death, that is the devil, and deliver them who through fear of death, were all their lifetime subject to bondage, Heb. ii. 14, 15. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me, Psa. xxiii. 4.

ADDRESS.

The fear of death is more common than the dread of any other evil, or enemy to be encountered in the present state. With the greater portion of mankind it is the object of terror and disgust, at least when it is seen in its near approach; and there is often a lurking and latent fear even when an appearance of courage or indifference may be assumed. Cases indeed occur, when those who have every reason to fear, possess no alarm. A sottish stupidity, a false security, a weariness of life, or an ignorance of futurity may tend to check or remove such dreadful apprehensions to which others are subject. many in the intense desire of accomplishing a favourite object, even though at the most eminent hazard of their lives, are indifferent to death. The warrior on the field of battle, though the shafts of death fly thickly around him, thinks nothing of the danger; he knows no fear; indeed, death under such circumstances, would be considered his glory. But if this individual were laid upon a sick bed,

Hence

and were to view death in its more gradual and silent approach, he would probably tremble.

There is something in dying, when considered in itself, and viewed in its results, that may well create fear. And in every case with regard to the wicked, if they thought properly of it, it would be a subject of most dreadful anticipation. Men when about to suffer the most ignominous death, have sometimes discovered no fear whatever; but this arises either from an ignorance of the awful consequences of death-a disbelief of another state of existence when this closes-or a callous indifference to every thing that may befal them.* Tell_almost any person in the midst of health and prosperity that he may die before long, and you cannot propose any subject so calculated to excite his dread or his dislike. If seized with alarming illness, and it is announced to him that his time here is very limited; that probably a few days, or a few hours may terminate his existence; and O! how is his mind tortured! his fears are all alive. And this fear arises from a con

A certain person mentioning to Doctor Johnson, that he had seen the execution of several convicts at Tyburn, two days before, and that none of them seemed under any concern: "Most of them, Sir," said Johnson, "have never thought at all. "But is not the fear of death natural to men?" said the gentleman. "So much so, Sir," said Johnson, "that the whole of life is but the keeping away the thoughts of it."

I

sciousness of guilt; from the alarming discovery that no preparation has been seriously sought and obtained; that the soul cannot, in its present state, enter into the abodes of glory. It is conscious guilt that gives death its sting; and man his dread to meet it. How much would some give to postpone the awful moment. One more year, or month, or week, or even day any respite is thought a blessing. This dread of death is not so much in many cases a fear to be dead, to be in a state of non-existence, as a fear to die. It is not dissolution, but the process of it. It is not the state of separation, but the act of separation. It is not the temple lying in ruins, but the pulling of it down, that so much affects the minds of many persons. Others again fear not SO much the mere act of death, as the consequences of dying. It is not that it is appointed unto me once to die; but after death the judgment that excites the alarm, and makes men tremble, when the shadows of the dark valley gather around them. The thought of entering into an unknown and untried state of existence, of appearing in the presence of that God who has watched the progress which has been made in sin, and marked down every fault; the well-grounded apprehension, or even the bare possibility of sinking into endless misery raises in their souls that fear which hath torment. That men who have lived in sin the whole of their lives, even up to the moment that the hand of an afflictive

providence arrested them, and laid them upon a bed of sickness and disease-that those who have for so many years been careless about the safety of their souls, only anxious to pursue the objects and enjoy the pleasures of the world-that those who despied admonitions, neglected Sabbaths, and other opportunities of seeking and serving Godthat those who have treated with indifference, and perhaps made sport of the solemnities of death, judgment, and eternity-that those should fear, when brought to look death in the face, is not surprising, for they have great cause to fear the worst.

PART II.

That wicked men should shrink from the approach of death excites no wonder, but does not the Christian often indulge in fearful apprehensions? Yes! even his heart trembles at times, when he looks forward to a dying hour. He resembles those who

"Start and shrink

To cross this narrow sea,

And linger, shivering on the brink,
And fear to launch away."

And the apostle speaks of those who were all their lifetime subject to bondage of soul, through the fear of death. Men, of whose piety no doubt can possibly be entertained, have suffered much mental distress and darkness, when reflecting upon the period of their

dissolution.* Some fear death in the most distant prospect of it, when there is no symptom of disease or dissolution; who nevertheless have had all their fears dissipated at the time of their departure. The day may have been dark, the prospect perpetually obscured, but at evening time it is all light. The sun which has scarcely ever appeared unobscured by clouds, sets beautifully bright

and serene.

Others who have looked forward with calmness, and even confidence to their dying moments, have greatly feared when they have come into actual conflict with the last enemy. They feel a reluctance to put off the tabernacle; an unwillingness to strip and enter the flood of death, which they little anticipated. They feel not that confidence when the evil is near at hand, or actually endured, as when it was only in distant expectation. "Somewhat like a man, who in a time of heat_hastily strips himself to go into the water, but putting a foot in, and finding it cold, calls for his clothes again. Not that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, says the Apostle. He in a true, holy heat of spirit, had in his desires almost stripped himself of his body, but putting a foot into the grave, he found that so cold that

When Bishop Butler lay on his death-bed, he called for his chaplain, and said, 'Though I have endeavoured to avoid sin, and to please God to the utmost of my power, yet from the consciousness of perpetual infirmity, I am still afraid to die."