be better understood. You shall see the blessed God himself; in that place which he hath prepared to reveal his glory in. You shall see him, whose sight will perfect your understandings; and love him, and feel the fulness of his love. O what a change will it be to a humble fearful soul, to find itself in a moment dislodged from a sinful painful flesh; and entered into a world of light and life, and holy love! Alas! that our present ignorance and fear should make us draw back from such a change! That while all the brethren that died in faith, are triumphing in those joys with Christ, our trembling souls should be too loth to leave this flesh, and to be called to the same felicity! 0 what an enemy is the remnant of unbelief to our souls, that it can hide such indescribable glory from our eyes, that we should no more desire it, but are willing to stay so long from God! How wonderful is that love and mercy that brings such backward souls to happiness; and draws us to blessedness, whether we will or not! Come on then, dear friend, and faint not at the last. Fear not to encounter the King of Terrors! It is the last enemy, and it is a conquered enemy.

An Address to the Sick, when unprepared for Death.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

It has pleased God, in whose hands our breath is, and whose are all our ways, to lay his afflicting hand upon you. He has done much to convince you of his love; he has nourished and brought you up as his child; crowned you with loving-kindness and tender mercies; and invited you to partake of all the blessings of the Gospel Salvation. But hitherto all has been in vain; his terrors have not alarmed you, his mercies have not melted you; but his love still follows you: and rather than you should perish, he is laying his correcting hand upon you. You have often seen the love of a father in the chastisement of his child; and will you not believe your heavenly Father, when he declares," whom he loveth he chasteneth ;" not for his pleasure, but to purify them from sin, and make them partakers of his holiness? This is, perhaps, the last means that he will try. Now he is shewing you the vanity of the world, and how poor a portion it is for an immortal soul! He is now

shewing you the value of that time which you have trifled away. He is drawing you nearer to an eternal world, that he may rouse you from your fatal security. We would not, my friend, wish to alarm or terrify you; but we must be faithful, where the life of an immortal soul is at stake. You know that you are a mortal; and ought you not to suppose that this sickness may be unto death? Let me entreat you to put to yourself this serious question,' Am I ready? Take the gospel marks of salvation into your hands, and judge yourself faithfully as one who must be judged of the Lord.

Jesus Christ has told you, that "Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Does not this imply, that you have a sinful nature, that must be changed and renewed? He tells you, that "One thing is needful;" and what is this one thing, but the care of your soul? Has this been the one thing needful with you? Have you sought first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and preferred the hopes of eternal life, before all the pleasures and prosperity of this world? Have you walked after the flesh, or after the Spirit? Have you been spiritually minded, which is life and peace; or car

nally minded, which is death? Have you hated sin, and been striving, watching, and praying against it? Have you seen yourself to be one of those lost sinners whom Jesus Christ came to seek and to save? And have you cast yourself upon him for life and salvation? O, my friend, how will you escape if you neglect so great a salvation? Arise, and call upon thy God! Seek him while he may be found! Call upon him while he is near!

Prayer.

O my God! I have been examining my heart, and searching my ways; and I find that I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight; I have lived without thee in the world. Thou hast called; but I would not answer. I have cast off fear, and restrained prayer before thee. I have resisted thy Holy Spirit, and trampled upon the blood of a Redeemer! O that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night! Have mercy upon me, O God! Turn me, and I shall be turned! I have undone myself; but to thee do I look for help! Lord, save me, or I perish! I have heard that the King of Israel is a merciful King, and

that thou hast declared thyself the Lord God, merciful and gracious! I have heard thy gracious invitations to the weary and heavy laden; and I come to lay hold of thy grace and mercy! Take away this heart of stone, and give me a heart of flesh a heart to melt at thy love, to mourn for my rebellion against thee: a heart to love holiness, and to hunger and thirst after righteousness! O my God, it is a great work to change this sinful heart, and to create it anew in Christ Jesus; to crucify the old man, and to put on the new and I may have but little time for this great work. But O how many doubts must I have of my own sincerity! But, O my God, the work is thine own! Thy Spirit can sanctify these corrupt affections, and the blood of sprinkling can cleanse me from all sin! I will lie at the foot of the cross, and if I perish, I will perish there.