count of his sickness and death, without a murmur or a groan, and with only some silent tears, which showed the greatness of her natural loss, the sense of her partner's gain, and the strong and lively hope which filled her soul of living with him again in a blissful eternity. I saw this amiable and beautiful example of the power of grace, and was convinced by it, how much above all sickness and feebleness of nature it can rise, and triumph, and glorify God.---Christian, couldest thou have seen this gracious instance as I saw it, it would have taught thee upon fact, how to mourn and bewail the same kind of loss, and how to live upon God; not without a feeling, for that is brutal insensibility, but without being stunned or stupified in the use of grace by the mere feelings of nature.

But excellent as this example is, thou and I have a more sure word of testimony to trust in, that we may get the better of our natural crosses and sorrows. God, who gathered all the fathers, will gather us ere long to the fathers in his glory. If our relatives, our dearest relatives, be dead as to this world, they now thank God, that they are so; and we may be reminded of the promise of our gracious Saviour, which assures us, that, respecting our souls and the souls

The late Mrs. Talbot, widow of the Rev. William Talbot, Vicar of St. Giles's, Reading.

of all the faithful, they never shall, they never can, so much as see or taste of death.

Why then should we sorrow, as those who have no hope? We ought to be ashamed of our selfish grief, and to beseech of God, that he would at least turn it into tranquil resignation, if not into praises and joy. God hath wonderfully supported his people in all their extremities; and, if thou art one of them, why not thee? The youngest child may claim his father's bounty and blessing, though he may not enjoy so large a portion as the firstborn. Trust then in the Lord; and entreat him to subdue in thy heart all the passionate and perplexing tempests of disordered na

ture.

The intended effect of these solemn dispensations to thyself is, to wean thee from time, and to set thy face towards heaven. There thou hast many friends indeed, and one great Friend above all, who can never be lost; nor can the others, when met, be separated from thee again. They are thy friends, in that holy and unchanging region, not for such a shadow of a moment as thy time is here, but for a blissful and boundless eternity. With what transport shalt thou, one day, ascend to them; with what extasy will they all unite to receive thee! The very foresight of this joy throws into contempt all the poor affairs of this world. But O what shall the possession do! Could the possibility of descending

again to earth, as earth now is, enter the views of the saints in glory; it would throw a damp into heaven itself, and beggar their unspeakable joys. And yet this is almost, if not quite, the wish and desire of every one, who murmurs at the departure of christian friends; or who would, if they could, bring their souls back again, contrary to their heavenly interests, into mouldering lumps of clay.

It was a noble saying of one over a dear departed friend: "There he lies (says he) and with him all my worldly comfort; but yet if the moving a straw would bring him to life again; without the will of my God, I would not be the mover of that straw for a thousand worlds."

My dear fellow-christian, mayest thou be like-minded; and, instead of too much bewailing the departure of friends to heaven, let it be one great object of thy life and faith to follow them thither, that thou mayest enjoy, together with them, the common portion of the Redeemed, even the everlasting inheritance of the saints in light!

CHAP. XX.

THE RECOLLECTION OF THIS THIRD PART IN PRAYER TO GOD.

O MY heavenly Father, when I calmly look back upon my conduct to others in this world, and consider how greatly I have failed in all my known duties to men, against thy holy word and against the peace of my soul; I am humbled to the dust before thee. I have nothing to say for myself, but with thy contrite prophet, Unclean! Unclean!

I have not loved my country as I ought; because I have not prayed for its best welfare as I ought. Intent enough I have been upon its vain-glory, its outward pomp, its carnal dignity, and its national prosperity; but Ohow little have I been importunate with thee for the greatest blessings, that religion and piety might flourish in the land, without which no true happiness or welfare can really be found.

I humbly implore thy blessing upon my sovereign, his family, and his government; beseeching thee to grant, with all outward good, the inward mercies of thy grace, and, in thy due time, the life for evermore. Pardon me also for any failures of my duty on this account.

In obeying those, whom thy providence hath set over me, O teach me to see how I may best obey thee, and glorify thy goodness

for a just government, good laws, and the valuable liberties I enjoy. If those in authority seem to fall into errors, (for what man is he that sinneth not?) keep my tongue from reviling, and direct my heart unto praying for them, that thy wisdom may rectify what human ability could not apprehend or foresee. Deliver me from sedition and selfishness, from all the evils of political passion and resentment; and give peace, I beseech thee, in my time, O Lord!

Enable me to conduct myself towards thy church, thy ministers, and all who profess to know thee, so as to give no just cause of offence in any thing to any man. I pray thee to heal all divisions among thy children, which may bring sad and deep reproach on thy gospel, or lay dismal snares and stumbling-blocks in the ways of men. O that they might love and pity each other, considering what infinitely tender pity and love thou hast manifested for them.

Help, O help me to fill up all my relations in life to thy honor and glory, and forgive me, in the numberless instances wherein I have failed. Let the blood of Jesus cleanse me from all my sins to others; and do thou forgive, as thou hast enabled me to forgive, all their trangressions against myself. Grant me larger measures of grace in the days to come, that I may praise thee more and more throughout my whole life and conversation