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utmost decorum can exact, or the most perfect affection dictates, is discharged towards the deceased; where is the concern of the living to derive from the decease itself, the spiritual profit which it is designed to yield? Where is the earnestness of the prayer, "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our heart unto wisdom?"

Every death; the death of the young, and the death of the old; the death of the rich, and the death of the poor; the death of the saint, and the death of the sinner; has something, not only serious, but appropriate, to impart. But to the generality of mankind, each of them says nothing-or speaks in vain.

Much of this disregard is from the frequency of the occurrence. Nothing seems to affect us strongly, but what is sudden or rare. The most important object, and the most interesting events, when they become familiar, awaken neither wonder. nor attention. Yet, if we cannot regulate our impressions, we can govern our ideas; we can apply our thoughts to any subject we please: and we should not suffer what is so full of instruction, to pass without just reflection. We cannot be always thinking of death; but we should never be so absent from a proper condition of mind, as not to be easily recalled to the improvement of an event which must soon happen to all; and for which we may prepare, though we cannot prevent.

It is not only the commonness of the subject, but our aversion to it, that keeps us from attending to it. It is, above all things, irksome to flesh and blood: we, therefore, are always endeavouring to put the evil day far away. But since we cannot put it off; let us pray for that grace which will turn the enemy into a friend, and the curse into a blessing. Then, to die will be gain: and we may live rejoicing in hope of the glory of God.

"If there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

OCT. 20.—" Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty." Isaiah xxxiii. 17.

-YET what was the sight of Hezekiah, released from his affliction, and appearing cheerfully in his royal robes to his subjects, after the destruction of the Assyrian army; compared with another sight! "We see Jesus, who, for the suffering of death, was crowned with glory and honour." Some, in the days of his flesh, with their bodily eyes, beheld his glory. And perhaps we are ready to envy them the privilege. But this sight of him was not accompanied with salvation-"Ye also," said he, "have seen me, and believed not:" and to those who were then before him, he complained, "Ye will not come unto me, that ye might have life."

On the other hand, there is a substitute for this sight of him; and it is infinitely more available— And he is the subject of it, who sees him, not with the eye of the body, but with the eye of the mind; not with the eye of sense, but with the eye of faith— "He that seeth the Son, and believeth on him, hath everlasting life." There is a spiritual perception of him, as much distinguished from common knowledge, as the taste of a thing is, from the report of it. Thus the Apostle says, "It pleased God to reveal his Son in me;" and, speaking of all Christians, as well as of himself, he adds, "He hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

This sight of the Saviour will be evinced by certain effects. Self will be lowered. What can he think of his own excellencies who has been at the Court above, and seen the King in his beauty! Self-admiration and self-dependence will then be at an end. "The proud looks shall be humbled, and the lofty looks shall be laid low; and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.' So it was with Job-"Now mine eye seeth thee;

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wherefore I abhor myself, repenting in dust and ashes." So it was with Isaiah-"Woe is me, for I am undone; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts."-The world will fade away, and lose its charms. The Sun of Righteousness will shine it out; as the luminaries of the night disappear in the effulgence of day.→ Attachment will result from it. Love enters by the eye. And faith is the same to the soul, as this sense is to the body: therefore, to them "that believe, he is precious." He "dwells in the heart by faith."There will also necessarily arise, a desire after more acquaintance and intercourse with him. Thus Paul, not because he was ignorant of him, but because he knew him, said, "That I may know him."-There will also be an earnest desire to recommend him to others. As soon as Andrew knew him, he found his brother Simon, and brought him to Jesus. So did Philip, his friend Nathanael. And so did the woman of Samaria, her fellow-citizens.

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This sight of him is a very distinguished privilege. As it is said of his immediate followers, "Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord;" so we, believing, rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory. There is enough in him, perceptible to the view of faith, to induce us to rejoice in the Lord always.-But how delightful is the sight of him in the hour of conviction! drowning man, seeing a deliverer in a boat, hastening to his assistance: a debtor, on his way to prison, seeing a surety at hand, to undertake for him: a man, dying of hunger, seeing the most delicious food-never saw what I saw, when, sensible of my state and danger, and feeling myself ready to perish, my heart revived at the view of such a Saviour-in his suitableness to my condition-in his all-suffi. ciency for my relief-and I was enabled to hope in his mercy.

How delightful is the sight of him in the hour of desertion! If he withdraws from me, it is not to shew his sovereignty, but to correct for sin: and when he hides his face, I am troubled. Then creatures are all miserable comforters. Then I sigh, O that it was with me as in months past! Then pray, Restore unto me the joy of thy salvationBut when he appears, and smiles again, it is more than the joy of morning, after a darksome night; or of spring, after the dreariness of winter.

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How delightful is the sight of him in the hour of trouble! It is then, when our purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of our hearts; when enemies oppose; when friends fail or betray; when health declines-It is then we look towards him, who is the consolation of Israel, and say, "This same shall comfort us:" "This man shall be the peace when the Assyrian cometh into the land."

How delightful is the sight of him in the hour of death! It loosened Simon from all below, and made him more than willing to depart; wishing, now he had seen him, to defile-to vex his eyes with nothing else. And how many have since said,

"Jesus, the vision of thy face

"Hath overpowering charms:

"Scarce shall I feel death's cold embrace,

"If Christ be in my arms.

"Then, while ye hear my heartstrings break,

"How sweet my minutes roll!

"A mortal paleness on my cheek,

"And glory in my soul!"

Such are the influence and the blessedness of a sight of him, by faith, here. But what is heaven? "His servants shall serve him; and they shall see his face." "Father, I will that they whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, to behold my glory." But how superior will that sight be, to all our present apprehensions of him! It will be clear,

It will be ceaseless. It will be uninterrupted. It will be perfect. It will be immediate. Whatever we have read or heard of him before, we shall then exclaim, with the Queen of Sheba, at the sight of Solomon, "The half was not told me!"

""Tis pleasant to believe thy grace,

"But we would rather see;
"We would be absent from the flesh,
"And present, Lord, with thee."

OCT. 21.-"O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever." Deut. v. 29.

HERE we see the character of real religion. The seat of it, is the heart-The principle of it, is the fear of God-The expression of it, is keeping His commandments; all of them; and always.

We have also the benefit resulting from it. The good is personal-that it might be well with them. And relative-and with their children. And durable -for ever.

But how lovely does God appear in the concern he here expresses! "O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!"—It is the language of complaint. It is as much as to say, "But I do not find it so." Is He then disappointed? Not as to fact-for he knows all things. But he is, as to right. Surely He may justly expect from us an attention to his voice, and the improvement of the means and advantages with which we are favoured. And when he meets with nothing of this, he has reason

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