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of death, and have made no preparation for it, never fixed our thoughts on religious subjects, nor acted agreeably to the dictates of conscience; have not restored our ill-gotten wealth; if we have slandered our neighbour; have made no reparation; have never learned what is the end of our existence, nor what is death; can we view the approach of the king of terrors, under these circumstances, without emotion? will not our minds be filled with confused ideas, and overpowered with the multiplicity of concerns; and having so many objects pressing on them, be prevented from attending

to any.

feasts to which he was invited, and sanctified them with his heavenly conversation.

This compassionate kindness shone most conspicuous in the period referred to by the evangelist in the words of our text, the weighty cares of his soul, which he was on the point of yielding into the arms of his Father, did not make him neglect his temporal concerns, he thought of his mother's grief, he procured her a comforter of her poverty, and gave her a maintenance.

But, my brethren, the example of Christ is worthy not only of praise, but of imitation. The same religion, which directs our thoughts to a future state, and to the hour of death, teaches us rightly to perform our duties in the present life. A Christian before he dies, will

family, direct the education of his children, recommend to them proper tutors and guardians, and declare what are his dying requests. But unhappy are they, who on their death-bed are wholly taken up with such cares; religion, while she directs us to give them a portion of our attention, forbids their having it all. Look to the example of Christ, who seeing his mo ther and the disciple whom he loved, said to his mother, Behold thy Son, and to the disciple, Behold thy mother.

But if we have, on the contrary, been, during the whole course of our life, considering our latter end, and following the example of our blessed Saviour; have always been dili-regulate his affairs, make his will, exhort his gent to do the work of the Lord, and have never lost sight of that awful period, to which we approach rapidly but insensibly; if such has been our conduct through life, we may meet death with calmness. When the Christian on his death-bed, beholds around him a weeping family, near relations and intimate friends full of grief, he still is calm, he retains his self-possession through a scene so affecting. Death to him is not a strange object, he views it without alarm, and employs the moments that yet remain, in administering consolation to his friends, instructing or comforting his family, or in the exercise of religion. And this tranquillity of soul is perhaps one of the best characteristics of a happy death, and yields greater satisfaction than more triumphant expressions, for which there is less solid foundation. I have seen men in whose minds the approach of death excites emotions that partake more of the turbulence of frenzy, than of zeal; they heap Scripture upon Scripture, and prayer upon prayer, and from not having thought soon enough of their last moments, they can now think only of them, and can neither see, nor hear, nor think, of any thing else. How different were the last moments of Christ; in the midst of all his agony, he still distinguished from the crowd of spectators his mother; he saw her, and pitied her, and recommended her to the care of his beloved disciple. Woman, behold thy Son, Son, behold thy mother.

But how was Mary provided for, now she was under the protection of St. John; what was the prospect that she had before her: he was poor; it is true, that he was disposed faithfully to fulfil the trust reposed in him by his adorable master; and that poverty and misfortune, so fatal to common friendships, only served to animate his. But what assistance or protection could she hope for from an apostle devoted to his ministry, and treading in the footsteps of his crucified master. It was, my brethren, but a poor hope, a feeble consolation, for his mother to cling to; but here again we see the triumph of Christ, which he gained. over those fears, which so often disturb the bed of death. We see in the last moments of our Lord, none of those suspicions, none of those bitter cares, that so often empoison the peace of the dying; that criminal distrust of God, which offends him at a time, when by prayer and praise we ought to conciliate his favour. Christ displayed on this, as on other points, a We see, secondly, the tenderness and com- perfect confidence in the great Disposer of all passion of our Lord. There is a certain dis-events. But Christ triumphed again in anoposition in some, that partakes more of fero-ther way, in which we should endeavour to city, than piety; that possesses none of the amiable properties of true religion. On pretence of being Christians, they cease to be men: as they must one day quit the world, they will form no connexions in it. Being occupied with the concerns of the soul, they forget the care of this life, and the concerns of it.

