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make our Death Bed eafy, is to be stedfaft and unmoveable, always abounding in the Work of the Lord.---Dying is, in truth, a folemn Bufinefs; a dreadful Scene to those who fuffer the Terrors of a guilty Mind. Nor let any Man depend upon a Death Bed Repentance to calm the Rage of Confcience, or affuage it's Anguish and Remorfe. For who can be certain, that a Death Bed Repentance is a fincere Repentance? And is not the Uncertainty of this a frightful Confideration---is itt not terrible in that dark and gloomy Time,; when a Man is walking through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, to be fhivering with. Doubt, and loft in perplexing Fears, ignoranti of his eternal Fate, yet compelled to plunge for ever into a State that is wrapt up in impenetrable Clouds and Darknefs? But if a Man has made it his fincere Endeavour to pleafe God,---if he has the Teftimony of his Confcience, that in Simplicity and godly Sincerity. he has had his Converfation in the World, Chrift has happily delivered him from all his Terrors by his atoning Death upon the Crofs,

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by his Refurrection from the dead, and his Interceffion for him at the right Hand of God. How can he fear Death, who knows that Life detains him from the Place where he defires to be? How can this concluding Event: diftrefs him? A Storm it may be, but it is, a Storm that will bring him to a joyful Harbour. When good Men are come to the Verge of Life, they can look back with Comfort. They can look forward, and, far from being dejected at the Profpect of the Grave, their Souls do magnify the Lord, and their Spirits rejoice in God their Saviour. And now, when their laft Hour approaches, they have no further Concern in Life, than to take leave of their Friends, to blefs their Children, to fupport and comfort themfelves in the delightful Profpect of an immortal Life, and a glorious Refurrection through the Redemption that is in Chrift Jefus. Who would not die the Death of the Righteous, and have their latter End like his? What Man in his Senfes would not live the Life of the Righteous, that his latter End

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may be like bis,---that in the Agonies of Death, and the Jaws of the Grave, he may be able to poffefs his Soul in Serenity and Peace. To obtain this great Happiness deferves the best Care and Diligence of our Lives. And if we ferioufly and in earnest defire it, we must make hafte and delay not to keep God's Commandments. We must instantly deny Ungodliness and worldly Lufts, and live fober and righteous and godly in the prefent World, conftantly prepared for Death, in order to die comfortably, and to fall asleep in Jefus. We must fo live as, to have all Things ready for our last great Journey. To forget it, to think lightly and fuperficially upon it, to neglect to prepare for it, is of the worst Confequence, and of the moft extreme Danger to every valuable Hope and Intereft of Man. An uncomfortable Death is then certain. The Hopes of the next Life are abfolutely endangered. And befides, Life is so uncertain, that a wife Man fhould always be prepared for the worst. God only knows, when we shall be called to give an Account of

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our Stewardship; and the Gofpel tells us, that when the Bridegroom cometh, unless we are ready to enter with him to the Marriage, the Door will be but against us. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the Day, nor the Hour, when the Son of Man cometh.

God give us the Grace to watch always, and to be constantly prepared, that, whenever he fhall call us, we may depart in Peace, and be Partakers of his Salvation through the Merits of Jesus Christ our Lord.

SER

SERMON VII.

ROM. viii. 14.

As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God.

CHRISTIANITY at it's first Appear

ance in the World was attested, and recommended to the Attention of Mankind by a Profufion of Miracles. Whatever can be conceived as a proper Display of the Finger of God accompanied it's infant State, and held it up to the Notice of Mankind. One of these amazing Evidences of the divine Concern for the Support and Propagation of the Religion of Jefus is the Subject of this Day's Commemoration; namely, the VOL. II. fudden

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