Page:Serious thoughts for the living.pdf/3

 they had right apprehenſions of their  intereſts, and eternal concerns! that had eyes to diſcern, and inclinations  purſue the things which belong to their !—But how ſhall they attain this  knowledge? I ſend them not, adds the teacher, to turn over all the  of literature: they may acquire,  much more expeditiouſly, this ſcene of, by conſidering their latter end. This of heaven is often loft under the  of pompous erudition, but ſhines clearly  the gloomy manſions of the tomb. Drowned is this gentle whiſper amidſt the noiſe of mortal affairs, but ſpeaks diſtinctly in the retirements of ſerious contemplacion.—Behold! how providencially 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 peruſe theſe awful pages, as to "become wiſe unto ſalvation."

Examining the records of mortality, I found the memorials of a promiſcuous multitude. They were huddled, at leaſt they reſted together, without any regard to rank or ſeniority. None were ambitious of the uppermoſt rooms, or chief ſeats, in this houſe of mourning. None entertained fond