gloomy mansions of the tomb; drowned is this gentle whisper amidst the noise of secular affairs, but speaks distinctly in the retirements of serious contemplation. Behold how providentially I am brought to the school of wisdom! The grave is the most faithful master; and these instances of mortality the most instructive lessons. Come then, calm attention, and compose my thoughts; come, thou celestial Spirit, and enlighten my mind; that I may so peruse these awful pages as to "become wise unto salvation."

Examining the records of mortality, I found the memorials of a promiscuous multitude. They were huddled, at least they rested together, without any regard to rank or seniority. None were ambitious of the uppermost rooms, or chief seats in this house of mourning. None entertained fond and eager expectations of being honourably greeted in their darksome cells. The man of years and experience, reputed as an oracle in his generation, was content to lie down at the feet of a babe. In this house appointed for all living, the servant was equally accommodated, and lodged in the same story with his master. The poor indigent lay as softly, and slept as soundly, as the most opulent possessor. All the distinction that subsisted, was a grassy hillock, bound with osiers ; or a sepulchral stone ornamented with imagery.

Why then, said my working thoughts, oh! why should we raise such a mighty stir about superiority and precedence, when the next remove will reduce us all to a state of equal meanness? Why should we exalt ourselves, or debase others; since we must all one day be upon a common level, and blended together in the same undistinguished dust? Oh! that this consideration might humble my own and others' pride; and sink our imaginations as low as our habitation will shortly be?

Among these confused relics of humanity, there are, without doubt, persons of contrary interests, and contradicting sentiments: But death, like some able days-man, has laid his hand on the contending par

ties, and brought all their differences to an amicable conclusion. Here enemies, sworn enemies, dwell together in unity. They drop every imbittered thought, and forget that they once were foes. Perhaps their crumbling bones mix as they moulder; and those who, while they lived, stood aloof in irreconcileable variance, here fall into mutual embraces, and even incorporate with each other in the grave. Oh! that we might learn from these friendly ashes, not to perpetuate the memory of injuries; not to foment the fever of resentment, nor cherish the turbulence of passion; that there may be as little animosity and disagreement in the land of the living, as there is in the congregation of the dead. But I suspend for a while such general observations, and address myself to a more particular inquiry.

Yonder white stone, emblem of the innocence it covers, informs the beholder of one who breathed out its tender soul almost in the instant of receiving it. There the peaceful infant, without so much as knowing what labour and vexation mean, "lies still and is quiet; it sleeps, and is at rest," Job. iii. 13. Staying only to wash away its native impurity in the laver of regeneration, it bid a speedy adieu to time, and terrestrial things. What did the little hasty sojourner find so forbidding and disgustful in our upper world, to occasion its precipitant exit? It is written, indeed, of its suffering Saviour, that when he had tasted the vinegar mingled with gall, he would not drink, Matt. xxvii. 34.: And did our new come stranger begin to sip the cup of life; but, perceiving the bitterness, turn away its head, and refuse the draught? Was this the cause why the wary babe only opened its eyes; just looked on the light, and then withdrew into the more inviting regions of undisturbed repose?

Happy voyager! no sooner launched, than arrived at the haven. But more eminently happy they, who have passed the waves, and weathered all the storms of a troublesome and dangerous world; who

"through many tribulations have entered into the kingdom of heaven;" and thereby brought honour to their divine Convoy, administered comfort to the companions of their toil, and left an instructive example to succeeding pilgrims.

Highly favoured probationer! accepted without being exercised! It was thy peculiar privilege not to feel the slightest of those evils which oppress thy surviving kindred; which frequently fetch groans from the most manly fortitude, or most elevated faith. The arrows of calamity, barbed with anguish, are often fixed deep in our choicest comforts. The fiery darts of temptation, shot from the hand of hell, are always flying in showers around our integrity. To thee, sweet babe, both these distresses and dangers were alike unknown.

