DEDICATION. occasioned by the decease of Mrs. Sarah Abney, Daughter of the late Sir Thomas Abney, Knt. Preached April 2, 1732. Dedicated to the Lady Abney, Mother of the deceased, and to Mrs. Mary and Mrs. Elizabeth Abney, her two surviving Sisters. MADAM, IF sorrows could be diminished in proportion to the multitude of those who share in them, the spring of your tears would have been drawn almost dry, and the tide of grief have sunk low, by being divided into a thousand streams. But though this cainot afford perfect relief to your ladyship, yet it must be some consolation to have been blessed with a daughter, whose removal from our world could give occasion for so general a mourning. I confess Madam, the wound which was made by such a smarting stroke is not to be healed in a day or two, reason permits some risings of the softer and kinder passions in such a season ; it shows at least that our hearts are not marble, and reveals the tender ingredients that are moulded up in our frame ; nor does religion permit us to be insensible when a God afflicts, though he doth it with the hand of a father and a friend. Nature and love are full of these sensibilities, and incline you to miss her presence in every place whereshe was wont to attend you, and where you rejoiced in her as one of your dearest blessings. She is taken away indeed from mortal sight, and to follow her remains to the grave, and to dwell there, gives but a dark and melancholy view, till the great rising-day. Faith may discern the distant prospect, and exult in the sight of that glorious futurity ; yet I think there is also a nearer relief Madam, to your sorrows. By the virtues which shone in her life, you may trace the ascent of her spirit to the world of immortality and joy. Could your Ladyship keep the eye of your soul directed thither, you would find it an effectual bairn for a heart that bleeds at the painful re- membrance of her death. What could your Ladyship have asked as a higher favour of heaven, than to have born and trained rip a child for that glorious inheritances and to have her secured of the possession beyond all possible fear or danger of losing it. This Madam, is your own divinest hope for yourself, and you are has- tening on toward that blesse'? society, as fast as days and hours give leave. When your thoughts descend to this lower world again, there are two living comforts near you, of the same kind with what you have lost: May your Ladyship rejoice in them yet many years, and they in you! And when Jesus, who hatlt the keys of death, and the invisible state, shall appoint the hour for your ascent to heaven, may you leave them behind to bless the world with fair examples of virtue and piety among men, and a long train of services for the interest of their Redeemer. If 1 were to say any thing young Ladies to you in particular, it should be in the language of our Saviour maids beloved apostle, " Hold fast what you have till the Lord comes, that none may deprive you of your crown. Take heed to yourselves that you lose not the things which you have wrought, but that ye receive a full romani." Go on and persevere as you have begun, in the path of true religion and happiness: And in this age of infidelity and degenerate life, be ye daily more established in the christian faith and prac- tice, in opposition to the smiles and frowns, and every snare of a vain delusive world. Let this one thought set a double guard upon you, that while your elder sister was with you, it was something easier to resist every temptation, when she had pronounced the first refusal : Her stea- diness was a guard, which you have now lost, but you have an almighty God in covenant on your side, and " the grace ofour Lord Jesus is sufficient for you. 'l'o his care my Lady, I commend yourself, and your whole family with affectionate petitions, and am, MAsato, Your Ladyship's most obliged; and faithful servant, London, April 28, 1732. I. WATTS.
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