fierce than the vultures of the desert, prey upon the mind, ushering in the worm which never dieth.

From this learn a lesson, O my soul, to be husbanding the time well, and answering the end of thy creation, that the evening of my life may be calm and serene, and I may say with the apostle, "I have fought a good

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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 also that love his appearing." 2 Tim. iv. 7, 8.

How tasteless now are all the beauties of nature. The flowery meads, and delightfully chequered lawns, which but a little ago appeared in all the gaiety of dress, charming the eye of the beholder, now shrouded in sable, please no more. Just so shall it be with all the pomp of this world in a dying hour. O that mortals would be wise in time, and chiefly seek after that which would then yield real satisfaction! Will frothy conversation, vain entertainments, licentious company, the

sparkling bowl, or midnight revels, or (what is more plausible) wealth or fame, dignified stations, high sounding titles, or great honours, give that? No, no; these may, and often do, fill the death-bed with thorns; religion alone streweth it with roses. Nothing less than an interest in the merits of Christ will comfort the soul, when hovering on the utmost verge of life.

-Though religion be scoffed at by some, disregarded by many, and trifled with by the most part of mankind, yet there is a reality in it which all must either sweetly or awfully experience. Many complain on a deathbed of not having been religious enough, but never one of having been too much so.

There are many fools in the world, but none so great as those who leave their salvation-work till a dying hour: in these trying moments, though reason be continued, which is often not the case, tossing sickness and racking pains, will leave the mind but little time for serious meditation: Besides, how many are snatched away in a moment?

Think seriously on this, ye giddy mortals, who are spending the morning and prime of of your days in the pursuits of sin and folly; if ye will not, I will here draw Solomon's bow, (but not at a venture), and shoot that scripture-arrow, which will stick fast in your conscience one day: "Rejoice, O young 66 man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer "thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in "the ways of thine heart, and in the sight "of thine eyes; but know thou, that for all "these things God will bring thee into judg"ment." Eccl. xi. 9.

The traveller who has this evening taken up his lodgings, forgets his toilsome journey in the arms of sleep: What matters it now to him, though his way were crooked and rough? he is now at his journey's end, and rests as sweetly as he whose path was straight and smooth. Just so is it with respect to the Christian when he cometh to die, and take up his lodgings in the grave: What matters it then to him, though his journey through life were strewed with poverty, sickness, crosses, and trials *? he is now at his jour

*Such was the lot of Lazarus.

ney's end, and can rest as sweetly in the house appointed for all living, as he who washed his steps in butter, and the rock poured him out rivers of oil*. Job xxix. 6. ; this remembers his pleasures no more, and that hath forgotten his sorrows.

From this may I learn, calmly to bear the ills of life, and when a few years are past, perhaps months, days, or hours, if I sleep in Jesus I shall rest as quietly in the tomb as the Christian whose life was almost one continued round of tranquillity.

What ought to make Christians patiently bear their trials, is the salutary consideration that they are all measured out to them by the hand of their heavenly Father, who in consummate wisdom giveth what is best; nor need they doubt his love: "He that spared "not his own Son, but delivered him up for

us all, how shall he not with him also free"ly give us all things?" Rom. viii. 32. If he hath given to us that heavenly pearl of infinite value, and withholdeth no other spiritual blessings, much less will he withhold

* Such was Abraham.

twixt the soul and God, must lie open for ever; for as the tree falleth, so it shall lie. True, indeed, they will be looked over in the morning of the resurrection, by the eye of unerring justice; but not the smallest alteration will be made. The insolvent debtor shall be condemned to the prison of hell till he shall have paid the uttermost farthing to law and justice, which can never be the case. O that I from this may take warning to have my accounts with God all cleared in Christ, before a dying hour! seeing that after death there is no more work.

What grave harmonious sound is this which I hear, broken by discordant pauses ? Methinks it proceedeth from yonder cot: Let me approach the homely edifice, and learn the meaning.

O, now, I perceive it is a poor man at worship with his family, reading each line before it be sung. Happy were it for the world, if all those who have families were thus employed evening and morning but alas! this is not the case; the generality neglect this reasonable service, and there by shew themselves more brutish than the brutes themselves; for the "ox

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