incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the LORD, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the LORD.

When an Address is delivered, the following or any other, which the Minister may think suitable, may be here introduced.

My Christian Friends,

IT is indeed a sorrowful duty to attend

to the dark and silent tomb the remains of the departed: these mournful emblems of mortality cannot fail to awaken feelings of a painful and distressing nature. Memory recurs to the period when the friend, whose body we now commit to kindred dust, was amongst us in life and health, but now he lies before us, despoiled of his strength, with his limbs

stiffened in the grasp of death, and his heart insensible as the cold inanimate sod, soon to be laid on his perishing remains.

Such a change as this must fix the attention and open a passage to the heart; it speaks with a voice which should reach the consciences of all, and tell of the frailty of life and the sure approach of dissolution. The change which has befallen the departed, awaits us all. Although our hearts may be buoyant with health, and our limbs vigorous with youth, and our pathway of life seem lengthened out before us; although the ties that bind us to the earth be multitudinous and strong, and the gloom of the grave be lost amid the sunshine that beams around, yet in a day that we think not of the summons of death may arrive, the thread of life be snapped asunder, and the world torn from our grasp. A few days, nay, a few hours, may lay us in a bed as low, and enclose us in a habitation as dark, as the grave to which our friend has approached. Let the living lay it to heart; let them not suffer this mournful occasion to pass without mak

ing a suitable improvement of it. Let them be admonished of the solemn truth, that it is appointed unto all men once to die, that no health can give us a perpetual leasehold of life, that no vigour of frame can subdue the enemy who will one day circle us in his cold embrace, and bear us to the mansion of the grave.

Dark, indeed, would be the prospect before us, gloomy and distressing the feelings with which we should part from our friends, if the grave were our final resting place, and no beam of light ever pierced the cloud that shrouds the tomb of the body.

But the love of God leaves not his offspring to perish thus miserably and forlorn his mercy dies not with the frail tenement into which his benignity first breathed the breath of life; the slumber of the silent tomb is but as a rest, which shall prepare us for another life, fuller of activity and duty, richer in hope and promise than the present.

Such, my Christian friends, is the pledge which the love of God has given to mankind in the resurrection of his Son Jesus Christ. But is it accompanied by no

conditions, which make it cheering to the virtuous, and gloomy to the wicked? Yes! the righteous decree of infinite wisdom has ordained, that the life beyond the tomb shall be rich in promise and in gladness to those only, whose lives here have been fruitful in works of patience, holiness and love. To those who abuse opportunities, who leave talents unoccupied and unincreased, who debase the nature which God has given them, and which is capable of all good, by familiarity with low and degrading objects, and permit their passions, which under due control may be directed to pure and ennobling ends, to enslave them to things sinful and unholy: to such, a future life reveals nothing but a fearful looking for of judgment, a lasting doom of misery and pain.

Let these solemn truths sink into our hearts. While we commit the body of the departed to the grave, let us hope that all error will be corrected, that all sin will be forgiven, and all virtue perfected in Heaven. Let us resolve that our lives shall be such, as to leave to our friends the legacy of hope, and assure to our

selves the promise of eternal peace and joy. Amen.

¶ Then shall be said the following Prayer by the Minister alone; all kneeling or standing.

Let us pray.

O GOD! we, who are but the creatures of a day, and whose life is but as a vapour, bow down before thee, who livest for ever and ever. Under all the changeful and often distressing circumstances of our earthly condition, we would look unto thee, the God of our lives, and repose under the shadow of thy wings. It is our blessed privilege and unspeakable consolation, as disciples of Jesus Christ, to believe and know that in the midst of judgment thou dost ever remember mercy. Thou dost never willingly grieve, nor afflict the children of men, but dost ever chasten us for our profit, that we may become partakers of thy holiness. Sanctify to the good of thy mourning servants, here assembled, the solemn event which hath brought them into this place. Grant that the breach that thou hast seen fit to make in this family circle, may be improved by resig