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by your unkindness? Has your misbehaviour, in your Christian profession, never caused him to say, O that I had in the wilderness, a lodging-place of wayfaring men, that I might leave my people and go from them. JER. ix. 2. Though I thus speak, I am sure it has no general application. Few men were better beloved by their people than he was. Your many prayers for his recovery; your tender solicitude for his welfare; your present evident distress, all speak for you: your tears do you honour. But let me speak it again; should there be a cruel individual amongst you, to whom the charge applies, I would not for a world, be that man: He must answer for it in another day. God will avenge his own elect.

Where this has not been the case; where nothing but kindness marked your behaviour towards your departed friend; has he had no occasion to weep in secret on your account, because though you esteemed the man, you neglected his message? Ah brethren! it is to be feared, unless your state, as a church and congregation, be singular, that the word preached did not profit all of you. Some of y. may yet be in your sins. God has borne long with you; but he may have been weary of forbearing; he may have been angry at your infidelity; and in judgment taken away his servant. I do not say this is the case; but if it be only a possible case, it should cause searchings of heart amongst you.

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It is a providence that speaks to us all, as MORTAL MEN. In a little time, according to the common course of nature, the place that now knows us, shall know us no more. Time with rapid wing, bears us away to that place, where no device nor work is found; to that state, where there is no distinction, but that of just and unjust. But who can reckon upon the common extent of human life? Behold, before our eyes, a young man, who

had not lived out half his days, called to eternity, in the thirty-fourth year of his life. Should not this awaken our concern, and excite us to make that important inquiry, WHO SHALL BE THE NEXT? He who bids the fairest for length of years, may be the first to fall. Let us then so number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. We will now turn to the bright reverse of this mortifying scene." We have hitherto looked at the dark side of the cloud, let us now contemplate its luminous one.

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Death we admit is a penalty-by sin came death. Death is an enemy-the last enemy; but, blessed be God, he is a conquered enemy. The Captain of our salvation has destroyed him who had the power of death. Influenced by the faith of God's elect, believers in all ages have triumphed over death; they have sang with their expiring breath, and exulted amidst the swellings of Jordan.

Death is amongst the privileges of the children of God. Death is yours. He meets them as a friend, as an envoy commissioned by their heavenly Father, to bring them to his throne. Our eyes have frequently beheld the victory of faith, in the dark valley. Assaulted on either hand by pale disease, and its long train of attendants, we have seen good men rising superior to all the evils of their situation; feeling a "majesty in death;" and entering the eternal world, shouting, Thanks be to God who hath given us the victory.

This is not all. The total destruction of death is laid in the irreversible counsel of the Most High. The last enemy shall be destroyed. Death himself must die. The tabernacle of God shall be with men; he will wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death. The sea shall give up its dead, and those that are in their graves shall come forth. Then the Lord Jesus will make his triumph complete, and cast death

and bell into the lake of fire and brimstone. The re-animated dust of the redeemed shall then be perfectly released from the bondage of corruption, and made like unto the glorious body of their great Head: the whole number of the elect shall then be presented before the presence of the divine glory, with exceeding great joy.

One grand indispensable inquiry yet remains. By what means may we attain to the resurrection of the just? In search of this important subject, we are not left to wander in the maze of uncertainty and doubt; the way into the holiest is made manifest. There are three things absolutely requisite for a man to be acquainted with, before he can enter into life.

FIRST, The pardon of our sins. The scripture proposes this unspeakable gift by the blood of JeWe have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of our sins. EPHES. i. 7.

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SECONDLY, The justification of our persons. Provision for which is made by the obedience of the Son of God. He is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. ROM.X.

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THIRDLY, The sanctification of our nature. Jesus is of God made unto us sanctification. 1. COR. i. 30. By the influence of his Spirit upon our hearts, we are made partakers of the divine nature; sanctified in body, soul and spirit; and changed thus into the divine image, as by the Spirit of our God." 2 COR. iii. 8.

This is the only method of salvation countenanced in scripture; and it seems a method, "just to God, and safe to man.'

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To conclude.. Though we sorrow to-day, we do not sorrow as those who have no hope. God, who has taken away our dear brother, will take care of his. He will be a husband to the forlorn widow, and a father to the dear tender babes. A

good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children. God will provide; he will surely do them good; he has the hearts of all men in his hands; he will raise up friends for them; and eventually make it appear, that even this dark dispensation, is amongst the all things, that work together for good.

He that has the government upon his shoulders, will take care of you, my brethren, as a church. A pastor is provided for you; and he who knows him, will bring him amongst you in his own way, and time. Trust in the Lord; he will never forsake Zion; her walls are ever before him. Take his word for your rule; live according to the same; seek him by prayer and supplication; and you shall yet praise him.

We now bid farewell, a long farewell, to the sleeping dust of our departed brother: but, blessed be God, though it be a long farewell, it will not be an everlasting one. We shall meet again, What we are to-day sowing in dishonour, shall be raised in glory. The trumpet shall sound; our brother will arise; we shall meet, no more to part, When Jesus comes, he will bring all his saints with him. Comfort ye one another with these things,

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