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^ dggy gP IfVMGE
Inc
1653 East Main Street
Rochester, New York 14609 USA
(716) 462 -0300 -Phone
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''SSC*
\j?M
%
".M
H
In
-'Jfjp^"'
FRIENDLY VISIT
TO THft
HOUSE OF MOURNING.
IX THE ©AY OF ADVERSITY COiJSlDE'lt.
£ccL vU. 14.
Many ai-c the fayings of the wife.
In ancient ami m modern books enrolled
'Extolling Patience - ■ - *
But to th* affliaed in his pangs their found
Little prevujU ; or rather Teems a tune
Harih. and of difibnant mood from his complaint,
UnleU he feel within
Some fource of confolation fr«m above •
Secret refrennoga that repair his tlrengtJu
And fainting fpirits uphold, f
iT T9 WT^
1
ii rr JJ J< U N S J^ Ju ^ •
'kinrcD B2' Abraham J^Auvgtjr^ .
i8oi»
V . J^«
i^y- \
♦ * "^
T-'b
^.'V^
#
HS* *•
■amei^m^,.
FRIENDLY VISIT, &?^.
»;®:<
■M-^'
Y.
^ OURprefentaffliffion, mydear
friend, demands fonnrething more th%fk
the ufual forms of condolence. Sorrow^
which like yours, cannot be prevcnted^^
may yet be alleviated 'and improveC
This is my defign in addreffing you, atidt
if I feem to intrude upon your retire*-
menf, let hiy motive be my apology*
Having felt how much better it isto go^
to the houfe of mourning than to the ^
houfe of feafting ; * having received my
beft lefTons, companions, and even eom^
^lorts, in it ; I would adminifteriram^
my little ftock of expcriente : 'And wW^^^^^
I thus endeavour to affi^jgnar meditai
^lons, Ihall rejoice if IliSPfe^ntrifekte,
^Qugh but a raite,;tp. y^MdE)iybit; ^
**'^ • Eccl. vik 1^
w
i 4 ]
Were I, indeed, acquainted u-UU ,i
peculiar circumflances of vour r ?
ftould, employ particnhr /^ "' ^
«n'y a general aim . which is o.
?he heart, at a fa^rable i^l '''"""'
f'» grand concernT^'^o ,1":?;' "'"^
J-T-prpflion when fof ened^ anH ! f '""*
«n V direftion , u "»''"« an heav-
/ uirection when moved J ft ..„
'f^e wife be found. £ v^u'r /'" "^
peculiar advantage fem'i' ""^^'^ ^^"^
jea^^lirh^,°"'^«rftoftbereob.
jecis , with him we fe dom form w
clofe acquaintance till we mea L i^
trouble. He commands fiance '„'"
pat He may be heard • and JLn '
^terven^ng bjeas. .hat S;' r^^^^^
Bccl.
VJJ.
'y
»'■**• '.r
^ with tlic
ur Jo/s, X
onfidera-
can have
acquaint
^^t, with
a /erious
an heav^
Let us,
:cther in
heart of
experi-
ere alfo
onrem,.
itimate-
ed wiih
?fe ofa-
ni any
him i|>
now,
move&
Jy be
R ap*
[ 5 ] ^
refunied what he lent ; whofe will is the
iaw of his creatures ; and whoexpref[lv;
V.^r T'^V.' ?'^ ^'" ^^^^ Prefentaffliaion,
We fhould ferioufly confider, that all
allowed repugnance to the determina-
tions of his government fhowever made
Known to usj is fin ; and that every wifh
to alter the appointments of his wifdom
IS tolly : we know not what we ^fk.
When God difcovers himfclf in any
inatter thofe who know him, will keep
iilencc before him.* Shall he that con,
tendeth with the Almighty inftrud him ?
How just was the reply ;' < Behold lam
^ile I what JJiall J anjwer thee 2: / 7^^//
^ay my hand upon my mouth.' f |,
This filent fubmiffion umier trying
^iiipenfatio>)s, is varioufly e- mplified
as well as inculcated in the Icriptures.
An awful inftance of fin dnd forrow oc^
curs m the family of,Aaros : hisfons dif,
regarded a divineappointmen-t.and there
went out fire from the Lord, and de.
VOurdd them . hut A ot-r>,, K-iJ u:
'CdLC,
Hib
V.
^c- t Job xl. ii. 4. I Lr
V. X. 2^
FJi,inrirniIarcircumftances,filcncedfi;«
Iicart with this fingle but lufficient con.
fideration, "7^ is M(? Za7-i/'* David, un^
der a llrokc which he declares confum-
<^d him, obferves, «^ /^^.s dumb, I open^
cd not my mouth hecauje THOUdidJl itrf
And job, M^ien flript of every comforL
bieiicd the name of Him who rook a-
^^y, as well as gave.J Whatever be
the nature of your calamity, may it be
attended with fuch an humble and child^
Jike /pirit as thcfe poflcfled !
:_ But the Sovereign Difpofer is alfo
t\\t Compassionate P^ather.
Among other inftanccs of his tendernefs',
you may have obferved the peculiar
Supports he affords under peculiar trials.
Let us mark, and acknowledge, the
hand, which mingles mercy with judg^
iTient, and allevation with diftrefs. Th^
parents Ihave juft mentioned loft their
children under circumftances far more
diflreffing than yours:— The dcfire of
your eyes (if not the idol of your l^j^rt)
was. np^K-kKko «l«*^vA ^ /I - \ "
-s J— siics^yo, aiiiiuic c& iiriingcr i) you
* I Sam. iii. x8. f Psa. xxxix. 9. t Job, i. 21.V
Ilcnccd hi«
cient con*
David,un-
s coiifum-
ibt I op en-
y comfort,
■) took a-
itever be
may it be
md child^
er is alfo
A T H E R.
ndernefs,
peculiar
iar trials.
Jge, the
h judg^
ds. The
oft t-Iieir
Far more
Jcfire of
ir>fart}
•} y^M
ob, i. 2L*,
C 7 ]
flrove hard to detain it, but He, wha
took the young children into his arms
and blelFcd them, took yours; and, tak-
ing it, Teemed to fay. What I do thou
knoweft not now, but thou fhalt knovvr
hereafter;*— patiently fuff'er this little
one to come unto me, for of fuch is my
kingdomt compofed : — ^^erily I fav nn-
to you, that in heaven their angels do
always behold the face of my Father.'^
** If I take away your child, 1 take it to
myfelf — Is not this infinitely beyond any
thing you could do for it ? Could you
iay to it, if it had Jived, ' Thou fhalt
•^ujccp no more, — the days of thy mournin(r
ere ended ?'\\ Could' you fhew it any
thing in this world likc'the glory of God,
and of the Lamb ?$ Could you raife it
to any honour here like receiving a
crown of life ?"f
The voice of a Father of mercies and'
a God of all comfort** fpeaks as diftinfti
3y in the death as in the birth of an in-
• ToHn
- / ■
t Matt, xviii. lo.
4, TVTaff-
"i^.
§ kcv
• KXU. 2
3- flj
III
sa. XXX. 19,
ames 1. 12*
#*
2 Gor. i^
i
f . / ^ ' ^
^e"nZT 'r^ """^r weeping ; Ra4et.
comtortcd, bemnf^ tU^
Thusfaith*theLo?<fe -^T """'
/i-/)^ . • ^^^' a> Kef rain thy voice
Lord Z " ^^f .;? ^^^'^^ ^«i Mth tJu
oftjT''^7^''* It n not the -will
littlZ T'fy ^'"'"- '^'^t one of tkejc
Is It a pious Friend that has juft yield-
ed up his brearV. ? TU^ r ■'• /"='"-
to far c-r r ^^f^'^"^^ Voice feems
fmm h- ^""^ f'"'"" '^""' or rather turn
^ni ell I taken Jrom the evil to covie ;-
■"^^l^ entered into peace.'l
larypa,ent or the faithful partner de-
en cles which they blelfed. We are /o
funned by the fudden blow or occu!
fha? w' I "^' '^*"^^^"S circumftances.
that we (carcely can hear God (kyin^.
|er. XV. I
7. t Matt. XV
iii. 14« X Isa. Ivii. i2»
; Raithti,
ufed to be
vere not.
1 thy mice
rom iem'Sy
faith tlic
me agm%
t the will
? of thefe
ift yield-
cc feems
her turn
^t.—HQ
:om'e j —
exemp-
ner de-
zes the
i are io
r occu-
lances,
fort€th J
Ivii, i2»
C 9 ]
f(?w :* I, your Father, am yet alive ; I
,'avc you your departed friend ; I fent
^yery benefit which was conveyed thro*
iiim ; truft meforbleffingsyet in ftore;
truft me with him, and with yourfelves.*
Whatever notions one who lives with-
)ut God in the world may form of dying,
^e ffiouJd learn from his word to re-*
jard it merely as a tranflatidn,— a c.angc
itt* which nothing \^ loft which is really
•^aluable. As furely as we believe that
[efus die<J and rofe again, fo furely do
/€ believe that them alfo which fleep in
(eius, will God bring with him.t Taught
)t God. we ftould view loffes, ficknefs,
)ain, and death, but as the feyeral trying
tages by which a good man, like Tot
leph, IS conduaed from a tent to a court
Sin his diforder ; Chrift his phyfician i
am his medicine ; the Bible his fup;.
^JU the Grave his bed ; and Death
IJjelf an Angel, exprefsly fent to releafe
^•^'•^worn.out Labourer, or crowa.the
;hful Soldier- -
^^avcn fayingr unto
T K^r^^^ ^ : /'^\u .
