THE ſoul that has its thoughts fix'd upon God,—firmly relying upon God for help, upon its Maker for protection and countenance, thro' all the changes of this mortal life, is certainly happy beyond any finite comprehenſion. The divine image, when grafted in the ſoul, utterly excludes all vain and oſtentatious thoughts of our own ſufficiency; a confidence in which would be inconſiſtent with the character of a Chriſtian, as well as repugnant to the expreſs command of God, given to the prophet, to debaſe the creature, and exalt the Creator.

My mind has been not a little affected, while ſitting in this meeting.—How unfit the very beſt of us are, to render our Maker meet and acceptable ſervice, appears from that expreſs command given to the prophet Iſaiah, where the Lord ſays, cry; the prophet anſwers, what ſhall I cry. Cry that all fleſh is graſs, and all the goodlineſs there of as the flower of the field. The graſs withereth and the flower • a •••• h: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. That all fleſh is graſs and the goodlineſs thereof, is an awful truth: How ſhort is the interval between the cradle and the tomb! If ſo, as moſt certainly it is, ought we not, my friends, to try diligently,—to try the ſincerity of our faith, while here below; and live in a holy and reverential fear of that God, who, when he fees fit, can make the ſtouteſt heart tremble? The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wiſdom. The ſoul that truly relies upon God for help, let me ſay it, and that from a bleſſed experience, it will find a preſent help in time of trouble. I know it, and therefore I can ſpeak it. That love which paſſeth all underſtanding, and was ſo manifeſtly diſplayed in the redemption of mankind, has loſt none of its efficacy; God is the ſame, yeſterday, to day, and for ever; and if we ſincerely look unto him for aid, renouncing all ſufficiency of our own, and ſet our faces Sion ward (for there is no enjoyment here—to expect any thing elſe but diſappointment, is to deceive ourſelves. To think of real happineſs, in a ſtate of finite exiſtence, is mere deluſion,) I ſay, if we earneſtly look up unto him, who is able and willing to ſave to the uttermoſt; we ſhall have that comfortable aſſurance, that one day or other, ſooner or later, we ſhall be uninterruptedly happy: Sooner or later, my dear friends, we muſt all die: Death, when he comes, will make no diſtinction, he will ſh • w no d ••••• ence, but where his errand is, there will he execute it. H ••• have we ſeen an affectionate huſband removed 〈◊〉 an affectionate wife, an affectionate wife 〈…〉 huſband! Methinks here 〈…〉 may be ready to ſay, ah! 〈…〉 and how ſoon God only knows; yet I am not without hope, that my melancholy would, in ſome meaſure, be alleviated by the dutifulneſs of my children. I wou'd it were ſo; and I am concerned to ſpeak to you, youths,—that you would hear the commandment of the Lord, and render all due obedience to your parents,—that your days may be long in the land, which the Lord your God hath given you; let your readineſs to obey, and your eagerneſs to execute their reaſonable commands, be as a ſtaff to their age, and as balm to their declining nature. Methinks the language of ſome parents has affected me very much; to hear them lament how diſobedient and refractory their children are. That ſince the time they had firſt the reins in their own Hands, and removed from under their governance, they have deſpis'd their counſels, and wou'd none of their reproof; and that if their commands were enforced, till their children were conſtrained to an abſolute compliance therewith; with what reluctance they obey'd, and how tardy they wer • in performing ſo reaſonable a ſervice.

O! That youth would ſeriouſly conſider, and render to their parents, the tribute of obedience; for this is well pleaſing to the Lord: It will be for their preſent, as well as future welfare. The wiſe man ſaith, My ſon hear the inſtruction of thy father, and forſake not the law of thy mother, for they ſhall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck. The 〈◊〉 of obedience is better than all burnt-off 〈…〉 . The Lord ſaith of the houſe 〈…〉 Becauſe ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab, your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according unto all that he hath commanded you: Therefore, thus ſaith the Lord of hoſts, the God of Iſrael, Jonadab, the ſon of Rechab, ſhall not want a man to ſtand before me for ever.

