H1.0A MORE SERIOUS PREPARATION FOR DEATH.

Be ye also ready" is the voice which speaks to us on such occasions; especially when, as in the present instance, death comes at such an hour as we think not." And, in fact, does it not come in a great measure unexpected in a vast majority of instances?

How many are cut off in the bloom of youth and the vigour of manhood! how few, comparatively, "live out half their days"! Even where slow disease and wasting sickness give long notice beforehand of the approach of death, how continually does it happen that the patient dies at the very time when he thought himself recovering !But how awful, my brethren, to die unprepared! How different a seene would the dying chamber of her, whose loss we mourn, have presented, had she put off prepa ration for death till a dying hour, as too many, alas, do! What a fearful and affecting contrast to her serene tranquil lity, her cheerful composure, her peace

ful anticipation of her last hour, should we have witnessed in the lethargic stupor, or presumptuous security, or dreadful forebodings of eternity, in one or other of which multitudes are daily going out of life! What a blessed thing it is to have become, as in her case, familiar with the face of death in the time of life and health! How it disarms him of his terrors, to have stedfastly contemplated his aspect and watched his approach!

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And how is this to be done? Is it by cold speculations upon the necessity of dying? by reasoning ourselves into at reckless indifference, or fearless hardihood, about death? by wrapping ourselves up in the mantle of our own righteousness? or blindly venturing our eternal happiness on a vague, undefined notion of the mercy of God? No. Our departed sister would tell us far otherwise. She would say to us, The way to die happily is to live holily; and the way to do this is to walk with God,"

as Enoch, Noah, Abraham, David, Paul did They lived by faith, and therefore they died in faith. They lived as strangers and pilgrims on the earth, looking for a better country, that is an heavenly. If you would die as they did, live as they did. Walk before God, realizing His presence, reverencing His attributes, trusting His promises. Live near to him in prayer. Prayer brings you into the presence-chamber of the great King, and is your best preparation for seeing His face in glory. Sit loose to the world. Use it as not abusing it, remembering that the fashion of it passeth away. Be moderate in the pursuit and enjoyment even of lawful things. Be jealous over your hearts, watchful over your ways. Have your lamps alway burning, your loins alway girded. Beware lest either the pleasures, or duties, or cares of this life, overcharge your hearts and that day come upon you unawares. Above

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all live a life of faith in the Son of God, exercising an habitual, active, experimental dependance upon Him for wis dom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Abide in him, that when he shall appear you may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. Such is the advice which our deceased friend would give us, could she now address us; and such is in effect the voice which speaks to each of us from her tomb. Prepare to meet thy

To the benefits already mentioned as resulting from the death of the believer we may add another, if possible still more important and appropriate. tends to produce in us

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IVOY AN INCREASED ESTIMATION OF od CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES, PROMISES,

E AND PRIVILEGES.

14 The nature and efficacy of Christian principles is manifested, as in the life of the believer, so especially in his death.

Gal. ii. 20. + 1 Cor. i. 30.

1 John ii. 28.

Mark his deep humility. At the close of, perhaps, a long life, in which he has been actively employed in the discharge of personal and relative, family and public, duties-though prized, admired, beloved by all who know him, on account of amiable temper, unwearied benevolence, extensive usefulness-he is enabled utterly to renounce himself and all that he is, or has done, and simply and unreservedly to rely, for acceptance with God, on the atonement, righteousness, and intercession of the Lord Jesus Christ. The genuine feeling of his heart is, "If thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquities, Q Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared."*-Is not this a state of mind be coming a sinful creature, when about to enter into the immediate presence of God, a God of spotless purity, to whom all sin is infinitely hateful? And can any thing produce this humility, has any thing ever produced it, but evangelical

Ps. cxxx. 3, 4.