treasure up Fire. Besides, our common Translation best answers the Apostle's Design: The Terrour and mischievous Effects of the hoarded Gold; which was the Apostle's Design to illustrate and evince, is more strongly evinc'd and illustrated by the Image our vulgar Translation gives Us, than that which by the Doctor stands corrected: It is, I say, a stronger Image to say The Rust of your Gold shall eat your Flesh, as Fire corrodes and consumes where it seizes; than to say, Ye have hoarded up Treasure as if ye had hoarded up Fire. Those words also, make for the vulgar Translation; which must either signify, against the Hour of a Man's Natural Death, or else, against the Destruction of Jerusalem. But the Truth is, The two Meanings are so very near alike (if any real Difference can be discern'd) That it might have perhaps been about as well for this judicious Commentator to have omitted the finding this Fualt in our vulgar Translation; among other Reasons, because he Nation is already so inclin'd to dislike, despise and ridicule it.

Nothing more shows the Insignificancy of Riches, than that God so seldom bestows them on his Favourites.

When Death was now the Portion of the wicked Zedekiah, groaning under the weight of Nebuchadnezzar's Chains, what did all his former Pomp and Grandeur avail? He desired to dye the Death of the Righteous, tho' He had liv'd the Life of the Wicked: It may not be: They slew the Sons of Zedekiah, before his Eyes; And put out the Eyes of Zedekiah. 2 Kings, 25, 27. Give me then (with Agur) Neither Poverty nor Riches, feed me with Food convenient for Me: Lest I be full and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? Or Lest I be poor and steal, and take the Name of my God in vain, Prov. 30. 8, 9.

In the Third Place, I propos'd to show, How every One may attain to this happy Death of the Righteous. What stain so black, that the Blood of Christ is unable to wash away? What Crime so mighty, as to conquer the Merits of Jesus?

But, among other things, there are three Requisites that must lead Us to this blessed Exit. 1st. We must repent in time. SUCH is our Folly, that we would of Vice Here, and the Pleasures of Virtue Hereafter; we would be Sinners on Earth, and Saints in Heaven. To-morrow (says the Debauchee) I will repent; as if 'twould be easier To-morrow to repent than Today. God says, My Spirit shall not always strive with Man; and how will our Regeneration be wrought without the Holy Ghost? This therefore, is, hazarding Immortal Glory, for a Moments Pleasure: 'Tis risquing the Soul, to indulge the Body. But will the Body thank the Soul for this at the Great Day of Accounts? How will they accuse Each other, when they are drove together into the Flames of Hell!

2d. Requisite, was, To rely wholly on the Merits of Christ. If the best Men, after They have done all, must say, we are unprofitable Servants; then much more You, The badness of whose Lives your present Conditions too loudly alas proclaim. Yet God is a tender and indulgent Father; who looks down with Pleasure from Heaven 'ore his Children on Earth. The Lord is my Shepherd (said David) I shall not want. He maketh Me to lye down in Green Pastures, he leadeth Me beside the still Waters. Psal. 23. 1 and 2. This Reliance on Christ, or, This Faith, is inseperable from Good-works; and where Works are not, it is a false and declusive Faith: If Piety is not necessary to Justification, to Sanctification it is. 'Twas unneedful for Christ to have left the Realms of Glory; If our Merits, without his leaving those Joys, could have carryed Us to Them.

3dly, To obtain this Death of the Righteous, We must beware that we depend not too much on the Mercies of God. The many tender Promises of God, that he will embrace the returning Prodigal, lulls many Men in a Supine security. But this is cheating our own Souls; 'tis triffling with Eternity. Expect Ye to live with the Wicked, and to dye with the Righteous? Vain Expectation! God, you will say, is Merciful; but ought We therefore to abuse his Mercies: God is slow to Anger, but shall We therefore provoke his Anger? If ye will not turn, he will whet his Sword, he hath bent his Bow and made it ready.