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SECTION IV.

The Clofe of Life.

WHEN We contemplate the close of life; the termination of man's defigns and hopes; the filence that now reigns among thofe who, a little while ago, were fo bufy, or fo gay; who can avoid being touched with fenfations at once awful and tender? What heart but then warms with the glow of humanity? In whofe eye does not the tear gather, on revolving the fate of paffing and fhortlived man?

Behold the poor man who lays down at laft the burden of his wearifome life. No more fhall he groan under the load of poverty and toil. No more fhall he hear the infolent calls of the master, from whom he received his fcanty wages. No more fhall he be raised from needful flumber on his bed of ftraw, nor be hurried away from his homely meal, to undergo the repeated labours of the day. While his humble grave is preparing, and a few poor and decayed neighbours are carrying him thither, it is good for us to think, that this man too was our brother; that for him the aged and deftitute wife, and the needy children, now weep; that, neglected as he was by the world, he poffeffed perhaps both a found understanding, and a worthy heart; and is now carried by angels to reft in Abraham's bofom.-At no great distance from him, the grave is opened to receive the rich and proud man. For, as it is faid with emphafis in the parable," the rich man alfo died, and was

buried." He alfo died. His riches prevented not his fharing the fame fate with the poor man; perhaps, through luxury, they accelerated his doom. Then, indeed, "the mourners go about the ftreets;" and while, in all the pomp and magnificence of woe, his funeral is prepared, his heirs, impatient to examine his will, are looking on one another with jealous eyes, and already beginning to difpute about the divifion of his fubftance-One day, we see carried along the coffin of the fmiling infant; the flower juft nipped as it began to bloffom in the parent's view: and the next day, we behold the young man, or young woman, of blooming form and promifing hopes, laid in an untimely grave. While the funeral is attended by a numerous unconcerned company, who are difcourfing to one another about the news of the day, or the ordinary affairs of life, let our thoughts rather follow to the house of mourning, and reprefent to themselves what is paffing there. There, we fhould fee a difconfolate family, fitting in filent grief, thinking of the fad breach that is made in their little fociety; and, with tears in their eyes, looking to the chamber that is now left vacant, and to every memorial that presents itself of their departed friend. By fuch attention to the woes of others, the selfish hardness of our hearts will be gradually foftened, and melted down into humanity.

Another day, we follow to the grave, one who, in old age, and after a long career of life, has in full maturity funk at last into reft. As we are going along to the manfion of the dead, it is natural for us to think, and to difcourfe, of all the

changes which fuch a perfon has feen during the course of his life. He has paffed, it is likely, through varieties of fortune. He has experienced profperity, and adverfity. He has feen families. and kindreds rife and fall. He has feen peace and war fucceeding in their turns; the face of his country undergoing many alterations; and the very city in which he dwelt rifing, in a manner, new around him. After all he has beheld, his eyes are now closed for ever. He was becoming a ftranger in the midst of a new fucceffion of men. A race who knew him not, had arifen to fill the earth. Thus paffes the world away. Throughout all ranks and conditions, "one generation paffeth, and another generation cometh ;" and this great inn is by turns evacuated, and replenished, by troops of fucceeding pilgrims.-O vain and inconftant world! O fleeting and tranfient life! When will the fons of men learn to think of thee as they ought? When will they learn humanity from the afflictions of their brethren; or moderation and wisdom, from the fenfe of their own fugitive ftate.

BLAIR.

SECTION V.

Exalted Society, and the Renewal of virtuous Connexions, two Sources of future Felicity.

BESIDES the felicity which fprings from perfect love, there are two circumftances which particu-. larly enhance the bleffednefs of that "multitude who ftand before the throne;" thefe are, access to the most exalted fociety, and renewal of the most

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tender connexions.

The former is pointed out

in the Scripture by "joining the innumerable company of angels, and the general affembly and church of the first-born; by fitting down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven;" a promise which opens the fublimest profpects to the human mind. It allows good men to entertain the hope, that feparated from all the dregs of the human mafs, from that mixed and polluted crowd in the midft of which they now dwell, they fhall be permitted to mingle with prophets, patriarchs, and apoftles, with all those great and illuftrious fpirits, who have fhone in former ages as the fervants of God, or the benefactors of men; whofe deeds we are accustomed to celebrate; whose steps we now follow at a distance; and whofe names we pronounce with veneration.

United to this high affembly, the bleffed, at the fame time, renew thofe ancient connexions with virtuous friends, which had been diffolved by death, The profpect of this awakens in the heart, the most pleafing and tender fentiment that perhaps can fill it in this mortal state. For of all the forrows which we are here doomed to endure, none is fo bitter as that occafioned by the fatal ftroke which feparates us, in appearance for ever, from those to whom either nature or friendship had intimately joined our hearts. Memory, from time to time, renews the anguifh; opens the wound which feemed once to have been closed; and, by recalling joys that are paft and gone, touches every fpring of painful fenfibility. In thefe agonizing moments, how relieving the thought, that the feparation is only temporary, not eternal; that there

is a time to come of re-union with those with whom our happiest days were fpent; whofe joys and forrows once were ours; whofe piety and virtue cheered and encouraged us; and from whom, after we fhall have landed on the peaceful fhore where they dwell, no revolutions of nature shall ever be able to part us more! Such is the fociety of the bleffed above. Of fuch are the multitude compofed, who "ftand before the throne."

BLAIR.

SECTION VI.

The Clemency and amiable Character of the Patriarch Jofeph.

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No human character exhibited in the records of Scripture, is more remarkable or instructive than that of the patriarch Jofeph. He is one whom we behold tried in all the viciffitudes of fortune; from the condition of a flave, rifing to be ruler of the land of Egypt; and in every station acquiring, by his virtue and wifdom, favour with God and man. When overfeer of Potiphar's houfe, his fidelity was proved by ftrong temptations, which he honourably refifted. When thrown into prifon by the artifice of a falfe woman, his integrity and prudence foon rendered him confpicuous, even in that dark manfion. When called into the prefence of Pharaoh, the wife and extenfive plan which he formed for faving the kingdom from the miferies of impending famine, juftly raised him to a high ftation, wherein his abilities were eminently dif played in the public fervice. But in his whole

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