Maturity.-Terrible indeed are thefe Providences, yet not unfearchable the Counfels.

For us they ficken, and for us they die *.

SUCH Strokes must not only grieve the Relatives, but furprise the whole Neighbourhood. They found a powerful Alarm to heedlefs dreaming Mortals, and are intended as a Remedy for our Carnal Security. Such Paffing-Bells inculcate foudly our LORD'S Admonition: "Take ye "heed, watch, and pray: for ye know not

when the Time is."-We nod, like intoxicated Creatures, upon the very Verge of a tremendous Precipice. These astonishing Dispensations are the kind Meffengers of Heaven, to roufe us from our Supineness, and quicken us into timely Circumfpection. I need not, furely, accommodate them with Language, nor act as their Interpreter. Let every one's Confcience be ́awake, and this will appear their awful Meaning-" O! ye Sons of Men, in the Midst of "Life you are in Death. No State, no Circum"ftances, can afcertain your Preservation a single "Moment. So ftrong is the Tyrant's Arm, that "nothing can refift its Force; fo unerring his “Aim, that nothing can elude the Blow: Sud"den as Lightning fometimes is his Arrow "launched, and wounds and kills in the Twin65 kling of an Eye. Never promise yourselves "Safety

Night-Thoughts.

"Safety in any Expedient, but conftant Preparation. The fatal Shafts fly fo promifcu"ously, that none can guess the next Victim. "Therefore, be ye always ready; for in fuch an "Hour as ye think not, the final Summons "cometh."

Be Ye alfo ready, for in fuch an Hour as Ye think not-Important Admonition! Methinks, it reverberates from Sepulchre to Sepulchre; and addreffes me, with Line upon Line, Precept upon Precept.-The Expedient, I acknowledge, is too needful; may co-operating Grace render it effectual! The momentous Truth, though worthy to be engraved on a moft faithful Memory, is flightly fketched on the tranfient Flow of Paffion. We fee our Neighbours fall; we turn pale at the Shock; and feel a trembling Dread. No fooner are they removed from our Sight; but, driven in the Whirl of Business, or lulled in the Languors of Pleasure, we forget the Providence, and neglect its Errand. The Impreffion made on our unftable Minds, is like the Trace of an Arrow through the penetrated Air, or the Path of the Keel in the furrowed Wave. Strange Stupidity! To cure it, another Monitor befpeaks me from a neighbouring Stone. It contains the Narrative of a poor Mortal, fnatched from his Friends, and hurried to the awful

Bar;

Bar; without Leifure, either to bid the One farewel, or to put up so much as a single Prayer preparatory for the Other; killed, according to the usual Expreffion, by the fudden Stroke of Cafualty.

WAS it then a random Blow? Doubtless, the Stroke came from an aiming, though invifible Hand. GOD prefideth over the Armies of Heaven; GOD ruleth among the Inhabitants of the Earth; and GOD conducteth what Men call Chance. Nothing, nothing comes to pass through a blind and undifcerning Fatality. If Accidents happen, they happen according to the exact Foreknowledge, and in Consequence of the determinate Counfels of almighty Wisdom. The LORD, with whom are the Iffues of Death, figned the Warrant, and gave the high Commiffion: The feemingly fortuitous Difafter was only the Minifter, appointed to execute the fupreme Decree. When the impious Monarch was mortally wounded, it feemed to be a cafual Shot. A certain Man drew a Bow, at a venture *.-At a venture, as He thought: But his Hand was ftrengthened, by an omnipotent Aidi; and the Shaft levelled, by an unerring Eye. So that, what we term Cafualty, is really Providence; accomplishing deliberate Defigns, but concealing its own Interpofition.-How comforting

2 Kings xxii. 34.

forting this Reflection! How admirably adapted, to foothe the throbbing Anguish of the Mourners, and compose their Spirits into a quiet Submiffion! How excellently fuited, to diffipate the Fears of godly Survivors, and create a calm Intrepidity even amidst innumerable Perils !

O! how thin is the Partition between this World and another! How fhort the Tranfition from Time to Eternity! The Partition, nothing more than the Breath in our Noftrils; and the Transition may be made in the Twinkling of an Eye.-Poor Chremylus, I remember, arose from the Diverfion of a Card-Table, and dropt into the Dwellings of Darkness.-One Night, Corinna was all Gayety in her Spirits, all Finery in her Apparel, at a magnificent Ball: The next Night, fhe lay pale and ftiff, an extended Corpfe, and ready to be mingled with the mouldering Dead.-Young Atticus lived to see his ample and commodious Seat completed, but not to spend one joyous Hour under the ftately Roof. The Sashes were hung, to admit the Day; but the Master's Eyes are closed in Death. The Chambers were furnished, to invite Repose; but their Lord refts in the lower Parts of the Earth. The Gardens were planned, and a thousand elegant Decorations defigned; but their intended Poffeffor is gone down to the Place of Sculls; gone down to the Valley of the Shadow of Death.

WHILE I am recollecting, many, I question not, are experiencing, the fame tragical Viciffitude. The Eyes of that fublime Being,-who fits upon the Circle of the Earth, and views all its Inhabitants with one comprehenfive Glance,even now behold many Tents in Affliction: Such Affliction, as over-whelmed the Egyptians in that fatal Night, when the destroying Angel fheathed his Arrows in all the Pride of their Strength.Some, finking to the Floor from their eafy Chair; and deaf even to the moft piercing Shrieks of their distracted Relations.-Some, giving up the.. Ghost, as they are reclined, all alone, under the fhady Arbour, to taste the Sweets of the flowery Scene.-Some, as they fail, affociated with a Party of Pleafure, along the Silver Stream, while Wine and Mufic flow around.-Some intercepted, as they are returning Home; and fome interrupted, as they enter upon an important Negotiation.-Some arrested, with the Gain of Injustice in their Hands; and fome furprized, in the immediate Act of Lewdness, or of Cruelty.

LEGIONS, Legions of Difafters, fuch as no Prudence can forefee, no Care prevent, lye in wait to accomplish our Doom. A starting Horse may throw his Rider; and at once dash his Body against the Stones, and fling his Soul into the invifible World. A Stack of Chimneys may tumble into the Street, and crush the unwary Paffen

ger