This fo patient, ftablish your bearts, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." leads me to add, 3. Let aged faints comfort themfelves with the profpect of this happiness promiled to Daniel; for it is the lot of all God's faithful fervants. Though Diniel was at a lofs to underftand his own prophecies, yet it was fufficient for him to know that God intended for him a fafe and peaceful retreat; a glori ous refurrection, and a happy portion in the eternal world. The new teftament throws a light upon thefe promifes, and gives us. brighter and fuller difcoveries than Daniel had; that we, through patience and comfort of the scriptures, might have hope. Your end is drawing nigh. Your daily infirmities remind you that it is very near. When that comes, you will reft. God will hide you from all pains, and cares, and for rows, in the grave, and conduct your feparate spirits to your Father's houfe. When foul and body are juft parting, you may cheerfully fay, as the pious Mr. Matthew Mead did in that circumftance, "I ant going home, as every honeft man fhould when his work is done: and I blefs God I have a good home to go to." To can eye of faith it matters. little what your lot here is, where you live, what your condition is, how you are treated by the world, or where you die and are buried. You have a happy lot, on which you are juft entering; purchased by the blood of Chrift, and ensured by the promife of that God who cannot lie. Live then upon these encouragements; and when your afflictions and burdens increase, let this be your language: "The Lord is the portion of my inheritance, and of my cup; he maintaineth my lot. The lines are fallen to me in pleasant places, and I have a goodly heritage." Let the believing profpect of this affift you to bear the calamities of life with fortitude and cheerfulness, and make you willing to go and poffefs your inheritance. Let your last days be spent in habitua! thankfulness for thefe confolations and hopes. Gratefully own your obligations to God and the Redeemer for the discoveries of the gospel, the operations of the Spirit upon your hearts, and any good hope through grace which you enjoy. Thus your adorable So the pious Thus live and die as penitent believers, at the foot of the cross; rejoicing in Chrift Jefus, having no confidence in yourselves, and looking for the mercy of Redeemer, unto eternal life. and zealous Mr. John Knox faid on his death bed, "Satan hath been now seeking to persuade me that my fidelity and labours in the miniftry have merited heaven. But bleffed be God, who brought to my mind those two scriptures," What haft thou that thou haft not received?" and, "Not I, but the grace of God with me." Another pious minister in the like circumstances, being told by a friend that he was going to receive his reward, anfwered, "Brother, I am going to receive mercy."-Finally, pray earneftly that God would, by his Spirit, speak to your hearts thofe good and comfortable words which he spoke to aged Daniel that he would witness with your fpirits that this is your lot, and give you fome delightful foretaftes of the inheritance. : I conclude with expreffing my. best wishes and prayers for you, in the words of the Apostle: "Now may the God of hope fill Ee you |