past life or any preparation for judgment. In his case we firmly believe this was a happy release, a transition to glory, honour, and immortality, without passing through the bitterness of death. But, oh, where will you be found, if surprised by a summons equally sudden? What will then become of your intentions of future piety, your plans of prospective reformation, your excuses for not serving God immediately, your indolence, your indifference, your prejudices? O what will it then profit you, if you should have gained the whole world and lost your own soul? Religion admits of no delay. He that postpones the work of salvation, perishes without remedy. Now is the accepted time, and now is the day of salvation. Christ hath abolished death, and is at the right hand of God to receive the humble penitent, to receive you if you will come unto him, yea, to confer on you that life and immortality which he first purchased by his sufferings, and then brought to light through his glorious revelation.

With regard to those who have really and with honest earnestness of heart devoted themselves to the service of God their Saviour, to them also I recommend the deep consideration of the present subject. My brethren, let the example before you encourage you to press on in the Christian conflict and duty. Follow

1

our venerable friend as he followed Christ. Imitate his faith, his zeal, his love. Copy, especially, the spirituality and consistency of his life. Copy his conscientious discharge of his appropriate duties. Desert not those duties, because, in many instances, the performance of them may be irksome or distasteful to you; but rise up to them by wisdom, by diligence, by perseverance. Then employ all your influence to the glory of God your Saviour. Imitate also his quiet, silent, unobtrusive piety. Let your religion, like his, speak by your habitual conduct. And, O, remember the night cometh, when no man can work. -Yes, let the sudden departure we have been considering, excite us to habitual preparation. Set thine house in order, Christian; for thou shalt die, and not live. Examine thy heart, thy principles, thy temper, thy family, thy affairs. Whatever is wanting, supply. Whatever is wrong, correct. Whatever thou designest to attempt for thy own soul, for thy family, for the church, for the world, accomplish without delay. Wherever temptation and sin have gained a footing, repel the enemy. If there be any practice which conscience bids thee alter or renounce, make no compromise; cut off, if it be needful, the right hand, and pluck out the right eye: it is better for thee to enter into life blind or maimed, than, having two hands

or two eyes, to be cast into hell fire. And, O, my brethren, be cheered and upheld in your most painful acts of self-denial by the recollection of that Captain of your salvation, whose atonement and whose grace are more than sufficient for all your exigencies; who, like the victorious Joshua of old, has vanquished your greatest enemy; and having abolished death, is waiting to crown you with that life and immortality, which will overpay every sacrifice, which will fill your whole soul with transcendant blissand joy.

Finally, let us, in the spirit of the primitive times, and of our apostolic church, consider the present solemn and affecting occasion as one of humble gratitude to Almighty God. Our distinguished friend lived among us; he worshipped with us; his venerable form was familiar to our eye; Sabbath after Sabbath beheld him a devout participant in the sacred services and ordinances of Christ. But now his place shall know him no more. He hath departed in the faith and fear of Christ, and is gathered, as we humbly but firmly trust, to another and a far different congregation, to the general assembly of the church of the first-born, the spirits of the just made perfect. Pain and grief, and tears and troubles, shall molest or disturb his happiness no more; for the former things are passed away. Let us then give God

hearty thanks for that it hath pleased him to deliver this our brother out of the miseries of this sinful world; beseeching him that it may please him, of his gracious goodness, shortly to accomplish the number of his elect, and to hasten his kingdom; that we, with all those that are departed in the true faith of his holy name, may have our perfect consummation and bliss, both in body and soul, in his eternal and everlasting glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 4."

4 Burial Service.

END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

LATELY PUBLISHED BY THE SAME AUTHOR,

AND SOLD BY

George Wilson, Essex Street, Strand.

I..

LETTERS FROM AN ABSENT BROTHER;

CONTAINING

Some Account of a Tour through parts of the Netherlands, Switzerland, northern Italy, and France, in the Summer

of 1823.

Two Volumes, Post Octavo, Price 12s. 6d. Boards. Second Edition.

II.
SERMONS

ON

Various Subjects of Christian Doctrine and Practice.

In one large Volume, 8vo. Price 12s. Boards. Fourth Edition.