44 Remnants of Time give now and then an Example to Survivors in this Life how highly he is difpleased with Sin, and to discourage his own People from an Indulgence of the Works of the Flefh, Now this End could not be attained by all the Pains of their pretended Purgatory, even though it were a real Place of Torment, because it is fo invifible and unknown. But whatsoever Sorrows the dying Chrif tian fuftains in the wife Adminiftrations of Providence, it is by no Means to make Compenfation to God for Sin; the atoning Work of Chrift is complete ftill, and the fanctifying Work of the Spirit perfect as foon as the Soul is difmiffed from Earth; therefore it has an Entrance into full Bleffedness, fuch as becomes a God infinite in Mercy to bestow on a penitent Sinner, prefented before the Throne in the Name and Righte ousness of his own Son. We are complete in bim, Col. ii. 10. By him made perfectly acceptable to God at our Death, we are filled with all Grace and introduced into complete Glory, II. The Death of a young Son. In a Letter to a Friend, ADAM, it has been the Delight and MA talk talk in the Words of Scripture and in the Language of their God: The Images of that Book are bright and beautiful; and where they happily correfpond with any prefent. Providence, there is a certain divine Pleasure in the Parallel. The Jews have ever used it as a fashionable Style, and it has always been the Cuftom of Chriftians in the most religious Times, till Iniquity and Prophaneness called it Cant and Phanaticifm. The Evangelifts and the Apostles have juftified the Practice; thofe later infpired Authors have often indulged it, even where the Prophet or first Writer of the Text had quite another Subject in view: And though an Allufion to the Words of Scripture will by no means ftand in the Place of a proper Expofition, yet it carries fomething divine and affecting in it; and by this means it may fhine in a Sermon or a familiar Epiftle, and make a pleafing Similitude. Accept then a few hints of Confolation from a Part of Scripture, which by an eafy turn of Thought, may be applied to your Cafe. Rev. XII. 1. A Woman cloathed with the Sun, and the Moon under her Feet, v. 2. Being with Child, travailed in Birth, v. 5. And he brought forth a Man-Child, and it was caught up to God and his Throne, v. 6. And the Woman had a Place prepared of God in the Wilderness, v. 14. To be nourished for a Time and Times, v. 9. But the great Dra gon gon that was caft out of Heaven, the old Serpent called the Devil and Satan, v. 13. perfecuted the Woman, v. 15. And caft out of bis Mouth Water as a Flood, v. 17. And went to make War with the Remnant of her Seed. Thus far the Words of Scripture. Now, Madam, if you have put on Chrift, and are cloathed by Faith with the Sun of Righteoufnefs, if you are dreft in the fhining Graces of Heaven, and have the pale and changing Glories of this World under your Feet, then you may be affured the Child that you have brought forth is not loft, but is caught up to God, and his Throne, by Virtue of that extenfive Covenant that includes fincere Chriftians and their Offfpring together. Mourn not therefore for your Son who is with God, but rather for yourself who are yet in the Wilderness of this World, where the old Serpent has fo much Power; where he will perfecute you with the Flood of his Temptations, if poffible to carry you away with them; but I truft God has prepared a Place for your Safety, even his Church, his Gofpel, his own everlafting Arms. Yet fhall the Serpent make War with the Remnant of your Seed; your little Daughter that remains in the Wilderness must go through this War, and be expofed to these Temptations. O turn your Tears from your Son, Son, into Pity and Prayer for yourself and your Daughter, that ye may never be carried away by thefe Floods; but when the Times are paft which God has appointed for your Abode and Nourishment in the Wilderness, you may rejoice to find yourself, with all your Offspring, in everlasting Safety before the Throne of God, Amen: So prays your Affectionate, &c. May 2, 1719. I. W. III. Heathen Poefy Cbriflianized. 1736. T is a Piece of ancient and facred Hif It tory which Mofes informs us of, that when the Tribes of Ifrael departed from the Land of Egypt, they borrowed of their Neighbours, Gold and Jewels by the Appointment of God, for the Decoration of their Sacrifices and folemn Worship, when they should arrive at the appointed Place in the Wilderness. God himself taught his People how the richeft of Metals which had ever been abused to the Worship of Idols, might be purified by the Fire, and being melted up into a new Form, might be confecrated to the Service of the living God, and add to the Magnificence and Grandeur of his Tabernacle and Temple. Such are some of the Poetical Writings of the ancient Heathens: They have a great deal of native Beau ty ty and Luftre in them, and through fome happy Turn given them by the Pen of a Christian Poet, may be transformed into divine Meditations, and may assist the devout and pious Soul in feveral Parts of the Christian Life and Worship. Amongst all the rest of the Pagan Writers, I know none fo fit for this Service as the Odes of Horace, as vile a Sinner as he was. Their manner of Compofure comes nearer the Spirit and Force of the Pfalms of David than any other; and as we take the Devotions of the Jewish King, and bring them into our Chriftian Churches, by changing the Scene and the Chronology, and fuperadding fome of the Glories of the Gospel, fo may the Reprefentation of fome of the Heathen Virtues, by a little more Labour, may be changed into Chriftian Graces, or at leaft into the Image of them fo far as human Power can reach. One Day musing on this Subject, I made an Experiment on the two laft Stanza's of Ode 29. Book III. Non meum eft, fi mugiat Africis Ne Cypria Tyriaque merces The |