This promiſe was in conſequence of their obedience; and will not this ſame bleſſing deſcend upon the obedient, even in this our day? My dear friends, God is the ſame, yeſterday, to day, and for ever▪ And oh! that his grace may be influential on all of us, to will and to do of his good pleaſure; on the other hand, where a child is ſtubborn and refractory to its Parents; ſuch diſobedience not only brings down with it the judgments of the Lord, but never can admit peace of mind in this Life; much leſs can it afford you any reaſonable hopes of happineſs hereafter; for, there is no peace ſaith my God to the wicked. He that honoureth me, I will honour; and he that deſpiſeth me, ſhall be lightly eſteem'd: Nay, ſuch is the Almighty's juſt abhorrence of diſobedient children, that as a puniſhment to ſuch, we real, The eye that mocketh at his Father, and deſpiſeth to obey his Mother, the Ravens of the valley ſhall pick it out, and the young Eagles ſhall eat it; whereas a life ſpent in a way conformable to the will and pleaſure of the Almighty, will inſure to us peace here, and obtain the plaudit of well done, when time ſhall be no more. How earneſtly do I wiſh, that every youth, not only thoſe who are more immediately under the tuition of their pare ••• but thoſe who are arrived to mature years, would conſider this. My dear friends, to live in rebellion; is living in open defiance to God and his laws. There is no real, ſolid contentment to be had, but by living a life agreeable to the will of our heavenly father; who has promiſed, that thoſe who honour him, he will honour, and thoſe that deſpiſe him, ſhall be lightly eſteemed; and whoever thou art, who art any ways ſtubborn, obſtinate and perverſe to thy parents, let me tell thee,—Thou can'ſt never experience any real happineſs, but from an entire ſubjection to the will of God. Children obey your parents in the Lord, faith the apoſtle, 'for this is well pleaſing to God.' O! how many youths are there, (I make no doubt, tho' I hope none within the audience of my voice,) who when their parents have rebuked them for their good, tho' with expreſſions of the utmoſt tenderneſs, have ſlighted or deſpiſed the reproof? How unſeaſonable have they reckoned the admonition! I don't like to come till my preſent amuſements are over, think they, whatever be the conſequence, I'll not quit my diverſions till I ſee ſit; my companions like it beſt, they will perhaps deride me, if I leave •• em, therefore I am determined to enjoy the pleaſures of ſin for a ſeaſon, come what will. If ſuch is the caſe, as we have too much reaſon to fear it frequently is; the fault then does not lie in your tutors, but in yourſelves. Tho' I have known many to blame others, when indeed the fault was really in themſelves. O conſider the ſhortneſs of life, and the certainty of death. All fleſh is graſs, and all the goodneſs thereof is as the flower of the field, the graſs withereth, and the flower fadeth, but the goodneſs of God endureth forever. One day or other, we muſt all appear before the awful judge of quick and dead, to anſwer for the deeds done in the body, whether they be good or whether they be evil; and O! that we may learn, every one of us, ſo to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wiſdom; then let us turn inward, and narrowly examine our ways, ſcrutinize thoroughly into our own hearts, and ſee if every thing is right within; let us deny ourſelves every gratification that wou'd, otherwiſe, divert our thoughts from that which is our higheſt good.—It is much to be wiſh'd, that all who really love their children, would endeavour, by all the means in their power, to cultivate their morals, and ſecure for them their immortal intereſts; to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, (like one that I heard of, who, on his deathbed, very affectionately exhorted his children to make his God their God) and then you will have great reaſon to expect in them an uſeful and unblamable conduct, through the whole courſe of their lives; thus by endeavouring to conduct their minds into an early knowledge of Chriſt, what a reciprocal advantage will it be from the one to the other? Every thing wou'd go on with that good harmony and underſtanding that it would viſibly carry it's own reward along with it; there ••• uld be no more eye-ſervants, as men-pleaſers, but all in ſingleneſs of heart, as unto Chriſt, ſerving God, from the heart, every one cheerfully and willingly performing his duty, in the ſtation whereunto it had pleaſed God to call them, and ſervants would become really valuable to their maſters and miſtreſſes. If God was in truth made the ultimate end of all our aims, the firſt and the laſt of each day's thoughts, what manner of perſons ſhou'd we then be, in all holy converſation and godlineſs? None would be chargeable with purloining, or breach of truſt in affairs committed to their management, but every thing would be done in ſuch a manner, as conſiſts with knowing that one day we muſt give an account.

