summons, and die, at last, amazed and unprepared! Let every one, whose eye glances on this bier, examine what would have been his condition if the same hour had called him to judgment; and remember, that though he is now spared, he may, perhaps, be to-morrow among separate spirits. The present moment is in our power: let us, therefore, from the present moment begin our repentance ! Let us not any longer harden our hearts, but hear this day the voice of our Saviour and our God, and begin to do, with all our powers, whatever we shall wish to have done when the grave shall open before us! Let those who came hither weeping and lamenting, reflect, that they have not time for useless sorrow; that their own salvation is to be secured, and that "the day is far spent, and the night cometh, when no man can work ;" that tears are of no value to the dead, and that their own danger may justly claim their whole attention! Let those who entered this place unaffected and indifferent, and whose only purpose was to behold this funeral spectacle, consider that she whom they thus behold with negligence and pass by, was lately partaker of the same nature with themselves; and that they, likewise, are hastening to their end, and must soon, by others equally negligent, be buried and forgotten! Let all remember that the day of life is short, and that the day of grace may be much shorter; that this may be the last warning which God will grant us, and that, perhaps, he who looks on this grave unalarmed, may sink unreformed into his own! Let it, therefore, be our care, when we retire from this solemnity, that we immediately turn from our wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right; that whenever disease or violence shall dissolve our bodies, our souls may be saved alive, and received into everlasting habitations; where, with angels and archangels, and all the glorious host of heaven, they shall sing glory to God on high, and the Lamb, for ever and ever! INDEX. Serm. XIII. On the Form and Power of Godliness XIV. On Trust in God XV. On the Brevity and Troubles of Life XVII. On Calumny . Pagc 3 17 28 40 51 64 XVIII. On the Nature and Wickedness of Fraud. XIX. On Charity XX. On the Folly and' Wickedness of Religious Scoffers XXI. On the Goodness of God. XXII. On the State of Mind necessary for the Re- ception of the Lord's Supper XXIII. On Strife.. 89 102 . 113 . 123 XXIV. On the Happiness which a Nation may de- rive from righteous Governors XXV. On the Funeral of his Wife 136 150 THE END. T. Davison, Printer, Whitefriars. |