Living and Dying Well

For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord.
ROMANS 14:8

Two things are certain: You are living, and you will die. But will you do either of those well? Moreover, what does it even mean to do them well? In Living and Dying Well, William Perkins reminds us that Christian faith makes all the difference. When faith reigns in the heart, it orders our approach to spiritual and even temporal matters in life. Likewise, Perkins shows how faith prepares us for and enables us to face our last great enemy—death. Rest assured, by faith you can live and die well: “Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living” (Rom. 14:9).

Endorsement

“What could be more important than living and dying well for God? In this insightful work, Perkins turns our thoughts to a reality we are often reluctant to consider—the brevity of life. Here is a rich yet sobering reflection on the life of faith in Christ and the believer’s blessed hope in the face of death. More than just a worthwhile read, Living and Dying Well is a worthy meditation for every Christian.”
—Matthew K. Elliott, associate pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church, Huntsville, Alabama

Contents

Preface
Introduction

1. Living by Faith
2. Faith’s Grounding in the Heart
3. Faith’s Reigning in the Heart
4. Reconciliation
5. Peace, Joy, and Life
6. Afflictions and Temptations
7. An Honest Calling
8. An Examined Life
9. False Rules
10. The Certainty of the Word
11. The Substance of the Word
12. Great Use
13. An Excellent Blessing
14. The Workers of Death
15. The Kinds of Death
16. An Enigma
17. A Day of Happiness
18. Freedom from Misery
19. Entrance into Glory
20. United to Christ
21. The Foundation of Joy
22. Prepared for Death
23. Meditating on Death
24. Mortifying Sin
25. Living for Christ
26. Dying to Self
27. Renewing Repentance
28. Seeking Prayer
29. Moderating Fear
30. God’s Providence and Promise
31. God’s Presence
32. Preserving Life
33. Loving Others
34. Dying in Faith
35. Dying in Obedience
36. Committing Our Souls to God
37. Numbering Our Days