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have seen and heard of; and by means of DISC. books and converfation from without, and hints from our own confciences within, much wholesome advice, many faithful and kind reproofs, muft we have met with. For all these admonitions are we the better, and have we profited by them? Let it be suppofed, for instance, that we had been accustomed aforetime to pray but seldom, and when we did, to pray without attention, and without fruit: Do we now observe the hours of prayer with more conftancy, and less distraction? Do we really and truly find any pleasure in our devotions? or are we dragged unwillingly to them as a task, and, confequently, rejoice with all our hearts when they are over? For years together, perhaps, we have turned our backs on the communion Table: is it in our intention to give that holy ordinance a more frequent attendance for the future? Do we hear a fermon with a determined refolution to carry what is faid into practice, or as a matter of amusement only, and a fubject whereon to display our powers of criticism? Does the

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DISC. current of our thoughts flow in any degree II. more pure than formerly? Is our converfation become innocent, at leaft, if not improving; free from flander and scandal, from pride and conceit? Are our actions more and more directed by the rules of juftice and charity? Above all, what use do we make of the talents with which it hath pleafed God to entrust us, particularly those two, our time, and our fortunes? Is it altogether fuch, as that we shall be able, on our death-beds, to think on it, before God, with comfort and confidence? When we examine ourselves as to the progrefs we have made in the Chriftian life fince this day twelvemonth, do we find that we have made any progress at all, that we have discarded any evil habits, or acquired any good ones; that we have mortified any vices, or brought forward to perfection any virtues? In one word, as we grow older, do we grow wiser and better? These are the questions which should be asked, at the conclufion of a year

And may the heart of every perfon here prefent return to them an answer of peace!

4. While

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4. While we are following a friend to DISC. his grave, it is obvious to reflect, that His day of trial is at an end, that the time allotted him for his probation is over, and his condition fixed for eternity. Engaged in the awful fpeculation, we can hardly avoid the following reflection; if, instead of his being taken from us, we had been taken from him, what, at this time, had been our lot and portion in the other world?-By the favour of God, we have lived to the end of the year : we might have died before it. In such case, where had we now been? Have we no mifgivings within? Do we feel as if we thought that all would have been right? Are we conscious to ourselves of having ftood prepared, at all times, and for all events, in such habits of repentance, faith, and charity, as would have rendered our paffage hence welcome and profperous? If not, should we delay for a moment to make fuch preparation, and to stand in fuch habits?-Suppofe any perfon had means of being affured, and actually were affured, that he should die upon the last day of the year into which he is now entered;

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DISC. tered; we fhould all agree upon the manner in which such person ought to spend the year. There would not be, I dare fay, one diffentient voice. Yet, upon the fuppofition here made, this perfon has before him a whole year certain. Is not the obligation then still stronger upon every one of us? For that man must be out of his fenfes, who can bring himself to imagine, that he has a whole year certain, or a month, or a day, or an hour.—The argument is not to be anfwered.

I have fomewhere read of one, who, having ftrong religious impreffions, and feeling terrible apprehenfions whenever the ideas of death and judgment prefented themfelves, contrived fo to habituate his mind to the contemplation of them, as to render them, ever after, not only easy, but agreeable. His custom was, to confider each evening as the clofe of life, the darkness of the night as the time of death, and his bed as his grave. He compofed himself for the one, therefore, as he would have done for

the

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the other. On retiring to reft, he fell on DISG. his knees; confeffed, and intreated pardon for, the tranfgreffions of the day; renewed his faith in the mercies of God through Chrift; expreffed in a prayer of interceffion his charity towards all mankind; and then committed his foul into the hands of his Creator and Redeemer, as one who was to awake no more in this world. His fleep, after this, was perfectly sweet; the days added to his life were estimated as clear gain; and when the last came, it ended with as much tranquillity as all that had preceded. I would wish to recommend this example to your imitation. The practice will coft you fome pains and trouble, perhaps, for a little while; but you will never have caufe to repent that you bestowed them; and I know of no better method whereby you can place yourselves in a state of constant security and comfort.

5. When we fay, that we have loft a friend, we can mean only, that we have loft him for a time. He is not finally perished: