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 to pass unheeded by; finds himself suddenly on the bed of sickness, perhaps on the bed of death. He feels that there is a blank within, and a blank without. He starts at once into reflection! He trembles upon the slippery brink of time, and dreads to launch forth upon the ocean of eternity. How different is the end of the sincere Christian—the spiritual and heavenly-minded man! He, calm as the summer's eve, when clouds of gold veil the departing sun, breathes forth his breath of praise—yields up his soul in peace, and passes smoothly from death unto life. No fears—no terrors—no paroxysms of despair find their way into the chamber where the Christian meets his end. It is the very gate of heaven—the Bethesda of the soul! the house of Mercy, where heaven is near, and hope is bright.

Let the consideration of death, resurrection, and eternity, frequently occupy your thoughts. To the true Christian these subjects are not gloomy—but bright and glorious. Time is rapid in its flight, and these words of the prophet will soon apply to you, "I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world." (Isa. xxxviii. 11.)

What is Death? O what joy, and what hopes and fears! what prospects bright and gloomy—what doubts and misgivings are conveyed by the term. To the wicked, to the carnally-minded, to the impious and profane, who have trampled upon all laws human and divine—to such the thought of death fills the soul with agony. They feel the sting of death, which is sin! this rankles in the soul, has blasted all their noblest prospects; and conveyed the melancholy intelligence that to them the kingdom is lost. But to