midft of jollity and drinking, debauchery and merry company, and on a fudden feizes the trembling finner, and in a very little time hurries him out of this world; how much more terrible muft it be! to be hurried from the noise and huzza's of a jolly affignation to the judgment-feat of Christ; from bowls of wine to the wrathful tribunal of an offended God; from finful time to a miferable eternity; is an amazing scene of horror and aftonishment, not to be mentioned without confternation, nor thought of without a groan, nor remembered without commiferating tears. Were death nothing but the meer leaving thofe pleasures, and being for ever deprived of those bewitching paftimes, it might torment the man with the thoughts of it: how much more when it is the departing from that life to another; from a carelefs world to a strict judgment; and, to ill men, from vain jollities to intolerable torments. This profpect of death fhould spoil the mirth of fecure finners, and dull all their jovial affignations; fhould, like the hand-writing on the wall to Belshazzar, make their joints tremble, and their knees fmite one against another. One would think it impoffible for any man of reafon to be fo fatally befool'd and fascinated with the charms of fin, as not to be awakened with the daily fpectacles of mortality before his eyes; and rouzed out of his lethargy and ftupidity by that doleful knell which fhews his fellow-chriftian to be newly launched into the ocean of eternity. One would think each funeral fermon (which, if any thing can, will affect men) fhould convert multitudes; and that, as Solomon fays, Thofe that go to the house of mourning Should lay it to heart, Ecclef. vii. 2. But, alas! daily examples of carelefnefs and unconcerned nefs about these things, too plainly prove that nothing can affect a hardened finner; nothing can make him ferious; ferious; no, not his nearest relation's death before his eyes; those who will not be wrought on by the word of God, are not often truly converted by the most astonishing accident, not would be perfwaded though one rofe from the dead. Men are Men are a little startled at the news of a friend's death, and the lofs of an old companion; and for a few hours perhaps have serious thoughts and refolutions. But then the rest of the club foon drive away fuch melancholy whimfies, and the bottle is an infallible, cordial, and comfortable diverfion from those importunate and unwelcome reflections of their own consciences, which, if followed on, might have made them happy for ever. Lord, let me in health serve thee, that thou mayst be with me in sickness, and at the hour of death. And let me not one moment remain in a condition, in which, if death does furprize me, I am for ever miserable. Let me live the life of the righteous, that fo I may die his death; and that my last end, how fudden, or in what manner foever, may be like his, fafe, fecure, peaceable, and full of a joyful hope of a glorious immortality. Amen. This fudden providence, and furprizing accident of Mr. Hollis's death, (who was merry enough but a week before at the commencement) feems providentially difpofed for my warning and caution, juft upon my advancement to a fellowship; not to be proud and conceited, forgetful of God, and unmindful of eternity: and may be looked on as an awakening memento of mortality; than which there is not a more powerful argument to all diligence, fobriety, watchfulness, and piety, while we have our lives continued to us. And, O that this, as well as other examples of mortality, may have their due influence on us all! in particular, may Mr. Hollis's end effectually work upon all the members of this college, and make them more more cautious of spending their time, more careful left their hearts be overcharged with furfeiting or drunkenness, and fo the day of death overtake them unawares. May it be long confidered and reflected on, till it puts them all upon a ferious confideration of their duties, and make them all anfwer the end of their maintenance in college, by conftantly endeavouring, by their learning and religion, to fet forth God's glory, and fet forward the falvation of all men. And those who are defigned for the facred function, may they labour to fave their own fouls, and the souls of those that hear them. As to my own advancement, I have reafon to thank God, and acknowledge my friends kindness to me, who have, without the leaft recommendation from any other friend, by their fuffrages obtained this place for me. And I fincerely beg of the divine Majefty, that as he has hitherto fhewn a very tender, fatherly care over me, as to fpiritual and temporal concerns, for which I ought never to forget to blefs and adore his holy name; and by his providence and fpirit has guided me, and kept me hitherto; fo that he would still go on to do me good, and to perfect that which concerns me, and not forfake the work of his own hands: that he would keep me from evil, and in his fear continually, that I may not grow cold in, or backflide from any part of my chriftian duty, but grow in grace, and in that practical knowledge of his will, as may influence all my thoughts, paffions, defires, refolutions and actions. That I may be faithtul to the death, that fo I may at length receive a crown of life. Amen! Amen! Bleffed Father! N. B. It will not be much out of the order of time, if I here fubjoin that Sermon, or CommonPlace, as we ordinarily call fuch performances in colleges, at the commemoration of our benefactors at Clare Clare-Hall, preached December 17, 1698, it being fhort, and fuitable to the occafion, and giving accidental hints at fome irregularities of our college at that time, which may fupply in part the lofs of that fore-mentioned paper, Emendanda in Collegio. Clare Clare-Hall, Decemb. 17, 1698. DEUT. vi. 10, 11, 12. It shall be when the Lord thy God shall give thee great and goodly cities which thou buildeft not; and houses full of all good things which thou filledft not; and wells digged which thou diggedft not; vineyards and olive-trees which thou plantedft not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full; then beware left thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt. TH HESE words are part of a ferious exhortation of the great legiflator of the Jews to that people, after their deliverance out of Egypt, and before their admiffion into the land of Canaan. In which he takes occafion to remind them not only of the great obligations to the worship of the God of Ifrael, their great benefactor, from the confideration of his miraculous deliverance of them from the Egyptian bondage already past; but farther affures them, that the fame obligation would be mightily increased hereafter; and that the plentiful provifion he would make for them, at the coft and pains of their enemies, and the conveniences and advantages his providence would fecure to them, without their own care or trouble, ought to be looked on as the greateft tye poffible to their duty and obedience. As if Mofes had faid, Almighty God, by the continuance of that merciful courfe of his gracious providence, |