truths and pursue shadows? everything moulders away at death, and joy is soon changed into tears."
II. The garments, the bed, and the habitation of the deceased are immediately changed. Instead of its former clothes, the corpse is wrapped in a winding-sheet. Instead of its usual bed, it is put into the cold ground, and a grave of a few feet long supplies the place of its former mansion. Thus it is abandoned by its best friends, and neglected by all, to become the food of worms. " For when a man shall die, he shall inherit serpents and beasts and worms." (Ecclus. x. 13.) Remember man, then, that " under thee shall the moth be strewed and worms shall be thy covering." (Isaias xiv. 11.) Oh, what a dwelling and what companions!
III. How important, and necessary it is frequently to reflect on the future condition of your body, lest you should pay more attention to that which will be devoured by worms than to your soul, whose existence will be eternal. All our misfortunes proceed from a forgetfulness of death. When you see a dead body, imagine it addresses you in the words of Ecclesiastics: " Remember my judgment; for thine also shall be so; yesterday for me, and to-day for thee." (Ecclus. xxxviii. 23.) Prepare constantly, therefore, for death; and, following the advice of the apostles, be always a dying man. "He will easily contemn all things," says St. Jerome, " who always believes himself a dying man."
Preparation for Death.— I. For those in Health.
I. What diligence prudent men employ in preparation when they have to make a long voyage. They think of it long beforehand, and leave nothing to chance but attempt to have everything in readiness. We ought to
