as if they had confidered human nature to have been born in fin, and dying in juftification?

Think often of these things, and be merry. These are the laft words of a friend to man, who concludes the whole with the prayer of Buckingham, in the fame circumftances.

Ens entium, miferere mei.

AUTOMATHES,

Q4 CHAP.

CHAP. LXI.

A REQUIE M.

You

OU fee I am going through the whole ceremony of my interment, and like Mofes giving an account of my own death and burial.-But this thought amufes me, and thus to die before my time, is in fome fort, a device to live after my death. This idea puts me in mind of an odd adventure I had, many years ago, which I fhall here relate to you.

A Gentleman had invited me along with a good number of his friends, to dinner, and gave us as luxurious and elegant an entertainment, as if it had been

for

prepared for a marriage feaft. Our hoft was remarkably cheerful and facetious, all the day; till towards the clofe of the evening, when he became filent and thoughful, for a time.

This gloom was soon after extended into an acting fcene, by the noife and appearance of a large funeral proceffion, that juft then stopped at his door, and drew our attention to the windows. Gentlemen, faid my friend, with a figh, my obfequies are now going to be performed, and I have defired the favour of your company, to honour it with your attendance.

Juft then the undertaker entered the room, and caparisoned us all, fome as

bearers,

bearers, and others as mourners, among which our friend himself walked after the herfe, as chief mourner, and principal heir. We thus fet out in form, marched flowly to the church-yard, but proceeded no further in the rites; and then all returned back with the defunct, to fupper; delivering up all our funeral appurtenances to the undertaker again, who depofited them in my friend's wardrobe, was paid his bill, and retired.

His whim in this proceeding, he then told us, was, that he was refolved always to take a fhare, in his own expences; that from his rank and fortune in life, he did fuppofe his executors would put him to confiderable charges,

3

for

for a foppish exhibition which he could have no enjoyment of himfelf; therefore, faid he, I was refolved to be before-hand with them, and treat myself to the fhew; fo that now I have nothing more to do but die, whenever my moment comes, and I can then be buried at free-coft, as every circumstance is already prepared, and paid for.

He died about seven years after, and the very fame company attended him to the grave, a fecond time, fitted out with the self-fame fkarfs, gloves, cloaks, and hatbands, that we had worn upon our former proceffion.

Pray now might not this Gentleman have been able to have written an ac

count