die, what continual Apprehenfions fhould we be under, as to our own Diffolution! And what Preparations can we make, that we ought not to be making, every Day, for that dread Decree, which will foon pafs with respect to us, that "Time fhall be no more.' "But of "that Day and that Hour knoweth no Man." Your late worthy Paftor did not know, then how should we? "The Angels which are in "Heaven don't know, neither the Son, only "the Father." "Take ye Heed, therefore, "watch and pray: For ye know not when "the Time is. For the Son of Man is as a "Man taking a long Journey, who left his "House, and gave Authority to his Servants, "and to every Man his Work, and com"manded the Porter to watch. Watch ye "therefore (for ye know not when the Maf"ter of the Houfe cometh, at Even, or at Midnight, or at the Cock-crowing, or in the Morning) left coming fuddenly he find you fleeping. What therefore was faid by Chrift himself to his immediate Difciples, << may be faid by his Minifters to their Fol"lowers, Watch." See Mark xiii. 33, and following Verfes, To which let me add the Exhortation of St. Peter in his second Epistle, ch. i. ver. 5. and following. "Give all Diligence to make your Calling and Election fure, be adding to your Faith, Virtue; to "Virtue, Knowledge; to Knowledge, Temperance; • E 2 perance; to Temperance, Patience; to "Patience, Godliness; to Godliness, Brotherly-kindness; to Brotherly-kindness, Charity. For if these Things be in you and abound, they make you that ye fhall nei"neither be barren nor unfruitful in the " Knowledge of our Lord Jefus Chrift. If <c ye do thefe Things, ye fhall never fall: "For fo an Entrance fhall be miniftered un"to you abundantly, into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift." Once more, in the fixth Place, 6. As the last particular Application of the Subject before us, and as the best Testimony of Refpect for the Memory of your deceased Paftor, I would perfuade you to let him live, as it were, in the Tenor of your Lives and Converfation. Whatever Virtues or Graces you have obferved and admired in him, cultivate yourselves, or, to ufe the Words of the Apoftle in his Epiftle to the Phillipians, "Whatsoever Things are true, whatsoever Things are honeft, whatsoever Things are juft, whatfoever Things are pure, what"foever Things are lovely, whatsoever Things are of good Report, if there be any Virtue, "and if there be any Praife, think on these "Things. Those Things which ye have "both learned, and received, and heard, and "feen in him, do: and the God of Peace "shall be with you." Efpecially, cultivate a Spirit Spirit of Charity, Meeknefs, and Moderation, under the Influences of which I would hope you will be at all Times difpofed to prosecute fuch Measures as fhall be moft expedient for repairing the Lofs you have fuftained. If any Thing could be fuppofed to disturb the sacred Reft of those who fleep in Jefus, particularly those who have been his faithful Ministers, it must be either the uncharitable Heats and Divifions of their Churches, on one Hand or, on the other Hand, the Indolence, Inactivity and Luke-warmness of them. Two extremes, which, I would perfuade myself, you, my Brethren, will induftriously avoid, as equally dishonourable to yourselves, and prejudicial to the Interests of our holy Religion. Let me then adopt the Language of St. Paul to Timothy in his former Epiftle ch. v. ver. 21. and " charge you before God and "the Lord Jefus Chrift, and the elect Angels,' "that you obferve these Things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by Partiality." Perhaps it may be expected, that I fhould now pay a Tribute of Confolation, Condolence, and Advice to the Family of your late faithful Paftor; but their greater Experience, Piety, and good Senfe prevent me. I shall only add my beft Wishes for their beft Improvement of that awful Providence, which they are now under the Exercises of. May they improve it, more particularly, ! particularly, by a distinguishing Imitation of FINI S. |