ings of this life; and that the honour and repute which I may lose here by a forward zeal to thy glory, will be fully made up in the future enjoyment of an eternal crown of honour and it is sure a happy bar

:

gain to suffer a little shame on earth, and be made an heir of heaven; to forego the reputation of the world for the glorious titles of the sons of God, is a good exchange: and let the thoughts of this, I beseech thee, inspire me with courage enough to break through all the difficulties of scorn and censure, rather than be disowned and rejected by thee, and at last shut out from thy blissful presence, with that fearful sentence, Depart from me, I know ye not." Amen.

66

OF DEATH.

METHINKS I here live merrily in the world, pass away my time in careless ease and briskness. They talk that this world is full of troubles, but I am sure I want for nothing; for whilst many others eat the bread of carefulness, I live at ease and pleasure, free from sickness, and secure from want. But let me stop a little and consider. Will this last always? Will there not come a day when all these enjoyments, and even I myself, shall be no more? I am now indeed in health and vigour ; but so were many men the last month, that are now in another world, and I am made like them,

and subject to those diseases that sent them to their graves. This is a sad meditation to me, that live and enjoy the world, to think that I must part with it ere long. But since a serious reflection on my departure out of this life may be useful to a speedy preparation for another, I will retire a little to my closet, or yonder private walk, and there meditate a while on the day of my death.

As certain, O my soul! as thou art now thinking, so certain is it that thou shalt shortly be separated from this body. Look back upon all the ages of the world, and consider what is become of all the men that lived in them truly they are all gone away; not one shall we find, but what has

left this world, and shall never return to it again. My ancestors, who have inherited these lands, and inhabited this house, are all dead; have taken an eternal leave of this estate of theirs and as sure as they left it me, so shall I shortly leave it another, and bid adieu to this handsome seat, and all my wealth besides. Unhappy man! Why then do I take all this care, and am solicitous to increase those riches which will so suddenly be none of mine? Why do I thus concern myself with other mens' business, and neglect the grand affair of eternal life? I am at present called master of the house; but I shall soon be carried out of it, a helpless corpse, shunned by the meanest of my servants, and be removed

to another house, the house of mourning, not above six feet long, and a yard high thus will the body be disposed of. But I have another part about me that will never die, an immortal soul, that must be for ever in another world. Now which of these two is the greatest concern, and requires the greater care? Why do I not think oftener of death, then, since it will so certainly seize upon me? My father, not many years since as healthy as myself, is dead, and lies yonder a coffinful of dust. Now, it is impossible for a mortal father to beget an immortal son; it is certain therefore that my coffin will shortly be with his, and then the estate which he once called his, and