A Meditation on Death by William Swan Plumer

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Feb 9, 1882

A Meditation on Death.

By William Swan Plumer

THE following is an extract from a "Meditation," found among the manuscripts of Dr. W. S. Plumer. It was written shortly before his death:—

It is certain I must die. Sin has made death inevitable. The decree has gone forth. "By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin." (Rom. 5:12). "It is appointed unto men once to die." (Heb. 9:27).

The precise time of my death is not and cannot be known by me or any mortal. "Thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." (Prov. 27:1). "Ye know not what shall be on the morrow." (Jas. 4:14). I am glad it is so. A knowledge of the time of my leaving this world might unfit me for some of my duties. Such knowledge did not promote piety in good Hezekiah. If I had so great a secret I should be apt to tell my loved ones, and that would make them unhappy before the time.

Yet I know I must die soon. I have already lived several years on borrowed time. "The days of our years are threescore years and ten." (Ps. 90:10). I am away beyond that. Many things in my bodily health warn me that I have but a short time to live. I may die at any moment. My strength and agility are both impaired.

Death under circumstances the least appalling may well strike one with awe. Under some circumstances it is dreadful. One of the ancients called it the king of terrors; another the terrible of terribles. Death puts a full end to our connection with the scenes of earth. It closes the day of grace. With it probation forever ends. After death all is unchanging and eternal. When my eyes shall close in death I can preach no more. Thenceforth my voice will be silent in the grave, and my lips be sealed till time shall be no longer.

I cannot say that I have any desire to live my life over again. It has been full of mistakes; but I know not that I should be able to correct them. I know enough of the deceitfulness of sin and the treachery of my own heart to feel assured that a second trial would result in nothing flattering to me. Indeed, I marvel at the mercy which has kept me from doing worse.

I see in my past conduct much to deplore and awaken shame. At times the sense of my own folly and sin overwhelm me. And I here acknowledge that if I shall be finally saved, it will be a manifestation of grace that I have never seen surpassed. I also see in God's past dealings with me a vast multitude of amazing mercies. These ought to awaken the most lively gratitude. All the blessings I have received were wholly undeserved. Many of them have been remarkably opportune—in the very nick of time. It would be the basest ingratitude in me not to say these things.

With as great humility as I ever felt, and with great earnestness, I pray God that, if consistent with his holy will and purpose, he would grant me these great favors:—

That I may never forget that I am mortal.
That he would greatly increase my faith.
That I may never again, particularly in my dying hours, be harrassed with temptation, either to despair or to self-righteousness.
That I may be doing some good as long as I live, bring forth fruit in old age, and glorify God in my decease.
That my sufferings in death may not be intolerable.
That in that awful hour my spiritual enemies may be still as a stone, and not a dog be allowed to wag his tongue.
That I may have such measures of the Holy Spirit that there will be no danger of my courage or patience failing.
That I may have some glimpses and foretastes of heavenly glory before I lose my consciousness.
That God will graciously take charge of this whole matter, and enable me now, and to the last, to say from the heart, Thy will be done.

If there is a living man that I have injured, I know it not; but if any one thinks I have wronged him, I humbly ask his forgiveness. I hope to leave the world without a grudge against any. I wish well to every human being.

My expectation is, and long has been, that through infinite and unmerited kindness manifested in Christ Jesus, I shall be happy to all eternity. I know that my everlasting condemnation would be perfectly just. My cry is to God, "Enter not into judgment with thy servant; for in thy sight shall no man living be justified." (Ps. 143:2). But I also know that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin. He has died for sinners such as I am, and I believe in Jesus Christ. He is all my hope. Without him Heaven would not be Heaven for me. I take him for my one and only mediator, my prophet, priest, and king.

My soul greatly exults in the doctrine of the resurrection, as it was held and glorified in the martyrs even before the coming of Christ; as it was taught by the word, and made certain by the rising of our Lord; and as it was taught and held by all the apostles. Without a firm belief in the resurrection, I should be miserable beyond expression.

I suppose I never did a more solemn act than to write this paper. Yet I have done it with great composure of mind. I am surprised at my own calmness at the near view of eternity. It does not cost me a sigh or a tear to contemplate my removal from this to the invisible world.