The piety of Christ was not incompatible with the innocent cares and concerns of life, he contributed largely to the pleasure of those with whom he associated, he behaved towards them with kindness, mildness, and condescension.

He changed water into wine, at the marriage in Cana; he multiplied the loaves and fishes in the desert, to afford subsistence to those who followed him; he partook of the

imitate him. Do you say what will become of my children, or my family? Do you think that you were the only person to whose care God could confide them, or that if he calls you away, he will have no resource left for their subsistence? Do you think that the manifold wisdom of God, can raise them up no other protector? Do you think that if the paternal character excites in you such tender emotions, that he who is the Father of all, does not feel them also? Do you imagine that he who pardons all your sins, cleanses you from your guilt, snatches you from destruction, invites you to glory, will disdain to supply food and clothing, to those who survive you? No, he will not: had they for their sole resource, a man in such a sphere of life as was St. John,

they would never be reduced to want. "When my father and my mother forsake me," said the psalmist," the Lord taketh me up," Ps. xxvii. 10. Let us also say, if I leave my father and mother in their old age, or my children in their infancy, the Lord will protect them. They will find a shelter under the wings of the Lord, and he will be their defence.

Again, let us admire the firmness and selfpossession of our Lord: while beholding those objects that were most likely to shake it, Christ was possessed of a tender heart. We have already noticed this, and will now consider the principal circumstances in his life, that will justify this assertion. To this end, view him going from town to town, from province to province, doing good; see him discoursing familiarily with his disciples when he showed them a heart full of loving-kindness. Behold him shedding tears over Jerusalem, and pronouncing these affecting words, an everlasting memorial of his compassion, "If thou hadst known, at least in this thy day, the things which belong to thy peace, but now they are hid from thine eyes," Luke xix. 42. Behold him again, a short time before his death, occupied with care for his beloved disciples, who were to remain on the earth, and addressing to his Heavenly Father that affecting prayer for them recorded in John xvii. with the feelings of a soul full of the tenderest emotions. Jesus was exemplary in the several relations of a friend, of a master, and of a son. While he beheid around his cross only those whose malice delighted to witness his agony and aggravate his sufferings, he turned his thoughts from earth, to that eternal world into which he was about to enter. But what was the effect produced on his mind, by the sight of Mary, of whom it is expressly said in Scripture, that he loved her. What did he feel when he beheld the disciple whom he had distinguished by his peculiar friendship; and that other Mary in whose favour he had wrought such great miracles, "Ah, remove these beloved objects far from me, take away every tie that binds my departing soul to earth, your presence inflicts a sharper pain than the nails which pierce my hands; the sight of you is more insupportable than that of my murderers." Is this the language of our Lord? No: far otherwise; Christ remains firm, his courage is unabated. He was armed with almighty power, and he entered this dreadful conflict with the full assu

rance of victory, and final triumph. After the first emotions of nature have subsided, when he had glanced at the objects around him, he rose superior to the things of this world, he knew that death puts a period to all sublunary connexions; that the titles of parent, friend, and son, are only vain names, when we come to the last hour. He no longer recognised his relations according to the flesh, he was going to form a new relationship in heaven, to merge all earthly ties in the countless families of glorified saints, of whom he is the head. He appeared to know no longer that Mary who had borne him, giving her no more the title of mother, but said, Woman, behold thy son.

O, why cannot I communicate a portion of this intrepid firmness of soul to those who compose this congregation; O that we may every one on the bed of death feel some of its influence, and be enabled to exclaim, Come ye spectators of my agonies, draw near ye to whom nature has bound me by the closest ties, by the cords of love and friendship. Approach my friends, my children, that I may bid you a final farewell: come receive the last pledges of my affection, let me, for the last time, fold you in my paternal embrace, and cover you with my tears of affection; but do not suppose, that I would now draw tighter the cords which are so soon to be broken; think not that I would unite myself to you still closer at the time when God warns me that I must leave you for ever. I know you no longer; I know not father, mother, or children, but those who exist in the realms of glory, with whom I am about to form eternal relationship, which will absorb all my temporal connexions.

