of men, as the friend of God, and taken to dwell with him, it would evidently appear, there was a Reward for the righteous, and a God who judged in the earth *.

It would also be a sensible demonstration of the reality of an invisible world, and would, by a train of easy consequences, confirm men's natural apprehensions of the immortality of the soul, and of the existence of some nobler orders of beings in the upper world, with whom wise and righteous men are at length to be incorporated, as members of the same blessed society.

And as the body of Enoch was thus translated, it would naturally appear an intimation, that God had prepared a future happiness for the bodies of his people, as well as their souls, and consequently that the trophies of the grave should at length be recovered, and the sleeping dust of the saints raised and animated anew. And a future state of punishment for the wicked, is so evident a counterpart to this doctrine, that few could be so stupid as not to infer it, from the fact here under consideration.

Such important lessons as these might the world have learnt from the translation of any persons of distinguished piety; but there were some peculiar purposes to be answered by that of Enoch, considered not only as a preacher of righteousness, but as a prophet too, and as one who had foretold the Coming of the Lord with ten thousand of his saints †, to take vengeance on rebellious and impenitent sinners; and a day of vengeance to them, must surely imply a day of reward, and glory to those men whom they had despised, reviled and oppressed. Now if Enoch in his life on earth wrought no miracles, as we find not that he did, his ascension would be a most convincing proof of his divine mission; and indeed, as many of the miracles of Christ also were, it would be a specimen, as well as a seal, of the truth of the doctrine which he taught.

On all these accounts I think I may venture to say, the translation of Enoch would be a more important favour to others, than it was even to himself, and consequently it is reasonable to believe, that the same goodness which induced the divine Being to perpetuate the memory of this fact for the instruction and encouragement of future ages, would likewise induce him to make it so public and visible, that there should be at least a few credible eye-witnesses to attest it 1.

I have taken no notice of that singular account which the ingenious author of the Essay on Divine Dispensation, &c. gives of Enoch's translation; which he supposes was his being taken to dwell with the Shekinah, in the terrestrial paradise. I have waved the motion of this, because it depends on a very precarious

And thus, my brethren, you have heard of the piety of Enoch, and you have seen, as James expresses it, the End of the Lord. I shall conclude,

Thirdly, with a few hints, by way of improvement, which I shall leave you farther to prosecute in your own meditations. You will naturally fix on such reflections as these.

1. How pleasant it is to think of this friendly intercourse, which through a Redeemer is established between heaven and earth.

It is strongly illustrated in this great instance, Enoch walked with God, and God took him. Is it not at once a delightful and a surprising thought? That the great Sovereign of universal nature, who humbleth himself to behold the angels, when they stand around him, vailing their faces, and covering their feet in his presence, should form such a friendship with human, yea with sinful creatures, that they may be said to walk with him; even they whose guilt might cause them to flee from his presence, like our fallen parents, and from whose pollutions he might justly turn away his holy eyes with abhorrence. Yet we see all these obstacles overcome; and hear of it, not as the privilege of Enoch alone, but of all his true Israel, that He will dwell in them, and walk with him, that they shall be his people, and that he will be their God +.

Yea the

And in consequence of this, we are also raised to the blessed hope of being at length taken to him, though not in so immediate a manner, yet as surely, and at length as completely as Enoch was. A mortal creature may say, Thou wilt guide me by thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory ‡. lowest real christian has the security of his word and covenant, that he shall at last have a yet more solemn and more Abundant entrance administered to him into the kingdom of his Father and his God §.

And whence are these privileges and these hopes, my brethren? Let us often ask our own hearts the question, when we are enjoying God's presence, and waiting for his salvation. And let us answer it in those words of the apostle, We that were once

conjecture that the Shekinah had his stated abode there; and also because were this to be allowed, since this author doth not pretend to say, that Enoch was with the Shekinah in the ark, where he supposes that to have been during the deluge, he must grant that he ascended into heaven some time before the flood. So that I cannot see any end at all to be answered, by supposing this translation was any thing different from that ascension.

* James v. 11. +2 Cor. vi. 16, 17. VOL. III.

Psal. Ixxiii. 24.

§ 2 Pet. i. 11.

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afar off, are brought near by the blood of Christ *. By Christ hath God reconciled us to himself, by Christ have we now access to him as our Father; and as Christ, who hath the keys of death and the unseen world, is the person who is to call us from hence into that which is within the vail; so he is at length to complete the purposes of divine love to us, by coming again and receiving us to himself, that we, like triumphant Enoch, yea, and with him too in that day of his greatest triumph, may in our entire persons ascend to the regions of immortal holiness, and perfect joy: let us labour continually to feel the greatness of our obligations to this blessed Redeemer, and with daily depen-dance on his atonement and righteousness, his intercession and grace, let us, in every remaining step of this pilgrimage, be Walking humbly with our Godt.

2. How solicitous should we be that we may have our lot, both in time and eternity, with those who, like Enoch, have walked with God?

