E96 THE nSASH ÓF SItTNÉRS IMFROVED. [SERM. 3ILt. The death of impenitent sinners has been many a. time, the happy occasion of the conversion of a saint. There is many a holy soul, now in heaven, that was first awakened to fly from the wrath to come, by the death of some of his wicked companions in his younger years. When a snare falls suddenly, and seizes a little bird or two of the flock, the rest take wing toward heaven, and fly for safety. Andhappy are those souls, who take the terrible warning, who fly to the sacred refuge, and lay hold on offered,grace. When a vile wretch is seized in the midst of his com- panions, and sins, and sent down to hell and destruction in a moment, the very gates of hell seem to open before our faces, to receive the rebels; such a spectacle fills the hearts of those that are near him, with amazement and terror, and hath often been the first means of send- ing them to the throne of grace ; and, by degrees, to the gates of heaven. The story of Peter Valdo is famous on this occasion, who was a rich merchant of Lyons, in France, but had no sense of inward religion, or true, piety. When in the midst of feasting and merriment, he saw oneof his companions struck with sudden death, he was awakened to serious thoughts of eternity: Upon this he applied himself to study the scripture, and dis- cover the errors of the Romish church ; he acquainted his friends with them, and instructed the poor, who were continual partakers of his bounty. Then being ex- communicated by the popish clergy, he retired, with some of his disciples, to the vallies of Piedmont, where he found some christians of an ancient and primitive stamp, and joining with them, established those churches which are called the Vaudois and are famousin history, even to this day. Bishop Burnet also tells us, in the life of the Lord Chief JusticeHale, that in his younger years he gave himself up to much frolic and vanity, till one of his loose companions fell down 4m a sudden, and they thought him dead: which surprizing providence sent Mr. Hale to his knees, to pray earnestly for the reco= very of his companion, and laid a foundation for that fe of eminent virtue and religion, which is described in those memoirs. Thus not only the death of profligate sinners, but even the appearance of their death, hasbeen
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