Thus the opposite extremities of virtue seemed to meet in the death of our Saviour as in a common centre, the perfections of the Godhead, holiness, compassion, constancy, pierced through the thick veil which shrouded his grandeur, his glory, his power, and his majesty. O, ye witnesses of his death, if his humiliation caused you to doubt his Godhead, his greatness of soul must have fully proved it. Behold the tombs open, the dead arise, all nature convulsed, bears witness to the dying Saviour; the graces that shone forth in his death are proofs of his noble origin, and his divine nature; such was the death of Jesus Christ; may such loer end. "Let me die the death of the rightons and let my last end be like his." Amen. Numis xxiii. 10.

THE END.

GENERAL INDEX.

A

ABEL, in what sense he yet speaketh, ii 280 | Antinomian, his notion of the divine mercy
Abraham, his intercession for Sodom should

encourage us to pray for wicked
nations

i 379

his great faith in the oblation of
ii 188
Isaac
i 397

Achan, where are the Achans?
Actions, innocent, are often made criminal ii 4
Admonition among Christian brethren ii 187
Adultery, the woman caught in the act of
i 266

the case of Drusilla

the character of an adultress

Adversities of life

they are the best means of

Adversity is occasioned by crime in

some men wise

spects

ii 8
ii 44

ii 212

making

ji 347

two re-
ii 350

ii 95

ii 255
he is faithfully warned and refut-
402
ed
ii 399
Anointing of the Holy Spirit
Ants, an emblem of the busy multitudes of

men

ii 34

Apathy, or a spirit of slumber, dangerous to a

nation

ii 348

the Roman Catholic religion i 167
Apostasy, among the French Protestants to
i 239
seven ways of apostasy
the dreadful sin of an enlightened
ii 328, 329

apostasy

the apostasy through weakness and

enmity distinguished

four degrees of apostasy

ib.
331, 332
an address to sinners who have not
attained the highest degree of this
ib.
sin
ii 242. 244 Apostolical constitutions confessedly spurious,
absurd, and the forgery of the
i 279
Arians

Emilius Paulus, a saying of his,
Aged men, the difficulties of their conversion

they are exhorted to fear and to
hope

Ahaz, his preservation and wickedness
Alcoran, origin of that book

250

i 150 Apostrophe to the ecclesiastics who surround-
ed the person of Louis XIV.,

ii 355

356
i 124

a specimen of its absurdities
Alexander despised by the Scythians
i 42-ii 83
Allegories, improper, censured
Alms, Christ's love the great motive to them
i 415
Alms of benevolence considered with regard to
society, to religion, to death, to judg-
ment, to heaven, to God
nine arguments in favour of alms 419
ii 7
Amorites, the nation and generation of them
i 106
considered as one person

417

the whole inhabitants of Canaan

were so called

their iniquities

ib.

107

Amusements, men who have the love of God

shed abroad in their hearts
have little taste for them i 92

Anathema Maranatha
Angels, a defence to the church.

Arians

ii 294

i 197

i 217

on pretended miracles
to heathen philosophers
Application to different classes of sinners i 96
refuted in their false gloss on John
ii 157
xvii. 3
the Arians also refuted in their whim-
ii 309
sical gloss on John xvi. 13
i 391
Aristocracy, its corruption described
Arminius, (Van Harmine,) three replies to his
ii 103
system
in the Bible practical duties are
placed clear, and abstruse points
involved in depths, that Chris-
tians may have patience with
one another
God is no wise accessary to the de-
struction of sinners

106

116
i 193 Arnobius, his avowal of the Godhead of Christ
i 279
i 222
i 313
ib.

