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the upright in heart. Far different will it be from the temporary concerns of the present state. The products of the earth are the medium by which life in the present state is supported; and to procure them, calls for much attention and care. But the employ of heaven consists, and will for ever, in surveying the works of God, contemplating his perfections, and celebrating his praise. From the enjoyment of him, principally results the happiness of heaven; hence, the more fully he is enjoyed, the greater will be the felicity. And as the enjoyment will be answerable to the knowledge of the object, the study of his perfections will engage the minds of its inhabitants; and while they study and investigate, they will not forget to praise. God is infinite; as therefore creatures must obtain the knowledge of him, by the manifestations he makes of himself, they will attend to his works, that they may learn his character, and increase their acquaintance with him. The great work of redemption, being that by which he hath manifested himself more clearly than in all his other works, they will contemplate it with ineffable pleasure, increase their knowledge, and heighten their happiness. And praises to God and the Lamb will be sung in such strains of rapturous joy, as surpasses all present conceptions; and a period, as boundless as eternity itself, will be allowed them in that blessed society and divine employment.

Thus I have attempted to point out and show, what is implied in preparation for death. Union to Christ by faith, and a holy temper of heart, comprises the whole. Yet, to what hath been said, I may add, that to be under circumstances to say with the Apostle, I am now ready to be offered, it is requisite that persons have comfortable and satisfying evidence of their title to, and meetness for, the world of glory. This is to be attained by living religion, and maintaining a course of persevering fidelity to God. To this end, they must add to faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge temperence, to temperance patience, and to patience godliness. They must imitate the example, not of slumbering, but of wakeful virgins, having their lamps trimmed and burning, waiting for the coming of the blessed bridegroom. They must live as strangers and pilgrims on earth; as men on a journey, travelling to a distant

country, who sit not down by the way, but keep their eye on the end of their journey, and make that the goal at which they aspire. That so when death arrests them, they may be ready to bid it welcome, and prepared to enter upon the joys of heaven which are satisfying and everlasting.

I shall now proceed to close this Discourse, with some remarks and addresses. And,

1. Hence let it be remarked, that death is the appointed lot of us all: And whether prepared or not, may be nigh at hand. That sentence of God to Adam, Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return, applies to all his posterity. Nothing can give us security of life; no, not for an hour. Are we in childhood, youthful life, or middle age, we know not the day of our death. If we flatter ourselves, that to-morrow shall be as this day; yet, this day, or this night, our souls may be required of us.

2. Let it be remarked, that as preparation for death hath been set before you at this time, so you are under advantages to learn whether you are the subjects of it.

And let me ask you, do you entertain hope, that your title to heaven is sure? If so, on what ground do you build your hope? On the works of the law, or on Christ Jesus, the only sure foundation? If you think on Christ, why think you so? Have you ever been made sensible of your lost perishing condition in yourselves? has the law come home on your consciences, sin revived in your view, and you made sensible, you were dead in sin? Can you call to mind the time, when he who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, shone into your hearts, to give you the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ?

Have you the spirit of the Gospel? Is the law written in your hearts? Do you delight in it? And are you pleased with the gospel scheme? Do you take God's word to be your rule, and attend with persevering fidelity, upon the duties of the first and second table of the law? Is God the object of your worship, in the closet, family, and sanctuary? Are the righteous in your view, the excellent of the earth? Do you make a point of all personal and relative duties, living soberly, righteously, and godly in the world? Are you persons of

meekness, and gentleness, as the servants of Christ? Following peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Do you mourn on account of remaining corruption? And forgetting the things which are behind, do you press forward toward perfection? Is religion your delight, and that which you are after to apprehend that for which you are apprehended of Christ? If so, these are symptoms that you are heirs of the heavenly inheritance.

3. Hence let it be remarked, that the people of God have reason to rejoice in the near view of their departure. Death will make an alteration much to their advantage. It will liberate them from all the troubles and calamities of the present state, and introduce them to the uninterrupted enjoyment of the greatest good. Blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord. The grave is a quiet resting place for their bodies, and their souls are inconceivably happy in the presence and fruition of their God. Death to the saints, is but to bid farewell to this world, to be with Christ, join the songs, and aid the triumphs of heaven. Thenceforth they are ever before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: And the Lamb in the midst of the throne, feeds them, and leads them unto living fountains of water; and God wipes away all tears from their eyes.

