A moſt aw ••• , and a very Moving and Quickring Spectacle! A Lifeleſs Carcaſe ought alwayes to be ſo. Behold, the Mortality to which we are all obnoxious! Behold, the Dark and Sad Effects which our Mortality w •• produce upon us! We will Breathe and Pauſe upon it: We will Riſe and Fly from the Earth which is to be no longer Ours, towards Heaven in ou • Meditations. We will employ our Beſt Thoughts, to find out the way, that in that very Day, when we Dy, we may not Periſh.

The Hiſtory of the Pſalm will give us the Intention of it, and of this Remarkable Paſſage in it. When Cyrus had given the Jews Liberty to return unto Jeruſalem, and rebuild the Temple, and reſtore the Worſhip of God, in that Holy City, the Samaritans, a mungril ſort of People, ſo joined with their Adverſaries, that little was done in it, notwithſtanding the Favour which that Great Monarch had ſhown unto them. Cyrus was no ſooner gone, and Cambyſes on the Throne, but there ſeem'd an End of all Hope, that they ſhould Proceed any further in their Deſires. To prevent their Pear, & Excite their Faith, on this Difficult occaſion, thoſe Two Great Prophets, Haggai and Zechariab appear; And probably One of thoſe (for Antiquity is of this Opinion) compoſed the Pſalm now before us. The Pſalm Exhorts them to put their Truſt in God. Accordingly Cambyſes dies; Darius comes to the Throne; Then, in ſpite of all oppoſition, the work of God goes on; 〈◊〉 People accompliſh what they had ſo much and ſo long deſired. When the Breath of that Crowned Head Went forth, and the Monarch returned unto his Earth, in that very Day, all the obſtructions that had been given to the work of God, came to an End.

We have before us, a Lively Deſcription of Death; Even of the Death, which the Greateſt, and the Wiſeſt, and the Beſt of Men, muſt meet withal; Yea, Princes themſelves, and the moſt Excellent among the Sons of Men. There have been Princes, that have been called, Gods. Indeed, there has been a miſtake, in applying this, to all Princes and Rulers, in general. It ſeems to have been peculiar unto thoſe of the Iſraelitiſh Theocracy. Tis true, if any in our Dayes, employ their Power for God, we may be content that they come in for a ſhare in this Term of Honour. And yet, even theſe Earthly Gods, are but Gods of Earth. Alas, Let ſuch Gods know, they are to Dy like Men. Thoſe alſo that are peculiarly Men of God; Men full of GOD, and His moſt Glorious Temples in the World; Men that are the Heirs of Everlaſting Life; Theſe muſt alſo Dy like other Men; and put off their Earthly Tabernacle. The Cand • d • tes of Heaven, we have daily occaſion to put on our Black in Mourning for our Loſs in their Departure thither.

But, what befalls men when they Dye? Some Accidents of Mortality are here Specified. Let us make our Particular, — But, Oh! Let it be a profitable, Reflection on them.

Firſt of all, you ſhall have them all, in One Collection.

Of a Dring Man, it may be ſaid, His Breath goes forth; and, He returns to his Earth, and, His Thoughts Periſh in the very Day, that he dies.

You ſee My Friends, firſt, How a Man Lives; • is by his Breath. Secondly, How a Man Dies; Tis by his Breath going forth. Thirdly; What becomes of a Man, when he Dies. Firſt, The Man; He returns to his Earth. Secondly, The Thoughts of the Man; They Periſh in that very Day. Each of theſe Articles, is to be diſtinctly conſidered.

• If a Mans Breath goes forth, he dies, he's gone! A Man d •• s if he ceaſe to Breath; Ordinarily he Lives no longer than he Breathes. The Life of Man lies in the Power of Breathing. The firſt Infuſion of Life into Mankind is thus related; Gen. II. 7. God breathed into his N • ſtrils, the Breath of Life. Our Bodies have Muſcles, which by their Motion draw in and ſend out, the Air. By this Reſpiration, the Blood which runs thro' the Lungs, is attenuated, and brought into ſuch a comminution as is neceſſary to the free circulation of it. The N • horn Infant, begins this way of Living; and holds it on to the End of his Life At laſt, the Stopping of the Breath, or the failing of the power to Breath • , is the which puts an End unto the Life. The cor • inuance of Life, turns upon that; Job XXVIL. 3. All the while my Breath is in me, and the Spirit of God is in my 〈◊〉 ſ • . There are caſes, wherein the Children of Man h • ve Subſiſted Breathl •• s for ſome Hours, yea, for whole Dayes, and have our lived it. But when the Breath totally fails, the Man dies. He that has altogether does ••• athing, is a D • ad Man. When 〈…〉 〈◊〉 Laſt Gaſp of a Man, we pronoun • 〈◊〉 Dead. We read; Jam. II. 26. The Body without the Breath, is Dead. Idols, when the Bible would call them Dead Things, it ſayes, Neither is there any Breath in their Mouthes. Man is a Breathing Piece of Clay; and when he leaves off Breathing, he becomes Lifeleſs, and Senſeleſs Clay. No longer than the Blood, wherein is the Life of Man, has the Air fanning and breaking of it, and Perhaps affording a Sort of a Balſame unto it, will the Soul continue in the Clay Tabernacle. The Vital Ty between the Soul and the Body, is in the Blood. The Texture and the Motion of the Blood is kept in due order by the Breath. When the Breath is totally check'd and the Blood can have no more of any refocillation from it, it ſtops, it coagulates, it putrifies; the Soul can ſtay no longer; its Houſe is no longer tenantable.

But let us make ſome uſeful Remarks, on the moſt obvious Obſervation in the World.