-a. s*v;aiu a ViiiCC Ji till
* Isa. IL I
« 12.
e, Write, bkfffiL
t 1 Thess. iv. 14,
i
L 10 ]
are the dead whicli die in the Lord frori
henceforth : Yea, faith the Spirit, tha
they may reft from their labours; an
their works follow them.*
But admitting the ftate of your de
parted Friend to be doubtful, yet inal
cafes that are really fo, let us cultivat,
honourable thoughts of God; let u
remember the Faithful Creator
R'ghteoufnefs is his throne thougl
clouds furround it. Whatever he ha
left obfcure we may fafely leave him t
fxplam. Let us recoUea that, amidl
innumerable obfcurities, he hath mad
■filings clear in proportion as they an
important; and therefore repeated!
urges It upon our confcience, that th
door IS ft.ll open to us ;— that it is awfi
to Itand before it unrefolved;— that w
niuft truft him to-day ;— and that to
morrow he will equally remove our con
jefctuies. and our complaints.
■ Perhaps you are ready to reply, '
'^^Jl'^^jardmany Juch things : and £.f^
cnu.ujpeak as you do, if your foyt^''
SW)
Re
V. XIV. I
ed at
Ipirits
that hf
■ ,t/f
1* Jc
I Psa. 1
I C i» ]
abours ' ^.^X^^ expetlations are To cruflied by this
• '"'l»low, that I can hear nothing but " thy
of vour d f'""'-^* " incurable, and thy wound griev-
r I ^ . |f '« ; — thou haft no healing medicines."f
IK rnlMv.;! J^ew3>"e. however, of falling into their
u!, cu mvat|i„ who limited the Holy Oneof Ifrael f
Cre P here is a charge cmiiinuallv brought
one thonJfT^^'"" '"^"' ^^""^ ^" ^'^^' trouble, the
tever h^ h J?''"'^^ ^""^ ^^^ Refource are equally.
leaJe hfm rF'S''"^"- '^^^""S^ affliction cometh
hat aSlri ^""''^ ^^ ^^^^ ciult,||.-~yet none laiUi,
\s tLr.rF^''^' "' '^^ "^§^^-^ Endeavour then,
repeatedlf " ^^^'"^"'^"^^' ^^ recollect an ai.l-suf-
ce thatthr^^^^^^^ Friend— a very prelent
at it is awf.J/^^'''* '" trouble. He at leall rnav add
1 — that wT^> ^^ ^""^^ '" ^^^ P'^^'^S^ J"^^ alluded
nd that to! ^ ' ^ '^iH repre health unto thee, and I
vcomconi'^'^^j^''^^ ^^^^ ""f ^h'^ounds, Jmth the
XhorL* Cannot the voice which rebuk-
xteiM c r^ ^ tempeituous fca calm our troubled
InS^wi^P'^^'^ ^' ^^^ h^"^ ihortened at.alL
III- -
' i»
Job
X Psu. Ixxvi
XVI; 2, 4,
t Jer. x-^lx. 12, f
11.
41. 11 Job V. 6. ^Job xxxt. IQ
■jj*
[ « 2
Job's more than the beginning ?* u ;
■ not the I ord that n-alTah p^or a„d
iTiakeih rich ; that faringeth low and lift 1
e h t,p Pt Many, whofe heart, have beer
defolate l,ke yours, while they have
looked around, have at length lookel
UJ.WAKB unto Him and'bela lighS
ed.+ A fingle promile has aflbrded
them not only rel.ef. but Itrong conlb '
. Let us therefore, my dear friend, turni
ag«intoth.sftrongh«ldasprifo„ersof
hope : even to-day can He render dou!'
ble to us (I Let us look to Abraham's
OoD, and his encouragement is ours -
Fear not, —I am God Alm,,rhM~a d
1 am all-fufficient in all c"alT/: Lt
enough ; and able to do exceeding abm.
l^f'^bove all that yo^. ajk cr thinkAi
have taken away thy Gourd, but doft
•I'ouwell to be angry ?-have I left
nothing for thankfulnefs P-thi, world
however cannot be your hone, ior i^
Objettsyour covfolation : they are all tiu
may
io m
Met tl
S(
youi
\y rci
or <
ever
dy U
the d
thee i
ed in
dejin
fures
|re ii
but i
abun
Jol) xl
". 12. fiSa
% %«ii
*1'sa.
'**»«»w«
ining P* i3 i
^ poor, an^
low and lifui
ts have beer
• ^hey hav
"gth looked
eea lighten
as afford
rong confo
friend, turn
:>rironers ofl
ender dou^
Abraham's
It is ours ;
lies : I am
'thtnLt 1
\ butdoft
we I Jeft
this world
uc all t(u%
3. xxxivi J.
^pll. til, 20*
Ipobr for the foul of man. Look unto
Me and be faved :* — Acquaint thyjelf
with Me and be at peace :f—Follozu Me
and you JJiall not walk in darknefs, but
have the light of li/e."^ However dark
and diftreHing the prelbnt ftate of things
may appear, commit thy father lefs children
to my care^ I willprefervs them alive ; and
-let the widows trujl in m^.'|j
Still the beloved objetl is gone^ and
your heart follows it. You can fcarce-
ly receive counfel from infinite Wildom,
or comfort from Omnipotence. To
every frefh encouragement you are rea-
dy to reply, * Wilt thou Jhew wonders to
the dead ?—fJiall the dead arife and prketife
thee f^-piaW thy loving kindnefs be dechr--
ed in the grave ? or thy faithjulnefs in
deJiruBim ?'^ His Word repeatedly aQ
fures you they fliall ; and that all that
are in the graves fhall hear his voice -f
but it informs you alfo, that He can da
abundantly more for the living than
- B
♦tsa. y\\\ 22. f Job xxii. 21. J John viii. 12.
Iljer xlin. 11. §Psa, lxxxviil.id,ii. ^ John V.2S.
or re-
C H }
Vive heir fanning Tpirits :--h caches
you that He can fanaify the feparatio""
— tl,=,r He can give a divine life to the
though dead in trefpafTes and
hi
I'vivor,
ns * ai
l<ingd
ie
d infeparably unite both in h,
r°?u ^^ V^^ 9^'^f"'^'^'- could mak
r the lofs of Chrift's bodily pre
yill'' -u' ""^^^ '' ^^^" expedie^it that
He ftouid go away ;f how much more
every crea-
can he fupply the place of
ture !
word
ng his
May this Comforter, writi
•rd in your mind, help you to fayVth
IiST' '^i-^'!^ honourable to^im-
klf and his gofpcl. ' My poor perifhine
gourd IS indeed, withered ,^day befo f
I expefcled a ;-..my broken reed i!
the fatherlefs.— an bufband tothe wi-
dow.+--a„d now. Lord, what wait I for ?
truly my hope is in thee.|| Thou canft
give me. ,n thine houfe. a place and a
name better than of ibns and of daughJ
• Eph. ii. I. + John ^'' - -•- r^ , ..." I
■ 11 i ^a. xxxix. 7. .
-nds, or re-
-ft teaches
fcparation,
' i'fc to the
rpaffes and
50th in his
ould make
odily pre-
ediejit that
^uch more
/ery crea-
riting his
o fay with
le to him-,
perifhing
ay before
^ reed is
father to
3 the wL
ait I for ?
lou canft
:^e and a
t daugh-'
T as ]
ten?, even an everlafting name which\ \
Mil not be cutoff;* "and therefore,
though the fig-tree fhallnotbloffom, nei-
ther fhall fruit be in the vine, yet I will
rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the
God of my salvation. t
Once more ; let us endeavour, at fuch
feafons as thefe, to recognize a Gra-
cious Monitor. Whenever the Lord
ftrikes, he fpeaks. Let us Jiften at fjich
a time as this with humble attention; yet
with holy confidence, for it is the voice
of a Friend, — a wonderful Counfellor.
Let us with the Prophet refolve to af-
cend the tower of obiervation, and ob-
ferve what Hw will l^y unto us, and
what we fhall aniwcr when we are re-
proved. If with him we thus watchour
difpenfatien, at the end, like his^ it
ihall fpeak.:+; -^
God is continually railing up wkneff-
e% and fending them in his name to
foand the alarm in Zion.jj He charges
them to admonifh th.p wif^* oo v>.r«H i^ tU
* Isa. Ivi. 5.
TT Jii., «ia TT VIS aci l.iJl««
;: '^X' 1 ■■'■ t.< ..^
t Hab. iii. f7,'/ijj--
II JofI ii, IS
C t6 J
foolifh Virgin, to beware of flumberinir
fince the bridegroom is at hand and
that remain, « J. ^., ^/y, ^^^^J . J
fuck an. hour as ye tUnk not, the Son Si
Man Cometh.'* Some indeed, like the'
fons of Lot, defperately fcom the ad-
n^onition, and treat it as the fear of do-
in doubt faying one to another. ' r/-^/
neaneih thts i' and others moc>^.g rep^
Thefe men are full of new zvzne. { 'buI
Truth ],ke a rock furioufly affaulted
but unfhaken. remains to fcorn iS
fGorners: and, while the witnelfes con-
tinue to bear a faithful and confiftent
tcftimony. God. fooner^^r later^ap^a;,
oll'tT^V' '^-'- -tegrit; .TZ
own word Entering a carelefs family
he fmuesthefirftborn; and, asoneS
i^f ..fleepej : arije from the dead, and
Chrtftfhall give thee light :\\ ^
And IS It not, my affliaed friend, aa.
infin;
will (
will I
mini]
tionc
minif
fufFer
bring
to th(
to his
ant t]
impre
/ giv
Tnake \
quefti
the ea
remai
fcienc
coven
before
^^, a%
cujlorm
\jhall h.
Thif
•J
flumberi'ng.
hand : and
cry to thofe
idy, for in
the Son 6f\
I like the
'n the ad-
rear of do,
■ A6ls, are
^U^^ What
^Mg reply^
■e.'X But
aHauIted,
/corn its
tiY^s con-
confident
appears
yand his
U family^
5 on^ that
^ake^ thou
iend, aa,,
" 14.
