1

This treasure is depofited in earthen veffels, of little frength and value in the fight of the world. But the difciple is not above bis Mafter, nor the fervant above his Lord: it is enough that the difciple is as his Mafter, and the fervant as his Lord.

GOD, who mercifully awakened me to think upon these things, hath enabled me to labour more earnestly in his vineyard, 1 trust to his glory, and the spiritual advantage of myself and others.

This, as ufual, bath plunged me into many temporal diftreffes, and perfecutions for Chrift's Jake; and nothing less than deftruction to me and my children is hourly menaced and

pronounced.

But I befeech thefe men, by the mercies of God, if there is any love, any truth, any peace in religion, to calmly weigh things temporal, and things eternal, in the balance of the fanctuary; and then cenfure, if they can, thofe who call mankind off from the vanities of time to the riches of eternity.

If they disbelieve the foul's immortality, which I strongly fufpect, they must grant it Jurely to be a defirable truth; and therefore let them humbly approach, with earnest prayer,

the

the Father of lights, and they will hear the voice of truth affirm -they cannot kill

the foul.

If they feek truth, and proclaim themselves error's antagonists, let not the fearch after one, nor the oppofition to the other, burry them into words and actions; I say, not unworthy of a chriftian, but of a gentleman of commonfenfe or common honefty. And this advice reaches with treble strength the character of a clergyman.

If they are abundantly convinced of any dangerous tendency, to disturb the public tranquility, of any infamous actions, of any impiety in word or deed, as they too zealously, and, I think, uncharitably affirm concerning us; let them bring forth their strong reasons, and, thro' the grace of GOD, a calm and plenary confutation fhall be produced.

Many months ago, a perfon by accident, prefent at our usual family devotions, defired permiffion to attend them conftantly, which was granted. Others applied, obtained leave, and came.

More and more continued to press upon me to hear the word of GOD; and can any man forbid them? I bave ufed fuch lights as

are

are in my power to difcover any thing unlawful, feditious, or burtful, by fuch a permiffion, and I have not been able. Since, therefore, much real good hath visibly flowed from this custom, I dare not drop it for the clamour and charge of an imaginary evil.

If I have not a right to permit even five hundred neighbours to come to my own house, to family prayers, in a quiet, peaceable manner, pity my well-meant mistake, and fet me right. But by what law of GOD, of reafon, or of Great Britain, will you pro*ceed?

I now return my humble and fincere acknowledgments to thofe worthy perfons, who have espoused my righteous caufe, and who have not been ashamed of me, or of the gospel for which I fuffer; more especially to that venerable and learned man Dr. H. who bas been a father to me in a thousand inftances.

may my GOD remember them for good, who will not let a cup of cold water, given in bis blessed Son's name, to one of his difciples, pass unrewarded in eternity.

THE

THE

FUNERAL SERMON,

OF

JOHN SARNEY,

REVELATIONS xxi. 4.
And there shall be no more death.

H

I.

AIL bleffed prophecy! In GOD'S due time mayeft thou be fulfilled in us! Death makes fufficient havock

here, but hereafter he shall be no more-His reign expires He ceafes to put all things under his feet-The laft enemy is deftroyed. And man appears in a vefture of immortality.

II.

II.

This is the portion only of those who love GOD; who,keeping their Saviour's faying, never tafte of death.

III.

Then fhall all tears be wiped away.-Lo feed time is past, and the fummer with all its variety of hopes and fears is gone, and harvest is come, and the voice of joy and health is ⚫ in the dwelling of the righteous, he arrives at the new Jerufalem, having the glory of God, where the Almighty giveth light, and begins his everlasting reign.

no

A

IV.

Where is admittance to tears, when the bitterness of death is past, and forrow, crying, and pain, are no more; and former things are paffed away.

* The original word, ane gives us an exquifitely beautiful and juft idea of the future ftate of the blessed. The foul fhall then be cleanfed from all those impurities which have befmeared and defiled it, during its refidence in the body. (See aλesow in Xenop. and Thucyd,) and the debt of fin being wholly expunged, it is free from bondage for ever. This ftate is begun here, and compleated in eternity.

V.