Firſt. With ſome Surprize, we may now make this Remark; How does every Man Dy Every Hour! His Breath goes forth, it may be, twenty times in an Hour. Truly, The Inſtrument of our Life, is the Harbinger and Monitor of our Death; Even, the Going forth of our Breath. My Friend, All thy Breathing, is but a Goſping for Life. A Breathing Life, 'tis at beſt but a Dying Life. Indeed, Our Breath which now goes forth, does again Return. But, when a few Dayes are past, it will go, whence it ſhall not Return. The Faculty of Breathing, will ere long have a fatal • ſtruction given to it. He was a Prudent Man, who ſaid; I Cor. XV. 31. I die daily. Oh! Let every Man Breathing, Often with his Breath, fetch in ſuch awakening Advice as this; My Breach will certainly and ſpeedily ſail me My L • fe is going as well as my 〈…〉 my Breath will go forth for all together. My Breathing T ••• wi •• ••• tly be ever. No Man will have Power 〈◊〉 the Breath, to 〈◊〉 his Breath in the D • y of 〈◊〉 Death. O my Soul! What 〈◊〉 then Breath after ſo much as 〈◊〉 , that thou mayſt be ready for thy 〈◊〉 .

Secondly, There is this Remark to be now alſo made by every Man alive; What a poor thing is Man. What a Frail thing, the moſt Mighty Man • How little is the Life of Man to be depended on! Truſt not in any Son of Man, for this very cauſe; His Breath goes forth, and then the Man is gone.

For a Man to depend on his own Life, tis a very Fooliſh Thing. We have that pungent Admonition given unto us; Jam. IV. 13, 14. Go to now, ye that ſay, to Day, or to Morrow, we will go into ſuch a City, and continue there, a year, and Buy and Sell, and get Gain. What is your Life! It is even a Vapour that appeareth for a little time and then vaniſheth away. Even ſo; Go to now, ye that flatter your ſelves with Goods laid up for many years. Go to now, ye that promiſe, you will ſome years hence turn unto God. Go to now, ye that put off to another •• ar thoſe things, which ought immediately to be performed 〈◊〉 is your Life? If your Breath go forth, you are Dead. Your Laſt Breath, who can ſay, how near it is? If that be Breathed out, you have no more opportunity to do any thing. Oh! Bo • ſt not of to Morrow: thou knoweſt not, what a Day may bring forth. And for a Man to depend on the Life of another Man is an equal Folly. To build a Weighty Hope, a Pompous Hope, on a Breath which is going forth! What better this, than to Build Caſtles in the Air? Thus we read, Iſa. II. 22. Ceaſe ye from Man, whoſe Breath is in his Noſtrils: For wherein is he to be accounted of? Wo to that Man, who has no Friend, but a Man whoſe Breath is always going forth! A moſt uncertain and unſtable Friendſhip, to ſubſiſt upon! Soul, Retire to the Glorious GOD, and ſay; What can any Man do for me? If a little Breath fails, Lo, my Friend, and my Stay fails. Lord, my welfare is laid up in thy Favour. Thou art my Ever-Living Friend. Man will Dye. I will expect no more from any Man, than what is to be expected from a Dying Thing.

And then; If a Man be our Enemy, what need we be much Afraid of him? A Man whoſe Breath will ſoon fail him, and then his Wrath all comes to nothing. When the poor Animal Dies, then (as the Italians uſe to ſay upon a certain Occaſion,) all his Malice is dead with him; Dead, that is, as to any miſchief, that we may ſuffer from it. We are thus adviſed; Iſai. LI. 12. I even I, am He that comforts you, who art thou, that thou ſhouldeſt be afraid of a Man that ſhall Die, and of the Son of Man, that ſhall be made as Graſs. Tho' our Enemy, may Breathe out nothing but Fire and Fury againſt us; God can ſoon ſtop his Breath; He will ſoon be out of Breath. Poor Creature, what can he do! — He is not worth my taking any further notice of him! —

Thirdly. How much ought we to Fear, and Love, and Serve the Glorious GOD! How much keep alive a continual Reliance on Him, and Reſignation to Him, in the Continuance of our Lives! It is the Demand; Pſal. CL. 6. Let every Thing, that hath Breath, Praiſe the Lord. Every Breath we draw, there is in it, the Fav •• r of GOD. If GOD order our Breath to go forth, we are gone. All Men have this Dependence on GOD; Lord, Thou takeſt away their Breath, and they Die; and return to their Duſt. Say then, If thou art in the Claſs of Reaſonables, now ſay; What is the beſt Employment thy Breath can be put unto? Surely, we ought to employ our Breath, in Speaking the Praiſes of God: Nothing, more proper to be Reſolved upon, My Mouth ſhall Speak the Praiſes of the Lord! Surely, much of our Breath ſhould be laid out in Prayer to God. Yea, we ſhould be as unable to Live without Praying, as to Live without Breathing. Surely, we ſhould beware of proſtituting our Breath to the wrong uſe of any Evil-Speaking with it! The wretches who articulate their Breath into the horrid Language of Fiends; How worthy do they render themſelves, that the GOD whom they Blaſpheme ſhould ſmite them with an Immediate Suffocation! And as with our Breath we ſhould Bleſs God, even the Father, Even ſo, we ſhould be careful that we do not Curſe Men, who are made after the Similitude of God: No, But Study, that our Breath may be the vehicle of Truth and of Good unto them, and of what may Feed them, and Miniſter Grace unto them. And ſince we Live no longer than GOD indulges our Breath unto us, Oh! Let us take heed of the Sins that may provoke Him to take away our Breath. Urged unto any wicked Thing, ſay, Never while I Breathe, will I do ſuch a Thing! Let us particularly Take heed of Living Unfruitfully. They who Live to no Good purpoſe, do forfeit their Lives. To what purpoſe can it be deſired, that God ſhould prolong their Lives!

