man of nerve and strength is no competent judge of another's feelings. This too may account for that undaunted countenance which many wicked men have shewn in the hour of their dissolution. I dare not add, though religion will justify the observation, that the grace of God may have taken its departure from them: for it is as impossible for the sinful man to fathom the depths of the divine counsel, as it is unbecoming our weakness to point out the particular objects of almighty displeasure.

It is some comfort to reflect that far the greater part of mankind quit the scene of life with ease and composure. I presume that every man, whose profession leads him to be a frequent visitor at the bed of the dying, will confirm this observation. A writer in a popular publication describes this easy transition in the following words. "To

go out of the world is as easy as to enter "into it, and, in a philosophical view,

seems more easy. Many things appear "more formidable in imagination than they "are in reality. When we are in perfect "health and spirits, we have an unpleasing "idea

"idea of sickness and confinement; but "when we are actually sick and confined,

we are more insensible to the pleasures "and gaieties of the world. We consider "them as vanities and follies, and have not "the least inclination to pass a second "time through the same dangerous and "tumultuous scene. As our distemper in

creases we begin to be disgusted with "life, and wish to be released. The pros"pect of death begins to become more "familiar as we approach. In proportion "as nature fails, we lose the power of sen"sation; the interval is short and tran"sient; the change imperceptible. No "reflection, and consequently no pain suc"ceeds. The soul forgets her anxiety, and calmly sinks into repose.

This may be a true delineation of the decaying and decayed powers of nature; but religion hopes for something more; she hopes that her last voice, her last sigh, her last sensation, will fondly rest upon the author of her salvation. She wishes indeed that her transition may be easy; but her

enrap

enraptured eye darts far beyond the surrounding darkness, being fully satisfied that "the sufferings of this present life are not "worthy to be compared with the glories "which shall be revealed."

The writer deceives himself, I will not suppose with an intention of flattering the departing, when he says, that in proportion as nature fails, we lose the power of · sensation. This is true only of the last extremity of sickness. The mind does not in all cases, nor even in most, participate with the infirmities of the body. That often appears in greater strength when the spark of exist ence is just expiring, and has been distinguished by the name of an illumination before death. When the great and good Dr. Johnson, whose religious or constitutional fears of death are often cast into the scale against him, was in his last sickness, with that native fortitude which, amidst all his bodily distress and mental sufferings, never forsook him, he desired his friend and physician to tell him plainly whether he could recover, and being informed that he could

not,

not, without a miracle" then," said he, "I will take no more physic, not even my "opiates, for I have prayed that I may "render up my soul to God, unclouded*.

To be disgusted with the world too, is not the proper motive of wishing for death. The vanities and follies of life no doubt are proper objects of disgust in every period of our existence. But life itself comes not under that description. It was given us as a blessing it ought to be received and valued as such. In it are many and important duties to be performed; the future happiness of our souls depends upon the proper employment of our lives; every moment is of sterling worth; and therefore is no otherwise to be esteemed a trifle than in comparison with the never-ending days of eternity. What says St. Paul? "I have a: "desire to depart, and to be with Christ, "which is far better; nevertheless to abide "in the flesh is more needful for you."

The first beam of reward which breaks in upon the righteous is in the moment of his

Boswell's Life of Johnson, Vol. III,

p. 674.

ence.

dissolution, or at such times as he is preparing his soul for another state of existBy a contemplation on the promises of the gospel, his mind reposes in security. He knows on whom he has believed, he is satisfied for what important purposes his faith was required; and the glad tidings of salvation strengthen and refresh his soul in that awful hour. And here it is that the gospel of Christ justly triumphs, by removing the sting of death, and opening a prospect of the everlasting ages.

If we consider death as a gloomy passage to an unknown country, if we look upon it only as a punishment of those sins, which we are conscious of having committed, there could be little comfort, nay, there must be great apprehensions, at its arrival; but when we see in it a sacrifice for sin, infinitely inferior indeed to, but deriving its efficacy from the sacrifice which Christ made upon the cross for the sins of all mankind, what comfort and consolation then arises in the soul? The christian principle here supports our spirits; and if our faith in Christ be equal

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