SERM. XVII.] THE DEATH OF KINDRED IMPROVED. 217 dying lips, had such an air of solemnity and tenderness. in them. that they have made a deep impression upon my heart.; and I hope I shall never forget them. The prudent and pious rules that my elder relations have of- ten set before .me, recur to my thoughts with .double effi- cacy since their death : I shall hear them speak. no more, I shall see.their.holy examples no more : ,I will gather up the fragments of their religious counsels;- and make .them the ruleof my conduct : I am well assured their souls are happy, and by the grace of God I will tread in their steps, till I arrive at those blessed regions, where I hope to meet them." This thought leads me on to the last instance of bene- fit whichwe derive from the death ofour kindred in the flesh. VII. The death of dear and 'near relations. calls our thoughts.in a more powerful and sensible manner, to converse with the grave and eternity., When our neighbours, or our common acquaintance die, We attend the funeral, and cast an eye into the grave ; we spend a thought or two on the pit of corrup- tion, and the moulderingdust: We awaken ameditation or two on things heavenly and the world to come ; and we return quickly, and busily to this world again : But when God sends death into our chambers, and it makes a slaughter there, it awakens us more effectually from a drowsy frame, and it nails our thoughts down to our most important and everlasting concerns. " Part ofme is gone to the dust already, it is not long ere the surviv- ing part shall go also. Death has smitten the desire of my eyes, and the partner of my joys, it will strike me ere long, and am I ready ?" This thought dwells upon the heart of a true éhristia.n at such a season, and while the spirit of God assists the work, it is not in the power of all the trifles in thisearth to banish the holy thought, and rarnalize the mind again. As when a man is seized with the dead palsy, or has a limb cut off, and buried in the dust, how sensibly does- this awaken in him the thought of death and futurity? " The sentenceof death is begun to be executed on me already, and the whole execution will be quickly fulfilled, it is time now to be ready, .for death is in good earnest, and has begun his work." And if our departed relative were a christian indeed,
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