In fine; It was a ſharp Rebuke, — Oh! take heed of deſerving to be ſo rebuked; Dan. V. 23. The God, in whoſe hand thy Breath is, and whoſe are all thy wayes, thou haſt not Glorified. Sirs, Glorify GOD, as the Giver of your Breath. And, To Glorify God, Let this be the main End of your Breathing, and of all that you do, as long as you Breathe. Breathe after nothing ſo much as this, nothing but in Subordination to this; Oh! that I may but acknowledge GOD in all my wayes; the GOD, in whoſe Hand are all my wayes. And, Live by Faith as well as by Breath. Maintain your Dependence on GOD, for your Breath. Acknowledge Him, in that agreeable Style, The God of my Life!

I will take advantage, from the phraſe of, Breath in the Noſtrils, to preſs your Duty upon you. Tis the phraſe, by which we have the Anger of the Great GOD ſet forth ſometimes unto us. His Breath is in His Noſtrils. Verily, If you do not lay out much of your Breathing Time, in the Acknowledgments of GOD, you will find, His dreadful Anger, putting an End unto this Time, and puniſhing you, where the Breath of the Lord, like a Stream of Brimſtone, does kindle a Fire, that burns unto Eternity.

II. When a Man Dies, then he Returns to his Earth. Dying, is a Returning to the Earth, yea, to a Mans Own Earth.

The Phraſe of, Returning to the Earth, leads us back to the Original of Man. For The Lord God formed Man out of the Duſt of the Ground. This is the Humiliation which we have to take notice of; Gen. III. 19. Th • u ſhalt Return to the Ground; for out of it, thou waſt taken: For Duſt thou art, and unto Duſt ſhalt thou Return.

We will Enquire; Firſt; What of the Dying Man is it, that Returns to the Earth?

In one Word; So much of Man, as came out of the Earth. And therefore, not the whole of Man; therefore no more than the Body of Man. The Body of Man, is of an Earthly Conſtitution. It was firſt lodg'd in the Earth. And the Nouriſhment of it, is fetch'd from the Earth. Tis this, that is to find a lodging in the Earth, when the Earth is no longer to nouriſh it, and ſuſtain it, and recruit it. There is a Spirit in Man, which will not Return to the Earth, but go another way. We read, Eccl. XII. 7. The Duſt ſhall return to the Earth, as it was; and the Spirit ſhall return unto God, who gave it. When the Body Returns unto the Earth, our Nobler Part goes to the Abdita animarum Receptacula, as Auſtin expreſſes it, the Hidden Receptacles of Souls, which are with God. When we Die, then our Life, that is, our Soul, the Spring of our Life, and that part that ſhall never Die, this will be bid with God. But the Body, this is to be laid in the Grave. The Grave is the Houſe of all the Living. When we ceaſe to Live, our B • dy is laid in the Dark and Cold Houſe of the Grave. The B • dy muſt be laid in that Pit of Corruption. Tis in Bondage to Corruption; Bound to be laid where it muſt undergo Corruption. There it muſt be crumbled and mouldred into Duſt. And whence this Deſtruction, upon this curious W • kmanſhip of God; a Body ſo curiouſly, and Fear • lly, and Wondrouſly 〈◊〉 ? We may ſay; An Enemy has 〈◊〉 this. But what Enemy? SIN, SIN, Thou art our Deadly Enemy. At the mention of thee, I may ſay, I have now found thee, O mine Enemy. The juſt Penalty of the Law, which the Great GOD gave unto us, is Death. By Sin we have Tranſgreſſed the Law. In that Sin we hearkened unto the Tempter; The Breath of the Old Serpent, we ſo took in, as to be Poiſoned with it. So tis, that our Breath comes to fail us, as it does. We ſee none Returning to the Earth, but we may ſay, Behold, the Deſolations that Sin has brought upon the Earth! Here is a part of the Hurt which our Sin has done unto us. Ah! Sin, Thou cauſe of our Death; what cauſe have we to count this more Bitter than Death? How can we Entertain Light Thoughts of ſo great an Evil!

We will enquire; Secondly: What we have hinted unto us, in this, that the Dying Man muſt Return to His Earth?

Theſe things. Firſt. A Dying Man is left Owner of nothing in this World, except one may ſay, that little Piece of Earth, which he Returns unto. Tis very Remarkable; The Princes of this World; the Men who would have the Earth given to them alone; Even the Mighty Men who have the Earth, and the Honourable Men who dwell in it; Of ſuch as theſe, it is here ſaid, He returns to His Earth. It is not ſaid, They return to their Caſtles, to their Cities, to their Kingdoms. No, Theſe are now, Anothers. They return to their Earth, becauſe a little Earth, is now all that is left unto them. We read, 1 Tim. VI. 7. We brought nothing into this World, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. Well known is the Story of that Great Emperour Saladine, who would have it Proclaim'd at his Funeral; A Death Shrowd is all that the Great Emperor of the Eaſt, is now left Owner of! Man, Thy Death will diſpoſſeſs thee, of all that thou haſt in the World. It will only leave thee a few Clods of the Valley, or a little Turf upon the Hill of Golgotha, to be Sweet unto thee. He that was Poſſeſſor of many Acres, yea, of many Countries, muſt return to a Confinement of Six Foot of Earth. He that was • rray'd in Purple and fine Linnen, muſt Return to a cloſe Chamber in the Earth, where he ſhall have no more than a Winding-Sheet. He that had his Cheſt full of the Shining Earth, which bewitches the Children of Men into a Love of it, that is the Root of all Evil, muſt Return, where he ſhall be himſelf lock'd up in a Stable-Cheſt, without a penny of it. So we read; Pſal. XLIX 16.17. One is made Rich, and the Glory of his Houſe increaſed; when he Dies, he ſhall carry nothing away; his Glory ſhall not deſcend after him. It has been a Remark made on our Father Abrahams purchaſing the Cave of Macpelah, That the firſt purchaſe of Land that ever we read of was of a Burying place. O you Eager purchaſers of Land, and contenders for it, and what it produces; The Burying-place is that, wherein all in a little while will terminate.

