370 THE WAaCHFt-'L CHAISTIAN DYING IN PEACE. [DISC. II. 3. Those that have been awake betimes to godliness, give peculiar honours to the gospel at death, and leave this testimony to the divine religion of Jesus, that it was able to subdue passion and appetite, in that seasonof life, Nvhen.they are usually strongest and most unruly. They give peculiar credit and glory to the christian name, and the gospel, which has gained them so manyvictories over the enemies of their salvation, at that age wherein mul- titudes are the captives of sin, and slaves to folly and vanity. 4.. Those christians, who are awake to God, in their early years, leave more happy and powerful examples of living and dying to their young companions and ac- quaintance. It is the temper. of every age of life, to be more influenced and affected by the practice of persons of the same years. Sin has fewer excuses to make, in order to shield itself from the reproof of such examples, who have renounced it betimes; and virtue carries with it a more effectual motive to persuade young sinners to piety and .goodness, when it can point to its votaries of the same age, and in the same circumstances of life. " Why may not this be practised by you, as well as by your companions roundabout yon, of the same age:" But I must hasten to the last reflection. Reflection III. "When wemoúrn the death of friends, who wereprepared for an early summons, let their prepa -, ration be our support.' Blessed be God, they were not found . sleeping ! While we drop our tears upon the grave of any young christian, who was awake, and alive to God, that blessednesss which Christ himself pro- nounces upon them, is a sweet cordial to mingle with our bitter sorrows, and will greatly assist to dry up the spring of them. The idea of their piety, and-their ap- probation in the sight of God, is a balm to heal the wound, and give present ease to the heart-ache. We are ready to run. over their virtues, and spread abroad their amiable qualities in our thoughts, and then, with seeming reason, we give a loose to the mournfi.Il passion ; whereas all these, when set in a true light; are real ingredients towards our relief. We lament the loss of our departed friend; when we review that capacious and uncommon power of memory, 4
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