198 THE DEATH OF SAINTS IMPROVED. [SEAM. XLI. Boned. Blessed be the Lord who bath given me " hope in death, while the wicked are driven away in their wickedness, driven far away from hope and heaven," .Prom. xiv. 32. 4. The death of impenitent sinners does another ser- vice also for the saints, in that it sensibly excites their pity and their prayers for the living. It awakens the ex- ercise of pious charity for the souls of their friends, that are yet in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of ini- quity. A true Christian, that has tasted of the grace of God, can hardlybe supposed to see his impenitent neigh- bour seized with sudden death, and sent away to dark- ness, but it touches the springs of holy tenderness with- in hirn, and constrains him to speak a word to others in the same danger, and to lift up a cry to God upon their account for grace and salvation. Surely that christian is not in a right temper of mind, who can see or hear of impenitent and guilty souls seized away from his neighbourhood or his acquaintance, and plunging into eternity with horror and despair, and yet have no compassion awakened in him, no bowels of pity moving for those of his acquaintance that are involved in the same iniquities, and are yet in the land of the living, and on this side hell. Such an awful providence is like a warning-word which heaven puts into our mouths, that we may echo it with solemn horror round the neighbour- hood, and ,try to rouze stupid sinners from their danger- ous and fatal lethargy. [Here is a proper pause in this sermon, if it be too long to be read at once.] But it is time now to leave thisgeneral head, and go on to the next. Thirdly, If the death of hardened sinners turns to the advantage of the saint, the death of fellow-christians shall certainly work for his benefit too. You will be ready to say, " What ? Can the lost of good men from the earth ever be turned into a benefit? Can the death of saints bring any advantage to the sur- vivors ?" Yes, surely, if they die like christians indeed, in the lively exercises of faith and hope; and this will appear; in these four particulars : I. It confirms our faith in the gospel of Christ, and supports our. holy profession. It gives us an assurance
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