hour that is spent in bodily homage, with a wandering mind; when kneeling knees and praying lips would hide a soul that is estranged from God. Redeem then the hour of prayer, by praying earnestly; by asking urgently from the heart, by asking forgiveness, and grace, and holiness, and heaven. Redeem the hour of praise, by thankfully considering, and faithfully acknowledging, the riches of God's mercy in Christ. Redeem the hour of hearing God's word, by marking it, all the while you hear, or read, or meditate; marking it, learning it, and inwardly digesting it.

Rule 4. Lastly, in all these holy offices, and in all the duties of life, be watchful. This is the great secret of redeeming time; this which our Saviour said so seriously to all: "Watch." (Mark 13. 37.) Look, that is, for its coming. Look at it when it comes. See that it escape you not. Time steals on smoothly, but swiftly. If you would stay it for good, watch. Time, as far as each of us singly is concerned, soon comes to an end. If you would have that end to be the beginning of life eternal,

watch. Time to day is ours, to morrow is not. Time to day is present, to morrow will be past. Time is real at this moment, but for the next uncertain, certain only that soon it will be no more. If then you

would now redeem it, watch. over it in its course.

Set a guard Reckon up, as it

brings each day to a close, reckon up what sins you have to repent of, what blessings to be thankful for. Note hourly, as each hour it goes on, what work you may that hour be best employed in, what duty fulfilling, what master you are bound to be that hour serving, to what end you cannot help to be drawing more and more

near.

Watch that in no hour you forget your Christian vows. Watch that in no hour you be overtaken or enticed, by sin, the world, or the devil. Watch that a lively faith in Christ may each hour be confirmed in your hearts, and set forth in the conduct of your lives. Watch that you become hour by hour more holy, more heavenly minded. Watch that hour after hour you seek to go on towards perfection.

And often as from the church the voice of time is heard to sound, let it put you anew upon your guard. Consider it to be uttering to yourselves this solemn warning; Your hours are few and evil; your days are numbered; watch, therefore, and be ye ready. That voice will speak, those hands will point, if so it seem good to God, long after the ears which now hear shall be deaf, and the eyes which now see dark in the grave. And greatly will you then rejoice, if meanwhile you have learnt to let its note remind you of Him from whose house it sounds; and of your bounden duty to redeem, in his service, the time which it serves to mark. Redeem it, therefore, by saving it from being used in sin. Redeem it, by being frugal of it, watchful of it, thankful for it. Redeem it, because the days are evil; because this world is vanity and vexation of spirit; because the next will then be "the fulness of joy;" even, at God's right hand, " pleasure for evermore." (Psalm 16. 12.)

Grant, Lord, that we may watch to spend in thy service each hour Thou art pleased to spare us here. Grant that we may redeem by holiness and love that time which is else sure to be held in captivity, by the world, the flesh, and the devil. Grant that we may never be induced to waste those precious moments, which we never can look for to return. Grant that we may find for each its due employment, make carefully of each its right improvement; and that when our last shall come, we may have the grace to say, or, with lips that cannot utter, to reflect, "Into thy hands I commend my spirit; for thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, thou God of truth." (Psalm 31. 6.)

SERMON XIV.

THE CHRISTIAN SABBATH.

EXODUS 20. 8.

Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy.

THE sabbath was the first of religious institutions appointed by God to man. It began when creation was complete. It was kept by our first parents whilst they dwelt in the garden of Eden, at peace with God and with each other. It was observed amongst all those generations of mankind who inhabited the world before the flood. It was remembered by Noah, and by his children after him. And here we find it most solemnly recorded anew, in the law given on Mount Sinai, to the children of Israel. For it should be noted, that what we call the Ten Commandments,