Many I know are apt to complain, and ſay, the fault lies ſometimes in their maſters and miſtreſſes; I grant it, but this is not a caſe ſo general as the contrary; I ſhould rather ſuppoſe, good ſervants would make good maſters. I would not be miſunderſtood, as laying the ſtreſs wholly upon children and ſervants; but I would be underſtood thus, that while all act agreeably to their reſpective characters, and conſiſtently with their duty, every thing they take in hand will undoubtedly proſper; they will have joy in this life, and a comfortable aſſurance of a better one to come; for the God of heaven delights in ſuch, they will die in his favour, and have the plaudit of Well done thou good and faithful ſervant, thou haſt been faithful over a little, thou ſhalt be made ruler over much. And now, my friends. I would ſpeak to you all in an unlimited ſenſe. Let us get above the deluſive amuſements of this world. Let us get as well through this 〈◊〉 as we can, that we may arrive at thoſe •• joyments in ſtore for us, which will yield a full and complete ſatisfaction. What can we think of the pleaſures of this world, but that they are below the care of us who are born to ſo great expectation? All fleſh is graſs, and the goodlineſs thereof as the flower of the field. Thus muſt we think of innocent delights; they are frail, tranſitory, and uncertain: We are immortal.—The pleaſures of this life, ſhould not divert our attention from the one thing needful; theſe are unworthy objects of our deſires; fit to be uſed, but too mean to be courted; proper for our diverſion, but never good enough to become our buſineſs.

Let us, my brethren, earneſtly ſet about the great work of our ſalvation while it is day. O! liſten to that ſmall ſtill voice that whiſpers peace to the conſcience! Don't let us refuſe to obey the Lord any longer, or great will be our condemnation: To live diſreſpectful and unmindful of an earthly parent, is certainly a temper of mind very different from that of a chriſtian; and how much greater want of gratitude does it argue, to live unmindful of that being, by whom we live and move, and have every bleſſing we enjoy? Shall I forget the God of my ſalvation? Shall I render him no expreſſions of thankfulneſs? Yes, and my life ſhall •• eak his praiſe in the language of devout obedience. My dear friends, it is very improbable I ſhall ever have an opportunity of ſeeing you, or any of you, again: Cleave unto the Lord, and ſerve him with a perfect heart and willing mind, leſt the Lord of hoſts ſhould ſwear in his wrath, that ſuch abuſers of his long-ſufferings ſhall never enter into his reſt.—Evil habits are ſoon apt to get rooted and ingrain'd in the diſpoſition; by that means we contract as it were a familiarity with ſin, and with Solomon's fools, learn to make a mock of it, till by degrees our conſciences are hardened, and not to be touch'd by any ſoft impreſſion: My fear is, that many of you, by a long courſe of wickedneſs, have ſo accuſtomed yourſelves to that which is ſinful, that evil habits have grown inſenſibly upon you: Evil habits ſteal imperceptibly upon us; to the truth of this, experience daily witneſſes. With how much pain and uneaſineſs do men bring themſelves to do the things, which in a little time, they glory and take pride 〈◊〉 , or at leaſt grow eaſy and contented under; and ſo become like thoſe of whom it is ſaid, they have drunken up iniquity, as the ox drinketh up water.

My friends, the moment you give yourſelves up to ſin, you give yourſelves out of your own power; you lay a reſtraint upon reaſon, and ſet the paſſions free: Upon the whole, there is great reaſon to fear, that ſin, if once we indulge it, ſhould get the better of and deſtroy our reſolution of repentance; and, Oh my friends! I wiſh you would reaſon calmly upon theſe things. Enter into this debate with your own hearts, and conſider what danger you are in; a few moments cannot be too much to ſpend in ſo weighty an affair; and whenever you retire to theſe cool thoughts, may the father of mercies influence thoſe moments of your life, upon which all eternity depends: Moſt people are apt to ſay, "I have now ſuch and ſuch buſineſs to do, and will not beſtow a ſerious thought upon religious matters until the morrow;"—when, alas! we know not whether we ſhall ever 〈◊〉 the light of another day.—O! that all who love their own ſouls, would ſeek the Lord, while happily he may be found; before that day comes, when the heavens being as braſs, and the earth as iron, ſhall be wrapt up like a ſcroll: We have had repeated warnings, and that again and again, to repentance, to depart from ſin, and Satan that grand and potent adverſary of mankind. Let us ret •• n unto our divine Lord, in whom is no variableneſs nor ſhadow of turning; he is an undivided fountain, thither let us repair: He giveth unto all men liberally, and upbraideth not; many and manifold are the bleſſings that God has in ſtore for them that fear him. He who has fixed in his mind a juſt notion of God, will find his way to peace, be the darkneſs about him ever ſo thick. It is a great misfortune for a perſon to know much of religion, and little of God; ſuch a perſon's religion muſt either be his plague or his contempt; it muſt appear to him either ridiculous or terrible; and let him take it which way he will, he will find a terror in it at laſt. It is in vain therefore to ſeek for ſatisfaction till we know God; till we can witneſs to our hearts, that we know him in whom we have truſted: This will make our religion become an holy and reverential fear, unmixed with terror and confuſion; it will make our knowledge in religious matters become a wiſdom unto ſalvation, and preſerve to us that true freedom of mind, to which, as well the ſcoffers of the age, as the ſuperſtitious, are mere ſtrangers.

