if compared with the concerns of eternity. This, in reality, is thy only business; if thou take care of this, all is well; if thou neglect this, all is lost, and lost for ever. As for all other things of which thou sayest stand in need in this life, give ear again to the same Saviour: Mat. vi. 33. Seek first the kingdom of God and his justice, and all these things shall be given you over and above. Conclude then, my soul, since both thy temporal and eternal welfare depends on serving God, to make this for the future thy only care. Thus only shalt thou meet true comfort here: thus only shalt thou come to never-ending happiness hereafter.
THE SEVENTH DAY.
On death.
CONSIDER, that there is nothing more certain than death. It is appointed for all men once to die; and, after that, judgment. The sentence is general; it is pronounced upon all the children of Adam: neither wealth, nor strength, nor wisdom, nor all the power of this world can exempt any one from this common doom. From the first moment of our birth, we are hastening to our death: every moment brings it nigher to us. The day will come, it will certainly come, and only God knows how soon, when we shall never see the night: or the night will come, when we shall never see the ensuing morning. The day will most certainly come, when thou, my soul, must bid a long farewell to this cheating world, and all thou hast admired therein; and even to thy own body, the individual companion of thy life; and take thy journey to another country, where all that thou settest a value upon here, will appear as
