ments of Mortality, and dwelt among the proftrate Dead. Who can repeat the wonderous Truth too often? Who can dwell upon the transporting Theme too long? He, who fits inthroned in Glory, and diffuses Blifs among all the Heavenly Hofts, was once a pale and bloody Corfe, and preffed this little Spot.

O DEATH! how great was thy Triumph in that Hour! Never did thy gloomy Realms contain such a Prisoner before.-Prifoner, did I say? No; he was more than Conqueror. He arofe; far more mightily than Samfox, from a tranfient Slumber; broke down the Gates, and demolished the Strong-Holds, of those dark Dominions. -And This, O Mortals, This, is your only Confolation and Security. JESUS has trod the dreadful Path, and smoothed it for your Paffage. -JESUS, fleeping in the Chambers of the Tomb, has brightened the dismal Manfion, and left an inviting Odour in those Beds of Duft. The dy ing JESUS (Never let the comfortable Truth depart from your Minds! The dying JESUS) is your fure Protection, your unquestionable Pafport, through the Territories of the Grave, Believe in Him, and they fhall prove a "Highway to "Sion," fhall tranfmit you fafe to Paradife. Believe in Him, and you fhall be no Lofers, but unfpeakable Gainers, by your Diffolution. For hear what the Oracle of Heaven says upon this

Ġ 3

important

important Point: Whofo believeth in Me, fhall never die *.-What fublime and emphatical Language is This! Thus much, at least, it must import: The Nature of that last Change fhall be furprisingly altered for the better. It fhall no longer be inflicted as a Punishment, but rather vouchfafed as a Bleffing: To fuch Perfons it shall come attended with fuch a Train of Benefits, as will render it a Kind of happy Impropriety, to call it Dying. Dying! No, 'tis Then they truly begin to live: Their Exit is the End of their Frailty, and their Entrance upon Perfection: Their laft Groan is the Prelude to Life and Immor tality.

OYE timorous Souls, that are terrified at the Paffing-Bell; that turn pale at the Sight of an opened Grave, and can fcarce behold a Coffin, or a Skull, without a fhuddering Horror; Ye that are in Bondage to the grifly Tyrant, and tremble at the shaking of his Iron Rod; cry mightily, to the Father of your Spirits, for Faith in his dear Son. Faith will free you from your Slavery ↑; Faith

John xi. 26.

Death's Terror is the Mountain Faith removes. Tis Faith difarms Deftruction.

Believe, and look with Triumph on the Tomb.

Thefe, and fome other Quotations, I am proud to borrow from the Night Thoughts; especially from

Faith will imbolden you to tread on (this fierceft of) Serpents. Old Simeon, clafping the Child JESUS in the Arms of his Flesh, and the glorious Mediator in the Arms of his Faith, departs with Tranquillity and Peace. That bitter Perfecutor Saul, having won CHRIST, being found in CHRIST, longs to be difmiffed from cumbrous Clay, and kindles into Raptures at the Prospect of Diffolution. Methinks I fee another of Immanuel's Followers, trufting in his Saviour, leaning on his Beloved, go down to the filent Shades with Composure and Alacrity. In This G4 powerful

Night the Fourth: In which, Energy of Language, Sublimity of Sentiment, and the most exquifite Beauties of Poetry, are the leaft Perfections to be admired: Almost every Line glows with Devotion; rifes into the most exalted Apprehenfions of the adorable Redeemer; and is animated with the most lively Faith in His All-fufficient Mediation. The Author of this excellent Performance has the peculiar Felicity of ennobling all the Strength of Style, and every Delicacy of Imagination, with the grand and momentous Truths of Chriftianity. Thefe Thoughts give the highest Entertainment to the Fancy, and impart the nobleft Improvement to the Mind: They not only refine our Tafte, but prepare us for Death, and ripen us for Glory. I never take up this admirable Piece, but am ready to cry out- -Tecum vivere amem, tecum obeam libens, i. e. Infpire me with fuch a Spirit, and Life shall be delightful, por Death itself unwel

come.

Pet. i. 14.

powerful Name, an innumerable Company of finful Creatures have fet up their Banners, and << overcome through the Blood of the Lamb." Authorized by the Captain of thy Salvation, Thou also mayft fet thy Feet upon the Neck of this King of Terrors. Furnished with this Antidote, Thou also mayst play around the Hole of the Afp, and put thy undaunted Hand on this Cockatrice-Den. Thou mayft * feel the Viper fastening to thy mortal Part, and fear no Evil: Thou shalt one Day shake it off by a joyful Refurrection, and fuffer no Harm,

RESURRECTION! That chearing Word eases my Mind of an anxious Thought, and folves a most momentous Question. I was going to afk, "Wherefore do all these Corpfes lie here,

in this abject Condition? Is This their final "State? Has Death conquered? and will the "Tyrant hold Captivity captive? How long "wilt Thou forget them, O LORD? For "ever?"-No, faith the Voice from Heaven, the Word of Divine Revelation; The Righteous are all " Prisoners of Hope t." There is an Hour (an awful Secret That, and known only to all-foreseeing Wisdom), an appointed Hour there is, when an Act of Grace will pass the Great Seal

* A&ş xxviii. 3, 5:

† Zech. ix. 12.

Seal above, and give them an univerfal Discharge, a general Delivery from the Abodes of Corruption. Then fhall the LORD JESUS defcend from Heaven, with the Shout of the Archangel, and the Trump of GoD. Deftruction itself fhall hear the Call, and the obedient Grave give up her Dead. In a Moment, in the Twinkling of an Eye, they shake off the Sleep of ten thoufand Years, and spring forth, like the bounding Roe, to "meet their LORD in the Air."

AND, Oh! with what cordial Congratulations, what transporting Endearments, do the Soul and Body, thofe affectionate Companions, re-unite! But with how much greater Demonftrations of Kindness, are they both received by their compassionate Redeemer! The Ancient of Days, who comes in the Clouds of Heaven, is their Friend, their Father, their Bridegroom. They have nothing to fear from all the Pomp of his Appearance. Those tremendous Solemnities, which spread Desolation and Astonishment thro' the Universe, ferve only to inflame their Love, and heighten their Hopes. The Judge, the awful Judge, amidft all his Magnificence and Splendor, vouchfafes to confefs their Names; vouchfafes to commemorate their Fidelity, before all the Inhabitants of the Skies, and the whole affembled World.

HARK!