101 SERMON XXII. NUMBERS XXIII. 10. Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his. HE confideration of our latter end, SERM. a con though a point of the utmost con fequence and importance, is, notwithstanding, fo conftantly and fo induftriously removed from our thoughts, as feldom to enter into them: as death is the object not of our hopes, but of our fears, few, very few amongst us, can bring themselves to form any wish concerning it. Such is the folly and inconfiftency of mankind, that whilft we are every day preparing against accidents which H 3 XXII. SERM. which never may, we will not give our XXII. felves the least care or concern about that The XXII. The prefent age is fo gay and diffo- SERM. lute, fo immerfed in pleasure, that they have neither time or inclination to vifit the chambers of pain and forrow; the bed of fickness has very few attendants, and the house of mourning is most induftriously avoided, left it should embitter the fweet draught of luxury, interrupt the course of our amufements, and lay us under the difagreeable neceffity of being ferious. Some indeed are obliged by their neceffities to attend the couch of the fick, and to wait near the bed of death: happy would it be for us, if we could make scenes of this nature much more familiar to us; for few, I believe, ever returned from them without fome improvement, without fome ferious thoughts, that had at least a temporary influence over their enfuing conduct. Surely, if a wifh is to be formed with regard to this awful subject, it must be H 4 that |