456 A Sermon at the Funeral 0 how may this, after the example of the ancient Chrifl:ians, fill us with joy and corn- .. fort, in the piol1S and ·well-grounded hopes of the happinefs of our dear friend ! Well n1ay we think we hear hin1 fay, Why _9o you n1ourn for me? "vVeep not for me, but weep for yourfelves; for to nze to die is gain. We live fl:ill in a world of fin and. mifeFy, of darknefs and folly: we fee nothing here but matter of tears and grief; vye are a– n1ong a crowd of people who are marching on to eternal n1ifery, who know not but the next fl:ep 111ay bring then1 to their jo~lrney's end; and yet never think of any thing, but filling their bellies, fatisfying their lufls, or worrying <;>ne another by the way. We have great difficulty to find the fl:rait path to eternal life ; .and, when we know it, and are entered into it, the , n1ing pleafure of the by-paths, the terhp– tations and example .of the throng about us, a roo~ed corruption within us, and a fubtle enemy that wat~hes us, are reody at every fl:ep to betrayus, ahd to turn us afide into the paths that lead to defl:rucrion: and \vhat a bleffing is it to be free of all thefe? flow happy is our friend, who _epjoys now an abfolute freedon1 fr01n all the pains, and griefs, and troubles of this n1iferable wodd;
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