When God intends to destroy mankind in his anger, and tread them in the wine-press of his fury, he does not always make use of the ministry of angels, as he did when he smote all the first-born of Egypt, Exod. xii. 29; when he stretched forth his hand to destroy Jerusalem, 2 Sam. xxiv. 16; and slew in one night one hundred fourscore and five thousand men of the army of Sennacherib, 2 Kings xix. 35. He does not always let loose the wicked spirits, as when he gave them permission to raise a furious tempest, which blew down to the ground the house where Job's children were met together, and buried them under its ruins, Job i. 19. He opens not always the flood-gates of heaven, as when he drowned the world of the ungodly in the waters of the deluge, Gen. vii. He causeth not always fire and brimstone to rain from heaven, as he did upon Sodom and Gomorrah, and upon Admah and Zeboim, Gen. xix. Deut. xxix. He does not always work wonders in the deep, as when he destroys Pharaoh and the Egyptians in the waters of the Red-sea, Exod. xiv. 28. He prepares not always the whales to swallow us up, as he did in the case of Jonah, ch. i. 17. He sends not always fiery serpents, as he did to the children of Israel, who murmured in the desert, Numb. xxi. 6. He commands not always the earth to open her mouth, as he did when it swallowed up Corah, Dathan and Abiram, Numb. xvi. 32. He does not always cast down great stones from heaven, as when he smote the Amorites, Josh. x. 11. He does not always devour us by flames that come out from his presence, as he did Nadab and Abihu, who offered strange fire before him, Levit. x. 2. He commands not always the lions and bears of the forest to issue forth, as he did when the rebellious prophet was slain,

1 Kings xiii. 24; and when the ill-tutored children of Bethel, who mocked Elisha, were torn to pieces, 2 Kings ii. 24. He does not always employ the plagues of judgments of pestilence, war and famine; the stinking snuff of a lamp, or the unpleasant vapour of any malignant smoke, is able to suffocate and kill us in a moment. A little fly, the kernel of an apple, an hair, a grape stone, a grain of sand or any other, the smallest atom, is sufficient to stop our breath, and put an end to our life; therefore God adviseth us by his prophet Isaiah," Cease "ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils; for where"in is he to be accounted of ?" Is. ii. 22.

What is still more seriously to be considered, these accidents happen at all times and in all places. Death lays his snares for us every where, as well in the midst of our relations, and in the embraces of our dearest friends, as in the midst of our most mortal and irreconcilable enemies. Its visible darts fly on every side; and as the psalmist finely expresses it, The pestilence walketh in darkness, and destruction wasteth at noon-day, Psal. xci. 6. Death is as busy on the most solemn festivals, as on working days; it pulls us from the table, where we are taking our delights, with as much ease as from the bed of sorrow, where we sigh and groan.There is no place, though ever so sacred, that can afford us an asylum; it hath no more respect for the churches dedicated to God's service than for ordinary houses. All the riches of Peru, and all the power of the greatest monarchs, cannot protect us from its pursuit. The debt it demands of us, must be paid at sight; and it is not possible for us to appear by deputy to the summons it sends us.

Death does not fix his citations upon the door, nor

give them into the hand of a servant. There is not one of them upon which it cannot write, as a proof of its having been served, speaking to him in person. It surprises us in the house, and in the fields; in our closets and in the streets; on our couch and in our chair; in the midst of our feasts, and all our pomp. It attacks the greatest kings in their most magnificent palaces, their most flourishing cities, and their best fortified castles, in the midst of their most faithful subjects, and most victorious armies; upon their thrones and in their triumphant chariots. As king Ahab, when he went down to take possession of Naboth's vineyard, met unexpectedly with the prophet Elijah, to whom he said in great wrath, Hast thou found me, Omine enemy? 1 Kings xxi. 20; so the proud men of this world, when they think of nothing but the pleasant employment of their unjust acquisitions, and of bathing themselves in the blood and sweat of the poor, often meet with death unexpectedly, which they curse in their hearts; and if it did not stop their mouths, and set their venomous teeth, they would also say to it in a fury, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy?

It was this pious reflection that caused the wisest king that ever lived upon the earth, to cry out, "For man "knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an "evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it "falleth suddenly upon them," Eccles. ix. 12; and this it was that indited this excellent sentence in the book of Job, "In a moment they shall die, and the people shall "be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty "shall be taken away without hand,” ch. xxxiv. 20; that is to say, that to destroy kingdoms, and whole nations,

and carry off the most robust and mighty amongst men, Death has no occasion for any other force than that of his own arm.

Remember, then, O young man, thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them, Eccles. xii. 1. Though thou art the strongest and most vigorous amongst men, yet trust not in thy strength, nor confide in thy vigour. Think upon the iron and the brass in the image of king Nebuchadnezzar, which, were broken to pieces, and become like the chaff of the summer thrashing floors, which the wind carried away, Dan. ii. 35; and forget not that Death as easily brings down the strong and mighty, as the most feeble and infirm.

Sleep not, O young maiden, with the foolish virgins mentioned in the gospel, Matth. xxv; for ye know not at what hour the bridegroom will call you to the marriage supper of the Lamb, Rev. xix. 7-9. Though ye possess the greatest beauty in the world, yet remember, that death will not suffer himself to be captivated by your charms; and that he mows down the most lovely flowers in the garden, as well as the most common herbs in the field.

Ye old men, who tremble beneath a load of years, prepare yourselves for death with an holy alacrity: "Let "your hope be as an anchor of the soul, both sure and

steadfast, which entereth beyond the vail," even into heaven itself, whither the Saviour of the world" is en"tered, as a forerunner for you," Heb. vi. 19, 20. Look up with the eyes of your faith, and behold the ancient of days, who stretched out his arms to receive you into that glorious rest which remains to his people.

Would the christian reader know the tendency of this discourse? Since death is certain and inevitable, there is nothing more uncertain than the hour of its arrival, we should live as if we expected to die every moment; having our souls always upon our lips, ready to resign them into the hands of our Creator; or, to speak with holy Job, Having our flesh in our teeth, and our life in our hands, chap. xiii. 14. Since we know not at what age, at what time, nor in what place, death will come upon us, let us look for him every where, and at all seasons. Since we are in this house of clay for no certain term, let us be ready to depart at the first warning; for it is better to go out cheerfully, than to be dragged out against our will. We should not let Death carry us away, in the same manner as the sea tosses and drives before it a dead carcass ; but we should imitate the discreet pilot, who trims his sails, and assists the wind and tide with the best of his skill. We should not follow Death, as the criminal follows the executioner who leads him to punishment, but as the child follows the father who conducts him to a feast. We should not encounter with Death by constraint, as the ancient slaves fought with wild beasts in the Roman amphi-theatres ; but we should imitate David's courage, who issued forth, of his own accord, from the camp of Israel, to fight with Goliah. In short, it is better for us to attack and seize upon Death, than to be seized and swallowed up by it.

Come, then, when thou wilt, O Death! thou shalt never surprise me ; for I wait for thee, at all hours with my weapons in my hand. Thou shalt not drag me away by force; for I will go willingly and cheerfully with thee; and though thou art mine enemy, yet will I not scruple to say to thee, in the language of the spouse to