[ *7 }
infinite mercy, if by anv means, God
wi enter with fuch a light.— that he
will roule fuch a fleeper?— th;u. bv hiV
mimfter Death, he will arreft the atten-
tion of hmi who has (lighted every other
minifter ? What patience ! what long
luftenng ! to take fuch an one a part ;
bnnghim from noife and occupation inl
to the (ecret and filent chamber ; fpeak
to his heart ; and feal the moft import-
ant truths on it, by the molt affeding
impreffions ! Is it not faying, « How/lmfl
J- give thee up, Ephraim ? how fiiall I
make thee as Admah ?'* Certain it is. that
queftions. which before only reached
the ear, often now, like barbed arrows
remain fixed in the confcience con-
Icience, no longer {tided or amufed, dif-
covers the Con TENDER, and. trembling
before htm. cries, ' Thou hafl chalhfed
me and! was chaftifed as a bullock mac
cujiemed to the yoke : turn thou me and I
U^<itlbe turned, for thou art the Lord my
This I fay, is often the cafe, and
• Hosea xi. 8. t Jer- xxxi i8.>
r »8 3
ftould it be realized in yours, as it ba,
inft." '." .-'f "' y^.""^ P-"*^''^"' Vifitor ; if
eabutr r"^''^''■'■^'■^^'«^^"y"''-
Jett but God, you are brought humblv
to h,s feet with patient fubnTiflionrfc i '
lution. and firm reliance : if, inaword
IS a fo broken.— your foul efcaped as a
andr.? °^/'^ S^'^re oP- the fowler,*
reafbn wi,r^ '\"''P'"T^ k.st; wh;t
redion will you have to fay, ,
Those we call „r,^td„d are a chosen band
tTtV '"' "f '^''"inff^ infinite.
^.r death,.:;;' t ^rh'^ndi!:^, '''" ^^^-^ ••
But death at hand (as anold writer
expreffes it) fhould be death i„ vS^
and lead us to confider next '
Our prospects from thishoufc
of Sorrow as the inhabitants of a pre!
ent and future world. Many fupLfc
i' !L^- ''^^ -"'-plat e'the'Jre-
-... uuiiu uy crowding the Hbufe 0f
.**Psa. cxxiv. 7. " '
L
plate
brea
inotl
pleal
the^
ni ng
and
ilren
is the
canm
Veril
is ak(
that
then
Fe
low a
exhib
cefixo
ing t
T9, as it ba
Vifitor ; ifj
> every ob,
'M humblyj
iflion, fcri-
liolv re/b-
ma word,
ichantment
caped as a
e fowler,*
= ST ; what
band.
irt bets bled A
c severe :
)ld writer I
in viewi
bishoufc
>f a pre-
' fuppofe
the pre-
Mirth ^ their whole deportment, how^
ever fhews that it makes them much,
too giddy for ferious obfervation : hav~
mg eyes they fee not.t
Look at the deceafed, and contem.
p.ate prelent things. His days an hand-
breath ; — his beauty confumed like the
rnoth.fretten garment :...his cares and
pleafurcs adream ;-..his attainments as
tlie grafs, which flourifhetb in the mor^
ning, and in the. evening is cut down
and withered ;™his years a tale ;.-.his,
Itrength, labour and forrow,. So foon
n the whole cut ofF and fled, that we
cannot help repeating with the Pfalmift
Venly—every man— at his beft eflate— *
isakogether: VAMir.Y,t— or a vapour
that appeareth for a little while, and
then vaniflieth away.jj-
Few, perhaps, refleS; when thev fol-
low a friend to his grave, that life'itfeir
exhibits httle more than a funeral pro^
ceffion, were friend follows friend, weep-
inff to-dav anH wi^rkf An,« *^
li-?-iiJc
Eccl.
jf Psa.
"»n. 4.
XX XIX. and xc
t Ma
ik viii, ig.
J
amrs iv.
14.
11
I
C 80 ]
•t»'irU' There i,"'"'^' ^"' ''^''"'^ *
very rel'S;/; ^r£;f f/'-^^
Jnconflb e diftrcT";? ^ ^^''^^•'
tintrirH «, , .'^'"'^'^'S therefore, mav
t<ng,rd our loins. may watte our hours
andcaufe u. ro „iak«/ataJ miftakes '
«nc drew^i of a diftempered night
an En V Mv'ftnr "^- ^'^"'^^ admonitions.
r,f ,1- "^^"Pfd, pointed to the kingdoms
if o M:::; f,-^ -^e glory of th'em"
Iv hearH .? P^' ^"^ ""r ears ea? C
voice f^" a FR.;!n m""'' ''^" "'^
inanu... w"?- caJhng us. though
~ "*' ^ Way, ta coihm ' "
moTt
in th
then
culia
here
Wha
that (
fumpi
that <
laid II
drink,
feel tl
that (
Ihing
^ im ic
iiiihne
fo int<
fp awf
V I,
'unewith
\
t Mat
t, IV.
g;.*
[ «1 J
le, another
It behold a
f^yitf in this
d is gone,
re to /lay ?
^g ^ in the
be called.'
fore, may
our hours,
iiftakes in
'ig us for-
*eting our
efent joys
^ onjy as
ght.
monitions,
mb; and,
^^ngdoms
r them ;*
>es of' u,^
rs eag
^Je things
hear the
> though
unewith
our heart and be fini ;*— to know, at
lleaft in this our day of vifitation, iat
things which belong to our peace ;t and
aJfo what tbofe things are which hide,
txiem from our eves.
It is at fuch (eafons as thefe that ive
more clenrly detea the lies of life. It i%
in the Houfe of Mourning that, what
tile icnpture calls, lying vanities, lie pe-
culiarly naked and expofed. Let us
here examine what folatejy dazzled us.
>Vhat now IS the purple and fine linenj
that caught our eye ? What is it to fare
iumptuoufly only for a day ? Who is he
tiiat cries, ' Soul, thou kajl much goods
laid lip for many years, take thy eafe, eat,
drink and be merry ^^\\ I truil you now'
teel the deep mifery and. utter ruin of
that dying creature, who, can fay no-
thing better to his foul than this. ^Ou
t *n iea' r-ly help crying out, < What f6t-
iMhnefs, what madnefs this, in a moment
^o interefting as life f-^ with a profpeft
fp awful as Eternity r ^-^ -
t Luke
* t3
iV« 4.
XIX.
r.
W Luicc
42. t Iittkc xvi. i^s
•^
3i»U 19.
-^m^
p 1
eyes, Itup.fy h,s confcience. and carr
.S^.^,^P\^k.ng ouder." and ftrivin
with the heart of man :— crvine alh
basate!yiny,„,,,„re..!,r.7.^^^^^^^^^
and ' ft" ""' ^ra'' '^^-^ '^ '' " P°"-^^d^
to ftfke ":? '' '*"':."=''*^^ '«"• ^"'l tr
into fi I root, deeper and deeper
S 1 ""'y ^^^'^ '" ^^--'h. ve would
lam draw our whole life, ftrength and^
"ounft,ne„t, fr„m it. And £ 2
cve"!'^tr?K'^?'^^^^'-f'^''"'-^5l
every tree that beareth not good fruit
be hewn down and caft i„to^ the fire"!
<lid not mercy interpote "^
■"' "'■' "Ppioacb. Is it mercy that
•M,c.,i.,o. +Jsa.)xi.6. Mau.iii..p,
in
#
iks varioufly
erpeaing hi'
future ; bu
^I't, blind hi
e, and carr
" affliaion i
and ftrivin
7>"g, as h
^t is polluted,
:empting t
^ you -with
C 23 ]
^ery reverf(
foil, and tryl
md deeper
, M'c would!
ength, andj
d here w
.t but witf
500 d fruit,
> the fire,2
ern merdyj
nercy that!
^att. iii, joJ» Joh
ears me up by th^ roots ?_that cuts the
ibres of iweeteft union ?-does it prune
.^»ay the ftneft branches? nip the love-
ieft buds? and cover the earth with
? Tl -J"' verily.-fince the ver'
ife of the whole often depends upon the
■emoval of a part, mercy will wound to
a n '"^S-^'n'^ '"^ ^''^ "^<= ^''1 ftrip «fFits*
>oft flouri filing fuckers : the great Hul-
andman will not fail to adopt the (harp-
ft means for the improvement of hi.
hoicelt plants : for every branch that
eareth fruit he purgeth it, that it ma-
ring forth more fruit.* Though the'
-ord caufe grief, yet it is in compaffion.
nd according to the multitude of his
iiercies, for he doth not afflia willing'
y. nor grieve the children of men f
l)ut foon or late inltruas all his childrei, •
'o lay. 'Ikno-w, Lord, that thy mdr-
nmts are right and that thoumfoith/U .
I'fs haft ajflined me.'l -^
Let not, therefore, the change of the
;t ch
antr
i^'ii uueci us
11 XV. 2.
es, m order to prefent the only
t La
ni. lii. -12,
tPsa.
cxi:
75'
C 24 3
unchangeable one. By thus rending the
veils which men try to throw over a dv
ing ftate. and difcovcring tekel*
writien on every creatute. the moli
carelefs are often fo roufed, that thev
Ueem to awake and recover themfelves'-
they appear, for a time at Jeaft, to be '
come wife to underftand thefe things"
and ferioufiy to confider their latter
end.t May this fklutary impreffion
however, my dear friend, never be worn
from your mind, but lead you habituallv
to look from this fading, to that abiding.
profpea which is to be found only ,„ the
Eternal World.— and on which'ir
may be necetfary here to drop a reflec,
tion or two. ■
I think you muft often have remark-
ed that the urgency and buftle of prefent
things, not only raife a cloud of duit
before our future profpeas. but early
beget a falfe principle that the prefent
Ide IS the only one. You mu ft al fo havel
obferved that ten thoufand falie maxim..: I
Which daily fjy through the world, take '
any <
lenti
ant :
can b
fuadt
make
interc
Life.