apostrophe to angels on the Godhead
of Christ

273
281

ib.

their number and employment
their happiness consists in glorifying
God

they bend over the ark to look into the
ii 163
mystery of redemption

of the angel who sware standing on
the earth and on the sea
David prostrated before the destroying
angel

241

354

Anger attributed to God, but it varies in six
points from the anger and ven-
geance of inan

Assurance, St. Paul persuaded of it

eight cautions concerning it
assurance of justification may be
attended with a mixture of
ib.
doubts as to final salvation
it is incompatible with a state of
314
sin
assurance is demonstrated by the
ib.
experience of holy men

by the nature of regeneration 315
by the prerogatives of a Christian

316

i 100

Animals, compassion for

i 367

Anise, mint, cummin, improvements on the

terms

i 369

four cautions concerning it
means of attaining assurance
degrees of grace and assurance ii

by the inward testimony of the
317
spirit of God
ib.

350

Antinomian, an, censured

i 300

182

1

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it is illustrated under the notice
of a vicarious sacrifice i 249
its efficacy arises from the excel-
lence of the victim in five ar-
guments
i 287
its extent liberally explained 292
the support of Christ's death
against all our fears of futurity
295
Christ's death is an expiation or
atonement for sin
ii 167
four arguments in favour of the
satisfaction made by Christ 229
five classes of arguments from the
Holy Scriptures demonstrative
of the atonement, and compris-
ing a refutation of those who
say that Christ's death was only
a demonstration of the truth of
his doctrine
230
Augsburgh, Confession or Lutheran and that
of Arminius, strictures on ii 103
Augustine proves that the texts which speak

of Christ as subordinate to the
Father ought to be understood of
his humanity and offices, because
the expressions are never used of
the Holy Ghost
i 277
he is accused of inconsistency, viz.
of favou ing the cause of the Ma-
nichæans when he wrote against
the Pelagians
Avarice is always classed among the worst of
i 354
it is sometimes bluntly rebuked i 38
the sin of avarice defined
it impels men to the worst of crimes ib.
it requires confession and restitution

sins

ii 395

112

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Benediction on the different classes of hearers
at the close of a sermon,
ii 91
i 372
the want of it a horrible crime 414
it is the brightest ornament of re-
ligion
417
Birth, (new,) the ideas of the Rabbins con-
cerning it
ii 392
Bodies of the glorified saints probably not visible
to the grossity of our sight i 328
Born again, meaning of the expression ii 401
Brothels, the duty of magistrates concerning
them
Bull,

ii 44

(Bp.) proves from the fathers of the
primitive church, their belief that Jesus
Christ subsisted before his birth-
that he was of the same essence with
the Father-and that he subsisted
with him from all eternity i 277

C

Cæsar, his maxims and conquests
ii 9
Cæsarea, two towns of that name
i 157
Calamites, (national,) often the forerunners
of greater plagues in four respects
ii 352
Caleb and Joshua, the only two that entered
Canaan, are urged as an argument to
rouse sinners
ii 358
Canticles, an apology for the figurative style
of that book
ii 3
Cato of Utica persuaded of the immortality
of the soul by reading Plato i 141
Ceremonial law superseded by Christ i 288
whatever morality was contain-
ed in the Jewish ritual law, &c.
is still retained

Characters described, the Jews

the infidel

the miser

the temporiser

ii 374

i 171

ib.

ib.

ib.

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he is the mighty God and affords pro-
tection to his people

ib.
he affords protection against the fears
of death, being the everlasting Fa-
ther

various opinions of Christ

ib.

157

inquiries of this kind may be put

through pride, through curiosity,
revenge, and benevolence
ib.
Christ the brightness of ce Dieu, dont il est la
marque engravee et le caractere 173
Christ accused of sedition, not by the Romans,
not by the populace, but by divines
and ecclesiastics
ib.
Christ the author and finisher of faith 299
Christ's supremacy asserted and vindicated

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