Social and Civil Duties (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1842 Excerpt: ...or ministry, let us wait on our ministering; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation; he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; and he that ruleth, with diligence." Let every person only discharge the duties of every relation, connection, and office, in which Providence places him, and he will live a life which is virtuous, amiable and useful, both in the sight of God and man. Hence it is natural to conclude, II. That such a life will terminate in a happy death. This we find fully exemplified in the life and death of David. "For after he had served his own generation by the will of God, he fell on sleep." His useful life was closed in a serene and Seaceful death. The other patriarchs, whose amiable and useul lives are recorded, died in faith and hope. Simeon and Stephen, two faithful servants of God, left the world in peace and joy. And the scriptures give us full assurance, that a useful life leads to a happy death. "The wicked is driven away in his wickedness, but the righteous hath hope in his death." "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace." A useful life lays a solid foundation for a safe and happy transition out of time into eternity. For, 1. It contains a source of pleasing reflections upon what is past. As men draw near, in their own apprehension, to the close of life, they naturally turn their thoughts back, and reflect upon what they have done in the world. And there is nothing past, which can afford more agreeable reflections, than a consciousness of having sincerely served their own generation according to the will of God, and in some measure answered the great design of living. When good Hezekiah...