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be after his Death, he had told him, That he needed not be concerned for that, and that in a little time they should meet again.

THE Apprentices he fingly fpoke to, calling each by their Names; but what he faid to the latter, feemed to be only a Repetition of what he had directed to the former; and the very Words as near as can be remembred were these. I am now a Dying Man, let my Words therefore the more be taken notice of. Labour to get an Interest in Chrift before it be too late. Dea fer not your Repentance to a Sick Bed: How unfit am I for that now? Be perfuaded to think there is more in Religion than a Show, and an outward Profeffion. O feek after the Power of Godliness. These Admonitions were his Farewel. God grant they may be thought on, and improved by the Parties fo nearly concern'd in them.

HE charged his Friend to let his Father and Mailer know he was gone before them. The belt Tidings he could have fent from a Death Bed; and a very great Confolation it fhould be to them, to think

think that their Son is not loft, but gone before *.

NOW to draw to a Conclufion of this Discourse, as faft as he did to the Conclufion of his Life. When he was Speechlefs, one that ftood by him, defired him if Senfible, and if his Peace and Comfort yet remain'd, that he would lift up his Hands; which he immediately did as high as he could, and decently continued lifting up one of them till he expired, which was on the nineteenth day of Novem ber, 1707. being but in the Twentieth Tear. of his Age.

**Non amiffus fed præmiffus.

D 4

THE

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APPLICATION.

WHA

HAT is the Ufe and Improvement that we fhould all make of fuch a Text, and fuch a Providence? But,

I. TO pray that we may die the Death of the Righteous, and that our latter End may be like his. That we may breath out our Souls in the fame peaceful manner; that we may go to the fame happy Place; that we may leave the fame Bleffings behind us. We could wish indeed for a more eafy,and quick Paffage to the bleffed Abodes of the Righteous in the upper Regions, than that which is the dark, and common Road. Could be glad with Enoch of to leap the Ditch where other Mortals

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drop; and be tranflated from this World to another without paffing thro' theGrave: Instead of dying, and leaving our Bodies in the Duft, to be rais'd Spiritual, Immortal Bodies at the laft Day; we should think it much more dcfirable, like Elijah*, to ascend immediately from Earth to Hea ven,dropping our Mantles, and our Imperfections only by the way. But fince it is appointed for all men once to diet, and we must needs fubmit to that Appointment ; let us content our felves in making this our conftant Request and Supplication, that our End may be Peace, and our Death Comfortable.

WHEN indeed we look to fuch In. ftances as that we have been fpeaking of, and have 'em before our Eyes, or the Impreffions fresh in our Minds, I queftion not but every one of us is ready to cry out, O that I might die like him! What I aim at in the prefent Admonition is to engage you to keep up the Remembrance of thefe things; and to cherish the present Defire, that it may not cool, and you grow care

*2 Kings ii. 11. &c. † Heb. ix. 27. li 2 Sam. xiv. 14.

lefs,

lefs, and forgetful of your latter End. And if once fuch a Defire become fincere, and hearty, it will influence you,

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2. TO live the Life of the Righteous and to follow the pious Examples of those that are thus happily departed. It is in vain to wish for, or expect the Comforts of the Upright in Death, if you do not conform your felves to their Piety,in your Lives. Now fee that you come up to the Defcription of the Perfect Man; and make that your own Character, or else your Hopes of future Peace and Happiness will all fail, and wretchedly disappoint you; However you may deceive your felves for a while, yet at laft you will find that the Hypocrite's hope fhall perish, and be cut off and his Trast fhall be but as a Spider's Web*. Believe our deceas'd Friend, that a Profeffi on of Religion, and a fhew of Godliness is not enough. Let the Admonitions of Dying Men, of God's Word, of your own Confciences awake you to a timely Repentance of your paft Wickedness, and to a fpeedy Reformation of your Courfe and Actions.

* Job viii. 13, 14.

Let

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