these are sources of the greatest pleasuretruly, I am happy in their possession—these shall be my support and comfort in times yet to come. O, how have you gone and watered these flowers: how have you hedged them round; how have you endeavoured to protect them when you saw the storm advancing; but, ah! after all, you could not preserve them : you have had the pain to see the leaf fade, the beauty decline, the energy fail, and presently the whole fall. What! said you, Can it be? Is this my child; is this my friend; is this the object I so much admired? Father of mercies! why this? why didst thou not smite yonder weed? why didst thou not let thy hand fall on the unsightly plant, rather than on this choice flower? Thus, however, Providence is pleased to work; and herein it becomes us to learn the vanity of depending on any human excellency. Neither the goodliness of the flower, the care of its owner, nor the felicity of its situation, can preserve it alive. Beware, then, of idolizing the creature. Turn your attention to a superior object: anticipate the joys of another worldthere, no worm is at the root; there, the goodliness shall never fade.

III. Mark the Universality of Man's Mortality. Not a few, but all flesh is grass. “As by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. It is appointed unto men once to die, and after that the judgment. There is no man that hath power over the Spirit to retain the Spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death.”* Ever since the entrance of sin, death has been making the most awful ravages. "One generation passeth away, and another cometh; but the earth abideth for ever." "The world," says one," is like a great fair, where some are coming in-others, going out; while the assembly that is in it is confused, and the most part know not wherefore they are come together." Whether men however be wise or ignorant, idle or active, rich or poor, young or old, death is common to all. It is not to be bribed by riches, impeded by power, conquered by strength, nor stayed by entreaties. All ranks fall before this destroyer.

* Rom. v. 12. Heb. ix. 27. † Eccl. i. 4, & viii. 8. + Boston.

Sometimes it is the harmless infant, who has no sooner entered the vale of tears than it is commanded to depart. Sometimes the youth, whose powers just began to open, and whose appearance was the most promising, is unexpectedly removed. Sometimes the middle aged, in the midst of business, and apparently in health, are pierced by a sudden arrow from the bow of death. Nor are the rich and the great exempt. They too must die, like others. There is no royal path to the grave. There is not one kind of death for the monarch, and another for the peasant. The crown cannot prolong life, nor the sceptre sway the last eneiny-death. Here, too, the wise philosopher, as well as the ignorant barbarian, must fall. The finest understanding must be darkened; the strongest powers fail; and the most brilliant imagination be clouded.-Nor shall the mighty conquerors of nations escape. Where are our Alexanders, and our Cæsars, who have struck-terror through the whole world? And, whither are those tending, who yet disturb mankind with the noise of the chariots of war, the clash of arms, and the groans of the dying? Soon they must surrender

to the king of terrors, and be numbered among the slain. Neither let the beautiful nor the fair pride themselves in external appearance. They too must lie down in the grave, and their glory fade. The righteous also, however desirable their example, however exalted their piety, must go the way of all the earth. The wicked, too, must depart. However unwilling, they must obey; however unprepared, they must go.-Their cries to stay cannot be heard; their hopes of respite will be in vain. The finally impenitent, it is said, do not go down gently into the. grave; but they are driven away in their wickedness: they are driven out of light into darkness, and chased out of the world."* shall not the benevolent, the zealous, the useful be spared? An Enoch and an Elijah, indeed, reached the land of pure delight without passing the dark valley of death; but no promise is given to others of the like privilege. Yes; the

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most useful must die.

But

These we may consider

as the goodliest flowers in the field: as the most valuable of all. But how often are they cut

*Job xviii. 18. Prov. xiv. 32.

down just as they begin to bud, or suddenly wither as they arrive to their full bloom! What shall we say to the instance before us? Was not here a beautiful flower, with hues painted by the rays of the Sun of righteousness; and, unfolding its excellencies as the summer advanced, but, alas! suddenly swept away, to be seen no more. O God! mysterious is thy providence, but righteous art thou in all thy ways!

Here, then, is the end of all. "The grass withereth, and the flower fadeth;" but it is added, "because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it." Let us not consider it then as coming by chance. Whatever be the means, the place, or the time, let us remember, it is the Lord's doing. Besides it is necessary to die, as well as to live. There is another state of things, as well as the present, and of far more importance. There is a judgment to come; and we must leave this world to appear before that solemn tribunal. There are dark providences which cannot be understood here: we must quit the present scene, that we may be able to bear the explanation. There are riches of glory, which our present capacities