passing strangers, are every day and every
where reading to us impressive lectures of
mortality.

Such is the state through which we are making our progress, where all things are given up to unavoidable destruction, and in which death is feeding upon our chiefest comforts and confidences with his iron teeth. Yet, even in such a state, we are not left

rkthout ample and solid grounds of hope.

I its

eyond all the darkness and dreariness of

y si fading, dying world, a sacred light

Les, and a cheering prospect opens to our hqu for the Lord God shall swallow up

navo

ery pa nt na h sur n.

thin victory. The promise is pronounced,
decree is gone forth, the mouth of the
hath spoken it, and it shall surely
to pass.
The expression here em-
dis peculiarly significant; He will
LOW UP death in victory. As a stone
to the sea is so absolutely swallowed
lost, as to forbid the hope of its ever
recovered; in like manner the tyrant
after all the triumphs he has obtained,

ngers

all ou heir eady

pers

f what self be so vanquished and bound, ambwed up

and overwhelmed in the

its of able deep of the divine judgments,

A A 2

as never more to have a name or a place in the creation of God.

In the meanwhile, we continue in this low and fluctuating state till our appointed hour arrive, that solemn hour which shall gather us to our fathers. How near or how remote that time may be, we have no means of ascertaining: neither the time when, nor the manner in which this awful change is to brought about, can possibly be foreseen. As to the time when; we have marked our friends and acquaintance passing through it at all periods of life, from early youth to the extremest age. As to the manner how; we have seen some dragged through this shadowy valley in the bitterness of their souls, marking every step of their way with lamentations and groans; while others have been led through it without terror or disquietude, either animated with cheerful hope, or soothed into silent submission. On a near prospect of this gloomy valley, an ancient saint could once exclaim—I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.

Where a

little child would fear to hazard himself alone, he will not fear to follow a beloved father. Held by the hand, encouraged by

the voice, and guarded by the eye of a tender parent, the most timid child will venture into places from which, without the presence of such a guardian, he would shrink back appalled. He knows his father's love, he trusts his father's prudence, and confidently rests upon his father's promise: hence he dismisses every fear, and freely follows where his father leads the way. And thus the dying Christian leaves himself in the good hands of that allwise and gracious God, of whom it is emphatically asserted, Right dear in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. Whether the shades of death envelop him suddenly, or whether they draw gradually about him, he encourages himself thus-The Lord is my Shepherd. He hath admitted me into his fold, and numbered me among his sheep. I carry his mark in my forehead, and many tokens of his love are treasured up in my heart. I have often felt his power, and tasted of his in the house of my pilgrimage: but now he calls me into his more immediate presence, that I may see him face to face, and enjoy uninterrupted communion with him all the days of eternity. I hear the summons with unspeakable

grace,

as never more to have a name or a place in the creation of God.

In the meanwhile, we continue in this low and fluctuating state till our appointed hour arrive, that solemn hour which shall gather us to our fathers. How near or how remote that time may be, we have no means of ascertaining: neither the time when, nor the manner in which this awful change is to brought about, can possibly be foreseen. As to the time when; we have marked our friends and acquaintance passing through it at all periods of life, from early youth to the extremest age. As to the manner how; we have seen some dragged through this shadowy valley in the bitterness of their souls, marking every step of their way with lamentations and groans; while others have been led through it without terror or disquietude, either animated with cheerful hope, or soothed into silent submission. On a near prospect of this gloomy valley, an ancient saint could once exclaim-I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.

Where a

little child would fear to hazard himself

alone, he will not fear to follow a beloved father. Held by the hand, encouraged by

the voice, and guarded by the eye of a tender parent, the most timid child will venture into places from which, without the presence of such a guardian, he would shrink back appalled. He knows his father's love, he trusts his father's prudence, and confidently rests upon his father's promise: hence he dismisses every fear, and freely follows where his father leads the way. And thus the dying Christian leaves himself in the good hands of that allwise and gracious God, of whom it is emphatically asserted, Right dear in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. Whether the shades of death envelop him suddenly, or whether they draw gradually about him, he encourages himself thus-The Lord is my Shepherd. He hath admitted me into his fold, and numbered me among his sheep. I carry his mark in my forehead, and many tokens of his love are treasured up in my heart. I have often felt his power, and tasted of his grace, in the house of my pilgrimage: but now he calls me into his more immediate presence, that T may see him face to face, and enjoy uninterrupted communion with him all the days of eternity. I hear the summons with unspeakable