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longer on Earth; unless it be in the Honours of a diftinguished Character, and the bleeding Remembrance of her Acquaintance.

It is impoffible, Madam, to wish You a richer Bleffing, or a more substantial Happiness, than that the fame Spirit of unfeigned Faith, the fame Course of undefiled Religion, which have enabled Her to triumph over Death, may both animate and adorn your Life. And you will perinit me to declare, that my chief Inducement in requesting your Acceptance of the following Meditations, now they make a public Appearance from the Press, is, that they are defigned to cultivate the fame facred Principle, and to promote the fame excellent Practice.

Long, Madam, may you bloom in all the Vivacity and Amiableness of Youth,

Youth, like the charming Subject of one of these Contemplations. But at the fame Time remember, that, with regard to fuch inferior Accomplishments, You must one Day fade, (may it prove fome very remote Period!) like the mournful Objects of the other. This Confideration will prompt You to go on, as You have begun, in adding the Meekness of Wisdom, and all the Beauties of Holi nefs, to the Graces of an engaging Perfon, and the Refinements of a polite Education. AND might O! might the enfuing Hints furnish You with the leaft Affistance, in profecuting fo defirable an End; might they contribute, in any Degree, to establish your Faith, or elevate your Devotion; they would, then, adminifter to the Author fuch a Satisfaction, as ApA 2 plause

plaufe cannot give, nor Cenfure take away: A Satisfaction, which I should be able to enjoy, even in thofe awful Moments, when all that captivates the Eye is finking in Darkness, and every Glory of this lower World difappearing for ever.

THESE Wishes, Madam, as they are a most agreeable Employ of my Thoughts, fo they come attended with this additional Circumftance of Pleafure, that they are alfo the fincereft Expreffion of that very great Efteem, with which I am,

MADAM,

Your most Obedient,

Moft Humble Servant;

JAMES HERVEY.

PREFACE.

T

HE first of these occafional Meditations begs Leave to remind my Readers of their

Latter End; and would invite them to fet, not their Houses only, but, which is inexpreffibly more needful, their Souls, in Order: That they may be able, through all the intermediate Stages, to look forward upon their approaching Exit, without any anxious Apprehenfions: And, when the great Change commences, may bid Adieu to terreftrial Things, with all the Calmness of a chearful Refignation, with all the Comforts of a well-grounded Faith.

The

The other attempts to sketch out fome little Traces of the All-fufficiency of our Redeemer, for the grand and gracious Purposes of everlafting Salvation; that a Senfe of his unutterable Dignity and infinite Perfections, may incite us to regard Him with Sentiments of the most profound Veneration; to long for an affured Intereft in his Merits, with all the Ardency of Defire; and to trust in his powerful Mediation, with an Affiance not to be Thaken by any Temptations, not to be shared with any Performances of our own.

I flatter myself, that the Thoughts conceived among the Tombs, may be welcome to the serious and humane Mind; because, as there are few, who have not configned the Remains of fome dear Relations, or honoured Friends, to thofe filent Repofitories; so there are none, but must be fenfible, that this is the House appointed for all Living; and that they themselves are

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