to the aged, the infirm, the sick; who remain for long years, perhaps, under pain, and distress, and agony; existence is prolonged: whilst death in some unlooked for moment strikes the young, the healthful, and the strong. Marvellous, O God! are thy doings; and "thy ways past finding out." Amid however the stern certainty that death is at hand, and the awful uncertainty when its hour shall be, surely it were wisdom's part to think from what source we must seek succour ! To seek it from the world and our fellow-creatures were a miserable folly; for what power hath man over death? Can riches purchase health to the sick? Can power cause pain to cease? Can the wisdom of the world speak peace to the troubled mind, or heal the wounded conscience? Can even love and affection prolong for one moment the life which God's summons hath demanded? Of whom then may we seek for succour, but of thee, O Lord!" The Lord alone is supreme over death. But conscience whispers that He, "for our sins is justly displeased1." What?

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1 Perhaps, some one of those present at the grave is conscious of having fallen from his stedfastness. Once walking with God, as a man with his friend, his heart was happy, for it concealed no evil; he shared every thought with his Father in heaven, and the Holy Spirit bore witness with his spirit, that he was of the children of God. Lo! he finds added misery at this mournful hour, in the recollection of lost tranquillity! But, though sad, his musings may be salutary. Under this feeling of misery, wretched for the time, and pitiable is his state. Yet is it hopeful. The soul is touched by its convictions; courage gradually is excited- courage to repent and amend. "I will arise and go to my Father." This sense of evil; this disposition softened to tears of penitence; this hatred of sin; this desire after holiness; this dread of an unprepared state; this longing after holiness-All is in proof that the Almighty has

do our sins array themselves against us, as we stand at the grave of a departed friend, and do we feel then that they have displeased the only Being who can help us in our hour of need? Reader! if as the death of others warns thee, thoughts like those rack thy soul now-what must be the agony which thy sins will inflict, if they remain unrepented till thine own death! For with a still more vivid recollection will long buried thoughts rise up in hurrying succession, present themselves at your dying hour, and crowd the last moments of expiring life, either for peace or for disquiet; as they shall rise, sins repented of and forgiven, or offences unconfessed and disregarded'! If to thine own conscience they bring torment, how can they not cause your God to be "justly displeased?" Resolve from this moment to amend-" Turn thyself and live!" Consider further; if now, in thine hour

compassionated his contrition of heart, and by his Spirit would restore him. O Father, be Thou then henceforth my guide, my sanctifier, 'my comforter! When again my home receives me from this mournful 6 scene, to Thee on bended knee will I pour forth my prayer, and 6 commune with my merciful God, who, though He has been justly dis6 'pleased for my sins, now smiles again upon me; and again all is 'peace-O! where might I now have been? The grave, which has 'closed over another, might have closed over me in my impenitence ! 'O God, great is thy mercy! Well do I rejoice in my escape, and 'devote myself to Thee henceforth, and for ever!'

1 1 John i. 8, 9.

2 Ezek. xviii. 32.-Many a determined spirit, daring though it be in the season of health and joyousness, quails in the prospect of sickness, sorrow, and death. Actions, words, thoughts—all disapproved of conscience, but long and carefully put aside by the activity of industry or the hurrying of pleasure-no sooner find a comparative calm, than they stand forth in their true character, bringing terror and dismay: whilst sins which, committed in the recklessness of passion or under the deceitful temptation of an evil heart, hitherto have passed unheeded,

of mourning, fear chills the heart from the newly-felt conviction that God is displeased, what terror, what horror will succeed, if the same fear agitate the soul in thine hour of death! Is "the exceeding sinfulness of sin" now confessed? Is the mind now tremblingly alive to the knowledge of God, as a Being to whom sin is hateful, and who will justly punish it? does the conviction of a sinful state terrify you in the prospect of its awful recompense, at the great after-reckoning -with what added force will those feelings harass thy soul then; when, if consciousness be spared thee, a thousand sins, suppose them unrepented, will crowd thy memory, and inflict a living death! With what accumulating terror will you offer

up

the prayer,

which

next presents itself!

