WEll might the Ancient Philoſopher call Death, that Terrible of Terribles, ſince it is ſo perfectly oppoſite to Nature; and Life is that which every individual Animal ſo much covers to Maintain; for I would fain know and ſee that Man that is a rational Creature, who when that Minute comes wherein there will be a total Diſſolution of Soul and Body, and a perfect Annihilation of his Worldly Being, does not either recieve it with great Regret, or elſe with Fear and Trembling; and if it be ſo that the Heathens had ſuch a ſenſe of this diſmal Hour, that knew nothing they were to give an Account of, upon their Departure; well may thoſe dread it who have heard of Chriſtianity, ſince they muſt know that there is nothing that they have been culpable of, or deficient in through their whole Lives, but they muſt immediately upon their Expiration, give a ſevere and ſtrict account of. They further call Hora Mortis, Hora Virtutis, and I am ſure (and every good Chriſtian will acquieſs with me) it ought to be ſo with every Chriſtian, that intends to ſee the Face of God and his ever Bleſſed Redeemer, with Comfort and Satisfaction. Upon this hour depends the Being, and well Being of Soul and Body to all Eternity. Upon this hour depends the everlaſting Happineſs, or Miſery of unhappy Man: How much then ought every Soul to look after, and hourly conſider this fatal Hour, than which nothing is more certain, than which nothing more uncertain; the eternal God reſerving it wholly to himſelf, that we might be always in a readineſs and not in the leaſt Concerned, or dread it, when it ſhall pleaſe him to cauſe its Approach.

But, my Dear, not to be too tedious in Generals, I ſhall deſcend to ſome particular Conſiderations, which immediately concern you as a Wife, and a Mother to Children; and I do not queſtion your peruſal of them, not only becauſe they were left you by one who, 〈◊〉 ſo near you, but eſpecially becauſe I leave them 〈◊〉 •• e laſt Legacy you ever ſhall recieve of me in thi • 〈◊〉 • orld: and they ſay the words of Dying Men 〈◊〉 • e a greater Impreſſion upon the Reader, than any other whatſoever.

Firſt then as a Wife, do not Lament and Grieve at the ſevere and heavy diſpenſation of the Almighty who knows what is beſt for every one, and no doubt lays it upon me, to bring me to himſelf, and has been pleaſed in his great Wiſdom to put a Period to my Earthly Being, in order to bring me home to him. Therefore 〈◊〉 … e you do not Repine at that which it has pleaſed our Heavenly Father to lay upon me. He always knows what is beſt for us, and hath promiſed not to lay more upon his Creatures than they are able to bear; and that if he lays great Afflictions upon them, he will give them great Patience to undergo them. When you find your Spirit ſinking, Support it with the reflection of the former great goodneſs of God, in making us amongſt his rational Creatures, but not only ſo, but alſo becauſe he has been pleaſed to give us in a large meaſure all thoſe things that the World affords; not only Neceſſaries, (which conſidered ſtrictly in themſelves, are much more then we could reaſonably expect at his Hands, I am ſure much more than we deſerve; for our manifold Enormities, whereby we have ſo often offended ſo good and gracious a God) but even Extraordinaries too, ſo that we may very well ſay with the holy Pſalmiſt, My Cup runneth over.

II. Be always thinking what things he has done for others, and believe that he is able to make up the loſs that you at preſent undergo (if he ſees it fit for your good) for he has graciouſly promiſed, to bea Father to the Fatherleſs and a Husband to the Widdow. I ſay, undergo deprivation with patience, and conſider that this parting is but for a little time, it will not be long before we ſhall again meet in Heaven, there to ſing Eternal Hallelujahs to the ever Bleſſed Trinity, with whom is Fullneſs of Joy, and at whoſe Right-Hand are pleaſures for Evermore; where we ſhall ever remain in the fruition of all things that can yield true ſatisfaction to the Soul of Man; and that not for an Hour, a Day, a Week, an Year, but to all Eternity; where we ſhall never part more. Oh! Bleſſed, and for ever Bleſſed be that God, that is ſo good to his Creatures, to provide ſuch a Place for them.

III. Let not the conſideration of the Way being Strait and covered with Thorns and Briers, in the leaſt diſmay or perplex thee; but conſider that the Happineſs and Enjoyment will be much more ſweet and pleaſant; conſider that through this rugged Path God brings all his Servants unto their everlaſting Reſt. And ſhall we repine at this his holy will, when he intends ſo much good to us? Nay, when its duration is but ſhort, and our Travel little, in compariſon of thoſe innumerable Bleſſings and happineſs we ſhall enjoy with him for Ever and Ever.

IV. Let your private Prayers and Acceſſes to the Throne of Grace be often; be no Stranger at the Gate of Mercy, while there is an Ear of favour open; and be encouraged, ſince God hears the cry of the Widdow to defend her from all Dangers.

V. Be alſo frequent in reading and conſulting the holy Scriptures; they are the Oracles of Truth, and there you may find the Treaſures of Wiſdom and Knowledge; thence you may ſuck Promiſes, that will be as Milk flowing from the Breaſts of true Conſolation. Oh! can I ſay it truly that from thoſe Fountains have ſtreamed ſuch Cordials into my Soul, as now enable me to go through with this great ſharpneſs of Death.

VI. Then for thy Servants, Beſure that they that abide in thy Houſe may be ſuch as are of Honeſt Converſation, that in their Lives they may Adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things; and be ſure thy own Example may be a direction to them, and Reproof alſo if they do amiſs. This I thought fit to leave for your direction in the relation of a Mother and Governeſs of thy Family. But becauſe the Words of a Father Deceaſed may have ſome Influence on my dear Children, to them therefore I ſhall leave ſomthing as a Fathers Legacy among them.

VII. As a mother, Beſure you bring up your Children in the Nurture and fear of the Lord, and if ſo, you need not be Sollicitous for them, for God has promiſed to provide for, and take care of thoſe that fear him. Be not over Indulgent, for the ſparing the Rod, has often ſpoiled the Child. Let not thine Eye pity the Correction of thy Children: Firſt give it ſo that they may be ſure to enable all thoſe Godly Exhortations and Admonitions, which you ſhall give them from time to time, and when they come to Years it will never be forgotten; for Train up a Child in the way he ſhould go, and when he is Old he will not depart from it. I could add many things, but my time being ſhort, I am forced to be ſo too; but becauſe as I ſaid before, the words of Dying Men have a more than ordinary influence upon the Survivers, eſpecialty where they admit of ſo near a Relation; I ſhall therefore conclude with this ſhort Moity to my Children.