SEAM. XLI.] THE DEATH OP SAINTS IMPROVED. 207 the great and solemn experiment, and surely I should have courage to follow: He has given evident proof, that there is a sacred power in the gospel, the promises and the grace of Christ, to convey the soul safe through the dark shadow of death, without surprise and conster- nation : And has not my soul the same rich encourage- ments, the same promises of grace, and the same gospel ofhope ? " O my Redeemer, and my Lord, hear -an humble suppliant, influence my soul by thy rich grace, to keep my faith awake, my conscience undefiled, and my evi- dences for heaven ever br ; ',it+ and clear. And when my appointed hour comes, that solemn and final hour, let me die the death of the righteous, and let my departure be like his;" Num. xxiii. 10. " Is death an enemy tó nature, and does it carry terror in the name ? Yet since thou hast subdued this enemy, and taken it captive, to serve the pur- poses of thy love, since thou hast numbered it, and written it down among the possessions of thy people ; since thou hast taught so many of thy followers to triumph over it; let me also, blessed Jesus, let me be enabled to meet it with holy fortitude, and a livelyhope. .0 let me follow the footsteps of theflock, into the world ofspirits, with a sacred pleasure, though it be through a dark passage. And as those, who went before nie, have taught me to dare todie, so let my dying moments encou- rage those who come, after me, to venture into death at thy call, without terror, and without reluctance." Amen. HYMN FOR SERMON I'LL DEATHOF MANKIND, SA INT IIAS death such vast destruction made ? Does every hour increase the dead ? Here I behold the guilt of sin, That brought this spreading mischiefin, Great God ! How awful and how just, Thy law, that turns our flesh to dust! O. let me learn,how frail am I, And all my life prepare to die. When impious wretches yield their breath Aud go unpurdoped'down to death, S AND SINNERS, IMPROVED. Awake my soul, adore the grace, That gave thee a repenting space. But when a saint with chearful air Meets his last: foe, and feels no fear, , Our faith, our hope, and courage grow ; We learn to face the tyrant too. We could renounce our all things here, And wish that moment would appear, When we shall leave this world, and rise To meet the joys above the skies
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