CHAPTER IV.

CONCLUSION.

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter."

Eccles. xii. 13.

Prepare to meet thy God." Amos iv. 12.

In conclusion, let me exhort you to yield to the influence of the motives which have now been mentioned. If you must soon die, improve the time which is still spared to you. It is more precious than silver or gold. When once gone, it can never be recalled. The very fact that death is marked with so much melancholly and sadness, is a loud and solemn call to prepare for it. It is designed to

awaken the mind to a sense of its importance, and of its constant and uninterrupted approach, which is the quick and steady march of a coming enemy. And it is designed to impress us with the horror of dying unprepared. Why else is it not a joyous and happy event? Let the mournfulness of the occasion have its due effect on your heart, by arousing it to a sense of its important and decisive character, and by leading you to make a genuine and speedy preparation. If you are now labouring under disease, do you flatter yourself with the hope of soon recov.. ering? And does this hope drive from your mind the thought of death, and induce you to defer a preparation, at least, for the present? Who has authorized you to entertain such a hope? Has the misguided tenderness of friends, or the cruel policy of your physician, raised within your breast this cherished expectation? Physicians, who have been infi

del in their sentiments, or scoffers at religion, have persuaded their patients, though known to be in the last stages of a fatal disease, that they were in no immediate danger, and would, in all likelihood, recover. The effect has been to dissipate all concern about death, and all serious thoughts of eternity; and the patient, with his hopes of recovery, thus bolstered up with falsehood and cruel mockery, has been fatally deceived, and at last, in awful surprise, sunk down to perdition. Deplorable is the situation of that patient, in whose case an infidel or scoffing physician takes occasion thus to manifest his hatred of sacred things, and his opposition to the ministers of Christ. Under the poor pretence that it disturbs the patient's mind, and aggravates his disease, such will forbid all conversation on religious subjects, while they will encourage levity, and a studied forgetfulness of his real situation, although he may

be just entering eternity. This is nothing less than trifling with an immortal, yet perishing soul, in order to indulge an unholy feeling. Such conduct can not be too much reprehended and abhorred. It sometimes happens, that such a physician will undo all that a clergyman and pious friends have been labouring to effect for a soul, just departing to the world of spirits. Piety in a physician is a great recommendation; though many, who are not pious, would shrink with abhorrence from such unfeeling and inhuman conduct, as has just been exposed. Be on your guard, therefore, when your physician, if he be of doubtful character, with respect to his religious sentiments, would flatter you with hopes of recovery, or appear anxious to divert your mind from religious meditation.

But suppose you do recover, will true piety be of any disadvantage to you in the world? Certainly not, if you are en

gaged in any lawful pursuit. It has the promise of this life and that which is to

come.

In regard to what ye shall eat, and what ye shall drink, and wherewithal ye shall be clothed, our Saviour says, "seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matt. vi. 33.

Should God, therefore, in mercy spare your life yet many days to come, it will be for your highest interest to prepare for death. You will then be prepared when death does come, let it be now, or at any future time. You will not then have this vast work to perform, when a fatal disease is wasting your strength. Besides, you are now, perhaps, more inclined to religious meditation and serious thoughtfulness, than you usually are. The subject of death and eternity has, perhaps, been brought very close to your heart; and you have experienced a de