And further, friends! don't let us entertain wrong notions of God; that is, don't let us conſider him in his attribute of juſtice only, nor his darling one, that of mercy; but let us conſider him as a God, who himſelf hath ſaid, I will viſit the iniquities of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and will ſhew mercy unto thouſands of them that love me and keep my commandments. There are too many, now a days, who forget the plain parts of ſcripture, (of which there are enough for every man to profit withal) and from a want of underſtanding the more obſcure ones, are too apt to think irreverently of the Deity, and ſo grow entirely negligent with reſpect to the great work of their ſalvation.—But, my friends, the word of God is plain to every man who has the light of reaſon, that without holineſs, no man ſhall ſee the Lord; this is the foundation of all religion. Surely no one need be at a ſtand how to act with reſpect to God, his neighbour and himſelf. God has promiſed his aſſiſtance to all who endeavour to ſerve him; and ſurely there can be no difficulty in underſtanding this. When we read, that all who in any manner injure their neighbours and fellow-creatures, ſhall periſh everlaſtingly; we perceive that the crimes and the puniſhments are ſo inſeparably connected, that, being conſcious of the crimes, we ſee no way to eſcape the puniſhment.

But, when on the other hand, we conſider, that unto whomſoever much is given, of him ſhall much be required; we are too apt to infer from thence, that unto whomſoever little is given, of him ſhall little be required; and ſo conclude, that all our imperfections, of what kind ſoever, are well ſecured; and ſo we think, whoever errs, be it for want of underſtanding, or the outward means of knowledge, or through paſſion and prejudices, that ſuch want the light, and are to be conſidered as thoſe to whom little is given. I ſay, my friends, this is one way the lukewarm have to lull their conſciences to ſleep, as it were: But ſtill conſcience returns, and proves that they have had the light, in many inſtances in which they have been great offenders.—Surely, the ſtate of ſuch people plainly anſwers to our Lord's likening the kingdom of Heaven to a man's travelling into a far country, who called his own ſervants, and delivered unto them his goods: And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to every man according to his particular ability, and ſtraightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents, went and traded with the ſame, and by a prudent management made them other five talents. And he that had received two, gained alſo other two. But he that received one, went and hid his Lord's talent. And when their Lord came to reckon with them, he that had received five talents, came and ſaid, Lord thou deliveredſt unto me five talents; behold I have gained beſide them five talents more. His Lord ſaid, well done thou good and faithful ſervant; thou haſt been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. He that had received two talents, gained beſide them other two: He likewiſe had the anſwer of, Well done thou good and faithful ſervant, thou haſt been faithful over a little, I will make thee ruler over much. But the other came, we are told, ſaying, Lord, behold here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: For I feared thee, becauſe thou art an auſtere man: Thou takeſt up that thou laidſt not down, and reapeſt that thou didſt not ſow. But his Lord's reply was, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked ſervant; thou kneweſt that I was an auſtere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not ſow; wherefore then gaveſt not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with uſury. Here then we ſee is no excuſe;—it is in vain to plead ignorance, for there is given unto every man, to profit withal. No one ſhall be condemned by a law he knew nothing of; every one ſhall ſtand or fall by the light that was given him; it being true of every action, what the apoſtle has affirmed of alms-giving, It ſhall be accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. Upon the whole, my friends, it appears from ſcripture, that every man hath the light of reaſon to direct him, knowing thus much, That without holineſs no man ſhall ſee the Lord.—And ſince morality is founded upon that reaſon which is a common gift to mankind, every man muſt anſwer for the uſe of his reaſon: And therefore where reaſon ſhews him the difference of good and evil, if he chooſes the evil, he is without excuſe. And ſince there is given unto every one to profit withal, let us inſtantly ſet about improving the talents that God has given us; nay, even tho' it were but one, for it ſhall be accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not: Neither let us, my friends, look with envy on thoſe above us, who may be endowed with greater gifts than we; or contemptuouſly on thoſe below us; but let each act up to the light of reaſon, which we have given us, and we ſhall do well. 'Tis an old received maxim, in my country, that evil thinkers are generally evil doers: And the caſe is ſo general indeed, every where, that methinks there needs not much to be ſaid to prove it. I could wiſh, that all the difference amongſt us, was only, which ſhould live a life moſt conſiſtent with the character of a chriſtian.

