is, that it may chiefly be seen in believers, how strong or weak their faith is in the Lord.

I knew a pious and excellent woman, now with God, who, with as much natural tenderness of heart as ever mortal creature had, and with as much affection for her husband as perhaps it is possible for human nature to feel for one every way worthy of her, received the account 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, couldst 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 losses and sorrows. God, who gathereth 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 reminded of the promise of our gracious Saviour, which assures us, that, respecting our souls and the

be

souls 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 first-born. Trust then

in the Lord; and entreat him to still in thy heart all the passionate and perplexing tempests of disordered

nature.

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 ecstacy 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 de

sire 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 interest, 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 likeminded; 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!

CHAPTER 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 O how little have I been earnest with thee for the greatest of all blessings, that religion and piety might flourish in the land, without which no true happiness or welfare can 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 everPardon me also for any failures of my duty

more.

on this account.

If

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. 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 thee to heal all divisions among I pray thy children, which may bring sad and deep reproach on thy gospel, or lay dismal snares and stumbling

any man.

ways

of men.

O that they might love

blocks in the 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 honour 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 transgressions 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, and thus live and die to the edification of others, and above all to thy glory.

Keep me from unreasonable and faithless grief, when thou art pleased, with equal wisdom and goodness, to remove the friends of my heart, or the outward comforts of my life. Enable me to give them up without reserve to thee, knowing that no good thing shall be lost either for them or myself, but that all things shall work together for our mutual, our real, our everlasting good.

Having these hopes, help me to be more and more purified from all uncleanness both of flesh and of spirit, and to endeavour even to perfect holiness in thy faith and fear. Lord, I am a blind and feeble worm, and of mine own self can think or do nothing that is good: O do thou therefore work in me to will and to do of thy good pleasure, that I may neither be barren nor unfruitful in thy word or work among the children of men. Help me to bear wrongs patiently, to speak every truth meekly, to carry as