Secondly. Tis too Common a thing, for the Earth, to be all that the Dying Man has cared for, before and until he Return into it. It is His Earth, inaſmuch as his care was to make it HIS. His whole care was to make ſure of Earth. We read, Phil. III. 19. There are many, who mind Earthly Things. The moſt Men are Earthly-Minded Men; So they Live, and ſo they Die. They have choſen the Earth for their Portion. They know no Good, but what lies in Earthly Enjoyments. It is an Elegant pungency, with which the Children of Men are called upon, O Earth, Earth, Earth, Hear the word of the Lord. They have this Character aſſigned them, in the word of the Lord; Pſal XVII. 14. They are the Men of the World, who have shew Portion in this Life. They are all for Earth while they Live; and ſo, they Return to their Earth, when they Die. The Curſe of the Serpent is come upon the Children of Men, ſince they have been Seduced by the Old Serpent; they are under that Vengeance of Heaven, Duſt ſhalt thou Eat, all the dayes of thy Life. I will add, a terrible Gloſs, which the Bleſſed Old Proſper had upon that Paſſage; Who are the Duſt, but the Terrenis Cupiditatibus inhiantes Animae, The Souls that pant after nothing but Earth! Such Souls become the woful Food of the Serpent; Satan makes a prey of them; they fall into the mouth of that horrible Devourer. It will be ſo, when the Earthly minded wretch does Return to the Earth. And then, as I have been ſaying, it will be found, that his Earth is his All. A Covetous Tyrant, at his Death, had melted Gold poured into his Mouth, with ſuch a Sarcaſm as this upon him; Take now, what in thy Lifetime, thou waſt alwayes unſatiably thirſting for! Even ſo, when an Ungodly Man comes to Die, and the Covetous, whom the Lord abhors, he then • eturns to his Earth, and it may be ſaid unto him; Here thou haſt that for which thou haſt all the Dayes of thy Life been Labouring.

This Obſervation will be followed with ſome Inſtructions.

Firſt. What a wretched Vanity are they Guilty of, who are Sollicitous for nothing, but that they may with a little Earth, have a Body well-provided for! Alas, the moſt of Men are Solicitous for nothing, but only to make Proviſion for the Fleſh, and a Proviſion from the Earth; Solicitous for nothing, but only to have a B • dy well accommodated. Ridiculous Man! This Body is Returning to its Earth in a very little while. Tis impoſſible to keep the Body, from Returning to the Earth. Our Language indeed humours, the ſtupid Notion, as if Man were nothing but Body. As I remember our Epigrammatiſt beſtowes a little Satyr upon us for it. We ſay, Body for Perſon. And accordingly Men generally conſider nothing ſo much as their Body. But, Oh! the Madneſs of Leaving the Soul, all this while unconſidered! We have been better taught than ſo; He, Like whom none teaches hath ſaid unto us; Joh. VI. 27. Labour not for the Meat that periſhes, but for that Meat, which Endures to Everlaſting Life. Thus are we to be counſelled. Labour more, to have thy Soul Fed, Cheriſhed and Strengthened with the CHRIST, who is the Bread of Life, than • o get Food for thy Body, when Death is quickly to Feed upon. Labour more to have thy Soul adorned with the Graces which are of Great price in the Sight of God, than to get Ornaments for a Body, which is quickly to be buryed in lothſome Deformities. Labour more to have a Soul Entituled unto, An Houſe Eternal in the Heavens, than to get a Splendid Lodging for a Body, that is quickly to be Impriſoned in a Subterraneous Habitation. Tis a Madneſs to do otherwiſe; Oh! do not with this Madneſs uncured, go down unto the Dead! It was required; Iſa. XLVI. 8. Show your ſelves Men. Verily, you do not ſhow your ſelves Men until you come to this Determination; My Body is Returning to the Earth. I will Seaſonably and Sollicitouſly give all Diligence, that I may have ſomething more than a little Earth, to befriend me in my greateſt Neceſſities. There is a Better and a Laſting Subſtance in the Heavens, which is to my Soul, the One Thing that is Neceſſary. O my Soul, Awake; Embrace thy Saviour; Entreat Him to bring thee home unto God; and ſo lay hold on Eternal Life. The Man is Mad, who is not thus diſpoſed, thus concerned.

