On a sudden Death. (annext to a funeral Sermon on Eccles. ix. 12. Jan. 5. 1750-1.)

How thin the separating Wall 'Twixt Time and vast Eternity! How sudden thoughtless Mortals fall Into that dark unbounded Sea!

The Soul, this Moment vain and gay, Eager pursues the Trifles here; The next, reluctant torn away, In a dark SOMEWHERE to appear.

Death still pursues us every-where, And unsuspected haunts our Steps; And while we think no Danger near, Sudden upon his Prey he leaps.

The Monster in close Ambush lurks, And steals upon us unawares: Still undermining ceaseless works; Still near, yet distant still appears.

My sudden Fate perhaps may seal The melancholy Truth I write; And e'er I farther move my Quill, The vital Pulse may cease to beat.

How strange, how solemn the Surprize! Hurried at once to Worlds unknown! Snatch'd from this Scene of Vanities, And plac'd before th' Eternal Throne!

The lower Skies, the Earth and Men All in a Moment out of Sight! While Wonders of the World unseen In endless Prospects rush to Light!

Great GOD! and do I heedless step On this tremendous Precipice, Perhaps to take the final Leap, Unwarn'd, ere this short Moment flies!

And does Eternity depend, And all its infinite Affairs, On every fleeting Hour I spend, And waste upon inferior Cares!

Alarming Thought! My Soul, awake! Prepare, prepare to meet thy GOD! These mortal Regions soon forsake, And often view thy last Abode.

Almighty Grace! in youthful Prime Teach me t'improve my fleeting Time; That whensoe'er the Summons come, I may receive a joyful Doom.

Then if perhaps a sudden Death Should unexpected stop my Breath, My Soul at once, with glad Surprize, Shall find herself in upper Skies.

Thrice happy Death! to drop the Chain Of Life, without a ling'ring Pain! To spring at once to endless Life! Without a tedious dying Strife!