NOW

OW learn a Parable of the Fig-tree: When his Branch is yet tender, and putteth forth Leaves, ye know that Summer is nigh. --- So likewife ye, when ye fhall fee all these Things, know that it is near, even at the Doors, Mat. xxiv. 32, 33.

The Belief of the Coming of JESUS CHRIST is the Confolation of the Righteous. Let us not wait for the last Trumpet e'er we prepare ourselves for Judgement: The Sound of it, in the Gospel, is even now heard by all those who have the Ears of the Heart. Whoever has not thefe ftopped by the Amusements of this Life, and is not stunned by the Noife of his Paffions, is continually called upon by it. Let our Faith inceffantly fay to us, The Son Let the Voice of thy Grace, O Lord,

of Man is near, even at the Doors.
repeat This to me, both frequently and effectually.

Ye living Men the Tomb furvey
Where you must quickly dwell,
Hark how the awful Summons founds
In ev'ry Funeral Knell.

Once you must die, and once for all
The folemn Purport weigh,

For know that Heav'n and Hell are hung
On that important Day.

BUT of that Day and Hour knoweth no Man, no, not the Angels of Heaven, but my Father only, Mat. xxiv. 36.

Our Ignorance of the last Day ought to make us vigilant every Moment. God has not discovered to us the Time wherein he intends to judge us, that we may always keep ourselves in a Readi nefs to be judged. --- A foolish Defire of knowing that which is to come, renders Abundance of Perfons credulous, even to Superftition, in Respect of the vain Predictions of Men concerning the End of their Lives, or of the World. They neglect a beneficial and useful Kind of Uncertainty, to rely on a false and deceitful Appearance of Certainty.

Life is the Hour that God has giv'n
T'escape from Hell and fly to Heav'n
The Day of Grace, and Mortals may
Secure the Bleffings of the Day.

The Living know that they muft die,
But all the Dead forgotten lie,
Their Mem'ry and their Sense is gone,
Alike unknowing and unknown.

BUT

UT as the Days of Noah were, fo fhall also the Coming of the Son of Man be, Mat. xxiv. 37.

There are two Deluges; the first of Water, the fecond of Fire, to purge the World of Iniquity, to fave the Children of God, and to punish the wicked. --- Chrift here inftructs us, how to inform ourselves of what is to come, not by a vain Observation of the Stars, but by a holy Meditation on the Scriptures; not in order to discover in them, What he defign'd to conceal from us, but to prepare ourselves to do his Will, in pursuing the Discoveries which he himself vouchfafes to make, and in contemplating the Mysteries to come, in those Representations which his Spirit has given of them in what is past.

Shall we live on like thoughtless Brutes,

Nor ever once attend,

In the wild Whirl of Time's Pursuits,
That Time shall shortly end.

Ah! give us, Lord, the fober Mind,
The Heav'n infuring Care,
So fhall we pass the Days behind,
In Watchfulness and Prayer.

FOR as in the Days that were before the Flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in Marriage, until the Day that Noah entered into the Ark,-- And knew not until the Flood came, and took them all away; fo fhall also the Coming of the Son of Man be, Mat. xxiv. 38, 39.

The Generality of Mankind, through the Inchantment of the Cares, or Pleasures, of this Life, are furprised by Death and Judgement. They are not always grofs and heinous Sins, which throw Men into a Forgetfulness of God and his Judgements, and into a Contempt of his Law: Sometimes an irregular Application to the common Employments and Affairs of Life, extinguishes our Faith. Every one has his own proper Way to attain Salvation; and every one who miffes of it, does it by corrupting his Way, after his own Manner. The Surprife, which is here threatened, proceeds not from God's Defign, but from the Sinner's Negligence, and his Abuse of the long Patience and Forbearance of GOD. A Man is never in Danger of being furprised, when his Heart is devoted to GoD, when his Faith is pure, his Hope lively, his Love fervent and fincere, and his Life full of good Works. As at the Point to die, 'Till thou my finking Soul furprise, And fnatch me up to Paradise.

Where then shall I appear,

A mere, mere Sinner I, O may I always fear,

BE ye alfo ready for in fuch an Hour as you think not, the

Son of Man cometh, Mat. xxiv. 44.

It is much for our Advantage, to be obliged to be always in Uncertainty, always in Expectation of our Mafter; to the End that we may be always on our Guard against Sin and Sloth. --- The Heart is then ready, when it is in order; and it is never fo, but when God is Mafter of it, when nothing but his Love reigns therein, and when this Love regulates that of our Neighbour, and the Ufe of all other Creatures. --- How great is the Folly to be more careful and vigilant, on the Account of a small temporal Advantage, than of the eternal Salvation of the Soul.

Watch! 'tis your Lord's Command;
And while we fpeak He's near;
Mark the firft Signal of his Hand,
And ready all appear.
O happy Servant, he

In fuch a Pofture found!

He fhall his Lord with Rapture fee,

And be with Honour crown'd.
CHRIST fhall the Banquet spread
With his own royal Hand,
And raise that fav'rite Servant's Head
Amidst th' Angelick Band.