"Yet, O Lord God most holy, O Lord most mighty, O holy and most merciful Saviour, deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death."

O my God! any sufferings here let me endure, so that I am spared punishment hereafter! Here, however severe, and agonizing, and lengthened these sufferings be, yet shall they have an end. Time itself shall be no longer. But, O! that Eternity!—that 'never-ending! . . . . that "worm which dieth not;" 'that fire which is not quenched; that misery to

now vainly seek further subterfuge, vainly contrive further disguise, vainly stifle further reproaches. The grave, which has already opened for the dead, may soon open for the mourner, and then . . . . . each heart asks itself the question, "Whither shall I then go?"-Happy hour! Happy even the hour of mourning and of sorrow like this, if, as the question sinks deep in the heart of one convinced of sin, it abides there, and is there duly pondered. God grant his grace to turn that heart to righteousness!

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'which there is no alleviation; that pain to which 'there is no mitigation! "O Lord God, most holy !” 'let thy spirit of holiness be even now vouchsafed to 'me! even now let it sanctify me; let it bring me to 'the foot of the cross, and make me a meet though 'unworthy partaker of the atonement which is in 'Christ Jesus, who there "died for sinners." I know 'that this thou canst do; for thine, "O Lord most mighty;" thine is the power. Exercise upon me 'that power! Bring my erring soul to a lively 'repentance, a saving faith, an acceptable obedience. 'O Lord! still further do I pray. I appeal to Thee, as my "most holy and most merciful Saviour," who 'didst thyself die, that I might live! Let not thy 'death be in vain for me! Lord, I repent; I believe; 'I obey! in mercy pardon me on my repentance, help 'me in mine unbelief, accept me in my obedience; " and "deliver me not into the bitter pains of eternal 'death."-Do thoughts like these rush to your soul? In such an hour and under such feelings, at the moment when whatever embers of religion smoulder in the heart kindle into holy flame, the truth flashes across you with a vividness never experienced before, that sickness, sorrow, and trial, are mercies in disguise; and that "whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth." As a mourner, grief is your portion; but you have examined your own heart; you have detected the sins concealed there; you have judged your own self; you have confessed your sin unto God; and, though with tears of sorrow, have in penitence found peace. You have learned at length, to your joy, that since in this our state of trial hope supplies the place of assurance, and faith that of knowledge, so repentance you humbly

trust will, for Jesus' sake, be accepted for sinlessness. Thus to you the waters of affliction have proved blessing; like the waterflood on the far-spread valley, they have softened and fertilized the soul, that its fruit fail not in due season. Nor do you now fear even a heart-searching God; such is the magnanimity of faith. Nay, you boldly appeal to the omniscience of your Creator to judge your sincerity.

"Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts; shut not thy merciful ears to our prayer; but spare us, Lord most holy, O God most mighty, O holy and merciful Saviour, thou most worthy Judge eternal, suffer us not, at our last hour, for any pains of death, to fall from thee."

'Tis a bold appeal this! You invite the scrutiny of a "heart-searching God!" As with the Apostle, so with you" What carefulness is wrought!-yea, what clearing of yourself!" The contemplation of the death-scene before you, and the prospect of your own death have worked this trust in the Divine mercy; exalting and purifying your soul. There is no test of sincerity like death. Salutary has been thy view of it. And who shall doubt a gracious answer to this prayer? Shall God "shut his merciful ear to thy prayers?" O never, never! "Call upon me in the time of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me "." These are words written by his Spirit; and their consolation is your's, in this the day of your trouble. He has already removed the misery of sin, which is spiritual sorrow. Fear not! He will deliver you from every sorrow, in his good time. He will "spare you." By his holiness, by his might, by his

1 2 Cor. vii. 11.

2 Ps. 1. 15.