preparations for death, because they generally look upon it as afar off.

(1) Men reckon old age a vast while off.

(2) Most men presume that they shall live to extreme age.

(3) Men think a few of their latest days and thoughts are enough to prepare them for death. Think you your souls can then vigorously bestir themselves when they are grown stiff with age; when your faculties are benumbed, and your spirits congealed past the thaw of a fire?

3. Men generally put off serious thoughts of dying” because of the terrors and insupportable dread which such apprehensions bring with them. And therefore death is called (Job 18:14) “the king of terrors”: a king that comes attended with a thousand phantoms and frightful apparitions.

III. Application.

1. If we all certainly know that we must die, this might teach us so much wisdom as not to set our affections eagerly upon anything in this present world; a world which we must shortly leave.

2. Since we all know that we shall die, let this serve to exhort us seriously to prepare for our death. Some sad instances there have been of those who, having neglected this great work till the end of their life, have then spent that little remnant of time which they had in crying out for more. But if we have carefully prepared ourselves for death, it will be to us a repose instead of a terror. (Bp. E. Hopkins.)