54 
On DEATH. 
The oftner we entertain the awful confideration of a future 
Rate, the more firmly perfuaded we fhall be of the reality of 
its exiftence. Not to think, is not to be a man ; and how 
can we think of life, without thinking of death alfo ? Death 
gives the finishing firoke ; it blots with infamy, or crowns with 
honor : it is the only cure of human frailty, for it puts us be- 
yond the reach of vice or folly. There is but little reafon to 
with for life without probity of mind ; and with it there is 
ftill lefs reafon to fear death. And how glorious it is to think 
of there being no longer a possibility to offend ! 
But how fhall we learn to think of death without fear ? I 
will not fay this is as ealy as to think of wealth and titles with- 
out ambition, for that leads too far ; but it is certain that fear 
is a very painful pafiion ; and for the fame reafon that we na- 
turally fly from pain we ought to fubdue it. If he in whofe 
bread: it predominates cannot be happy : if it draws a gloom 
over all the delights, and even the comforts of life : if, as it is 
emphatically expreffed, u it betrays the fuccours which reafoq. 
<c affords.” Shall we countenance fo painful, fo unprofitable a 
paffjon ? 
"What then is to be done to enable us to march on calmly, 
deliberately, joyfully ? How fhall we learn to meet this king 
of terrors with a good grace ? 
£C IVith terrors rounds can peas on hold her throne , 
u Defpife the known , nor tremble at tti unknown 
2 
That 
