590 bE.TIt IMPROVED. companion suffered under speedy' vengeance ? Let the freedent and riches of grace be adoredfor ever : It was rich and sovereign grace that spared me. And now through the abounding mercy ofGod, I hope I have fled to lay hold on the refuge set before me ; myheart is, in somemeasure, sanctified, my naturerenewed; and my sins pardoned. 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 ; Prov. xiv. 32. 4. The death of impenitent sinners does another service also for the saints, in that it sensibly excites their pity and their prayers for the living. It awakens the exercise ofpious charity for the souls of their friends, that are yet in the gall of bitterness, and in the bondof iniquity. A true christian, that has tasted of the grace of God, can hardly be supposed to see his impenitent neighbour seized with sudden death, and sent away to darkness, but it touches the springs of holy tenderness within him, and con- strains 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 ,provi- dence is liliea'warning-word which heaven puts into our mouths, that we may echo it with solemnhorror roundthe neighbourhood, and try to rouze stupid sinners from their dangerous 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 this general head, and go on to the next. Thirdly, If the death of hardened sinners turns to the ad- vantage of the saint, the death of fellowchristians shall certainly work for his benefittoo. You will be ready to say, " What ! Can the loss of good men from the earthever be turned into a benefit ? Can the deaths of saints bring any advantage to the survivors ?" Yes, surely, ifthey die like christians indeed, in the lively exercises of faith and hope, and this will appear in these four particulars : 1. It confirms our faith in the gospel of Christ, and supports our holy profession. It gives us an assurance of the truth and power of our religion,above all other religions in the world,when
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