Consider this, ye mourning parents, and dry up your tears. Why should you lament that your little ones are crowned with victory, before the sword was drawn, or the conflict begun? Perhaps the Supreme Disposer of events foresaw some inevitable snare of temptation forming, or some dreadful storm of adversity impending. And why should you be so dissatisfied with that kind precaution, which housed your pleasant plant, and removed into shelter a tender flower, before the thunders roared, before the lightnings flew, before the tempest poured its rage? O remember, they are not lost, but taken away from the evil to come; Isa. lvii. 1.

At the same time let survivors, doomed to bear the heat and burden of the day, for their encouragement reflect, that it is more honourable to have entered the lists, and to have fought the good fight before they come off conquerors. They who have borne the cross, and submitted to afflictive providences with a cheerful resignation, have girded up the loins of their mind, and performed their Master's will, with an honest and persevering fidelity. These, having glorified their Redeemer on earth, will probably be as stars of the first magnitude in heaven.

They will shine with brighter beams, be replenished with stronger joys, in their Lord's everlasting kingdom.

Here lies the grief of a fond mother, and the blasted expectation of an indulgent father. The youth grew up, like a well-watered plant; he shot deep, rose high, and bid fair for manhood; but just as the cedar began to tower, and promised ere long to be the pride of the wood, and prince among the neighbouring trees, behold! the axe is laid unto the root, the fatal blow struck, and all its branching honours tumbled to the dust. And did he fall alone? No, the hopes of his father that begat him, and the pleasing prospects of her that bare him, fell, and were crushed together with him.

Doubtless it would have pierced one's heart, to have beheld the tender parents following the breathless youth to his long home. Perhaps, drowned in tears, and all overwhelmed with sorrows, they stood like weeping statues on this very spot. Methinks I see the deeply distressed mourners attending the sad solemnity: How they wring their hands, and pour floods from their eyes! Is it fancy? or do I really hear the passionate mother, in an agony of affliction, taking her final leave of the darling of her soul? Dumb she remained, while the awful obsequies were performing; dumb with grief, and leaning upon the partner of her woes. But now the inward anguish struggles for vent; it grows too big to be repressed. She advances to the brink of the grave: All her soul is in her eyes! She fastens one more look upon the dear doleful object, before the pit shuts its mouth upon him: And as she looks she cries; in broken accents, interrupted by many a rising sob, she cries, "Farewell, my son! my son! my only beloved! Would to God I had died for thee! Farewell, my child! and farewell, all my earthly happiness. shall never more see good in the land of the living. Attempt not to comfort me: I will go mourning all my days, till my grey hairs come down with sorrow to the grave."

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From this affecting representation, let parents be convinced how highly it concerns them to cultivate the morals, and secure the immortal interests of their children. If you really love the offspring of your own bodies, if your bowels yearn over those amiable pledges of conjugal endearment, spare no pains, give all diligence, I entreat you, to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Then may you have joy in their life, or consolation in their death. If their span is prolonged, their unblamable and useful conduct will be the staff of your age, and a balm for declining nature. Or, if the number of their years be cut off in the midst, you may commit their remains to the dust, with much the same comfortable expectations, and with infinitely more exalted views, than you send the survivors to places of genteel education. You may commit them to the dust with cheering hopes of receiving them again to your arms, inexpressibly improved in every noble and endearing accomplishment.

It is certainly a severe trial, and much more afflictive than I am able to imagine, to resign a lovely blooming creature, sprung from your own loins, to the gloomy recesses of corruption. Thus to resign him, after having been long dandled upon your knees, united to your affections by a thousand ties of tenderness, and now become both the delight of your eyes and the support of your family: to have such a one torn from your bosom, and thrown into darkness, doubtless it must be like a dagger in your hearts. But, O! how much more cutting to you, and confounding to the child, to have the soul separated from God; and, for shameful ignorance or early impiety, consigned over to places of eternal torment! How would it aggravate your distress, and add a distracting emphasis to all your sighs, if you should follow the pale corpse with these bitter reflections: "This dear creature, though long ago capable of knowing good from evil, is gone out of the world before it had learned the great design of coming into it. A