event, that, sooner or later, must be the end of all? Unless death appears amongst our immediate circle of relations and friends, we heed not the devastation around us, but thoughtlessly continue in the same course, pursue the same series of amusements, and project new plans for our future advancement; though each succeeding year we probably have lost some one who was engaged with us in the like pursuits.

The primary cause of death was sin, that monstrous evil which our parents first introduced into the world, and which we bear about with us ever, from the cradle to the grave. The punishment attached by God to the commission of sin was a spiritual and eternal, so, also, a temporal or corporeal death. Disease, too, and decay, have their victims, by lingering consumption, by burning fever, by sudden paralysis, or apoplexy, and by a thousand other maladies, which, like so many harpies, are ready to fasten on us and feed on our vitals: these bear men to their "long homes," and will make us, as others, their prey. Innumerable dangers, in every form, hurry us to the tomb. How often do we read and hear, "the vessel foundered, and the crew perished;"" the packet caught fire, and nearly all on board were lost;""the coach overturned, and some of its passengers were killed;" "the restive horse threw his rider, and he was found a corpse!" In these, and other ways, are men going to the place appointed for all living; and those who escape these, pass on to eternity by a little longer journey, and then, with their mortal powers worn out, they sink into the common receptacle of mortality.

What is it, to die? It is not to terminate our existence. To die is to undergo a termination of our present mode of existence, in which the immaterial soul is severed from the material body, and exists thenceforth for a time alone; whilst the body, bereft of life, loses the qualities necessary to preserve its substance, and becomes disor

ganised, and resolved into its original dust. What is it, to die? Enter the chamber of the dying, and make your enquiry of death itself. View that dark valley of the shadow of death, before you yourself enter it, that you may know its nature, and may, in time, be provided with the only light that can cheer, and the only staff that can support you in it. In that solemn chamber all is silent, and naught is heard but stifled whispers, and sobs, and groans, and sighs expressive of the sick man's woe, and of the tender interest and grief of sorrowing friends. A mournful parent, partner, brother, sister, child, stands gazing on the couch where rests the wasted frame of the expiring mortal, lately full of tossings to and fro, but now too feeble and far gone for effort. Look at those haggard features and sunken eyes, the remnants, perhaps of youth and beauty, and which, though soon to lie fixed in death, still are powerfully expressive of vigorous thought, and show the increased activity of the soul as it is throwing off the body. Solemnly wait a little in the antechamber of eternity behold the frame for a moment convulsed, and then it lies in the rest of dissolution; the spirit has fled, and entered on its eternal destiny!

God's wisdom and goodness hath appointed a bed of sickness to be the general precursor of death. By this he repeats solemnly, and enforces, his thousand other warnings to us, and in our seclusion from the engagements and pleasures of time, gives us a further opportunity of becoming familiar with things of eternity, and making our peace with God. Death, at all times awful, is tenfold more awful when sudden; and we may all feelingly join in the supplication of our Church, "From sudden death, good Lord, deliver us."

How awful is death in its consequences! I will not view them as they affect the body: let us leave it, lifeless and cold, in the narrow coffin and the quiet grave, awaiting he trumpet of the archangel, when, from being a natural

body, and weak, and dishonourable, and corruptible, the Christian's body shall be made spiritual, and powerful, and incorruptible, and glorious. What, then, is death? It is, to the believing, trusting penitent, the angel of mercy meeting him at the gates of paradise, and winging him to the realms of endless joy. "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord!"

"Thou shalt die!" My youthful friends, my children, God says this to you. Think of this very seriously, and pray to God to prepare you for death, and try to be sincere Christians; and then, when you die, you will go to a better world than this, and will be always happy. I see before me many in the prime of life. Here is a young man with a robust constitution, and high spirits, and buoyant hopes; there is a young woman in perfect health and smiling happiness; but ah, "thou shalt die !" Oh, if thou canst then say, though feebly, "Christ is precious," "I am the chief of sinners, yet I am safe in the Redeemer," happy art thou!

"Thou shalt die !" Venerable father! aged mother! you know this sentence is soon to be executed on you. Have you repented, and believed the Gospel? If so, Christ will plead for you, and rejoice over you in your deliverance. But, if you are impenitent and unbelieving, you will perish, you will die eternally. Oh, escape for your life whilst you may!

All who have lived before us have died, and all now living are dying. How certain, then, to each of us is the fulfilment of the decree, how certain the execution of the sentence, "Thou shalt die !" My Christian friends, never forget that we are dying creatures. We are strangers in time, and are passing through it to our own, our lasting, our glorious home. Death is the true Christian's gate to heaven. It is the passage that conducts him to the presence-chamber of his God. He need not fear it: it is a short passage, sometimes passed in an instant, and its

darkness is cheered by bright beams of the glory beyond. And short as it is, and cheered, his Saviour will be with him for his comfort. "Fear not, (is his own precious promise,) fear not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed, for I am thy God." It is a momentary struggle, to be succeeded by certain victory, and rewarded with a heavenly crown. Let us not, then, fear death, but learn to live this day as if our last.

THE LIFE OF CYPRIAN,

BISHOP OF CARTHAGE.

(Continued from page 429)

About this time a dreadful plague broke out in Africa, which daily carried off numberless persons, and frequently swept away whole houses. The Pagans were alarmed beyond measure; they neglected the burial of the dead, and forgot the duties of humanity: the bodies of many lay in the streets of Carthage, and in vain seemed to ask the pity of passengers. It was on this occasion, that the Lord stirred up the spirit of Christians to shew the practical influence and superiority of their religion, and that Cyprian, in particular, exhibited one of the most brilliant proofs of his real character. He gathered together his people, and spoke to them on the subject of mercy; he pointed out to them, that if they did no more than others, no more than the heathen and the publican did in shewing mercy to their own, they would dishonour their divine Master; that Christians ought to overcome evil with good, and, like their Heavenly Father, to love their enemies; since he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Why then should not he who professes himself a son of God, imitate the example of his Father? We ought to

answer to our birth; and those who appear born of God, should not degenerate, but should be solicitous to evidence the genuineness of their relation to God, by the imitation of his goodness. The eloquent voice of Cyprian, roused his people-the Christians ranked themselves in classes for the purpose of relieving the public distress: the rich contributed largely; the poor gave what they could, viz., their labour, with extreme hazard of their lives. The Pagans, beheld with astonishment the effects of the love of God in Christ. The dreadful calamities of the plague gave to Cyprian an opportunity of impressing on the minds of the people, what had indeed been the ruling object of his own mind since his conversion; namely, a holy indifference to things below, and a supreme desire after the blessings of immortality. He published a little treatise on Mortality; he who wrote it must have felt what all have needed to feel, how little a thing life is,how valuable the prospect of eternal peace! "The kingdom of God," says he, "is at hand, the joy of eternal salvation, perpetual gladness comes into our possession, now that the world passes away; heavenly and eternal glories succeed earthly, fading trifles. What room is there for anxiety or sadness, unless faith or hope are wanting? If indeed, a man be unwilling to go to Christ, or does not believe that he is going to reign with him, such a one has good reason to fear death-for the just live by faith. Are ye then justified? do ye live by faith? do ye really believe the promises of God? if so, why do ye not rely upon the faithfulness of God, and rejoice that ye shall soon be with him, and be no more exposed to the assaults of Satan. Our stable peace, our sound tranquillity, our perpetual security, is in the world to come. In this world we wage a daily war with our spiritual enemies-we have no rest; if one sin be subdued, another is in arms surely, amidst such a conflict from within and without, we ought to rejoice in the prospect of hastening