around the bed. Mr. Somers's prayer was short, but it was very solemn: he first gave God thanks for the happy departure of the dear child, now with Christ his Redeemer; and, secondly, he earnestly prayed that God would, in his appointed time, grant unto all then present an equally happy death. His prayer finished with these words: "May we die the death of the righteous, and may our latter end be like his !"

Before Mr. Somers left the house, he took John Trueman apart, and asked him if it would be convenient for him that the child should be buried on the next Sunday morning at the hour of Morning Service? John Trueman answered, that he hoped to have every thing ready for the burial by that time. "Then," said Mr. Somers, " I will, with God's help, preach a sermon on the occasion." John Trueman bowed, but his heart was so full he could not speak; and Mr. Somers, and Mr. and Mrs. Fairchild, and the children, left the cottage.

The next morning Mr. Somers sent his clerk from house to house, through all the parish, to give notice that he meant to preach a sermon on the occasion of the death of Charles Trueman the next Sunday, and to request that all parents and masters would be kind enough to see that the younger part of their families came to church. Accordingly, the next Sunday, at Morning Service, the church was crowded for not only all the young folks in the parish, but from all the country round-from Hilltop way, and Brookside way, and Blackwood way, and from Underhill village, (that is the place where Mrs. Goodriche lived)-as many as were able, came to see the funeral and to hear Mr. Somers's sermon. Mrs. Goodriche herself, too, was present; for she borrowed a horse which carried double, and came to Mr. Fairchild's on the Saturday evening, riding behind young Roberts the gardener, the son of John

Roberts whom I spoke of before, and so was ready to go with Mrs. Fairchild to church on the Sunday morning.

The day proved fine, dry, and frosty: the sun just broke through the white clouds, with which the heavens had been overcast, when the bell began to ring for church; and at the same time Henry set out to attend little Charles's funeral from Mary Bush's house to the church.---I will tell you the order of the funeral. The coffin was borne by six stout men, day-labourers in the parish; it was quite a plain coffin, marked with the name and age of the corpse. After the coffin walked the father, John Trueman, and old Goodman Grey; and then Henry, and Thomas Trueman; and then came Mary Trueman and Mary Bush, Nurse and Joan, and Trueman's little children, with some other persons friends and neighbours. It was but a plain funeral: but there were none there who had not loved the departed child; and most persons present, both men and women, were such as lived in the fear of God for since Mr. and Mrs. Fairchild, and Mr. Somers, had lived in that parish, by God's grace godliness had mightily grown and prospered thereabouts-by God's grace, I say; for Paul may plant, and Apollos water, but God giveth the increase.

When the funeral came up to the church, the church and church-yard were quite full. Mr. Somers directed that the corpse should be brought into the church and set in the middle aisle, and he himself walked in before it, saying the words appointed in the Burial Service: "I am the Resurrection and the Life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth, and believeth in me, shall never die." (John xi. 25, 26). "I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though, after my

skin, worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another." (Job xix. 25-27), "We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." (1 Tim. vi. 7; Job i. 21). Mr. Somers then went through the Burial Service in a slow and distinct manner: after which he preached a sermon, the substance of which I shall endeavour to lay before

you.

Mr. Somers's text was from Matt. xiii. 41-43: "The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun, in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear."From this text Mr, Somers went on to point out to the young people gathered about him (for, as I said before, the young people from all the villages round about were gathered together that day), that after death there are two places, and only two, appointed; the one for the redeemed, and the other for the damned; namely, heaven and hell. "All who are here present," added he, looking round him, " every one of you, must after death go to one of these places, there to remain for ever and ever: so that it may be asked, Who amongst us shall dwell with a devouring fire? whọ amongst us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?' (Isa. xxxiii, 14)." He then went on to describe the happy state of the blessed, and the misery of the damned, from the Bible. I shall put down some of the most remarkable texts that he quoted: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life;

and they shall never perish, neither shall any one pluck them out of my hand.' (John x. 27, 28). Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.' (2 Tim. iv. 8). Ear hath not heard, nor eye seen, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive the things that God hath prepared for them that love him.' (1 Cor. ii. 9.) For the Lamb, which is in the midst of the throne, shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.' (Rev. vii. 17.)"-Mr. Somers then went on to describe the place of torment. "The fire that never shall be quenched: where their worm dieth not, and their fire is not quenched.' (Mark ix. 45, 46). • The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.' (Psalm ix, 17). Upon the wicked he shall rain fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest.' (Psalm xi. 6), But....the unbelieving, and the abominable, and, murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death,' (Rev. xxi. 8)."- -When Mr. Somers had finished repeating these promises and threatenings from Scripture, he went on to point out to all present, that, through the sin of Adam, every one of his children had become unfit for heaven, and were by nature children of wrath and heirs of death and hell; having inherited from their father hearts so wholly and entirely filthy and corrupt, that they could not of themselves turn unto any good, or so much as wish to do well. He then spoke of the goodness of God, who, when miserable man had lost heaven by his transgression, sent his only Son to die for us upon the cross: thus was God "mani

fest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory."Mr. Somers then eagerly begged the young people to note his words: "I have shewn you," he said, "that you have lost heaven by nature, being through sin altogether unfit for it; and now, my dear children, I proceed to point out to you how you may recover it, and escape hell. There is One Name, and but One Name under heaven, by which men can be saved: and this Name, this blessed Name, is JESUS: on this Foundation if any man buildeth, he shall be saved. Oh, therefore, my beloved children, as you love your immortal souls, as you dread eternal fire and everlasting darkness and despair, hold fast to the cross of Christ, and count all things as nothing when compared with him." Mr. Somers then explained unto the young people, that our Saviour by his death obtained three benefits for the redeemed: First, justification, which includes forgiveness of their sins through his death; Secondly, sanctification, which is the changing and cleansing their vile natures by the Holy Spirit; and, Finally, glorification, which no man will receive till after death: as it is written in the 17th Psalm, "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness; I will be satisfied when I awake in thy likeness."-Mr. Somers then spoke of Charles Trueman; of his state before death, and of his exceedingly happy death. He pointed out that there were two things which had been most remarkable in him, and which gave assurance of his now being blessed: the first was, his great humility and low thoughts of himself; so that, for many months before his death, he was never heard to speak of himself but as a sinner; and that not vainly and lightly, as some will do, but with deep sorrow and shame: and, secondly, his firm trust and joyful confidence in his Redeemer; so that his