while we are dead; and with a Form of Godliness, 2 Tim. 3. 5 while we deny the Power of it.

2. How fhould this difengage the Affections of those who find themselves dignify'd with this Character, and with the Privileges belonging to it, from this World, and the things of it; and dispose them to feek the things which Col. 3. 1, 2. are Above, where Chrift fits at the right Hand of God! How juft is it that their Hearts should be where their Treasure is!

What is there to be found in this World, but Vanity and Vexation of Spirit? as the Wife-man has long fince obferv'd. What wonder then, if good Men, in this State of Pilgrimage, like the Dove that wander'd from the Ark, can find no Reft for the Soles of their Feet?

16.

If the fame Inquiry were made after Reft and Happiness, as is reprefented in the Book of Fob, to be made after Wisdom and Understanding, the fame Answer might be return'd: Man knoweth not the Price thereof, neither is Job 28. 12, it found in the Land of the Living. The 13, 14, 157 Depth faith, It is not in me; and the Sea faith, It is not in me: It can't be gotten for Gold, neither fhall Silver be weigh'd for the Price of it; it cannot be valu'd with the Gold of Ophir, with the precious Onyx, or the Saphir, &c. But God understands the way thereof, and he knows the Place ver. 23. of it, &c.

Let us not then feek Happiness in this World, where it is not to be found; for why should we seek the Living among the Dead? But let us turn our Eyes towards that Celestial Country where our Saviour resides, and direct our Course towards that heavenly Jerufalem, of which we profefs to be Citizens.

3. The

3. The Profpect of this State of eternal Reft and Happiness, may ferve to comfort good Men under all the Afflictions and Sorrows that attend them in this World, and alfo to justify the Divine Government, in the unequal Diftribution of Temporal Good and Evil in the prefent State of Things; which fometimes has been ready to shock wife and pious Men. As Pfal. 73. 2, for me, fays the Pfalmift, my Feet were almost gone, my Steps had well nigh flipt; for I was envious at the Foolish, when I faw the Profperity of the Wicked.They are not in Trouble as other Men, neither are they plagu'd like other Men, &c. Ver. 12, 13, Behold thefe are the Ungodly, who profper in the World, they increase in Riches. Verily I have cleans'd my Heart in vain, and wash'd my Hands in Innocence: For all the day long have I been plagu'd, and chaften'd every morning.

3.

Ver. 5.

14.

When 'tis confider'd, that the Joy and Pleafure of wicked Men are but for a moment, mix'd with Trouble and Remorse here, and will be follow'd with endless Torments in the future World; and that the many Troubles that fometimes befal the beft of Men, fhall ferve to purify and refine their Souls, and to prepare them for eternal Life and Glory, and to inhance their Reward, they may well be reconcil'd to the most severe Discipline of Divine 2 Cor.4. 17. Providence: Their light Affliction, which is but for a moment, works for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory. Tho they now fow Pfal. 126.5, in Tears, they fhall reap in Joy: He that goes forth and weeps, bearing precious Seed, fhall doubtlefs come again with rejoicing, bringing his Sheaves with him.

6.

4. This

I

4. This fhould fortify the Minds of good Men against the Terrors of Death. That which renders Death fo very terrible, is the Guilt of our Souls; therefore the Apoftle fays, The 1 Cor. 15. Sting of Death is Sin. When 'tis confider'd as 56. the Effect and Punishment of Sin, and that which leads Men to the Tribunal of the Almighty, to receive an irreversible Sentence according to their Works, it has a dreadful Afpect indeed. But if this Sting be taken away, if our Confciences are fprinkled with the Blood John 1. 7. of Christ, which cleanses from all Sin, and we are reconcil'd to God by the Cross of our Redeemer; if being justify'd freely by his Grace, we have Peace with God, we may look into the Valley of the Shadow of Death without fearing Evil, feeing 'tis to the Righteous the way to eternal Life and Glory. Death will deliver them from all the Fears and Dangers, the Cares and Troubles, the Sorrows and Pains to which they are liable at present, and give them an Entrance into that glorious Reft which has been defcrib'd to you; into those calm and bright Regions, which are never ruffled by Storms and Tempefts, nor fully'd by Clouds and Darkness: Where Mifery and Pain can have no place, because there's no room for Sin and Guilt; but where perfect Holiness and perfect Happiness fhall keep equal pace to Eternity.

The View of this Reft has made many Christians, who, on other occasions, feem'd to have no great Courage or Prefence of Mind, triumph over the Grave, when they have found themfelves dropping into it.

It was this glorious Profpect that fupported the Soul of that Reverend Perfon, whofe Death M m

we

we fo juftly lament, and whofe Life muft needs render his Memory ever fragrant to us: It was this infpir'd him with Patience and Submiffion, Conftancy and Joy, during a tedious Sickness, and at the very Article of Death.

And fince there are divers things relating both to his Life and Death, that were very exemplary and edifying; I perfuade my felf it will be thought very feasonable for me, now to give a brief Account of fome Paffages worthy to be remark'd in both.

That might juftly be faid of him, which the 2 Tim.3.15. Apostle fays of his Son Timothy, that from a Child he knew the Holy Scriptures, and that these made him wife to Salvation, thro Faith which is in Chrift Jefus. The great Delight he then had in hearing the joyful Sound of the Gospel, made' him frequent divers religious Affemblies, and that not without fome hazard, at a time when they were often difturb'd and interrupted, and fometimes affaulted with Violence, while they were worshipping God according to the Dictates of their Confciences.

Some of the Sermons, which he heard in thofe Affemblies, made a deep and lasting Impreffion on his Mind; and his early Converfion to God was attended with an earneft Defire to be employ'd in the Work of the Ministry.

This Inclination grew fo ftrong and urgent, that nothing could diffuade him from his Defign, of ferving God in this publick Capacity. To this purpose he apply'd himself to those Studies, which he thought most conducive to the End he had in View; and that with fo much Diligence and Succefs, that in a little

time his Profiting appear'd to all, and at length he approv'd himself a Workman, that needed 2 Tim.2.15. not to be afham'd, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

God, who inclin'd his Heart to this Work, and call'd him to it, had endow'd him with divers confiderable Talents to prepare him for it. He had a folid Judgment as well as a lively Fancy, and Quickness of Thought as well as Facility of Expreffion. His ftrong and mufical Voice, together with that agreeable mixture of Gravity and Sweetnefs, which reign'd in his Countenance, tended to make way for the Truths and Reasons he deliver'd, by awakening the Attention, and engaging the Affections of his Auditors. He taught with Clearness, and argu'd with Strength; exhorted with Vehemence, and reprov'd with a becoming Authority; and found the Art, which fo few who speak in Publick attain, of blending Reason and Eloquence fo happily together, that they mutually affifted and embelish'd each other, and equally adorn'd his Difcourfes; which were adapted at once to improve the Mind, and touch the Heart, and had fomething in them that was entertaining both to the Learned and Illiterate, both to the Polite, and lefs cultivated part of Mankind.

Tho what I now speak, can give but a faint Idea of his excellent Gifts to fome of this Audience; yet I doubt not that it raises in the Minds of thofe, who were wont to hear him, a lively remembrance of the manner of his Preaching, and must needs make them reflect on the great Lofs the Publick has fuftain'd by his Death, at an Age that seem'd to give room to hope, that the World might have M m 2

reap'd