I am concerned to admoniſh each and every of you, to ſeek the Lord while he may be found. Let the wicked forſake his ways, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon him. But then, my friends, we are not to plead any merit in ourſelves, nor ſtand up, and, with a ſelf-ſufficient temper, think to vindicate or juſtify ourſelves for our own righteouſneſs, which is as filthy rags, and can ſtand us in no ſtead before the eyes of a perfectly pure and holy God. Oh friends! the day is coming, when all that is on the earth ſhall be as ſtubble: Then the ſcoffers, who mock at ſin, and make their game of the ſerious and devout;—thoſe, who, inſtead of giving all diligence to make their calling and election ſure, have trampled upon the frequent admonitions given them to a better life; will wiſh they had employed their time to a better purpoſe.—But it will be too late!—For when once the maſter of the houſe has ſhut to the door, in vain we ſhall ſtand without and knock. Alas! are we not ſtupid? Are we not ſenſeleſs to the laſt degree, to live thus in open rebellion againſt the beſt of beings, when, for ought we know, the next minute we may be called, we may be ſummoned to appear, all guilty as we are, before an injured God, in whoſe preſence no impure thing can enter? Every man's work ſhall be made manifeſt, for the day ſhall declare it. There is no other way to ſecure to ourſelves the favour of the Lord, but by a timely repentance; and repentance is the gift of God: Aſk it of God, ſaying, we are unworthy ſervants, and he will give it you; he will ſend none away that thus come unto him, nay, he delights in ſuch; don't let thy ſins, tho' heinous as they may be, retard thee one moment from ſupplicating for mercy. Chriſt ſays, I came not to call the righteous, but ſinners to repentance: He came 'to ſeek and to ſave that which was loſt;' for as he ſaith himſelf. what man of you, having an hundred ſheep, if he loſe one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderneſs, and go after that which is loſt, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his ſhoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, ſaying unto them, rejoice with me, for I have found my ſheep which was loſt. I ſay unto you, that likewiſe joy ſhall be in Heaven, over one ſinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine juſt perſons who need no repentance. So we ſee here is a promiſe of life everlaſting, provided we repent: We have only to repent, and live. Oh▪ then, let the wicked forſake his ways, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon him.

The very end and deſign of Chriſt's coming, was to aboliſh ſin, and bring in a new and complete ſatisfaction, a new and ſufficient righteouſneſs; which he did, by offering himſelf a ranſom for ſinners, and ſuffering in their ſtead, that we might be made the righteouſneſs of God in him.

O! that there was, from this moment, a death unto ſin, and a new life unto righteouſneſs.—Finally, my brethren, ſince Chriſt Jeſus has ſtood in the place of ſinners, has become ſin for us, who knew no ſin, that we may be made the righteouſneſs of God in him▪ Then let there be, from this moment, a death unto ſin, and a new life unto righteouſneſs. Let us liſten to the apoſtle's admonition. Walk not in chambering and wantonneſs, in ſtrife and envying, but put ye on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and make not proviſion for the fleſh, to fulfil the luſts thereof. God has given us appetites, and made it part of our trial to govern and reſtrain them within their proper channels; and to indulge theſe appetites beyond meaſure, wou'd be the higheſt ingratitude to our heavenly benefactor. Let us look to the glory and immortality which is placed before us, the everlaſting manſions, prepared for thoſe who ſerve their maſter in holineſs and newneſs of life, and keep themſelves unſpotted from the world: Then, let us view the vaſt variety of temptations which are ſo apt to fix us down to this world, and interrupt all our hopes of a better.