Do
fiblyj
does 1
futhd
ized
count]
J rending the
A^over a dy-^
g TEKEL*
'> the tnoft
'• that they
themfelves:
eaft, to be-
hefe things,
their latter
impreflion,
''er be worn
t habitually
Ivdi abidin'f
oiAy in the
'U which it
>pa reflec-P
e remark-.
ofprefent
id of dutt
but early
he prclent
t alio have
e maxims
:>r\d, take
C 25 J
flieir rife from this prime filf^l,^^^
kbcng the whole, is cornparatnclyno-
hing a itage, a porch, a dream, awea-
ry day's journey. What is this drop J^
which God exhibits the wonders of his
providence and grace ; or as a fta.e on
vhich we are to a6l our parts wuhou
any opportunity of repetition ; the pre
ant but iurcly no greater impolition
i \ "V"''' f'e isat home; Jr to
make him forget and drown his eternal
^n^reft in ,uch a vifion of the nSK
r)o you not my Dear Friend, fen-
fibly perceive this? While you Jih^re
Sl 1 "'^''' '^'' "■>'' an heavenly
country,* as to admire him whn.i^.Jl^
Heb,
xl.i6.
V
t
I
■^C 26 J
only a tent here * hiif o«4r m ,
for a ci.y that h'a.lf f ^^^^.^^Y 'ookcd
you not ready to take hold 0?!!^^,;^
Seeing this, you only fee tnifhc «.
exhibited in the /cripture, 1'" ''?.*^^'"
f'ncip,e,i„a„,hor:'hro'r^^^^^^
for he alone can enable ufto.^l ^"
own diftoveries • anH L "'^ '"^
he, when he r^m;.v ^^ gracious is
J wucii ne removes anv oKipA , u- .
""ght prevent our thus' JeeZ Iw U'
h'^ k.ngdom. and his righteCffn^r? '
vlio/e removal may nrovr»? •. °''
of our reeking , hem ?'"^'°^*^^fi'^»
J.. J'lft before the flooH tt,-.
'doubtlefs, among their ne'n f ' ''"■^'
admired projectors but ^ ''"°^"'^
fo have been^ bui o^e .r'^t'^r^P'^'"^
a-ongthem:onevd,ofawtdrcr1o"n*'
'■egardcd his pro/peds Am! K V "^^
warned of God nF ^^"; '''^' ''«'«^'
"' "O" Of things not (i.^.,
yet. moved with fear ., "\'*^^" as
cu wun Jeai, prepared an Ark
• lie ). VI ^ . TT , . * *^
J. yu n A T-T-.'.
11 Joii
V 'i-Jt.-u. ;i:], jQ,
a vj,
45-
§ Gc
viii. 2:;,
toil
a m;
worl
of. I
abid
how(
of til
ture
Ark
dyirij
the a
fuch
rious
the tt
ture i
€tk nc
as we
/or ei
fliutn
I will
mi (it
lor it;
whole
tn 1 nrrc
* Heb.
II Acts
ft^y looked
'«ns?t Are
'f' the (kin
ill go with
'^od is with
ruths ever
I'lcl living
ofGod^fj
o u/e his
;racious is
c61 which
^ Him /elf;
^nefs ? or
occafion
re were,
renown,^
' appears
"'ife man
^<^^riouf]y
ic> being
^een as
an Ark
'• viii. 23.
r 27 ]
to the favmg of his houfe.* Now fuch
a man ,s the Chr.ilian. He feels the
world paffing away, with the lulls there-
w I '.' r ^ '''^' ^"^'f^ 'he will of God
ab.dethforeyer.t 'Ifeel/fayshe/that
however finely they dref. the pageant
of this world, xtpajfcth by :X to a crea-
A I "^^ S^''"'8> haftenfng. fuch an
Ark IS worth more than ten thoufand
dying worlds. Let the gay laugh ; leC
the defpifers wonder and penjh % with
fuch prolpea. before me. I LA^ fe.
nous. He that cannot lie has revealed
the terror, as well as the glories of a fu.
ture ftate : he fpeaks of a rvorm that di.
etii not and a, fire that is not qumchedA
as well as oi afdnefs of joy andpleafurl
for evermore A I ,„ult^not, I dare not.
ihut my eyes againft thefe awful realities.
1 will not (acnficemy foul to ajeft, nor
nils the ingle opportunity afforded me.
lor us falvation. He that calls for my
whole heart is worthy of it : while thcJ
Heb,
XI.
11 A
cts xui.
41,
iiavc hitherto eagrofied it,
17. I I Cor. fii. 31,
ix. 44. ^ Psa.xvi. ir.
11 n,
§ Mark
m^^-ii^ f
r 28 J
though they cannot fathfr j fi^^ ,. I
''^^ng-sbutlof^thnlT j^' ^ count a.ll\
God has prov'ide i ?o ^pedf^f ''r ''^'''^
, Such a man. . dej' te f ST""'
in a ftate like thCt „ 'ej^''"i^
^nually reminded 'of hirowt ZtS:
-Even the wife Virain a i P^^"f ^P'^s.
fe Bridegroom':' "hS'^Bu'r^'
IS often made in the fam v i, r ^ f^
^hich will at n dniX ^* ^'t''" '*'''
^•orld • one 1,1.; .k^ awaken the
Pharaoh ?or ht firft^'" '^^ ''«'^''- of
Jatdy heard?; you "''"'■" ^°'-'^^'f«
-hile it roufestlJreperfifK^' "'''''
^ith tears and his heart whh J ' ^^'"^
en produce, fuch view of r^;"^^ > f "
Prefent, and of the ere^nal^":^' "^ ''^^
other monuors would hlv^'.^mnf'.'"
vain. ^^ attempted m
(JLuice
infti
venl
rifin
dcrn
nioii
vey
fhad(
and (
rupti
way ;
and c
not IT
vens.
famih
forts
livina
a
to an
and t(
of th
heave
not b
v/hich
expe£1
XV. 1^.
t John
VI.
37. jPhil.iii.S.
*jP^eJ
J find theyi
^^ orife and^
^iour, who
^ that come.
J count all\
G£, which
gfinners/
Chriftian,
>iit a man,
o be con-
'^ineiplcs,
's though
But a cry
'iTore that
ken the
houfe of
r that fo
y> which
his eyes
»gs ; ofu
> of the
-> as all
opted in
C 29 ]
Here then, my affliaed, but, I hope,
inltruaed. friend, let us ftudy the hea^
venly icience of gaining by loffes. and
nhng by depreffions. Leaving the v/iU
dcrnefs, like Mofes, let us afcend the
mount of fcriptural difcovery, and fur^
vey a profpeQ of which hi& was but a
fliadow. Let us look from viciffitude
and dcfolation to what alone is incor-
ruptible, undefiled,.and fadeth not a^
way;* and, in the houfe of affliftion
and death, let us contemplate a houfe
not made with hands eternal in the hea-
vens.t flow rcfrefhing to look from a
family bereft of its companions and com-
forts to Mount Zion, the city of the
living God, the heavenly Jerufalem ;
to an innumerable company of angeb •
and to the general affembly and church
of the firft-Lorn which are written in
heaven .'X— the only, family which can-
not be divided ;— the only friendfliip
which fhali not difappoint our warmed
expe6lation.
• ■ • H
'"•^•9-| * iP,t.
C 2
1- t s Car
tKc
b. XU. 3^2, 2 J,
C 30 .1
Glorious as this profpefl i^ /"n. j
. you are ready .0 repiyf r/^, P/'-^'^P'
■'P.m. .,c- fo broken, „, hSt™^'
and weepZ £ I can? Zf ^^''^""^
is before^ nTe' or rccol iJ A '{ *''="'' ^'^^'
Tf n. • "'^> or rccolleft what I rear)
If fenous refleaion compofes me for ,'
few moments, I /boH rdir,rl ^ r *
to lofe fight oFeve^r upio';?' ?^ ^"J
Severely feel what yo7w con.l"^
the prefent life, bu I vSv heT'"^
of tl.c future like a tarlil . ^ '"
• -ho iook,„g thro.g^;,^;'|3t:T/Te
-ais'r;7fl^^'^'"^-'-''^--
rhere is, however thir att
leaft between your ca^, 5''"'"'^" ^^
ted to vour n
g^ft Of God, whichis eternal
eceffi
fv, as the
Jefi
inor
ficie
O
hath
beaf
iurn
on tl
zsfz
to h
faith
0/ th
fake
M
the ^
his b
retur
para(
as an
book
€hpfe
hoiife
Jaco]
penec
of Co
iife through I •R,,„
Js, fperhaps
■ l^^ave been
it very in^
as been io
ive Joe king
ond it. My
^o wound-
h watchinj^
' read what
iat I read.
s me for a
and k^m
^ i/jdeed
^ncerning
^e gtories
creature,
te of the
^h butin-
erepce at
e plenty
are real-
ever re-
beftow-
V, as the
through
C 3i ]
Jefus Chrift.* In order to view this
more diftinaiy, let us confidcr the ful.
ficiency of
Our provisions— For wifdom
hath built her houfe, fhe hath killed her
beafts, fhe hath mingled her wine, and
furnilhed her table. She alfo crieth up-
on the higheft places of the city, ' IVhofo
IS Jiviple, let him turn in hither;* and
to him that wanteth underftanding fhe
faith, 'Comey eat of my breads and drink
of the wine which J have mingled ;* for'^
fake the foolifi and live:\
Man, indeed, is daily reminded by
the ihorns at his feet, by the fweat of
his brow, and by the dull: to which he is
returning, that bis paradife is loll :+ but
paradiie regained is confidered r^^hqr
as an idea ; a fubjed for poetry. That
book, however, which I hope you have
chpfen as your befl companiorv in the
houfe of mourning, like the vifion of
Jacob, not only fliews the he^ens o-
pened» but dilcovers n ararionc mA^riiiir^-*
or communication and intercourfe, as it
•Hoiii.vi. 23. fProv.b:. 1^6. jGen.iii. 18, 19.
