the heart's-ease. 209 



will, could turn to God, and repent and believe, he 

 spared not to denounce as most unscripturally 

 false : that any mortal could achieve for another 

 that mighty work, was equally far from his 

 thought: but that God had barred the door of 

 mercy against a single soul of all Adam's race, he 

 knew to be irreconcilable with the distinct declara- 

 tions of him who cannot lie. Hence he drew the 

 sweetest encouragement for himself and others ; 

 and hence would I gladly suggest a redoubling of 

 prayerful exertion, on the part of those who may 

 be faint, indeed, yet pursuing, in the cause of their 

 unconverted friends. 



But there is a case, not unfrequently occurring, 

 where individuals who have themselves been 

 brought to Christ, see their hope, as respects 

 some beloved connexion, apparently cut off, by a 

 stroke that removes its object too suddenly to give 

 time for that investigation which his doubtful state 

 rendered particularly desirable. Oh, how bitter is 

 the tear that flows over the coffin of a darling 

 friend, concerning whom, there is, alas, but a 

 1 peradventure' to lay hold on ! Yet I have found 

 such a visitation most profitable, in leading the mind 

 to a review of past prayers, on behalf of that ob- 

 ject, to an anxious scrutiny of answers to those 

 prayers, which we, in our habitual disregard of 

 the ' day of small things,' had before overlooked ; 

 and to the exercise of keen self-condemnation, of 



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