From theſe conſiderations, what more powerful arguments can there be imagined, to prevail with us, to abſtain from fleſhly luſts, than this; that we are ſtrangers and pilgrims on earth, and look for another, even an Heavenly habitation, whoſe builder and maker is God. Let us then inſtantly bid adieu to all unlawful, worldly delights, which are ſo apt to enſlave and captivate the heart of man. Let us inſtantly ſet about the great work of our ſalvation, while it is day, that is, while we have the bleſſed opportunity. Let us ſay, with the apoſtle, The world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Let us inſtantly beg of God, to lead us into the way, the truth and the light. Oh! that his holy ſpirit may guide you into all truth. The ſcripture ſaith, It is God that worketh in us both to will and to do of his good pleaſure. The apoſtle poſitively renounceth all ſufficiency of his own, he will have no merit imputed to the creature; 'not I,' ſaith he, but Chriſt that dwelleth in me. All human accompliſhments are no more than droſs or dung, when compared to the excellency of the knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt.

If there was really a thorough change in our natures; if there was really a longing, an earneſt longing after God, what univerſal charity wou'd then abound among all ranks of people? Miniſters wou'd have that care and ſincere love for their flock, as knowing that one day they muſt give an account. In ſhort, my friends, were we to conſider the great and almighty Being, as he really is, the Alpha and Omega, the Firſt and the Laſt! I ſay, my friends, were we to make this God our God, the Firſt and the Laſt of each day's thought; what manner of perſons ſhould we then be in all holy converſation and godlineſs? Our lives would be ſuch as would beſpeak us a peculiar, choſen people, zealous of good works.

The day is haſtening, when all that we ſee now, will be no more! Then let us ſecure to ourſelves an everlaſting inheritance; and inheritance among the firſt born, whoſe names are written in Heaven.

The day is haſtening, when that awful doom will take place,—He that is holy, let him be holy ſtill, and he that is filthy, let him be filthy ſtill! This is an alarming thought, and well deſerves our attention.

Methinks I am concerned to ſpeak it again and again in your ears, that you all earneſtly attend to the one thing needful; that you preſs forward towards the mark of the 'prize of our high-calling in Chriſt Jeſus.' It will not do to be lukewarm, to be liſtleſs and careleſs in an affair of the utmoſt conſequence, and eſpecially ſince we know, It is appointed unto all men once to die.

Methinks it argues a depravity of underſtanding, as well as the greateſt impiety, to make no proviſion for another world, whither we are all haſtening.

Here is no abiding place.—Give all diligence, I beſeech you, to ſecure to yourſelves an intereſt in Chriſt, before that day come, when proclamation will be made, That time ſhall be no more. All fleſh is graſs, and all the goodlineſs thereof as the flower of the field. The graſs withereth, and the flower fadeth, but the word of the Lord endureth forever. This was the prophet's declaration. Every thing relating to human life will ceaſe, the world itſelf will come to an end.

Be wiſe then betimes, leſt that day come upon you when you think not, and in an hour when ye are not aware: O! 'buy the truth, and ſell it not;' like the merchant our Lord ſpeaks of, who when he had found the coſtly pearl, the pearl of great price, he immediately ſold all that he had, (he denied himſelf of every gratification that might otherwiſe divert his thoughts from that which was his chiefeſt good) that he might purchaſe that field where the invaluable pearl lay.

Moſt men live as though they were never to die.

There is either a total neglect, or a general careleſneſs, with regard to ſpiritual things, in every thing they do; but this is certainly bad,—'tis ſhocking to the laſt degree, to live regardleſs of futurity; to live thus unmindful of that being who has ſet a day in the which he will judge the world! A tribunal, at which every created being muſt appear, there to anſwer for the deeds done in the body! And, my friends, I will aſk you this plain queſtion: Is not this a matter that well deſerves our attention? Is it not a conſideration ſufficient, of itſelf, to draw off our attention from the vain and trifling amuſements of this tranſitory life, and engage ourſelves in the purſuit of the one thing needful, the pearl of great price, which will viſibly carry it's own reward along with it? The grave is the land where all things (of temporal concernment) are forgotten: Let us give all diligence to have our lamps trimmed, that if ſickneſs ſhould attack us, and death ſtare us in the face, we may ſay, with reſignation, cheerfulneſs and triumph, O death! where is thy ſting? O grave! where is thy victory? All fleſh is graſs, and all the goodlineſs thereof as the flower of the field, the graſs withereth, and the flower fadeth, but the word of the Lord endureth forever.

