Of Occajions of Sorrow. 239 earth ; for, as yob fays, he is of few days S E R M. and full of trouble, nay, he is born to it, and X. it is as natural to him as for the Barks to fly `"^r4 upward ; and Solomon tells us, that God has given to man vexation, and travel, and grief, as a part of his portion under the fun. It is therefore neceffary to reconcile our minds to a ferious thoughtfulnefs about things, which for the prefent feem not to be joyous but grievous, that we may know the better how to bear our part in them, fnce they are the common lot of mankind, and a dif- cipline which divine providence ufes, in or- der to produce the peaceable fruits of righ- teoufnefs. Particularly, though death be na- turally the averfion of all living things, and feems to be a very difmal fubjed, we fhould accuftom ourfelves to think of it, whereby the horror and fear of it may be abated, and, which is of greater moment, we may be led to fuch a preparation, as (hall happily prevent the greateft dangers. To enforce this upon our minds, I fhall in the next place, Confider the reafons infifted on in the text, namely, that death is the end of all men, therefore it is for the advantage of the living to lay it to heart, and to render the thoughts of
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