" as God's orrlinanc'V .J "''^ °^
P' a r.i„,e ; and cr^r Wctr: ' '^'^'^
^^ed ; may climb bv t frol ° ■?'"'"
heaven, t ^ ""'^ '^^''th lo
"otonlyas I nr' "'^."""^ before God
<Jcfcendinff ro th/ ^ ^ ■ ''" Creator
«f his c eftn J *=""'''"on and wants
. ^ ^^tcature, and once mnm u i i
,^»g communion with liim TN L , ^'^^
^ake their fnend, when oar Lord
* G
t Compare Gene
*M
• :^xviii. 12,
^is xxviii. with John i»'.5
fasTTe 3
blXTed
ihall t
that hi
-bleii
fliail la
I fc
addrefi
ventur(
ferent i
therefo
cribc, i
vifions
of rede
pel. 1
remark^
the bro
ietUons
* Luke i
iieaven to
e^i to the
and vilell,
e hoid of
^ce a ftcp
^1 to pro^
earth to
HDng the
ore God
ons, but
^e of aJi
r fallen
k at the
on will
'ispriv-,
Creator
I wanti
::^ hold-,
roken-
>urncr,
vc, and
Id not
Lord
.•■St '
C 33 ]
ood up in the fynagogue to read, he
Kekacd this paHage, and, having read
It, he clofed the book with fa)iiig. ' Tkts
\day 2i thn fcripture fuljilkd "in your
W'» ' I am. as if he had faid, this
ci'-iiverer and defire of nations ;t the
saiire yeftcrday. to-day, and forever :+
b^<;redare they that mourn; for tiiey
Ihall be comforted :J~blefled are ye
that hunger now ; for ye fhall be filled :
— b dfed are ye that weep now ; for ve
fcaillaugh.'K
I fcarcely need obferve that, in an
addrefs like this, (a bow drawn at a
venture) formal ftatements of the dif-
ferent topics would be improper; and
therefore. I fhall not attempt to def-
cnbe, in their order, the various pro-
vihons comprehended in that fchcme
ot redemption, ufually termed the gof-
pel. It may be neceffary, however, to
remark, that the whole is a propofai to
the broken heart, anfwering alj its ob-
' ^ «"^v-;.iiig ail ita vvajHS : auu
Luke
IV. 21
§ Matt,
t Ha
0-.
V. 4.
ii. 7- t Hcb. xiii 8,
jjLuiievi.au
I
ii
I
f 34 ]
tlutrucbapropofalwillbecor.N.ii
v^u only in proportion a? ^k; j/-
/uion prevaiis ^"^ ^'^P^^
of man. jf withoi.f fh ^ 4 '^* '^''"'■'J
'here can be no re " m^ f'"S «f ^'ood
earneft to obtain tn"' '"'• ^'^o is'
i' "-ugh on" h"e";c:u SI" ''^ '"'
''owever the preaching fL- ""^"^^ ^"^,1
be ef(een.ed 7oo|.^^1 '^'^ crorsftall
iiificent fe.ft ,..u:_u P?':*^'^ofa.naff^
— "^'j wiiicii a ki~
iiefler]
he hil
ige ?*
Let
[never
lioned,
Ithat on
"withou
things J
flueijce
provide
for tl;e
this is
ointmer
Heb
• IX. 22,
ing made for
1 '_! V/^\«
ir
t I Cor. i. 1 8. J
Gal.
M,
VI. 14.
ut,
-ordially re.
i th's di7po
knows how
5tor a fure
^" ; fo it i^i
«nc whichl
calculated!
lortify thej
the wantSjj
J of blood,
Ci vvho is
ce to find
ree: and,
crofsfhall
>ng tliem
not only
magnify
/ /kould
r 35 ]
I'c marriage of hi. fon ; but w],cn all
I'-ngs were ready, and ii.vi.a.ions re-
)eaadly fent. he points out the ruin of
he ^vorld in ns indifpofition to accept
>>s gracious propofa). Thcv made lipht
ff'er.n.l.'^"" ''''^."■^^y-^-' However
■ ttcrtnt their purfuiis. they all agreed
^o rejea ti,c mvuation; ihev blgan
mhoneconfenttomakeexcuie: fon.e
rged realoris. and fome abufed the
heS?' 5"'^'-'^''^ 'hi. more than
I e h^flory ot human nature in every
ge
Let us, however, my dear frienc?
never forget that the ga'te lately m"
oned t though Ilrait, is open -an J
>^'thout. Chrift has declared that a!i
ngsai-e ready, may his graciotts in'
providenr f "'^'"-''"S '^'^ ^'""'^ling
. ',;'"• <-crtain I am that, whenever
".>'^ >» HUained, his name ;il be L
(linn's oFl '' "*" iic»uic; win hf-i
fa l:: ::: ";-:M--«i ror.h ..-it w/n rve
ade for
'"'^v-iii even to
.1. vi. 14.
Matt. xiLii. I (5,
ODioictc poetry
IP;
'A-e
I Cant.
«li
c 36 J
i;. ..s a robe,_,f any naked be ;
J . any chance to lnu,ger_he is breid •
. any be a bor.d„,ar,Xl,e is fe '
^t any be but weak,_hiw uron.-'is he •
Jo dead men 1 fe he is • t,. ■ f .'
To blind ,„e„ si oht . „;j'!!;:^" •"^" ""'fh )
A pL asu,e without o;.' a (,l''l "■•l^ ^^■=''"' '
>'* '•^^'*^"re Without sti-ilHi
To prepare the heart for the receo
fionofthis treallire a. ^ r % ,P-
I'e . pleafed to ufc'a^^, tet f ^^^ f^'
"g or your /oul's health. I lole L
ouJgc- hope, for affliaior, is a feed
^"le ; and let me freely n.quire f„ce
Drnvfr f"".' "'^^"^'ion. do not the
prov.hons of the golpel appear new fuf
l^c.en.. & exaaiy fuited toTour eafe'^ i o
you not mark that Gold w'hich the tlS
cannot fteal ? that foundation ^hic Ino
gdcanfhakeP.hatlifeover^hih
M Z "° '?7"" • '"'^ "'«' peace
vvluch the world can neither give nor
take away ? nr)p<;n,^,.i,„ i- .8"";.""'^
""y . ■L'oesnotthereliaion of I v.
*us, li.atis fo forgotten and degraded
among men, ftand forward now as the
a high
what h
and Ik
CREAl
who, t
cour ii
'iife anc
cepts c
endure
JnaKe r
* 4*--'
ad ;
s he !
len health ;
eciy Avealth ;
ithout stealth.
the recep-.
d of order,!
of means ;
w t mploy-.,
I love to
is a feed
ii»"e, fince
'as /J3oken
c had jie-
o not the
new, fuf>
cafe? Do
the thief
which no
^^er which
lat peace
give nor
3n of Iw_
— I «j—
itigra'ded
V as the
. C 37 ]
one thing needful ? Does not Lis friend-
ft.p appear now to be that better Dart
whKh ftall not be taken away * ^a ,d
that God often makes his truth appear-
lurown out to the n<a»-;A,- • '
,'• , "^c perilling manner to
bc^properly known and pnled. *
^nrJ,h ^V^^ §'^^' occafions which
•orce the mind to take refuge in reli<H
Oft : when we have no help i„ ourfelves'
that hoL ' ^"'^''' P'^^'^^ •' «"^ to
wiiat hope may we not raife our eves
and hearts when w^ ^„ r j , ^
* wiien we confider that tht;
CREATusT power is the BEST-
" Surely there is no [truly wife! man
;vho, rhtis afflided. do^^s ncn feeV Tc
cour n, the Gofpel which has b^ougfu
Me and immortality to light. The Wc
ceptsof£p,cuK.s. wh^teache u^stJ
endure what the laws of the rmil.'"
1 1 1 >i u r-» r» r» /> A f J , ^. . ^ . ^ . » •<_
^iKe neccfidry, mav fil
CUIitCilt us,
ence
The did
'lU not
.UiVc
1)
XIX.
ates of Zk
NO,
42,
C 38 3
who commands us to look with mdif
ference on external things, may difpofe
us to conceal our forrow. but cajnot
affuage u. Rtral alleviation of the lofs
of friends and rational tranquility in
the profpea of our Own diflblmion. can
be received only from the promifes of
Hun in whole hands are life and death
and from the affurances of another and
better (tate. in which all tears will be
foul fliall be hlled with joy. Phylolb-
phy may infu/e stubbornzss. but re
ligion only can givePAxiKucE."*
'In health and eafe, ingenious fpecu
lations may amufc and faeisfy us- },,,, 7
thmk you now fu-el with me. that when
He takes away the defire of our eves
^mh a flroke.t our forrows are ,00
deep to be alleviated by the „,et^ ort
tor or philofopher ; we even turn in
tl'lgult from hiin who would thus tridp
^.th our cafe , we need a Aipport thl
'^"■■'^ ""f^ot afford. • I faint/ cJ,^
wounded fr^^.\ , . f __ *. ^[^)i>a
A wdfii cijj aimighiy
•^
h rndif-
( difpofe
^ capnot
the lofs
iiluy in
\on^ can
nifes of
d death.
Her and
will be
hylofo-
but re-.
••r»
; but 1
t when
r eyes
re too
^ ora^
am in
trifle
It the
fays a
'^\9X\{
a
y
6.
[ 39 3
arm to lean on now ; yea, a very ten-
der and compaffionate one too ; — one
like that of the Son of Man. I need
a merciful and faithful High Prieft,
•who, having been tempted, knows how
to fuccour the tempted ;* — that Man
of Sorrows, that Brother born for ad^
verfity» who, being acquainted with
grief, can enter in ray cafe, and com-
mune with me in all the peculiarities of
ray diftrels. I now need one, who can
quiet me on his own breaft, and fpeak
to me with his own voice. Weep not,
the child is not dead but fleepeth.t
Weep not, thou affliaed, toffed with
tempeft, — when thou paffeft through the
waters I will be with thee.;J; It is true
this is the land of death, but I am the
refurreftion and the life ;!(—this is in-
deed, a dry and thirfty land where no
water is jj but I will lead you ta foun-
tains of living waters: I will wipe a-
way all tears from your eyes.'f
• Heb. ii. 17, 18.
f*Luk« viii. 51.
I Isa. xliii. 2. jj John xi. 25. §,Psa. Ixiii. t
U
Rev
VU. I
You
C
40 J
are
O that I ki
ready, perhaps, to fay
rather a cafe ofc i^' K'" ^'"^ ""^
privilege of rl "^^'^ '^""^ ^^e high
^-„d. etc a : at^^h/r V'Tk"''
Though i fee 1 "^ °^ prayer."*
to vcnture?lSiS""'' ' i'"^™'"'^
tranforeffion • ^^ "'^'^ ';«"»"ds me of
•-her? but t^ G^d^ '''""^^'^ ^J' «^"y
4^e readily acknowJedcrp tKnf ^
- — — • * S J!