4. Let it be remarked, that the preparations for death spoken of in the preceding part of this discourse, we may reasonably believe, took place in that VENERABLE PERSON, whose death we are called to lament.

Hence, in the near view of his departure, he might with propriety have assumed the language of our apostle, in the verses following our text; I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them who love his appearing. As a minister of Christ Jesus, and as a Christian, he had fought a good fight, done the work, gone through the hardships of his spiritual warfare, and been happily instrumental of promoting the cause of the exalted Redeemer. He had kept the faith, bringing forth the fruit of the spirit in an holy life, and vindicating the doc

trines of the gospel, in opposition to the corrupt sentiments of the day in which he lived.

Between the apostle and him, there was, in many respects, a great similarity. Paul professed Christianity, and so did he. Paul was a minister of Christ, and so was he. Paul spent his life in the gospel ministry, and so did he.

Besides his stated labours at home, he rode and preached abundantly abroad. In this, as well as by his writings, in defence of the gospel, to which we might add, his instructing of candidates for the evangelical ministry, he was a rich blessing to the church of Christ in New-England, and to the Christian Church in general.

It pleased God, in the early part of his life, to call him by his grace, and reveal his Son in him, that he might preach to mankind the unsearchable riches of Christ. The power of religion which he experienced in his own soul, sweetly constrained him to devote his life to that glorious work. When but young, he applied himself with assiduity, to the study of divinity, in which he made so laudable proficiency, that he soon became qualified for the work, which ever after was the delight of his heart. His taste for divine things, excited him to search with indefatigable industry after knowledge, that he might become more thoroughly acquainted with the things which appertain to the kingdom of God. Application, aided by eminent natural abilities, rendered him one of the most able divines, and brightest luminaries, in this our western world.

A superficial knowledge of things did little satisfy his great contemplative mind. He searched for knowledge, as for silver, and took peculiar pleasure in finding out not only what was true, but why it was so.

In a variety of respects, he shone with distinguished lustre. Extensive science, ease of communicating his ideas, rendered him one of the best instructors. He was not unacquainted with persons and things, as he perused every author which came to his hands. This enabled him to converse with propriety and to edification on almost every subject.

In councils, he was much improved; for with singular facility, could he look into cases of difficulty, and investigate ways and means for a just and amicable settlement.

His benevolent feelings, were not confined to a narrow circle, but were as extensive as the globe. Sion lay near his heart; her ruins he lamented, and her prosperity filled him. with exceeding joy. Oh! what marks of anguish have I seen in him, when surveying the state of the world lying in wickedness; God dishonoured, his law contemned, his grace despised, and mankind involving themselves in irretrievable ruin. These reflections almost overwhelmed his pious soul, and destroyed his comfort. He had but one refuge, which was God. His providence he believed to be universal, and that good would result from all the evil which took place, by the agency of him who made all things for himself, and is engaged to secure his own glory.

His acquaintance, as well with the political, as moral state of the world, was general, and especially of his native country; and like the men of Issachar, understood the times, to know what Israel ought to do. However, divinity was his favourite study, and gained his chief attention.

As a preacher he had, perhaps, no superior, and very few equals. His voice was manly, his manner engaging. Even those who were unfriendly to his religious sentiments, were pleased to hear him preach. His voice was music to their ears; his method inviting. In the desk he appeared to understand human nature to perfection, and knew how to address himself to his auditory, so as seldom to fail of gaining universal attention. He was master of his subject when he spake, and had a singular faculty of adapting himself to the meanest capacity. As his field was boundless, he gave scope to his penetrating genius, and favoured his hearers with a rich variety. No subject escaped his notice, or that was not at proper times, held up to the view of his people. By this means, their advantages were great to make swift progress in knowledge, and become a people of much understanding. Yet, the more important things of religion were chiefly dwelt upon by him in his public performances. His primary aim was to promote the glory of God, and the good of immortal souls. You well know, that his talent was surprising at painting divine truth in the most lively colours, and making invisible things appear near and real. The passions of his

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