Page:Last sermon of the Reverend James Hervey.pdf/2



H that they were wiſe, ſaid the inſpired writer, it was his laſt wiſh for his dear people; he breathed it out, and gave up the ghoſt. But what is wiſdom; it conſiſts not in refined ſpeculations, accurate reſearches into nature, or an univerſal acquaintance with hiſtory. The divine Law-giver ſettles this important point in his next aſpiration; O that they underſtood this! that they had right apprehenſions of their ſpiritual intereſt, and eternal concerns! that they had eyes to diſcern, and inclinations to purſue the things that belong to their peace?But, how ſhall they attain this valuable knowledge; I ſent them not to run over all the volumes of literature, they may much more expeditiouſly acquire this ſcience of life, by conſidering their latter end. This ſpark of heaven is often loſt under the glitter of pompous erudition, but ſhines clearly in the gloomy manſions of the tomb; drowned in the gentle whiſper, amidſt the noiſe of mortal affairs, but ſpeaks diſtinctly in the retirements of ſerious contemplation.Behold how providentially I am brought to the ſchool of wiſdom: The grave is the moſt faithful maſter, and theſe inſtances of mortality, the moſt inſtructive leſſons.Come then, calm attention, and compoſe my thoughts: come thou celeſtial Spirit and enlighten my mind; that I may ſo eaſily peruſe theſe awful