Lady Russel's Le
tters. f Roni.
^iiciflDie
V»i
before
v;ith fi
orign(
by the
ritual i
concli
mouth
world
view
liis o\
Imite I
poftac;
7?isrci/i
and up
kh\ ai
may ac
in the!
to con
learn t
his rigi
own, t
than oi
But
■ ■ A:
to fay,
gHt find
with me
the high
fuch a
f living
eav'enly
le) but
er : —
bofom
! • my
' faith
mfy in
)tions,
a fu«
er."*
pofals
imble
me of
Jvery
nong
; re-
alfb
f-
C 41 3
before a Judge who charges even angels
witn folly. However pride may bouft
or Ignorance prefume. he who meafures
by the ftandard of a law which is fo fpi-
ritua as to regard a corrupt dehre, will
conclude with the apoftle, that every
mouth inutt be flopped, and all the
vorld become guilty before God.* A
viev/ of the divine chttraQer, and of
lis own, led not only a publican to
Imite upon his breaft. as the feat of a-
poltacy and polution, and cry, ' God be
msrci/ul to me afinmr.i but fo perfefl
and upright a man as Job to abhor him-
le.i. and'repent in duft and afhes :+ I
may add that, as we become proficients
in their fchool, we fhall be more ready
to confefs than to complain ;— we fhall
earn to juflify God in any inftance of
his rigiueous difpleaCure ; and humbly
own, that he has laid upon us far lels
than our iniquities deferve.H
But while the Chriflian, as a penitent,
D 2
U
ob. xi;i. c!
11 i-^
e xviM. 13.
sil. qiii, 10.
I
looks upon him whom he has picrj:ed|
and mourns,, as a believer, he looks
at iiim who was wounded for tranfgreff-
ion and hopes. He f^nds h as defoc-
rate to doubt the
re
medy,
as to de
the diforder. Having formerly rufhed
headlong with the prefumptuous, he
now fears perifliing with the fearful and
unbelieving.* Ke fees an atonement of
Ood . own providing ; he pleads upon
God s own authority the merit of that
blood which cleanfeth from all fin -t
and by thus receiving the record whic'h
God gives o; his Son, he fets his Ical to
U that God IS true. -^
Is this, my dear friend, inanydcc^ree
your cafe ?-Fearful. wandering, and
wounded as your heart is. does u yet
difcover a refting place .^-Inltead' of
^ifhing ,0 evade the charge of <■ mani-
lold fins and wickednefs committed by
thought, wprd and deed againft the Di'-
vme Majelty ; is the remembrance of
thetn grievous, and the burden of them
1 \ .
j-JU
you iiiicereiy deiire
* Hev.xxi. 8. t I John i, 7. X.]ohn%hii
to be
ter in
dren
ion ai
Beho
away
him (
our, 1
of fir
and t(
the h
be nia
you f]
erty .
you f]
yoor ;
provii
refpor
once £
religic
it, tha
precer
beft a
of Gc
? pierced
le looks
an fg re ff-
s defpe-
to deny
' ruflied
ous, he
rfiil and
^ment of
ds upon
of that
1 fin;t
I which
s feal to
degree
)g> and
5 it vet
ead of
mani-
ted by
he riU
nee of
f them
deiire
I 43 ]
to be freed from this burden, and toen-
terinto the glorious liberty of the chil-
dren of God ?-that heavenly commun-
ion and reft which has been mentioned ?
Behold the Lamb of God which taketh
away the fin of the worlu !*— Behold
him exalted to be a Prince and a Savi-
our to give repentance and forgivenefs
of lins !t— Come to him as a finner,
and touch, with humble confidence, but
the hem of his garment, and you Ihall
be made whole ;t— Wait upon him, and
you ihall obtain both ftrength and lib-
erty . for if the Son make you free
you fhall be free indeed \\ Refpeainor'
your fenfe of weakneCs, let me add that
provifion made for fallen nature, cor-
relponding to its various wants, is at
onceacharaaerandan evidence of our
religion. It is a glorious peculiarity of
It, that us promifes correfpond with its
precepts.. To ufe the language which
belt conveys m meaning. The kingdom
or God is not in wnor. r>ni„ k.,» ,rr„
y^^mo'
t AC\5 V. 31,
If' John viii. 36.
I Matt. ix. 21.
*
ftmH
blind ''^" ^"'
'glutens th(
ki_ I _'^^^u^, ana to conhrm fK.. f..^
biek
nees.t The
linclerlbnding is fent to b
onfirm the fee-
Spirit of wifdomand
of
^'''>^'l It
n^jght, ofarac
that h
IS peculiar to
e al.
and of
o a
Sp
iuppl
iric
ica-
our Teache
the inh.r', :.„ "J"'"-*"'^^ Pro'pect of
entance, then
fords f[
rcD'Tth
gcther with thcfe, af-
gf^J to ri/e and purf
iurn to the fhirfv (; Tu ^ "'^"^ ^^•
7eL-i«l r "^^^^y-^^-^th chapter of F
and
P^y provided f...
^added, <j^m
y^u will find your cafe
.1/ b
ut recollea that
an?^
it
ict h
y''^ for tim bz inquired
V /i ^727 amiHcd,
at I fink
^ Ja
i''c;s V. 1 5
^■<^-*^. ::vxv»^.'o»
iC /
I pray
deceaf
figns
makes
chat 1 h
or heav
A Ji
ihew yc
^^ petiti
[when it;
Did noi
ther hea
told thai
[he had <
(crying ar
Ko favc h
P'thai I
>ray you
lot hy hi
•up at w
>erfea mi
'd when h
'd while h
>ufly acco
"ns the
'iigthcn
he fce-
om and
. Spiric
^plica,
eacher
^U his
>ect oF
thro'
e, af-
Je if.
3FE.
i an?-
hat it
uired
d.
ipta^
effi-.
I P'-ayed earnefUy for ,i .r
deceafed • l ,ho.L^";. '''^ ^^^'^ of the
%f of a recovery T, 'T ^ ^^^
makesrnefearthaf rr '"e event
that 1 U^ ' ■' ^as not hparrJ „ J
Se?v:;!"°^---'eft;^r::^^^^^^^^^
\Petuionmay be o' A '". ^'"^^ "^«'
,C.d not our Lor !> decte T^ ^l^''^'
her heard him alway' f" l*^^' '"^ Fa-
told that when in ,hJS ^'^^ ^e not
K had offered uonr.'^' ^^ '''^ fl<^A
Kyingand tear, L^ '^,^':-'' ^"J^ "rong
JO fave him from dea^ *!"" '^«' '* ^^if
k'hathefbaredPt\':!^^^«^-Ho '
P"y you how he was hearW '^?"'^'^" ^
-•ot by having the c„n S ^ ^^"^inly
erfeft „„« r^^^-,. (, "^'""-e. however
■^ when he prave^ ; 2 ««ngaGGept-
--"6**ui(nlcinff it,n.i, "'^"^^
John
j^,r_
XI,
42.
t Heb,
very dregs
iigU.
7.-.
To come
C 46 2
own
\I felt
|rcliev{
[the bii
The
kucntl
fther al
ceTvinT/T T'" '"^'='-ing, but bV rej-'''«=>' ^^
ad 5 :r ''"°" """ ho'nourable'anc^; -.r P
which fat onlvf- y' '^^' graccf "' ^
through h 3 S. h^P"*"" ^^ believeJ^^ <^»"i
' virtue LntoJh'ri * ^"'^ " healinJ^''^"' t
reJi-v^T- *°"/'='"<-^'J at my refufing th'^'Y conCi
na confiT '* h"""^ little fuffero/di4'^^<Jce,«e
il,.! .T. '^^^"Hea, that while r ,Iji"K(ou).
^-'/ icit i„s crv/ rh„ .,.,..-;- - -^-T goodnef^ J
* Ep
call for
lour ev(
when Ik
afk, he i
^ve can ;
Is an
/ ii-it ins cry, ths
ery coiiipaffio,
'♦,«■.■
I C 47 J
>wn condi.F [?='' f"'" ''im, and the dcfirr- r i j
Ifcvere triaP^ "^'"cr draught '^'"^' ^^^7
.ot by be-l^;- aliay. /"i.s'h ^^nld :;;;',^"'^ .^'-
'ut by re-i'^'^y ^^k. or better thi.n^ V '" ' f'"S^
irablear^J ^"- P«itions in kind Tr in iS^^'^
at gracj,-^"' ^'"'e we think onlv Z ^"''^"^{'■
belteveJ^- ^""f"l^^ "''r profit iV^^.;:'; ^^'^'
■ refignaf - -erlft^ng iT'l^ .--^f'-s
.uch rcJ^^hen ho fendr,.ot th^ ve 1 thi"""°''*
ipatienef '^. ^' hears us bv ic'cTwZrc.T^^''^
when J^^'c can aft orthink.* ^^ ''"■"^^"
ncdicinJ ^^ a"}', therefore, aI{llFif-c] u. l-
D rae tJP'-^'y ■' not onlv in the pubii; ,\ ''. *""'
3fe wh}"-- '" tl^c retired clo/et hn f "f >'•
,w„: Jconfidcr that there f a new J'f- '""^
rer dicf '^^^^^'^ei s human nature frr^rr.
