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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
season
of
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
many
victories 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
we
moúrn the death
of
friends,
who were
prepared
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