[ 85 l better Authority, that it is the foie Honor of vital Chriftianity to induce and fecure it. No Life (as toEn- joyment)canbe truly happy, which is not exalted above the faithlefs Fears or Confequences of Death. A Man of the World may perhaps find a temporary Relief in Difíipation,` and when the Profped of Eternity is not immediately in his View; but who, except the Chriftian, in the Circumftance of its Approach, can experience 2'be Soul's calm San Jhine, and the Heartfelt Joy ? And if true Religion can thus enfure Comfort and dif- fipate Terror, in the molt aweful Situations which can be fuppofed to happen to Nature; furely, it muff adminifter a peculiar Effufion of Happinefs and Peace, when no Diftrefs is near, or Trial directly afiaults us. And what univerfal Approbation does that Principle deferve, which employs Hope and Confolation in every Means, and enfures Joy and Immortality as its ultimate End ? For in is the peculiar Glory of the Gofpel of Chrift, that is not only fmoothes the Path of Life, not only affords a Balm in Sorrow and Temptation, not only warms the icy Hand of Death and calms the Horrors of the Grave; but ufhers inthe Soul to the unalienablePoffeflionofwhat Eye bath not feen, Ear heard, or entered into the Heart of Man to conceive. * Well then might the Voice of Truth proclaim ; Blef%ed are the Dead which die in the LORD: Even fo, faith the SPIRIT, that they may reft from their Labors, and their Works do follow them. j- And well might even a wicked Man exclaim (for it is a Prayer, which, however Men talk whilft in Health, they are not difinclined to in the Sum of Things), Let me die the Death of the Righteous, and let çy lalt End be like his ! * t Cor. ii. 9. 1' Rev. xiv. 13. j Numb. xxiii. io. G 3 _ NAMES,
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