He wished to die 'as the righteous.' How did he die? miserably; and why?
(1) Because his wish was deficient in character.
It was _one_ among a great many, feeble and not predominant, occasioned
by circumstances, and so fading when these disappeared. Like many men's
relation to the gospel who would _like_ to be Christians, and are not.
These vagrant wishes are nothing; mere 'catspaws' of wind, not a
breeze. They are not real, even while they last, and so they come to
nothing.
(2) Because it was partially wrong in its object.
He was willing to die the death, but not to live the life, of the
righteous; like many men who would be very glad to 'go to heaven when
they die,' but who will not be Christians while they live.
Now, God forbid that I should say that his wish was wrong! But only it
was not enough. Such a wish led to no action.
Now, God hears the faintest wish; He does not require that we should
will strongly, but He does require that we should desire, and that we
should act according to our desires.
Let the close be a brief picture of a righteous death. And oh! if you
feel that it is blessed, then let that desire lead you to Christ, and
all will be well. Remember that Bunyan saw a byway to hell at the door
of the celestial city. Remember how Balaam ended, and stands gibbeted
in the New Testament as an evil man, and the type of false teachers.
Finally, beware of knowledge which is not operative in conduct, of
convictions which are neglected and pass away, of vague desires which
come to nought.