have a Christ! that you are not to encounter an unconquered death, nor to go to God without a Mediator: but that Death is by Christ disarmed of his sting; and that you may boldly resign your soul into the hands of your Redeemer, and commend it to him as a member of himself! Now you may better perceive than ever you have done, what God did for you when he opened your eyes, and humbled, and changed, and renewed your sinful heart; when he forgave all your sins, and justified you by his grace, adopted you for his child and an heir of life, and sealed you with his Spirit, and separated you to himself; and how great a mercy it is to be a penitent believer. How sad would your case now be, if you were yet in your sins; if your heart was now to be softened, humbled, and converted; and all your preparation for heaven to be made; and all this with a pained body and a distracted mind; and in so short a time; with God, and eternity, and death before you! If you had all your past life to look back upon as consumed in sin! But what an unspeakable mercy is it, that you have been reconciled to that God to whom you are going: and that the sins which would now have |been your horror, are all forgiven through

the blood of Christ! That you can look back upon your time, since the day of your conversion, as spent in faithful devotedness to God; in a believing preparation for an endless life; and in godly sincerity, notwithstanding many sinful imperfections. And though you have nothing of your own to justify you at the bar of God; and need a Saviour and pardon even for your best duties; and yet you must with thankfulness remember that grace which has begun eternal life within you, and prepared you for it.

You have had something to humble you, and to shew you that you were a child of Adam; and you have had something for grace to contend with, and to conquer, and for Christ to pardon! Bless him through whom you have had the victory; and ere long you shall sing the song of the Lamb with stronger love, and richer experience of his grace, O what a joy is it to our departing souls that we have our Head and Saviour already in possession of the kingdom which we are passing to! What a support and joy is it to receive this message from our ascending Lord, "Say to my brethren, I ascend to my Father, and your Father; to my God and your God!" What a joy is it to read his promise: "If

any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am there shall also my servant be." You have served him, and are following him, and are going to be with him where he is.

Consolations addressed to a dying Christian.

My friend, you seem now to be almost at your journey's end! But how many sad steps have those to go, whom you leave behind in this sinful world! You have fought a good fight, and kept the faith; and shall never be troubled with an enemy, or temptation, when this contest is over! You shall never be so much as tempted to unbelief, or pride, or worldly mindedness, or fleshly lusts, or to any defects in the service of your Lord! But how many temptations do you leave us encompassed with! And how many dangers and enemies to overcome! And, alas, how many falls and wounds may we receive! You are entering into the harbour, and leave us tossed by the tempest on the waves. Flesh will no more entice or cloy your soul! You will no more have unruly senses to command, nor an unreasonable appetite to

govern; nor wandering thoughts, nor boisterous passions to restrain. Your service of God will no more be mixed and blemished with imperfections! You shall never more have a cold, or hard, or backward heart, or a careless customary duty to lament! Will it not be a joyful day to you, when you shall know God as much as you desire to know him? And love him as much as you desire to love him? There you shall be delivered from the darkness of this world. How dimly do we see through the veil of the flesh! How little do we know, and how much are we ignorant of; and what pains does our little knowledge cost us! But there, one sight of the face of God, will put an end to this long night; and there you shall understand the works of God, and the frame of the creation; the place, the office, and reason of all the things which here you know not. The mysteries of the Gospel which angels pry into, will be there unfolded to you. What welcome will those blessed angels give you, that here disdained not to minister to you, and bear you up in all your ways, and interested themselves in your concerns; rejoicing before God at your conversion! How glad then will they be at your safe arrival at the

promised harbour of felicity with themselves! What joy will you be entertained and welcomed into! to the acquaintance of those blessed spirits, and of all the holy spirits that are delivered from this flesh and world; and to see their order, be numbered with their society, and to be employed in their joyful work! O how much better company is there than the best below! There is no ignorance; and, therefore no error; no want of love, and no contention; no narrow private interest to contend for; but all made happy in perfect love: no cruel mockings or imprisonments; none destitute, afflicted, or tormented; no more sufferings for the sake of righteousness; but having suffered with Christ, they are now reigning with him. No wars or rumours of wars; because no lust to war in their members. There we shall have no suffering friend to mourn for; your righteous soul will no longer be grieved with the wicked; the whole society will shine in light, and flame in love; and none through weakness or corruption will be a cloy or hindrance to another. Above all this, you shall behold the person of your glorified Redeemer! the wonder ful condescension of his incarnation, and the mystery of his divine nature will there