seem to die, and their departure is taken, for misery, and their going from us to be utter destruction: but they are in peace. For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality; and having been a little chastised, they are greatly rewarded; for God proved them, and found them worthy of himself.”

And now, I cannot but entreat my reader to do what becomes every prudent person in a concern of this importance; that is, to retire a while, and to apply the aforesaid considerations to his own particular case; and to say, by way of scrutiny within himself, how haye I lived? have I embraced or slighted the laws of religion? Are my ways and dispositions pious or impious? Am I in a blessed or in a cursed state? How little time have I to live, and how soon will my case be remediless?

And to make these impressions the more lively and lasting; place yourself in your meditations, as the providence of God will soon place you, that

is, on your death-bed. Look on yourself as just parting with all things that your eyes ever yet saw, and going before the judgment-seat of a holy and all-knowing God: and now tell me, what you think of religion and prophaneness? Is it wisdom or madness to part with the favour and kingdom of God for the unlawful gains and pleasures of this perishing world?

Consider then, there is an absolute cessity of being good and holy: all that ever lived or shall live otherwise, are and will be utterly undone forever: and all are convinced sooner or laer.

Never did any one suppress the sense of his duty to enjoy his pleasures, but at length the sense of his guilt embittered the taste of his pleasures.

Read all the lives of men and women that are upon record, and go to the death-beds of such as see themselves approaching to another world. Listen to their words, when the physician tells them there is nothing in view but a specdy separation of soul and body;

*

and when the minister reminds them, that nothing can now comfort them but the evidences of a "new birth, being begotten again unto a lively hope." Here the faithful christian has ground to sayt, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness. I desire to depart, and to be with Christ; who is my life, my hope, and my portion for ever." And in this season, in which nature itself fails; some cry out as one I once knew, I feel such joy as I cannot express."

* 1 Pet. i. 3. † 2. Tim. iv. 7. 8. Phil. i. 23.

From the information the Editor has obtained, since this work went to press, he receives the Rev. WOODWARD, as the author of this valuable work.