Eternity is at hand, behold he that cometh, will come; and will not tarry. Let our lives be ſuch, that when our Lord comes to reckon with us, we may be able to render him a juſt and true account. And indeed by conducting ourſelves in the path of religion and virtue, and where only true joy is to be found, our lives will be influential of the lives of others: Example is better than precept, it would ſpeak to them thus, 'you follow us, as we follow God.'

O that miniſters might have a watchful care over their flocks! O, that their lives may be a tranſcript and pattern of what they teach. Finally, my brethren, let me adviſe you to live as becometh chriſtians: There would be that harmony, that content and ſatisfaction, that the world's applauſe cannot give, nor it's cenſure take away.

God has promiſed his peace to all who ſeek it: It is a peace which far ſurpaſſeth all human underſtanding. My peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you

But then, my dear friends, we can never expect this peace, if we live in a courſe of wickedneſs; for, there is no peace, ſaith my God, to the wicked: He that honoureth me, I will honour, and he that deſpiſeth me ſhall be lightly eſteemed. Neither muſt we content ourſelves with thinking that by thus departing from the moſt enormous crimes, God will be thus ſatisfied. No, this is a miſtaken notion: God is not to be mocked; he ſaith, My ſon, give me thine heart.

There muſt be an utter deſtruction of Amaleck, or God is not ſatisfied, it is not doing our duty in part, that will avail us; we muſt give up every thing, every darling ſin, that moſt eaſily beſets us. That for the fire to the fire, and that for the hammer to the hammer. God is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity. He will not dwell in an unclean temple. Let us narrowly inſpect into our ways, and ſcrutinize into our own hearts, and ſee if every thing be right within; and if ſo, it will be readily manifeſted by our lives and converſations. Oh! my friend, whoever thou art, that is within the audience of my voice, let me intreat thee to make God thy friend; for, after death, comes the judgment,—on each of us! I would alſo, that miniſters give all diligence in their callings, for if we fall, we fall not alone. Cry aloud, and ſpare not; tell my people their tranſgreſſions, and the houſe of Jacob their ſins.—Our buſineſs (as preachers) is to preach repentance to all, without reſpect to perſons, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear. If we act counter to this, if we, for fear of it's hurting our temporal concerns, neglect to preach with that plainneſs that ought ever to diſtinguiſh a goſpel miniſter,—Let me tell thee, whoever thou art, that neglecteſt to ſtrike at the root of ſin, and doſt thy duty but in part, thou wilt receive Saul's condemnation; who, notwithſtanding his expreſs order from God, was to make an utter deſtruction of Amaleck, yet ſpared what was beſt, agreeable to his own fond inclination: we read, he ſaved the beſt of the ſheep and oxen, and Agag.

But, however merciful this may appear, in Saul's ſparing Agag, his fooliſh pity and compaſſion to the captive king, was ill timed, when God's will was otherwiſe. I don't want to go through with every proof that could be brought in ſupport of what I have been endeavouring to enforce: Let us only act agreeable to the will and pleaſure of our maker, and what he orders to be done, to do it with cheerfulneſs and alacrity as unto a faithful Creator. I can ſay truly, that he who th • s approves himſelf, is worthy of all honour. Finally, my brethren, let us inſtantly ſacrifice every darling ſin that may ſeem to ſtand in our way to glory. Let us give up every thing;—'that for the fire to the fire, and that for the hammer to the hammer.' Don't be drudges to the Devil any longer. Hard taſk-maſters, ſin and Satan are: But our God, whom we ſerve, is no auſtere nor hard maſter. His unbounded mercy hath in this our day loſt none of it's efficacy; he requireth nothing without giving ſuitable abilities.

O! that we may all gather the manna, the bleſſed manna, the which he who eateth ſhall even live thereby. Let me utter it in your ears again and again, All fleſh is graſs, and all the goodlineſs thereof, as the flower of the field; the gr ••• withereth, and the flower fadeth, but the word of the Lord endureth for ever. Let me exhort every one of you, with a heart full of compaſſion, that you ſeek the Lord while he may be found; and before that time come, when theſe bleſſed opportunities, which we now have, for repentance and reconciliation, will be offered no more.