To the Worshipful the

MASTERS of the Bench,

And the Reft of the

Members of the Two Honourable Societies

OF THE

TEMPLE.

My much honoured Friends,

NE Reason of Publishing this plain Discourse is, because I cannot now preach to you, as formerly I have done, and have no other Way left of discharging my Duty to you, but by making the Prefs fupply the Place of the Pulpit. Part of this you have already heard, and should have heard the reft, had I enjoyed the fame Liberty ftill; which God reftore to me again when he fees fit; if not, his Will be done.

And the only Reason of this Dedication is, to make this publick and thankful Acknowledgment (before I am for

A 3

ced

eed from you, if I must be fo unhappy) of your great Respects, and many fingular Favours to me; which have been always fo free and generous, that they never gave Time, nor left any Room for me to ask; especially that obliging Welcome you gave me at my firft Coming, I mean your Prefent of a House, which, befides the Conveniencies and Pleafure of a delightful Habitation, has afforded me that which I value much more, the frequent Opportunities of your Conversation.

9

Tho' I am able to make you no better Return than Thanks, I hope that Great MASTER whom I ferve will; and that GOD would multiply all temporal and fpiritual Bleffings on you, is, and always fhall be, the fincere and hearty Prayer of,

GENTLEMEN,

Your moft Obliged,

and Humble Servant,

W. SHERLOCK.

3

The feveral Notions of Death; and the Improve-

'ment of them; }

SECT. I The First Notion of Death, That it

is our leaving this World; with the Improve-

ment of it,

SECT. II. The Second Notion of Death, That

ohit is our putting off thefe Bodies,
29

SECT. III. Death confidered as our Entrance

upon a new and unknown State of Life, 57

CHA P. II.

5

Concerning the Certainty of our Death, 74.

SECT. I. A Vindication of the Justice and

Goodness of God, in appointing Death for all

Men,

SECT. II. How to improve this Confideration,

That we must certainly die,

CHAP. III.

75

91

Concerning the Time of our Death, and the pro-

per Improvement of it,

104.

SECT.

III

810F I That the general Period of human

Life is fixed and determined by God, and that

it is but very short,
Page 106

SECT. II. What little Reafon we have to com-

plain of the Shortness of human Life,

SECT. III. What Use to make of the fixed

Term of human Life,

SECT. IV. What Use to make of the Shortness

of human Life,
133

SECT. V. The Time, and Manner, and Circum-

ftances of every particular Man's Death, are

not determined by an abfolute and unconditio-

nal Decree,

119

152

SECT. VI. The particular Time when we are

to die, is unknown and uncertain to us, 161

SECT. VII. That we muß die but once, or that

Death tranflates us to an unchangeable State,

with the Improvement of it,

CHA P. IV.

193