perdition through his inattention and floth. They will be eternally reviling him; gnashing their teeth upon him, as chargeable with their deftruction, by not forewarning them of that place of torment. "O Lord, who is fufficient for thefe things? O Lord, enter not into judgment with thy fervant; for in thy fight fhall no flesh be juftified."

Impreffed with thefe confiderations, does it not become us to awake from our floth; to throw off every weight, whatever might embarrass us in dif charging the duties of our high vocation; to keep every gift, every grace, in conftant, vigorous exercife; to occupy, with unremitting diligence, each moment of our time? Accurfed be that present cafe, which is indulged at the peril of never-ending pain. Let that gain be rejected, as worse than lofs, which is obtained at the hazard of our own damnation, or the damnation of thofe committed to our care.May those moments perifh from the record of our lives, which are wafted in idleness, in amusements, in worldly company, or worldly avocations; while our brethren by nature are finking a prey to devouring flames. Let thofe honors wither in eternal difgrace, which are fought in purfuits foreign to our minifterial profeffion, while men are perishing, for whom Chrift died; men who might have eternally adorned his mediatorial crown. By all the value

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of our own fouls; by all the value of the fouls of others; by the compaffions of a bleeding Saviour; by the folemnities of his fecond appearing; by the terrors of being caft, as unprofitable fervants, into outer darkness, while others, our inferiors, it may be, in age, and opportunity, and office, are welcomed to the joys of their Lord; let us be roufed to preach the word; to remain inftant, in feason, and out of feafon; to make full proof of our ministry. The Lord enable us all so to run, that we may obtain the prize. May he render us inftrumental in turning many to righteousness; that through the riches of his grace, we may fhine as fars, and funs, in his everlafling kingdom.

Called to be a fteward of the mysteries of God, I conclude, offering them to the reception of the family present. By the authority of the great Lord of the houfe, I this moment unlock these treasures, these inexhaustible treasures, and tender them for the ufe, the enjoyment, of every man, of every woman, in this affembly. Art thou in poverty? I prefent thee unfearchable riches. Art thou naked? I offer thee incorruptible clothing; robes of everlafting righteoufnefs. Art thou in want? I tender thee immortal bread; that bread, of which he who partakes fhall hunger no more. Art thou in debt, bound over to the curfe of a broken covenant? I announce the jubilee of release:

I offer thee a pardon, written in the blood of God, and fealed by a triune Jehovah. Art thou unworthy? I am warranted to tender all, of grace, free grace, abfolute grace, unconditional, unmerited grace. All these treasures of the kingdom, precious as they are, coftly as they were to the eternal furety; all thefe treasures are as free to thee, as the grace of Jehovah can render them, or the lips of Jehovah can pronounce them. Would to God, I could prevail with you to receive them! Would to God, I could perfuade every male, and every female; the bond and the free; the black and the white; the more pure and the more profligate; to draw near, and accept this great falvation. "The

Spirit and the Bride fay, come: Let him that heareth fay, come: Let him that is athirst, come; and whofoever will, let him take the water of life, freely." "We are ambaffadors for Chrift; as though God did befeech you by us; we pray you in Chrift's fead; be ye reconciled to God."

Now to Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly, above all that we can afk or think; to this Lord Jefus, who purchased, with the eternal Father, who elected, and the ever-bleffed Spirit, who applies; the Author of all grace in time, and of all glory through eternity; be afcribed worship and adoration, now and everlaftingly. AMEN.