Id. thaj f'^^-"^ of retirement or ffi^n to , T"^
t way/"- •'"'-AT • where he fJZ. P^f ^«-
I.ffi;iS00d„e,s,efp;;^3„7<SS;-'wi.i.
c
s
F.ph.
as fit in dark>
tHcb. ::. 2 c.
friend of fh^ ^^^^trcs to the common
Pouring i„': hTs'h^r'"'^ ^^''y '^'i^"-
honour hi,, chaSr 7^1 "'"™>"d,
'"? "f "ur infirmities bT,r„- ^^''-
P-ne,Uempredltkcarweare ver'"-t"
^'ut/iii. Jet IK ,K. I '"^*^' y^' with-
"ay (obtain mcTcv -.nH fi f' ^' ^"^
'■^^'Pinurneof ,,?edt^^"^g"ce to
endeavor 'at''''r"*' '"^'^ ""l^ you ?
particularly, %,-','- f^f' .=^' '^.s time
;-" ^"PplicatL^;i:'„^,,l^;-,., He when,
* '^ ''I i s vv u n vo J 1 < / r ' "/ " ". ' " ' ' " '* •• ^^ ^^ -
^oa; to
how mi
^^ give
him /**
The
torn obi
but feri
a cafe
Aim m or
(lores,
which ii
that whi
ery way
each in'i
after all
brought I
Gofpel a
foul, the
heart.
Howev
thc/e trut
tion when
* Luki
*i>k»v -
' Oar
'> in dc-
out the
ch frail
iaden.
com-.
imand,
his af-^
prieft
'n all
with-
bold,
t we
:e to
ou ?
ap.
for
inie
and
loni
ea-
r 49 ]
^ozv to give good gi/is unto your children
The religion of education and cf
torn obtains, more or leC. every where
but fenous. vital, fpiritual reLTon i
a cafe of neceflity with us al? w
fummon our force.! «,« .• ■ ^"^
ftores w^ fL T ' "^ ranlack our
itores, we fpend our rnonev for th-.»
tt! '.'• n ''•'■^^^' ^"^ °"r labour for
that which fatisfieth not ,t we look .,
ery way, and call to eCcry ,h?n ' 'm
each m return loudly replic. 'n^,\
-. --•: Well, indeedrlill it be "i
after all our fruitless effb n IJ'. '
brou.t to feel that the prS„:ofth:
Go pel are the only bread for a hun^rv
loul.^ the only balm for a wounled
However foreign, my dear tr\. a
thcfe truths were from your ro r '
t on when wp fiWl <:.? i ^ co-ifidera-
vvijcn we ftrll lat down tn.r^.K,.- :c,
P ' " 'to'--"-', ir
£
Luke
XI.
»3'
I Job xxviii. ,4,
t Isa. Iv
C 50 ]
it Ihall pleafe Him, who commanded
tli£ light to Ihine out of darknefs,* to
fhine into your heart, and effeaually
difcover the exceeding riches of his
gracein thefe provifions ; then, though
you Sweeping over your lofs, we are
aflured from unqueftionable authority^
that angels are rejoicing fort your un-
Ipeakable gain. We are certain alfo,
that not only every real friend will cry,
./ This day is falvation come to the houfeX
where we lately wept ;' but that drying
your tears, you, yourfelfwill be com-
pelled to exprefs your grateful kr)^t of
the correftion you now deplore, and
fing, with a companion and fellow-pro-
iicient in the fchool of affliaion,||
Father, I blefs thy gentle hand ;
How kind was thy cbaflifing rod
Thatforc'dmy confcience to a (land.
And brought my wandering foul to God!
Foolifh and vain, Iwentaftray
Ere I had felt thv frnn ra^^c T r»rr? . ■>.
I left my guide,— I loft my way ; /
2 Co
r. iv. 6. t Luke xv. lo.* % Luke xix. 9.
II l*sa. cxix. 67 — 7i«
nanded
sfs,* to
^dually
of his
though
we are
ihoritVi
ur un-
n alfoj
ill crv»
houfel
drying
: cora-
mfe of
*e, and
w-pro-
:and,
oGodI
C 5» 3
But now I love and keep thy word.
And here, fuffer me to drop a word
or two refpefting thefe
Our companions in the hoi'fe
of mourning. Society is peculiarly
plcafant whei^ we are benighted on a
journey : and efpecially that of k citi-
zen of the place to which we are going.
It is encouraging to travel with thofe,
who are convinced, that if they are
chaftened of the Lord, it is, that they
Ihould not be condemned with the
world.* Blefled are the poor in fpirit f
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven :t
and here they are educating for it. Here
they fit at the foot of the crofs, and re-
ceive leffons of faith and patience, of
humility and temperance.
Blefled alfo are the pure in heart ; ft)r
they here fee God j+ who never fo un-
veils himfelf as in feafons of diftrefs.
In fight of his charafter and word, they
bow before his providence, yea iruft
him in the ftroke ; for hope is made
4: r^ ^irtlrfTh l'\.<:&^«Lj|
♦ I, Cor, xi. 33. f Ma;t. y, 3. % tfet. v. 2,
e XIX. 9.
C 52 ]
Here the fpiritual bu«>andman is taught
to go forth weeping, and bearing the
precious feed of faith and love, penifence
and prayer J affured that he ftall come
a§am with joy. bringing his fteaves
with him.* Here alfo the heavenly
tchoiar acquires the tongue of the learn-
ed, that he fliould know how to fpeak a
word in, feafon to him that is weary.t
And here the true foldicr of Tefus Chrift
IS found fighting the good fight of faith,
.and laying hold of eternal life+ in the
very valley and Ihadow of death. He
IS here mttruded to caft down imagin-
ationsj thofe reafonings which pecu-
liarly infeft and darken the houfe of
niourning ; and taking the fhield of
MHh. and the fword of the fpirit • he
wrefiles not only with fl eft and blood,
but with principalities and powers •{—
a mighty though (ecret conflia which
t»od fliall one day declare to the world -,
and which, when explained^ will leave
m
* Psa. cxxvi. 6. f Isa. I. a. t i T\
II 2 Cor. X. 5. §. Eph. vi."ia— 16, ly.
- VI »4.
IS*
is taught
iri ng the
)enitcnce
lall come
J fheaves
beavcnly
^e learn-
> fpeak a
weary, t
js Chrift
of faith,
I in the
h. He
imagin-
1 pecu-
oufe of
lield of
rit ; he
blood,
which
world 5
1 leave
r
I. Vt » *.
• » '•5 5 J. — -
i, 17.
C 53 1
its mofl celebrated heroes filerrt in dark-
nefs.*
* Go thy -may forth by the footjiepi of
the flocki'i for in this houle they all have
left the prints of their feet. Here
flood Jacob weeping over his belbved
Rachel ;+ and here Aaron cjeplored his
fonts, fl Here we trace the fteps of Da-
vid going up to his chamber and crying
with a loud voice, * Would God I had
died for thee^ A if a lorn, my [on ! my
fon !§ and thofe of Ezekiel,' who, for-
bidden to cry, lilently refigned the de-
lire of his eyts tc he ftroke.^ But e-
numeration is Vci.a ; hither came all the
fons of God, the only begotten not ex-
cepted, for Jesus himfelf flood and
wept at the grave of a friend.**
With fuch company, is it not far
better to go to the houfe of mourning
than to the houfe of fcafting ?tt — I
knew one of thefe, a man who had feea
£ 2
* 1 Sam. ii. O. 4. Pant. J. 9. t Ct^n ww. -JO-
II Lev. X. 3. § 2 Sam, xviii. 33.
•lE2ck.xxiv.16. *»Johnxi. 35. ffEccl.vii. 2.
r 54 J
affliaion by a rod* like yours —a man
vho walked and wept in^olUude.ru
wKh no expeQation of being over
heard. There is fomething ffcredl'
gnefa„dweca„„otliftento?t.effufio;;
'"deed, ,s here required, but. if afford-
ed, it may procure you atleaft; a com
' Set thee up way marks :t I
defire here to fet them up, and to re-
cord the levere(i of my%ifi,ations i„
the houfe of my pilgrimage. Lord pre-
pare me for the next!' ^ ^
' I perceive I cofild not have proper-
ly fympath, fed with a friend in a fimilar
cafe before this ftroke. I could not
have underftoodit.'
' I have, at times, fo felt the import-
ance of eternal things, that I thought the
lofsof any prelent comfort would be tol-
erable .--but I had no idea how much H.
pend<
of M
* I^am. iii, i.
t Jer. xxxi. 21.
— a man
ide, but
5 over-
icred in
'ffufions
andour,
afford-
a Com-
vale of
I* * *
* * *
to rc-
ons in
'd pre-
roper-
imiiar
d not
iporu
htthe
e tol-
I.
C 55 ]
pended on being ready, when the Son
ot Man eame in fuch a providence.'
; I feel I now ftand in the right po.
htion to fee the world and the word •—
they both appear under afpeas entirely
new. ^
' Whf X find my joys « packt^d up
6nd gone;- my heart flain j the de-
iight of my eyes taken away ;— when I
recollea who is gone before her, who
Js following, and what remains for the
world to offer ; my heart cries, / loathe
th 1 would not live alway ;'* * I thank
God that I am alfo to go/
' I perceive I did not know liow
much my life was bound up in the life
of a creature : when (be went, notbinir
feemed left : one is not ; and the reft
leem a few thm and fcattered remains '
'And yet how much better for mv
iamb to be fuddenly houfed, to flip unl
■=^xpededly into the fold to ^hich I was
onduaing her, than remafn expofed
^[^' -^—perhaps become a vidim ?*
'I cried, « O Lord, fpare my child!'
* Job. vii. i6.
---he did-~but not as I ._„„, ,
latched It from danger, and took
ui-; own home.*
meant ; he
it ta
I have often prayed, ' Lord, foften
ny heart ! humble
my pride ! defrroy
-/levity!' I knew enough of his way
I ) fear rhe means; and he has in inerl
/ towards nie. regarded my foul more
t^an my feebngs.*
. ' I prayed earneftly for her life : dui
t/ compelled me to fay, < Thy will be
done, —but I meant nothing.'
*Omy God, howlonghait thou come
iceking fruit on this tree^ !* how much
hai thou done to done to ciiltivate it ?-^
ihall u ilili remain fruitlcfs ? foall it be
cut down after all ?'
_ ' My paffions forged ifnpreffions that.
iae would live ; but I now plainly per-
ceive I am called to regard God arid
iiotimprelFjons.'
