ΑΝ

ADDRESS, &c.

It was an obfervation once made by

T

the wifeft of mere men, that it is better to go to the house of mourning than of feasting; the reafon of which he af- · terwards explains. And of this he was as capable a judge as moft, for he had proved them well; and though he abounded with all the elegance and grandeur of human life, from thorough conviction of their infufficiency and uncertainty, he pronounces on them, "Vanity of vanity, all is vanity and vexation of fpirit.” From the pen of this divine writer, we have many and important inftructions; among which there ftands one which, for the fake of my young Brethren, who I see are affembled, upon this mournful occafion, to pay their last respect to the remains of our departed Sifter, I will beg

leave to introduce: the words are thefe"Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil day come, and the years draw nigh, which thou shalt have to fay, I have no pleafure in them." Remember, now, nothing can be more certain than that this is the day of falvation-that now is the accepted time; and, therefore, it is an advice of the highest moment, to work while it is day, for the night cometh when no man can work-a duty which, with peculiar energy, St. Paul urgeth, when he fays, "Work out your falvation with fear and trembling;" and adds the encouraging confideration, that it is God who worketh within us to will, and to do, according to his own good pleasure. It is a received proverb with men, that delays are dangerous-but in nothing more than in the falvation of our fouls: for our conftitutions may be abufed, through the unfkilfulness of men, or our eftates impairedand both again may be reftored; but after death the redemption of the foul ceaseth for ever. The lofs is irreparable, and our time muft, therefore be precious, if

in

in this life only we are to obtain the hope of a better-a neglect of which stands not only reproved by the whole current of Sacred Writ, but alfo by the prudence of men, who lofe no opportunity to advance their gain. Therefore, fays the son of Sirach, "Remember now, in thine early days, the flower and ftrength of thine age, remember thy Creator; for it is no difparagement, but an honor to human nature, to remember our Creator in the days of youth."

The remembrance of our Creator is the first grand duty with which religion infpires the mind; and, indeed, with which' every thing around infpires the mind. The works of Nature, as well as the marvellous fcenes of Providence, fhew the reality and excellency of the Divine existence-a ferious reflexion on which can hardly fail to raise the mind, with the Royal Hebrew's, to adore his perfections and admire his works. "He made us, and not we ourselves; for we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture." That hand which formed all things, fashioned

G 2

fhioned our curious frames, and now keeps their every spring in perpetual motion: though, not to ftop here in our remembrance-fince it has become him to create all things anew, and for which he suftains the ever-memorable character of a Redeemer: to redeem, implies our mifery, and our misery indicates our fall; for, though we were created in knowledge and righteousness, yea, after the very image of God, we read, in the volume of infpiration, that we all, like fheep, have gone aftrayand, without any exception, all have finned, and come fhort of the glory of God. Now, remaining fo, it is impoffible to be happy; unless we are created anew, we cannot enter into the kingdom of God. And need I tell you, my dear young friends, your tranfgreffions are many? Oh! the difmal catalogue. Had I time to enumerate them, methinks they would ftartle you with fear; efpecially, to be informed you go aftray, telling lies from the womb. Whatever notions you may have imbibed, I cannot fay; but fuch is your ftate in the fight of God, and which I have

I have no other reafon for laying before you than to engage your remembrance of God, your Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier. He ftooped, the great Legiflator of all worlds, to fulfil and magnify his own law, which we rebels had broken. He veiled his Godhead in our miferable nature, to dwell among us. He became acquainted with poverty, to make us rich; and with unutterable fufferings, to make us happy. He entered the grave, and after that into glory, to make interceffion for us. His eye now is about our paths, and efpies out all our ways. His hand, unfeen, fupports us through every danger: he can, he will if trufted to, make life, and death, and eternity, happy.

Now, to remember God, is to have a regard to all his perfections, fo as to ac knowledge his wifdom, power, and goodnefs, in all our ways, by a reverential fear; not the dread of a flave, but the fear of a child, fuch as will ever be cautious of offending, while it ftudies to please him; and a fear that will be a

guard