Secondly. Tho' we Return to the Earth, yet let us Believe and Rejoyce in the Great Saviour, who will Redeem us from the Earth. Our Dear Saviour ſayes unto His Faithful Ones, (like what He ſaid unto our Father Jacob,) Be not afraid, my Child, of returning to thy Earth. I, that have my ſelf been in the Grave, in the Belly of the Earth, and Riſen again from thence, will be with thee, and ſurely bring the up again. That paſſage, which we render, Their Beauty ſhall conſume in the Grave, from their Dwelling, is to be read; Pſal. XLIX. 14. Then ſhall their Rock come to deſtroy Death, He ſhall come from His Habitation. It follows [and ſo it well may!] God will Redeem my Soul from the Power of the Grave. This was the Ancient Faith; Job. XIV. 14, 15. If a Man Die, ſhall be Live again? All the Dayes of my appointed Time will I wait unti • my Change come. It means, the Change which Man ſhall ſee, when he riſes from the Dead, and Lives again. Then, Lord Thou ſhalt call, and I will anſwer thee; Thou wilt have a Deſire to the work of thine Hands. Even, to ſee a Reſtoration of the Body, which is a Work all full of Miracles! Ti • true; The Reſurrection is as great a Work, as Creation. Indeed, it is here intimated, That if Man be recovered after his Death, he muſt be fetched out of his Earth again. But then, he that made Man out of the Duſt, can Raiſe Man out of the Dust. My Brethren, will you attend unto the Conſolation? The Day is at hand, when the words of the Holy Daniel ſhall be accompliſhed; The many Sleepers in the Duſt of the Earth ſhall awake; And when the words of the Holy Iſaiah ſhall have their Accompliſhment; They who dwell in the Duſt, ſhall awake and Sing. But are there no Songs then, that we may go down to the Duſt, and fall Aſleep withall? Yea, there are Songs for that Night, where-with God our Maker has furniſhed us. That is one of the Songs; Pſal. LXXI. 20. Thou who haſt ſhewn me great and ſore Troubles, wilt fetch me to Life again, and wilt bring me up again from the Depths of the Earth. That is one of the Songs; Mic. VII. 8. Rejoyce not against me; O mine Enemy; when I fall, I ſhall ariſe; when I ſit in Darkneſs, the Lord ſhall be a Light unto me. Oh! Let us go down Singing thus, unto the Place of Silence; Aſſured of the Songs with which the Redeemed of the Lord ſhall return from thence; the Songs of never-ending Joy, and of a Return from the Land and the Hand, of our Enemy.

But my Diſcourſe is coming to an End: And the End of all, is the only remaining Article of it. There is but one Propoſition more belonging to it.

III. In that very Day, when our Lives come to an End, our Thoughts alſo come to an End. Our Death ſtrikes at our Thoughts; and lays an Arreſt upon them, in ſuch Terms as thoſe; Ezek. VII 6. An End is come, the End is come; it watcheth for you; behold it is come!

The Thing to be now Enquired is; What Thoughts, will Periſh, and come to an End, when we Return Breathleſs to the Earth, and our Breath and Life comes to an End?

Not, All Thoughts. Our Minds won't Leave off all Thinking, when we Leave off Breathing and Living here. The Opinion of the Soul-ſ •• epers is an Idle Dream. If the Soul can't be Kill'd by the Death of the Body, then it will hold on Thinking, after the Body is Dead. But of the Things which Kill the Body, our Saviour has aſſured us; Matth. X 28. They are not able to Kill the Soul.

The Departed Soul of a Godly Man, will have his Thoughts. The Soul in the State of Separation fulfill that Word; Pſal. LXIII. 6. I will Meditate on thee in the Night Watches. The Soul will feed on the Tree of Life, in Thoughts on the Good Fruits, which a Divine Principle in it, brought forth, before its Tranſplantation into the Paradiſe of God. The Soul will be raviſhed with the Conſolations of God, in the Multitude of its Thoughts on what the Saviour has done for him, and will do for him; and in moſt comfortable Viſions of the Lord.

The Departed Soul of a Wicked man, will have his Thoughts too. We find it Spoken as to a Separate Soul of ſuch an one; Luk. XVI 25. Son, Remember what was in thy Life-time. The Conſcience in a Criminal Soul, will with bitter, doleful, raging Thoughts, Look back on the vile Things he did in the Time of his Probation here. The Soul of ſuch an one, will be thrown into inexpreſſible Anguiſh, by Thoughts, on the Fiery Indignation, whereof he has a fearful Expectation.

But then; Firſt: A Dead man has done Thinking on ſuch things as here take up the Thoughts of the moſt of men. All Projecting Thoughts for Things to be done in this World; theſe are all over; they Periſh in that very Day, when we Dy, and leave the World. Thus we read, Eccl. IX 5, 6. The Dead know not any thing: Alſo their Love, and their Hatred, and their Envy, is now Periſhed; neither have they any more a Portion for ever in any thing that is done under the Sun. Whatever Thoughts we have, of becoming Rich and Great here, and of having our Houſes made conſiderable; now no more of thoſe Thoughts; we have now for ever done with ſuch Thoughts.

Secondly: A Dead man, is gone, paſt all Hopes, to Execute any of his Thoughts. His Thoughts now Periſh; inaſmuch as his Deſigns do ſo. If he has Contrived any thing to be done, the Contrivances are all defeated, in that very Day, when his Eyes are cloſed and his Hands can ſtir no more. Thus we read, Eccl. IX. 10. There is no Work, nor Device, nor Knowledge, nor Wiſdom, in the Grave whither thou art going. Whatever Plan we had laid in our Thoughts, tis now knock'd all to pieces: The propoſals in our Thoughts, are now laid all aſide: The Thoughts are all Abortive, they miſcarry, and they never ſee the Light.

