Thine was the humble, holy mind, in wealth, Nor that which cheats the wav'ring, wand'ring mind, } Though awful was the event that bore thee hence, Awful, and ev'n appalling to the sense; Know, Christian, while thy own fleet hour goes by, HE DIES TO GOD, WHO LIVES PREPARED TO DIE. THE SHEEP-HURDLE MAKER. IN a beautiful village in the West of England, the traveller, as he passed along, was struck with the neat appearance of a cottage by the way side. It was the humble dwelling of an industrious man, who had raised himself to a comfortable competency by active and steady exertion in his trade, which was that of sheep-hurdle making; he had a wife and six children, three sons and three daughters, all blessed with health, and living in harmony and comfort together. In his own conduct, the father of this happy family was a pattern of Christian integrity; pure and undefiled religion was the ground and motive of all his actions; though distant from his parish church two miles, he was a constant attendant on the word of GOD, there delivered with plainness and simplicity, nor did he ever allow any frivolous excuse to prevent his coming. To the Minister he always looked up with reverence and affectionate regard; and the happiest hours of his life were those passed in hearing his title to immortal life, through CHRIST his Saviour, unfolded in the house of GOD. This worthy man had soon cause of worldly uneasiness, arising from the conduct of his children. They had been persuaded, by a certain description of the dismal elect, to believe that a few only are predestined to salvation, and that all, except the predestined, let their lives be ever so blameless, whether they were good fathers, husbands, and brothers, and fulfilled all the Christian |