may concur to quicken me in the Duties of it, and to ripen me
for that blessed World, where I hope many of those dear Delights,
which are now withering around us, will spring up in fairer and more
durable Forms._ Amen.

Northampton,

_Jan._ 31, 1736-7.

POSTSCRIPT.

_I could easily shew, with how much Propriety I have called the dear
Deceased_ an amiable and hopeful Child, _by a great many little
Stories, which Parents would perhaps read with Pleasure, and Children
might hear with some Improvement: Yet as I cannot be sure that no
others may happen to read the Discourse, I dare not trust my Pen and
my Heart, on so delicate a Subject. One Circumstance I will however
venture to mention, (as I see here is a Blank Page left,) which may
indeed be consider'd as a Specimen of many others. As she was a great
Darling with most of our Friends that knew her, she often received
Invitations to different Places at the same Time; and when I once
asked her, on such an Occasion, what made every Body love her so well;
she answer'd me, (with that Simplicity and Spirit, which alas! Charm'd
me too much,_) Indeed, Pappa, I cannot think, unless it be because I
love every Body. _A Sentiment obvious to the Understanding of a Child,
yet not unworthy the Reflection of the wisest Man_[*].

2 KINGS IV. 25, 26.

_And it came to pass when the Man of GOD saw her afar off, that he
said to Gehazi his Servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunamite: Run now,
I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? Is
it well with thine Husband? Is it well with the Child? And she
answered,_ It is well.

WHEN the Apostle would encourage our Hope and Trust in the Tenderness
of Christ as the great High Priest and convince us that he is capable
of being touched with a sympathetick Sense of our Infirmities, he
argues at large from this Consideration, that Jesus _was in all Points
tempted like us;_ so that as _he himself has suffer'd, being tempted,
he knows how_ more compassionately _to succour_ those that are under
the like Trials[a]. Now this must surely intimate, that it is not in
human Nature, even in its most perfect State, so tenderly to
commiserate any Sorrows, as those which our own Hearts have felt: As
we cannot form a perfect Idea of any bitter Kind of Draught, by the
most exact Description, till we have ourselves tasted it. It is
probably for this Reason, amongst others, that GOD frequently
exercises such, as have the Honour t