walked before thee in Truth, and with a perfect Heart, and have done that which was good in thy fight.

WHILE the Impenitent Sinner has a multitude of horrid Crimes; Blafphemies and Impieties; Cruelties and Injuftice that ftare him in the Face in fo frightful a manner, as to make him Tremble at the fight, and yet not able to turn away from it: The fincerely Religious Perfon can look back to the Seasons spent in the Service of God; in faithfully following the Business he was called to manage in the World; and in feeking to promote the good of others: Reflecting, in all, upon his doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with his God,fo as to draw great Confolation and Refreshment from fuch Reviews.

§. (2.) HE has Peace in looking Forward to a future State, and the Life to

come.

* Micah vi. 8.

WHEN

WHEN the Sinner ftands upon the Brink of an Eternal World; his Soul looking over the dismal Precipice, and Fluttering on the edge of it, he's all agaft at the near views of that, which he thought himself a vaft diftance from. He fees nothing but a Scene of Blackness and Darknets, and of Endless woe; an Incenfed God, that he had little thought of before, and would then be glad to fly from. He is calling to the Rocks and Mountains to fall on him, and to cover him from the Face of him that fits on the Throne, and from the Wrath of the Lamb. * Whereas the Upright and Pious Soul can look to God as its reconcil'd Father; to Heaven as its fure Inheritance; to the Glorious Company of the Spirits of Juft Men made perfect, and the innumerable Hoft of Angels, which are continually in the presence of God, as his delightful Companions. He can look to an Enthroned Mediator, and Judge, as his Saviour and Deliverer : Can bid defiance to all the Powers of Darknefs, and commend his departing Spirit

Revel. vi. 16.

into

into the hands of him that gave it. He looks into Eternity, as a State he has been acquainting himself with; and in the diftant, but firmly believing fight of, has been filled with a Joy fo like what he there looks for, as to be already Unspeakable, and full of Glory * Stephen could look

thro' a fhower of Stones into the Manfions of Blifs, and fee Jefus ftanding at the Right Hand of God, † in a pofture ready to receive him, and welcom him to his Father's Kingdom.

§. (3.) HE has Peace in looking Inward to the Frame and Temper of his Mind and Soul under his Affliction. His Thoughts are Calm and Serene; wholly and quietly fubmitting to the Appointment of God.

THE Ungodly Man lies fretting, murmuring and repining under the Pref fures of an Affliction; ftrugling and contending with Death till he is forced to yield, and when he fees he must be over

* 1 Pet. i. 8. + Acts vii. 55.

come,

come, Blafphemes the Name of God fometimes, like Julian, in his laft Agonies. But the good Man bows his Head under the feverest Stroke; with full Refignation owning, yea, Bleffing the Hand that Smites and Wounds him; giving up himfelf to the alwife difpofals of the great Sov❜reign of Life and Death; and when he comes to the Hour of his Departure, can breath out his Soul in the Language of Simeon; Lord now lettest thou thy Ser vant depart in Peace according to thy Word: for mine Eyes have Jeen thy Salvation *

§. (4.) HE has Peace in looking Outward to every thing about him.

WHEN the Worldling is torn from thofe Pleasures and Poffeffions, which his Heart, and Affections are glued to: and by force cut off from all thofe Comfortable Enjoyments which he promised himself a long Happiness in the midft off. The Heaven born Soul can take its leave of all, and bid farewel without re

* Luke ii. 29, 30. † See Luke xii. 19, 20.

luctance

luctance; convinc'd of the emptiness and nothingness of every thing here below, in comparison of what it looks for in the World above. His Comforts, and his Cares a Good Man can compofedly give up into the Hands of God. He can com fortably shake Hands with his Relations and Friends, whilft the Companions and Relations of the Wicked Man, ftand as fo many Tormentors round his Death-bed. Yea further, he dies at Peace with his very Enemies, forgiving them all their Injuries and Reproaches; and with a Crucified Saviour, praying to God to forgive them too *; which fo reconciles them to him, and fubdues their Hatred and Enmity, that they cannot but speak well of him after his Decease.

§. (5.) HE is at Peace with Death, and the Grave itself. Death is a welcome Meffenger; the Grave a Bed of Reft to fuch a one. How Melancholy foever the fight of a Tomb or Vault may be to the Sinner; yet the Language of a Dying

* Luke xxiii. 34.

C

Belie