adoration to him, through whose blessed redemption, that bliss shall be attained, and "this mortal put on immortality!" The frail human heart can hardly bear the transport of the thought! This idea is too vast, and too bright. Yet, it is not a fairy vision, but a steadfast, eternal truth.

Far away, then, all melancholy apprehensions of death, of pain, of parting, mere shadows every one! For what is pain? An hour of trial, the proof of our faith, patience and fortitude. What is death? The entrance upon our reward, the end of our dangers and perplexities, the point to which we have been tending from our birth.-What is parting? More bitter in itself than death, because it leaves us destitute of our dearest supports, in a state wherein we seem to need them most. This then, as the severest pain, is the noblest trial. And are we not sure that we are in the hands of a merciful God, whose every attribute is engaged to lay no more upon us, than our own faith and own sincere endeavours concurring, he will enable us to bear, to triumph over?

We are born into this world poor helpless creatures: but parents, friends, protectors are provided to conduct us up to maturity. An

all-gracious Providence works by what variety of instruments it sees fit: but fit instruments it never wants, and never can want. The seeds of good and evil grow up with us: at least, the enemy sows his tares so early that they soon overtake the grain. To root out the one, and to cherish the other, is the busi ness of life. What is it, to us, by what means, or by what change of hands, the Master of the harvest vouchsafes to do this? since our great concern is only, that it be effectually done, and then, we are well assured, that He "will gather the wheat into his garner."

He, who has given the former rain in its season, will not deny the latter rain, also, to the diligent and pious husbandman. Where a merciful Providence has remarkably blest the earlier part of life, the well-disposed heart need not fear, that the later years of it shall be left destitute. Every fit support and guidance shall be provided: nay every comfort and delight, that contradicts not some still kinder intention, or more important aim.

Sufferings belong to human nature. Of these, some persons have a larger, some a lighter share, and this indiscriminately, in some measure, to bad and good. This appointment is for wise reasons, some of which

even our poor shallow understandings can trace. But the good are assured that they shall never want any necessary support, under their sufferings: and to know that they are liable to them, is one appointed trial of their faith, of their submission. A true Christian knows, that all these things shall finally work together for his good. Why then should he dread any of them?

But when these sufferings are actually present, how must they be supported?-cheerfully. To those who know, that all is, on the whole, well, every passing day brings its amusement and relief: and let these be thankfully accepted. Those who are removed out of this world are happy: they are removed in God's good time. Those, who are continued in it, must rejoice in every comfort, that attends their continuance: must be thankful for every added year. For, is not life a blessing? May not this added time be improved to most excellent purposes? Let this then be our endeavour.

While continued in human society, let us preserve a sociable, a friendly spirit. Let our joyful affectionate remembrance attend those, who are removed already into a higher class of beings. But let our active love be exerted

towards all our fellow-travellers: and let it be our aim, so far as we are enabled, to lead many along with us towards those happy mansions. This, at present, it seems, is the only work we are fit for; and is it not a blessed. one?

"Be glad, O ye righteous, and rejoice in "the Lord, for a good and pleasant thing it "is to be thankful!”

ESSAY XXVI.

On the Necessity of innocent Amusement.

AMUSEMENT is useful and laudable, not when it draws the mind from religious subjects (in this view the world uses it and is destroyed by it) but when it takes the thoughts from such sorrows as are merely temporal, and imaginary, and so refits them for that better employment, which, without this harmless medium, they could not so soon or so well have resumed. The idle mind flies improvement as its enemy, and seeks amusement as its end. The Christian heart has but one home, one joy, one pursuit. But from this home it is too often detained: from this joy it is too often shut out: in this pursuit it is, too often, hindered, by the frailty of human nature, the necessary attentions and engagements of life, the attachments of affinity, and friendship.

On this side eternity, cares and sorrows will be felt, in some degree, by the best: but the Christian, who knows that it is his absolute duty to rejoice, and give thanks, in every