Thirdly: The moſt of the Thoughts in the moſt of men, are found Miſtakes, when they come to Dy. It is a Thunder-bolt hurled at the Head of an Impious man; Pſal. L. 21, 22. Thou Thoughteſt, I was altogether ſuch an One as thy ſelf; But I will Correct thee. Conſider this, ye that forget God, leſt I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver. An Infinitely Holy God may ſay to the Sinner, Thou thoughteſt I would not puniſh thee for thy Sins. A Glorious Chriſt may ſay, Thou thoughteſt there was no need of looking after an Intereſt in me. Exceeding Sinful Sin may ſay, Thou thoughteſt me to have no great Evil in me. A ſorry World may ſay, Thou thoughteſt that I ſhould afford a Satisfying Portion to thee. A Sinner in ill Terms with Heaven, has his preſumpteous Thoughts, that he ſhall go to Heaven when he Dies, When Death comes, he is Torn to Pieces. Ay, and ſo are his Thoughts too. He Periſhes, and all his Vain Thoughts Periſh with him. His Thoughts are found woful Errors, and in that very Day, they Periſh, with an Eternal Confutation of them.

And now, in a few Admonitions relating to this Obſervation, Let us bear the Concluſion of the Matter.

Firſt. What Thoughts you have, that you will Turn to God, and make ſure of being Happy after Death; Oh! Let theſe Thoughts be accompliſhed before you Die; and therefore, importunately and immediately proſecuted. The Thoughts of the Delaying Sinner, his Thoughts that he will One Day Turn, and Live unto God, by that Repentance which he now delays; In that very Day when he dies, theſe Thoughts all Periſh; and ſo does he for his Leaving them ſo unfiniſhed. A Sinner has his Thoughts of this Tendency, I will hereafter forſake my Sin, and accept my Saviour, and give my ſelf up unto God; and will take a Convenient Seaſon to m • ke my Calling and Election ſure. Death ſiezes on him, while theſe Thoughts are yet unperformed. Miſerable Sinners, Thy Thoughts are all Periſhed. There is no Room left for any more ſuch Thoughts. Thy Lamentable cry may now be that; Job XVII. 11. My Dayes are paſt, my purpoſes are broken off even the Thoughts of my Heart. As it hath been ſaid, They that go down to the Pit, cannot hope: So may it be ſaid; In that very Day, when Men go down to the Pit, they cannot have any more Thoughts how to eſcape the Pit. It is too late now, to Think on that Great Queſtion, What ſhall I do to be Saved? Wherefore, O Think preſently what you have to do; Even before it be too late; and let your Thoughts be preſently put in Execution. Come to that Iſſue; Pſal. CXIX. 59 60. I thought on my wayes, and turned my feet unto thy Teſtimonies; I made haſte, and I'd layed not, to keep thy Commandments.

Secondly; Be not miſled into Thoughts which will Periſh, as the Dreams of a miſguided Life, when you come to Dic. while men are Living, in the Midſt, and in the • r •• d, of Worldly Amuſements, they have many Thoughts, whereof we may ſay, They are a Multitude of Dreams, and in them there are diverſe Vanities. They are Thoughts which make men to Periſh; they drown Men in Perdition; and then the Thoughts themſelves will Periſh. Of theſe, we have that call of God unto us; Jer. IV. 14. How long ſhall thy vain Thoughts lodge within thee? What will be the Thoughts of a Dying Man? Of Sin, a Dying Man thinks; To Sin, Oh! tis to do an abominable Thing. Of a Saviour from Sin, a Dying Man thinks; To be found in Chriſt, Oh! nothing, nothing ſo deſireable! Of Time, a Dying Man, who hears the Angel of Death Swearing, Time ſhall be no more; Such an one thinks Oh! the Unknown worth of Time! It cannot be better Spent, than in the diligent Service of God! Of this World, a Dying Man, who is taking his Leave of the World; ſuch an one thinks, A moſt Undone Man is he, who is put off with a Portion in ſuch a diſpicable-World! Of Religion, or a Life Placed in Holy Eſſays to Secure a Bleſſedneſs after Death; What are the Thoughts of a Dying Man? They are, 'Tis Good for me to draw near unto God. My Hearets, Take up ſuch Thoughts Now. A Dying-Hour will Confirm theſe Thoughts, and not Confound them. They will not Periſh in that very Day, but rather have a freſh Life given unto them. And while you cheriſh theſe Thoughts, you muſt harbour none but Right Thoughts about Your ſelves. It is a Warning from God; Gal. VI. 3. If a Man think himſelf to be ſomething, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himſelf. The Hope of the Hypocrite, is kept alive by Falſe Thoughts. Thoſe Thoughts, will Periſh when he dies; and he too, under the Efficacy of their Strong Deluſions. Tis an Hope, that will Periſh; What is it, and what becomes of him, when God ſhall take away his Soul? Oh! Beware of taking up with any thing ſhort of a Thorough Converſion unto God, or of Thinking your ſelves to be Converted while you are yet in your Sins.

