00e BEATS OF KINDItED. Have I past through this solemn hour of trial well, and shown , my supreme love to God, and my most entire submission to his sovereignty, by resigning so dear a comfort at . his demand ? Have I been taught by the inward pain which I felt at parting, and by the smart which still remains, how dangerous a thing it is to love a creature too well? Have I duly considered my past conduct toward my relations deceased, and does it improveitself to my conscience at the review ? Or have I found matter for self-condemnation and repentance ? Have I treasured up the memory of their virtues in my heart, and set them before me as the copy of my life ? Have my thoughts followed the soul of my dear departed friend, and tracedit with pleasure to the world of blessed spirits ; and does my own soul seem to fix its hope and joy there, and to dwell there above ? Are my thoughts become more spiritual and heavenly ? Do I live more as a borderer on the other world, since a piece of me is gone thither ? And am I ready for the summons, if it should come before to=morrow? « Happy christian, who has been taught by the Spirit of grace to improve the deatheven of the dearest relative to so di. vine an advantage ! Thewords of mytext are then fulfilled ex- perimentally in you: Death is yours : Deathitself is made apart of your treasures. The parting stroke is painful indeed, but it carries a blessing in it too ; for it has promoted your heavenly and eternal interest." Amen. HYMN FOR SERMON XLII. Death of kindred improved. MUST friends and kindred drop and die? Must helpers be withdrawn? While sorrow, with a weeping eye, Counts up our comforts gone. Be thou our comfort, mighty God, Our helper and our friend : d,Ior leave us, in thisdang'rous road, Till all our trials end. O may our feet pursue the way,. Our pious fathers led? While love and holyzeal obey The counsels of the dead. Let us be wean'd from all below; Let hope our grief dispel; Death will inviteour souls to go, Where our best kindred dwells
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