'I have been long like one in a fe-
ver attended at times, with a ftrong de-
••-i^rj ; I begged hard that I might not
Luk(
Ik** vn! *•
XI
bebl,
Iced n
[threat
joys !
* I
ready,
« « «
my ho
approc
der hi.<
fad^ex
• W
pation
ment's
ftill j'-
thefe ig
en the
end of
It ij
lone, t
[Father,
hole c
[fteps, tl
?* If
-C** .
t^.
Jant ; he
took it ta
rd, foften
! deftroy
f his way
5 in iner-
foul more
life : du-
ly will be
lou come
3w much
/ate it ? —
ball it be
ions that,
inly per-
Giod and
: in a fe-
rong de-
light not
C 57 J '
be bled, but he meant a cure, and pier-
ced my heart/
' O how flender, how brittle the
thread on which hang all my earthlv
joys !*
• I wifli ever to be aiking,' * Atn I
ready, fhould he fend again and take
* or * * * or mvfelf?'— Setting
my houfe in order* wiliTiot make death
approach fooner ; but, that ii will ren-
der his coming much eafier, i reel by
iad experience.'
• When I pafs by the Maze, of diffi-
pation and intemperance. I feel a mo-
ment's relief I fay to my heart, * Be
u / • ~^^ ^^""^ ^^^ ^^ "^' ^^^^^ ^^ fellow
thcieignes/atui : how much better is c-
ven the grave for my T ^, than the
^end of the/e things ?'f
' It is vain forme to wifb, as I have
^one, to leave the world and go to mv
(Father, that I might enquire into the
Nhoie of the cafe ;— the reafons, the
^eps, the ifTue, &c. In a fliort time
^ Ifa. xxxviii. I. t Rom. vi. 2^
i.a.i^lMit.
I*
I ftall.— but h.
58 ]
%s enough now.
have ears to hear
God'and FaTh" t^ 'nVt' ^ "^^ ^^ '^
«-ed thi.s droV o" eS;''*' '/" '^' ^'
horn a fpring which ft.if-- ^"™H ^-^
'ife --part of Ivfe f '" /""!;'''" + '^^
«« thee, htiv\«h?/ ^^'^''^y g«"t'e n,
li tins humble atteinnt .« .•* * P^'a'
youraffliaion has bl^ll a .""P^-o^if the
conciuding hiu"i";e1-pJa' -" ^ '^-^
An?o:e^f7he^S^^''--.«an4^^^^^^^^^
ties of the ttate is as ll ^""''P^' ^4^" on
^as charged uponC tLt";h"- i W''^
urned not to him thaT fmo e thl^^ '"i" '^' ^
-"gi^^ the Lordt in the^^ dS l' nT^*^'* '
t"e contrary, the rlp-,r "'^^\*- Onfcne. wfc
Job had of a divTneTand^Pi;''''^"4pP«i"t<
'^ons. is asi„ftruaTveasl"h;i\?'' afflicLrermi,
^ . "^^^^*»spatiencei.a4rewub
^sa. xxxvi. g. X T„ :.. I
lead of i
ih now, if I
„ ^ . C 59 ]
fountain off he Au L T "" """f '^'''^'^ ^l^t
ready gonfhe It ':• ^^Z" ""^ue regard ,o
ncipal duXart on LI '"^ condufted every
• r- ?>T°''^ '--^ed t;. tritcr ^""
r.K /°T"^' ^^'o Jiad Jived hi, A,rt '^'"^'''"S
rehenfio4ppointed) time Z: *^ ' <^'' ^- ^'^
bis afBic-feerermined ^l f '"^' *"" %s al-
ienee u±, wKee ho"at:: "^ '''^ '"ontl s
i:_ L V^^.-. ^"OU hail aDnmnf/%rJ i.:._
ad of ftx.ng our attention .rponnie;".
•'°^'•^'• tJob:.xiv.,,6.
[ 6o 2
and creatures, of which we tn^ r
|;ylmleJetus\urntoHimwSowi°T
by thefe inftrumen.s, and S.^e]v!ff A^^'
h.s own determiivtions b^S r.?
from man, for wherein is he ?1' k^^''^
counted of-* r er n^/Vi ° '"^ ac-
'he Creator; nor pre^nrthf '"" '^'''^
the fatal fcr^en oFThf utT TuT""
«:very occurrence, mark tir/re^t r . f "
of whom, and through wh^m T^^'
Ihom are all things ^XoZ^T'^ '^
the very hairs of our head Z ''t^
out whom even a fmrr/ V m "^ ^"h-
the ground.^ ^'"""^ ^^"^^ "^t to
. '^Vhile others, therefore are w, ^
^ng without an objed and h •■:
without a comforter vea .1 ''"^'^
their worftenemyfoVeS let ufeni '"
vour to fay with Peter ' Lord 1'^'
J "-c ^o,|j piit to THEE ?' f'nnfi^^
"• 52. f H
II M
om,
'» vi. 68.
x«. 36. t Matt.
§ John V. 6
X. 29
>3<
the
ther
oft
arei
ed fc
fhill
you
are g
given
your j
we ar
when
provid
\n to
^t adiT
each hi
k/i^ chaj
\thou an
oiifly pi
Hffion i
'\;' ■■
* T3l.li ...
- "i«. iil
If Psa. ciii
know fove-
ho wrought
ely effeaed
^m. Ceafe
' to be ac-
-ature hide
'gs remain
e; but in
eat Caufe,
n, and to
^iiTibereth
and with-
iis not to
wander^
bereaved
going to
IS endea^
^0 whom
-onfider
pofing a
confci-
'§ May
that of
5c. 29, 30.
^"C apoftle's «* rr K
tf^en. though* reemLi[ ''?>' .^'^^"^ ;"*
of this grief } i cT^'J: ^^^»owcd up
^refourL in i ante^r,l^ "^^^' fi-S
Once nif»r/-/ar? « • ^v ^ ^"3t which
y-u /hall ^^be eliiei'' '^' T'""'^ ' ^"^
fregohe before yonrn 7' '"''"'y '■'^^'
Stven me ever unto dead ^ ^''^" '''^
knows our frame Tn.l ^ ''■^^'"' ^^ho
^^e are but duftfallol''"""""''^" "'«
'providence, can,, u 'to h °"^"' ^ h,.
"s to weep with them fh,V ''" charges
each hand. < ,if, 'I''' ^'/. danger on
ou/Jy profefs chriftianm; ''*^ '""'-
'}♦ P«^ ... '• t jon.i,. 7^ p
>• ffHeb.
Kti.
L 62 y '
to our Lord's will, but) that we havc
fpeaal refources in our affh^iion ; Tvl
cral of which have bee
ed : that
among
is a pe
paffeth all under/tand
n a
cs, there
er of
hea
s and mind^i* th
9 ^ -^m W -^
* ready nam-
our privilege
from God which
^g, to keep our
rough life and
in
lor not forrowing as others who have
have a poft of honour to maintain : an
high calling^ to demon/Irate and com
jnend : we ftall (like the pilot ,n I
Itorm) be brought to our principles
and as forrowfui yet always rejoicL.!]
/hould prove that we have theJnotn^"
On the contrary, there is fuch a
thing as nurfing and cherifting our
gnel : emploj-ing a " bufy meddling
memory to mufter up paft endearments '•
and perfunate a va(t variety of tender
and heart-rending circuraaances. There
IS a tearing open the wound afrefh by
t Tlies. iv. M.
H' JI 2 Cor. vi. 19.
floo]
theh
to m
upon
He i
comf
a wid
"».vhen
paffio
time,
I which
fand tl
iaying
as del
pro/pe
fenfe <
things
Jn deat
him, w
and CO
the kir
Chrift,+
darker
Luke Vi
f we have
ion; fev.
-ady nam-
' priviieg-
3cJ which
^ecp our
Jife and
y reafons
ho have
chriftians
'tain : an
nd COO)-
iiot in a
incipjes ;
joicing,^
not now
fuch a
ng our
leddling
ments,"
tender
There
refh by
C 71 ] >
flooping to the fenfes, and ipeakin^ to
he heart of man :- ever faying. c?J^^^
to rny crofs, take my yok'e. td £
upon my arm, and ye fhall find reft^
He fought the houfe of mourninTr:.
P^^on on her/::d'7^^^^^^^^^
^Weep not - May he meet you at th,^
laying be brought to pafs, ' Death h
fen/r r / °^'^'''"'' companions, and
£ttSr* pod .^ith us and alT
\h\ r J^^ ^^''ds which revived
[him, who ftyles himfelf your br^^^^^^^^^
and companion ,n tribulation, and fn
the kingdom and patience ^f Jefi"
\^\^^l,l remain to :heer a folitude
'3-
uarker AT r^^fl^iLl«^
iL.
Lufec
y wictn nis.
I' ear
1
v^'- 13. t I Cor, XV. 54- X R
ev. 1.
*
not
C 72 ]
am
i^e firft and the lafl
^E ALSO READV."t Ynnr T /•
gone your following is certain • \.
niay be fudden ; it ,„a^ be TJn k„
ftould ittake place ihis^niX^^^^^ fiV
fition to pafs From tho <i « „ "~
Tr,,, K« ••"oin me .Saviour to thf
•, Judge r without love to him - \\,\,^1
even an acquaintance with I m ' ^^
. r. •"^* ""Reconciled, unrenewed ' Zl
\ o h,m who has fo often invited ^ot
^varned yo„, and, at time, ^ff.^^ J
>^- confbience ^ith T^^J^
■^Varned von anH ^f ••
y;pur confcience with the trut
have been confiaering ! "^
* -''"• '■• '7.-13. t M.'t. ,xiv.
• T ijcii
44«
a ^ lew
and be^
% Amen :
^ death.'-^
'Vent io^
•ge, "be
inend h
'tain : it
^t. But
and find
^ttef for
Aibter-
Scarcely
formal,
left to
lipidity)
ul tran-
I to the
^vithout
I ; un~
I.' And
d you,
ffeaed
hs we
. 4^.
■^5
a-t^-
r
#•
5^. •^'■'
"#
i^^'
JA,