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imprsession, not to be effaced by any of the temptations and vanities which the world may throw in your way. How far was it from your thoughts, when you last attended in this place, and listened with delight to the words of sacred truth, which flowed from the lips of your longesteemed pastor and friend, that your next solemn assembly would be for the purpose of following him to his grave! Fearful as some of you were that the extraordinary animation which he discovered portended the approach of that fatal event which has actually taken place; yet no one, I apprehend, thought it so near as to suggest the mournful probability that he was then delivering to you his dying admonitions. By a dispensation of providence, in which the greater part of those who are now present are deeply concerned, you have been again taught the frailty and uncertainty of human life; let not the important lesson, I beseech you, be read to you in vain! let it excite you to holy watchfulness and care, to a due improvement of the advantages you still enjoy, to a practical remembrance of the counsels which you have received, and urge you to lay open your hearts to every

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sacred influence, that you may perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord. As our friend has been thus unexpectedly removed from the scene of his duties, so may you be removed from yours! Consider, seriously consider how soon your change also may come, and give all diligence that you also may be able to render your account with joy !

A SERMON,

ON

OCCASION OF THE DEATH,

OF THE

LATE REV. W. WOOD,

DELIVERED AT LEEDS,

ON SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 1808.

SERMON.

HEBREWS XIII. 7.

REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN YOUR GUIDES, WHO HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU THE WORD OF GOD, WHOSE FAITH FOLLOW, CONSIDERING THE END OF THEIR CONVERSATION.

VERY painful are the duties which in consequence of the inroads of death, the faithful minister of the word of God is not unfrequently called to perform; yet such is their importance, so much useful instruction is connected with them, that he cannot refuse the task, however distressing it may prove. On such occasions the frailty of this mortal frame, the certainty of its dissolution, the wisdom of making provision for an endless life to come, the absolute necessity of christian practice, and the infinite value of christian hopes, are subjects which irresistibly claim his attention, and are urged by him with peculiar propriety and force. The hearts of his hearers are softened to receive the salutary impressions

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