Thirdly: Fill your Minds with a Sort of Thoughts, which will turn to a Good Account after Death; yea, which will be ſtill carried on after Death. Such will be, The Right Thoughts of the Righteous. Oh! the Felicity of the Man, that can ſay with him; Pſal. CXXXIX. 17. How Precious are thy Thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the Sum of them! Chriſtians, Be full of Thoughts, How to advance the Kingdom of God upon Earth; Full of Thoughts, How to befriend Mankind, and bring Men to Know Him, Whom to Know is Life Eternal; Full of Thoughts, How to do Good unto all about you, in all Relations in all Capacities. I cannot ſay, How far ſuch Thoughts will be Continued with you after Death; But this I will ſay; Theſe Thoughts will not Periſh then; for they will be Rewarded after Death; A Full Recompence will be given to them. No otherwiſe will they Periſh, than the Seed grown into the Fruit. And then, Holy Thoughts; Be full of them; Thoughts that the Eye of God is upon you; and Who God, and your Saviour is; and How you ſhall Glorify Him. Thoughts that naturally flow from the Grace of God, Renewing and Purifying, and Elevating of the Soul; Theſe are Thoughts that will never Periſh. No; they will paſs into the Heavenly World with you. There you ſhall be more full of them, than ever you were here below; And your being full of them here, will be a Sign, that you ſhall arrive thither, where you ſhall be in them as in 〈◊〉 • lement for ever more. About a work of Grace in the Soul, we read; Jo • IV. 14. It is a well of Water Springing up i • to Everlaſting Life. The Spring bubbles 〈◊〉 in Holy Thoughts here below; and it ſha • continue to do ſo, in Everlaſting Life. T • Other Thoughts, they ſhall Periſh; But, O • Holy Thoughts, you ſhall Endure; We ſha • put off Other Thoughts, as our Veſture, at 〈◊〉 Change which our Death brings upon u • But, Oh! Holy Thoughts, you will be the ſa • for kind Above, that we had here below and your Years will never come to an End.

Finally. Entertain ſuch Thoughts, 〈◊〉 would come recommended unto you from Such as have had their Breath g • forth, and have return'd unto Earth, bu • breathed ſomething of Heaven, before the Dyed, and return'd unto Heaven when the Dyed; Such as have Dyed in Youth but Liv • unto God, before they Dyed. Within the • Two Dayes our afflicted Neighbourhoo • has had ſuch an affecting Spectacle. Tw • Young Perſons, a Pio • Young Man, [Mr. Recompence Wadſworth And. Mrs. Sarah Smith] [and a • Uſeful;] And a Pio • Young Woman, carrie • unto their Graves, th • One within half an Hour, of the Other 〈◊〉 Neighbours, Hear the Voice of God, in • h a Diſpenſation; and Entertain thoſe • ghts, which it invites you to. The Thoughts Early Mortality are thoſe whereto you • e an Invitation On ſuch an Occaſion, 〈◊〉 ! Think; As Young 〈◊〉 I am, I may dy too! • d what a fooliſh Thing will it be, for me, to be Concerned only about thoſe Things, whereof • m to take an Eternal Farewel, when I die? • at a Sottiſh Thing will it be, for me to put 〈◊〉 away the Evil Day, and be found Chriſt 〈◊〉 , and wholly Unprepared, when I die! But • n, Go on, & Entertain ſuch Thoughts, as 〈◊〉 have cauſe to ſuppoſe, theſe Vertuous • ng Perſons, would, if it were in their • wer more particularly perſwade you to. • ould the Inparadiſed Spirits of theſe dear •• ildren addreſs you, doubtleſs you might • ar them ſaying to you; Oh! Think it • rth the while to begin betimes, your Preparing 〈◊〉 Death; we don't Repent, that we took ſo •• ch Pains in Preparing for it! Oh! Think worth the while, to Pray without ceaſing; 〈◊〉 now reap a Joyful Harveſt of all our Prayers! 〈◊〉 ! Think it worth the while to do all that 〈◊〉 can, in working about your own Salvation, 〈◊〉 now Rejoyce, that we did with ſo much • r and Trembling, once Ply that work, ſo much we did.

Certainly, My Children, If you will not hear ſuch a Voice as this; You will be deaf to Thunder. If you will yet be Strangers to ſuch Thoughts, what can be Expected, but that you will Utterly Periſh, with them, in your own Corruption!

However, that if it be poſſible ſome Unperiſhing Thoughts may be raiſed in you, I do in the Name & Fear of the Glorious GOD require it of you, that you Retire, and in a moſt Serious Retirement imploy ſome Thoughts on theſe three moſt Solemn Queſtions.

Queſt. I. Can I tell, how ſoon my Breath may go forth, & I may return to my Earth?

Queſt. II. Am I yet Ready for the Time, when my Breath will go forth, and I ſhall return to my Earth?

Queſt. III. If my Death find me in my Sins, not United unto my Saviour, not Poſſeſſed, and Purified & Rectified by His Holy Spirit; What, what will become of me?

Beſtow ſome Thoughts on theſe Pungent Queſtions; My Children, I Charge it upon you. If you would not Periſh, Your Thoughts on ſuch Queſtions muſt be frequent with you.

ONE of the Young Perſons, whoſe Death gave Life to the foregoing SERMON, was Mr. Recompence Wadsworth; Unto whoſe Memory it will be a piece of Juſtice, that a brief TESTIMONY be given, that may repreſent him, as One Worthy of Remembrance among the People of God.

He had an Academical Education, which brought him to the Laurels of our Two Degrees. His Friends deſigned him for the Evangelical Miniſtry; but his Genius led him rather to that Employment, which Educates other, to be Miniſters; and a Place in the Tribe of Sinteon, rather than of Levi. He had performed the part of a School-Maſter in diverſe Places, but was at length choſen, (and we thought, fixed,) the firſt Maſter of the Grammar School, Erected lately by a Generous Benefactor to the Publick, in the North Part of Boſton. We Promiſed our ſelves much Satisfaction in him; with Hopes, which the Early Stroke of Death, arreſting him in the Twenty-fifth Year of his Age, has at once Extinguiſhed.

That he may ſtill do Some of that Good, whereof he was deſirous to have done very much, and if he had Lived, no doubt, would have done, I will preſerve a ſhort Inſtrument of Piety, of his own hand-writing, which I have lying by me. It is a brief Declaration of his Faith, and Converſion, and Repentance, which he wrote, when he was about Seventeen Years of Age.