I have now been describing the character and temper of a truly good man, a character common to all the children of God, whatever their particular denomination or profession may be. But must I not reasonably fear, that some among you are so muchstrangers to it, that you find this an unintelligible language? Let me address myself to such of you with a word of expostulation, and to all with a serious exhortation. Oh, that it might penetrate each of our hearts!

Why are you strangers to walking with God? Is it an imaginary thing, even this which scripture so honourably records, which God himself so singularly owned, and through the riches of his grace rewarded too? Oh Sirs there was surely as much reality and solidity in it, as in the heavenly world, in which it ended.

And let conscience answer; Is it not an honourable, is it not a pleasant way of passing through life? Do you think that while Enoch was thus employed, and entertained, he had indeed any reason to envy the richest, the greatest, the most prosperous, or the most luxurious sinner? Do you not in your hearts believe, that it must be a very comfortable thing to converse daily with God as a friend and a father, to conduct ourselves before him in such a manner as to be assured of his approbation, and to be able to rejoice that he knows every most secret thought of our soul? Do you not think it must sweeten solitude, to think of him as always near us, and increase the pleasures of

society too, when our converse with others is made subservient to our communion with him? And above all, do you not really apprehend that reflections on a life like this would greatly soften the approach of death, and quite transform the very appearance of it?

And I beseech you to consider that this is not a light thought. However you may neglect God now, you must have one awful interview with him; and if you do not, and will not walk with him, he will in another, and very different sense of the word, take you. He will arrest your fugitive souls in the midst of these thoughtless ungrateful wanderings, and your spirits must return to God that gave them. Now doth not your own reason, as well as the divine word, tell you, that there will be an unspeakable difference between the manner in which different souls are received by him on that return: a difference between the reception of those who have lived in a holy friendship with him, and those who, like yourselves, have always been strangers to him; whose language it hath in effect been, "Let them walk with God that will, but I for my part have other company, and pleasures, and business to attend." Is there not an apparent fitness that the former should be taken into a state of everlasting nearness to God, and the latter driven to a perpetual distance from him, whom they have chosen to forget and forsake? And with all your self-partiality, would it not appear an indecency and irregularity in the divine administration, to treat such different persons upon a foot of equal friendship?

See to it, my friends, that you are not self-condemned. See to it, that you do not pass a sentence against your own souls, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life. Acquaint yourselves with God now, and be at peace with him*, lest he resent the injury done to his offered friendship, and turn away from you in the day of your final distress, with a righteous disdain ; for it is an everlasting, most obvious, but most important truth, that They who are far from God, shall perish↑.

Let me also address a solemn exhortation to those that have experimentally known what such converse with God means, and who by his good Spirit have been led into a holy walk with him. Pursue it, I beseech you, with greater resolution and care; for, surely, it is well worth your pursuit. I appeal to you, christians, with pleasure on this head. Have not those been your most comfortable days in which you have most constantly

*Job xxii. 21.

Psal. Ixxiii. 27.

attended to it? Days which have passed with the greatest delight, and which have been reflected upon with the greatest satisfaction? Is not this and that place recommended to you, by the dear remembrance, that you have walked with God there? This and that book and friend endeared, as having been instru mental in promoting that converse? Say then whether it be not worth your while, with most attentive reflection, to concert measures for improving and cultivating this divine friendship? Whether, when you have fixed upon them, it will not be your wisdom diligently to pursue them, though some considerable difficulties may be in your way? Let not any estrangedness grow between God and your souls, but review the various branches of Enoch's character as your own model, if you would live with joy, and die with courage. Let your conduct be such, especially in secret, and then we may reasonably conclude, that your domestic and public behaviour will not be much unlike it. And then you may enter into the spirit of our next reflection, which is all I shall add.

3. With how much pleasure should we look up after those holy souls, who, having walked with God upon earth, are now taken by him to an heavenly abode !

Can any of us apprehend, that if the nearest relatives of Enoch were witnesses of his translation, they beheld it with weeping eyes, or sent out a gale of sighs or peal of groans after him; how tenderly soever they loved him, and how much soever of the support or delight of their lives might seem to depend on his continuance with him? Or if their fondness thus prevailed over their reason and their faith, can we imagine that their ascending triumphant friend would have approved of such a conduct? Would he not rather have beheld it with a mixture of compassion and displeasure; if displeasure could have been felt in so happy a circumstance? But we will rather hope, that they hailed his flight to the paradise of God, and bore it away with them, as a long and a powerful cordial, under all the sorrows and distresses of life, that Enoch was so comfortably and so honourably delivered from them, and secured by adamantine walls from every invasion of sorrow and of sin; yea, from the sight of those crimes and miseries which had formerly tormented his righteous and tender spirit.

And why should not we in like manner congratulate our dear deceased friends, who are not any longer here with us, because God hath taken them? You will perhaps have a ready answer, and immediately say, Enoch was translated, but the friends we lament are dead, and our tears flow from that consi