slept sweetly, having no other bed but the earth, no other pillow but a stone, no other covering but the heavens, no other curtains than the dark shadows of the night; likewise a soul sanctified with the Spirit of God, that walks in all the commands of his heavenly Father, shall never be astonished: for wheresoever the sun goes down, wheresoever Death arrests him, he will look upon himself as in another Bethel; he will sleep quietly in the Lord Jesus, and in the most cruel death he will feel unspeakable and glorious joys, and the peace of God which passeth all understanding, Acts xxiii.

We may take notice of this blessed disposition in the apostle St. Paul, who had behaved himself with a good conscience towards God, and towards man, 1 Cor. xv. He had laboured more in the ministry than all the other apostles, therefore he stood in no fear of Death's approaches: but rather we may see him full of expectations and desires to pass through death into glory and eternal felicity. This disposition is no less remarkable in Stephen, the first martyr of Christ, Acts vii. In the midst of the most grievous torments he had a countenance shining as that of an angel, which was a certain testimony of his inward peace of conscience, and of the extraordinary joy of his soul: for as the wise man informs us, "A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance," Prov. xv. From the same wisdom proceeds this other oracle, that foretells unto every one what shall happen unto him, "The wicked is driven away in his wickedness; but the righteous hath hope in his death," Prov. xiv. Eccles. i. To this agrees the excellent saying of Jesus the son of Sirach, "It shall be well at the last with him who fears God; he shall find favour at the day of death." This life is but a moment, that flies away apace; yet it determines our eternal state. It raises us to the highest glory of heaven, or else it casts us headlong into the deepest abyss of eternal misery: for what a man soweth that he shall reap; he that soweth in the flesh, shall reap of

the

the flesh corruption; but he that soweth in the Spirit, shall reap of the Spirit eternal life.

If you are afraid of a cruel and unhappy death, keep your selves from an evil and profane life; for commonly as a man's life is, so is his death. The most part of those who live in filthy lusts and impiety, depart with hardened hearts, or in despair. God's patience wearied out, turns into a just resentment and wrath. Commonly, God leaves at the hour of death such as have left him in the course of their lives. He is inexorable to the cries and sighs of such as have shut their ears and hearts to his holy word, and his fatherly admonitions. He laughs at the amazement and most sensible torments of those who trample upon his sacred commands; as he tells us," Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity, and mock when your fear cometh," Prov. i.

King Ahab desired to hear a grateful prophecy of happy things; of victory over the Syrian army; nevertheless he continued in his impieties and tyranny: therefore the prophet Micah was not afraid of his displeasure, but tells him boldly of the approaching judgment of God, which hung over his guilty head. Likewise some sinners desire to be flattered and soothed up in their extravagancies; they expect, notwithstanding their crimes, promises of joy and prosperity. But we should be false prophets, possessed with a lying spirit, if we did not foretell to such people, that a most lamentable and miserable death hastens apace upon them; our charity for them would be cruel, if we did not labour to save them by fear, as out of a fire; if we did not shew them hell with its jaws open, ready to swallow them up, and the eternal torments wherewith God will punish all impenitent

and

and hardened sinners. Knowing what God's vengeance is, we must persuade men to embrace faith and righteousness: and if we did fail in this our duty, their blood would be required at our hands.

To what purpose have the heathen philosophers discoursed so learnedly of the shortness of our life? To what purpose have many of their princes entertained mementos of their mortality, and slightly passed over such thoughts, whilst they reaped little benefit from them, because they did not prevail upon them to reform their lives, and by consequence to prepare for a blessed death? It was also to no purpose that Balaam desired so passionately to die the death of the righteous, and that his last end might be like a just man's, Numb. xxiii. because he lived the life of sinners, and continued in their abominations and idolatry, Numb. xxxi. therefore died he as they, and was comprehended in their punishment. As he was a partner in their crimes, it was but just and reasonable that he should share in their calamity, and be partaker of their torments.

To abandon vice and sin is to take from Death its venom and all its fiery darts. It is to pluck from this furious beast its teeth and claws. It is to break the cords and chains, by which the devil drags us into eternal damnation. It is to destroy the monsters that fright us, and stifle the furies that pursue us. In short, it tends to change hell, and its grievous torments, into heaven and its glory. There was never yet any person that lived an holy and religious life, but he died happily in the favour of God. Now that the Lord knocks, open unto him the doors of your hearts, and at the hour of death he will open unto you the gates of heaven. Present and give him, whilst you are alive, your bodies and souls, and doubtless he will accept them, and confirm the gift with his own seal. Here below he will enrich you with his graces,

and crown you at last with his glory. "Blessed are they that die in the Lord;" but to die in the Lord, we must live to the Lord, that we may be able to say with St. Paul, "Whether we live, we live to the Lord; whether we die, we die to the Lord; whether we live or die, we are the Lord's,"

To persuade us to this religious duty, we must consider, in the first place, the command that he gives us of loving him, fearing him, repenting of our sins, and of walking in his holy laws. Unto this he exhorts us in the writings of the Old Testament, as in Deut. chapter vi. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy might." And in Isa. viii. "Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself, and let him be your fear and your dread." And in chap. iv. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." In the iid chapter of Joel, "Turn ye unto the Lord with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning." And in the first chapter of Malachi, "A son honours his father, and a servant his lord: if therefore I am your Father, where is the honour due unto me? if I am your Lord, where is the fear of my name?"

2. Jesus Christ is not come to abolish the law, but to fulfil it, Matt. v. Therefore, in the New Testament, he calls upon us frequently to study piety and virtue. As in St. Matt.

. "Let your light so shine before men, that they, seeing your good works, may glorify your Father which is in heaven." And in the first chapter of Mark, "Repent ye, and believe the gospel." And St. Paul to the Romans in this manner, "I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service; and be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the X

renew

renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God: hate evil, and cleave to that which is good," Rom. xii. And in chapter xiii. "Walk honestly as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying; but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof." And in 1 Cor. xvi. "Awake to righteousness, and sin not." And in Ephes. iv. "Put off, concerning the former conversation, the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and put ye on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." And in Coloss. iii. "Mortify your members which are upon earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affections, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry." In Thess. v. "Watch, and be sober; abstain from all appearance of evil." And in Phil. iv. "Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." I might with as much ease number the stars of the sky, as reckon up all the passages that call upon us, and exhort us to an holy life.

3. God not only commands upon us to apply ourselves to holiness, justice, and innocency of life; but he proposes himself for our example; that as the obedient and good children delight to imitate their father's virtues, we also might endeavour to copy out in our lives the divine perfections of our heavenly Father, and imprint in our hearts his sacred image. Therefore in Lev. xi. he tells us, "Be ye holy, for I am holy." And St. Peter repeats the same passage in this manner, "As he that called you is holy, so be ye also holy in all manner of conversation; for it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy." And our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ gives us the same lesson, "Love your enemies, bless those that curse

you,