THIS, fure, is the most complicated Woe, that has hitherto come under our Confideration. The Solemnities of fuch a dying Chamber, are fome of the most melting and melancholy Scenes imaginable.-There lies the affectionate Husband, the indulgent Parent, the faithful Friend, and the generous Mafter. He lies in the last Extremities, and on the very Point of Diffolution. Art has done its All. The raging Disease mocks the Power of Medicine. It haftens, with refiftless Impetuofity, to execute its dreadful Errand; to rend asunder the filver Cord of Life, and the more delicate Tye of mutual Love.

A Servant or two, from a revering Distance, caft many a wishful Look, and condole their honoured Mafter in the Language of Sighs. The condefcending Mildness, with which He was want to give, and the dutiful Alacrity, with which they always received, his eafy Commands; now imbitter their Grief, and make it trickle plentifully down their honeft Cheeks.--His Friends, who have fo often gladdened his Mind with their enlivening Converfe, are miferable Comforters. A fympathizing and mourning Pity, is all the Relief, they are able to contribute: unless it be augmented by their filent Prayers for the divine Succour, and a Word of Confolation fuggefted from the Scripture.Thofe poor Innocents, the Children, croud a

round

round the Bed; drowned in Tears, and almost frantic with Grief, they fob out their little Souls,

and paffionately cry; "Will He leave Us? "Leave Us, in a helplefs Condition! Leave "Us, to an injurious World !”—These separate Streams are all united in the diftreffed Spouse, and over-whelm her Breast with a Tide of Sorrows. In Her, the Lover weeps; the Wife mourns; and all the Mother yearns. To her, the Lofs is beyond Measure aggravated, by Months and Years of delightful Society, and exalted Friendship. Where; alas! can She find fuch cordial Affection, or repofe fuch unreferved Confidence? Where find fo difcreet a Counsellor; fo improving an Example; and a Guardian, fo fedulously attentive to the Interefts of herself, and her Children? See! how She hangs over the languishing Bed; most tenderly follicitous to foothe the bitter Agonies of her dearer Self; and, if it were poffible, lengthen out a Life, on which her own Comfort, and the Support of her little Ones, principally depend. Behold her Hands, trembling under direful Apprehenfions, yet wiping the cold Dews from the livid Cheeks; fometimes, ftaying the finking Head on her gentle Arms, or refting it on her compaffionate Bofom. See! how She gazes, with a fpeechlefs Ardour, on the pale Countenance, and meagre Features.

Features. While all her foft Paffions beat unutterable Fondness, and her whole Soul is wounded with exquifite Anguish.

THE Sufferer, all patient and adoring, yields to the divine Will; and, by Submiffion, becomes fuperior to his Affliction. He is fenfibly touched with the difconfolate State of his Attendants; and pierced with an anxious Concern, for the Wife, who will foon be a destitute Widow; for the Children, who will foon be fatherlefs Orphans. Yet, "though caft down, not in Defpair.". He is greatly refreshed, by his Truft in the everlasting Covenant, and his Hope of approaching Glory. Religion, gives a Dignity even to Diftrefs. . At each Interval of Eafe, he comforts his very Comforters; and fuffers with all the Majesty of Woe.

THE Soul, juft going to abandon the tottering Clay, collects all her Force, and exerts her laft Efforts. The good Man raifes himself on his Pillow; extends a kind Hand to his Servants, which is bathed in Tears; takes an affecting Farewell of his Friends; clafps his Wife in a feeble Embrace; kiffes the dear Pledges of their mutual Love; and then pours all that remains of Life and of Strength, into the following Words "I die, my dear Children: but GOD, the everlafting GOD, will be with You.-Though

" You

You lose an earthly Parent; You have a Father in Heaven, who lives for evermore."Nothing, Nothing but an unbelieving Heart, "and irreligious Life, can ever separate You, " from the Regards of his Providence-from the "Endearments of his Love."

HE

He could go no farther. His Heart was full, but Utterance failed.After a fhort Paufe, prompted by affectionate Zeal, with Difficulty, great Difficulty, He added;" You, the dear "Partner of my Soul, You are now the only "Protector of our Orphans.-I leave You under 66 a Weight of Cares.-But GOD, who defend"eth the Caufe of the Widow-GoD, whose "Promife is Faithfulnefs and Truth--GOD hath "faid, I will never leave Thee, nor for fake Thee*.

-This revives my drooping Spirits-Let this "fupport the Wife of my Bofom-And now, "O Father of Compaffions, into thy Hands I "commend my Spirit-and encouraged by thy "promifed Goodness I leave my fatherless

HERE He fainted: fell back upon the Bed and lay, for fome Minutes, bereft of his Senfes. As a Taper, upon the very Point of Extinction, is fometimes fuddenly rekindled, and leaps into a quivering Flame: So Life, before it totally expired,

*Heb. xiii. 5.

pired, gave a parting Struggle, and once more looked Abroad from the opening Eye-lids.He would fain have fpoke; fain have uttered the Sentence, He began. More than once He affayed; but the Organs of Speech were become like a broken Veffel; and nothing but the ob ftructing Phlegm rattled in his Throat. His Afpect, however, Spoke Affection inexpreffible. With all the Father, all the Hufband, still living in his Looks; He takes one more View of those dear Creatures, whom he had often beheld with a parental Triumph. He turns his dying Eyes on that beloved Woman, whom he never beheld but with a Glow of Delight. Fixed in this Pofture, amidst Smiles of Love, and under a Gleam of Heaven, they fhine out their laft.

J

UPON this, the filent Sorrow bursts into loud Laments. They weep, and refuse to be comforted. 'Till fome Length of Time had given Vent to the Excefs of Paffion, and the Confolations of Religion had ftanched their bleeding Woes. Then, the afflicted Family fearch for the Promife which fell unfinished from thofe loved, thofe venerable and pious Lips. They find it re corded by the Prophet Jeremiah, containing the Direction of infinite Wisdom, and the Promife of almighty Goodness; Leave thy fatherless Children; I will preferve them alive; and let thy Wi

dows