CHAPTER X.

THE CHRISTIAN'S VIEW OF DEATH.

FREQUENT reflections on that awful period, which must arrive to all human beings, is the best antidote to those worldly feelings, which a perpetual attention to petty cares will excite.

Most people, in the course of their lives, have experienced a dangerous sickness, and have known what it is to believe themselves on the brink of Eternity.

Those that have, will recollect what were their feelings, on conceiving that all the objects of their anxiety hitherto, were suddenly vanishing; and that they

were entering on an awful and unknown change, and doubtful whether it shall not consign them to an eternity of misery For the best of us cannot look, with any thing like confidence, to a state, for which, we are repeatedly told, so much purity is required; a long and a very pious life, or a departure in early youth, are the only cases, in which a well-founded hope can be indulged.

What then must be the death-bed of one, whose life has not, uniformly, been directed by the Gospel precepts? I speak not to profligates, but to the worldlyminded and the thoughtless; what must be the feelings of those, who are entering on this awful change, with a heart charged with the love of this world, and whose thoughts have rarely been directed to that unknown state, the view of which, even in the season of

health, excites such dismay; - - these ideas too assailing them, when the mind and body are weakened with disease and pain, and when it is too late to diminish their terrors, by any human effort!

If such has ever been the state of any of my readers, let them recollect, what their feelings were at that time; with what contempt and aversion they looked on all the petty cares and concerns of this world; how aweful were their thoughts of Eternity, and how new and wretched their state of mind !*

In such a state, how gladly would they compromise for one year more of existence, to evince their repentance by their amendment; and how gladly would

See an admirable Letter on this subject; the first in the Second Volume of the Rambler.

they resign every comfort this world can bestow, to be allowed a little longer period here, to endeavour to "work out their salvation!" they would live in poverty, disgrace, and sickness; so they might but live again, only for a little time!

From this state, they are snatched as by a miracle; they are placed, by the mercy of PROVIDENCE, again on the busy theatre of this world, and with all their comforts around them!

But, do they now retain all their fears of the wrath to come?-do they yet feel all their pious resolutions, all their contempt of this world in its full force? and do they live up to the resolutions they have formed?-Alas! in general, I fear, their return to this world is but a return to all their passions and evil habits; the same petty objects of conten

tion possess them, and Eternity, with all its terrific fears, fades from their view.

Such is their ingratitude to Heaven, for having heard, and granted, the ardent prayer of their expiring hopes, such the fascinations of this world, of sin and temptation!

Yet from some I will hope better things, and will suppose a pious and humble Christian, who has been constantly striving for the mastery" over sin and temptations, and who has made a future state, the general object of his thoughts and anxiety; who has studied the Sacred Scriptures, and made the example of CHRIST and His Doctrines, the rule of his life :-I will imagine such a one really arrived at the confines of

that bourn, whence no traveller returns ;" and in such a case, I mean not