And he is doubtleſs now gone, where this Holy Deſire (which Auſtin well ſayes, is the Life of a Chriſtian,) is moſt fully, and in a moſt glorious manner anſwered; as our Gracious God uſes to fulfil the Deſire of them that fear Him.

Tho' this Comprehenſive Inſtrument, be that which I have choſen to Exhibit as the Firſt Article of the Things which I extract from his more Private Memoirs, yet I find ſome other Paſſages in them, which I am willing to have Remembred.

In the Year, 1704 I find this Memorial en 〈◊〉 by him in his private Papers;

Aug. 〈◊〉 I was Admitted into Harvard Col 〈…〉 have I been! I have done nothing for God. Oh! that God would now help me to be Studious, not only to get Humane Learning, but that I may be Wiſe unto Salvation.

And yet for ſome time after this, he laid aſide the ſenſe which he had thus begun to entertain of his true Intereſt, and indulged thoſe vanities, from which in about a Year after this, the Glorious Grace of God ſo remarkably recovered him, that the ſerious and ſolid and thoughtful Frame, into which he was changed, was a matter of Obſervation.

Ere he had been Two Years a Student at the Colledge, he had made a more ſenſible progreſs in that Wiſdom. Then I find an Inſtrument written and ſigned by him, Sept. 21. 1706. Wherein he Renewed his conſent unto the COVENANT of God & of Grace; and with all ſolemnity recapitulating the various Obligations that lay upon him to do ſo, he did Accept & Avouch the Glorious JEHOVAH to be His God; and Embrace a Lovely JESUS, as the way to come unto the Enjoyment of Him; and Renounce the Service of Sin, and Reſolve to Watch againſt the Temptations that might invite him unto it; and ſubſcribe to the Laws of the only Saviour as all of them Holy and Juſt and Good. On this Tranſaction he afterwards made a frequent Reflection in the courſe of his Life, to quicken his care of Holineſs in all manner of Converſation.

While he lived at the Colledge, he aſſociated with a conſiderable Number of the Undergraduate Students there, in a practice which very much befriended the Intereſts of Piety in themſelves, and which all the more conſiderate Friends of Piety will doubtleſs be ſo much the Children of Wiſdom as to Juſtify. They formed a Society, which laying to heart the too general Decay of ſerious Piety in the Profeſſors of it, reſolved upon Eſſayes to ſpeak 〈◊〉 one unto another, and in the ſweeteſt methods of Bretherly Love watch over one another, and carry on ſome ſuitable Exerciſes of Religion together, wherein they might prove Bleſſings not only unto one another, but unto many more whom they might be concerned for. In this their Aſſociation, having firſt come into the Reſolutions of Living by the Faith of the Son of God, and as becomes thoſe whom He has Redeemed from a vain Converſation, and of maintaining a Juſt & Meek. & Charitable Carriage, towards their Neighbours, they engaged all poſſible Kindneſs to one another, and to increaſe their Number as far as the Rules of Prudence & Goodneſs, might lead them to it. On the Evenings of the Lords Dares, they met, and Pray'd together, & Read Inſtructive Treatiſes, and communicated unto each other their Thoughts on proper Subjects & Sing the Praiſes of God. On Saturday • before the Communion, they ſpent the Afternoons together, in preparing for the Interviews with Heaven, which they had before them. And ſometimes they ſpent whole Dayes in Prayer with Faſting before the Glorious God; particularly to obtain Bleſſings for the Colledge whereof they were the Members. This Action has been very ſenſibly bleſſed of God, for the advantage of them that combined in it; and this Young Man in particular, was one who found the deſirable Effect of it, on himſelf, the reſt of his little Time in the World. He was after this, very ſolicitous about anſwering the Characters of, An Upright Chriſtian; which therefore he found out, and wrote out; Eſpecially from the Excellent Scudders Treatiſe of, A Chriſtians Daily walk. And for his own Walk he made a Collection of Scriptures, which contained, Rules for his Affections, & his Thoughts, & his Words, & his Works.

He drew up a ſhort Catalogue of things under this Title; Sins, which I think, I ſhould moſt bewayl, and ask pardon for, if I were now to Dye.

And another under this Title; The Graces, which I ſhould pray to God for, if I were now to Dye.

He has alſo left Notes, which diſcover his concern to uphold an Examination every Night upon thoſe Three Articles.

Q. 1 What has been the Mercy of God unto me this Day?

Q. 2 What has been my Carriage towards God this Day?

Q. 3 If I Dye this Night, am I in a ſtate of ſafety for Eternity?

That he might improve in univerſal Knowledge, and Enrich his mind with the Labours of a Diligent Hand, he had his Quotidiana; or Blank Books, wherein he entered the more notable things that occur'd unto him in his Reading: and ſtill numbring of the Notata, he formed an Index of them, that he might readily turn unto them In ſuch imitable wayes, he held on, preparing for the Death; which has now bereaved us of him.

The Hand which Baptiſed him, having born this 〈◊〉 for him commends the Example of this Piety to the Survivers; and has no more to add, 〈◊〉 , Go thou, and no like-wiſe.

To procure a due Regard unto One Paragraph of the foregoing Relation I will tranſcribe a ſhort Paſſage from the Life of Mr. Thomas Board, and 〈◊〉 • omparable Young Man, who was deſigned for the evangelical Miniſtry under the Acidemical Education of Mr. Joſeph Peter, but was taken off by Death at the Age of Seventeen This Excellent Youth, writing the Story of his own Converſion to Serious & Vital Piety has the Enſuing Paſſages.

I hope, there will be ſome Good Effect of the Paſſage which I have thus tranſcribed, as well as of the whole Diſcourſe which it now belongs unto.