ven.

life like a happy death. I have endeavoured, even from my youth, to approve myself a faithful fervant to my great mafter. I have taken fome pains in writing several books; I have seriously confidered them, and am fully fatisfied (looking on thofe about him) that you may find in them the way to heaThe christian duties contained therein have been my practice, as well as ftudy, and I now find the advantage of it. And therefore be careful to read them often and feriously, and live fuitably thereunto, that when you come to the condition I am now in, you may die with comfort, as you fee me do. I have fome little pain indeed ; but my pain is nothing fo extraordinary as my hopes for I have earnestly repented of all my fins, and verily believe, that through the tender mercies of my God, and the merits of my bleffed Saviour Jefus Chrift, I fhall be carried up into Abraham's bosom." After which, it is faid, he made this fhort prayer: "I wait, O God, for that everlasting rest, which I want at present, but shall not long. I am ready, when thou, my God, calleft for me; yet can stay with

patience till thou pleafeft: for thy time is the best time, and thy pleasure the best pleasure."

See here the end of a good man: how calm, how ferene and comfortable is his death! Who would not wish to die the ' death of the righteous, and that his last ' end may be like his ?" Is there any thing like this in the cafe of a wicked man, in the hour of his diffolution? Alas no; if you behold fuch an one in his last extremity, (unlefs indeed he is loft to all fenfe of his deplorable fituation, and dies hardened and impenitent) you will hear little else but bitter reflections on himself for the folly and madness of his paft life; and these ending in fighs and groans, dreadful to himself, and terrible to all about him. May God, of his infinite mercy, keep every one from fuch a dreadful hour; and "teach us all fo to num

ber our days, that we may apply our ' hearts unto true wisdom !" That wifdom which will make us wife unto falvation, and fill our minds with comfort and fatisfaction while we live; and, which is of infinitely more value, give us, when we come to die,

that peace of God which paffeth all under'ftanding," through Jefus Christ our Lord..

Amen.

A PRAYER.

O Moft great and mighty God, in whofe

hands are the iffues of life and death! Thou ordereft all things by thy infinite power and wisdom, and haft appointed for all men. once to die, and, after this short life is ended, haft of thy infinite goodness provided for thy faithful fervants, a state of endless bliss and happiness. O! make me truly fenfible of the uncertainty of my life, and teach me fo to number my days, that I may apply my heart unto true wifdom! Let not death furprize me unawares, but grant that I may live in fuch a conftant and habitual preparation for my latter end, that however fuddenly thou shalt be pleafed to take me out

of this world, I may be found prepared for that great account, which I must one day give before the judgment-feat of Chrift. Enable me by the affiftance of thy Holy Spirit, to finish the great work of my falvation before the night comes, when no man can work, and to lay up a good foundation of hope and comfort against the hour of death; that, when the time of my depar ture fhall arrive, I may look back with fatisfaction upon a life well-fpent, and may meet death without fear, and with a perfect refignation to thy will.

Look upon me, O most gracious God, when the time of my diffolution draws nigh, as a reconciled Father in Chrift Jefus ; fpeak peace unto my confcience, and fay unto my foul, I am the God of thy fal vation! give thy holy angels charge over me and let the comforts of thy Holy Spirit cheer and refresh my foul, in its paffage through this vale of tears and mifery, to a happy eternity.

O Lord! leave me not to myfelf in that time of distress, when I fhall stand in fo

much need of thee! Suffer me not at my laft hour, through any pains of body or weakness of mind, to renounce my dependence upon thee: but grant, O merciful Father, that with an humble reliance on thy mercies, and the infinite merits of my dear Redeemer, I may cheerfully refign up my foul into thy hands, and may be willing, and even defirous, to leave this world, when thou my God fhall please to call me hence.

O Lord! fuffer not my foul to be ever separated from thee, its proper happiness; but grant, that after a life devoted to thy fervice, I may dwell with thee in those mansions of eternal blifs and glory, which thou haft prepared for those who truly love and fear thee; through the merits, and for the fake of thy beloved Son, Jefus Chrift, our Lord and only Saviour! Amen.