"The glorious course was yesterday complete,
Death then was welcome, yet life still is sweet,"

With a steady grasp he holds the faith once delivered to the saints, with distinguished firmness he runs along his heavenly race, with the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, he fights the good fight of faith, and having overcome all things that would have impeded: his progress, he finishes his course with joy, triumphantly passes Jordan, and sits down with the Redeemer on his throne. The Judge applauds him with, "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over as few things; I will make thee ruler over many things, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

Having noticed the impressive lesson of which the inspired writer speaks, the leading features in that man's conduct by whom it is practised, and the benefits which he derives from this mode of proceeding, I will now pass on,

IV. TO APPLY THESE TRUTHS.

In doing this, there are three descriptions of persons whom I will address, those who seldom think on the important things I have discussed-those who frequently think on them, but defer all practical attention to them till a future time-and those who feel their importance, and are determined to be governed by their influence. I am,

1. To address those who seldom think upon the im-pressive things which have been discussed. But may I presume that there is such a person in this house! Cana any human being be so infatuated as seldom to think: seriously, on his time, soul, God, and eternity? We know that some are thus infatuated, and rationally apprehending! that this may be the case with some of you within thes the sound of my voice, I would ask about what do you' think? Law

"Does ought deserve a thought beneath,
But how you may escape the death
That never, never dies?"

aid How you may obtain the pardon of your sins,-how become renewed in the spirit of your minds-how secure the favour of God, escape the flames of hell, and enter the glories of heaven? Seldom think seriously on these things! Is it possible that one of you can act so foolishly! Can you be so buried in the trifles of this world as to forget the great business for which you were placed in it, and neglect that line of conduct by which alone you can become prepared for a better inheritance!

And is it in the flight of three score years,
To push eternity from human thought,
dodh And smother souls immortal in the dust?
A soul immortal, spending all her fires,
Wasting her strength in strenuous idleness;
Thrown into tumult, raptured or alarmed,
At ought, this scene can threaten or indulge,
Resembles ocean into tempest wrought,
To waft a feather or to drown a fly."

Is it possible, can you indeed pass through life, and seldom think on the impressive lesson of which the inspired writer speaks! Can you ever forget that your days on earth are few and evil, that you are uncertain of one more being added to the number already gone, that time possess incomparable worth, that the work you have to perform is very great, that much of life is already gone, that, for the whole, you are accountable to God, that, at any moment, you may be called to give that account,→ that your souls are immortal, and that their endless destiny will be settled according to your conduct while in time and

Is it possible, can you forget that the Being who has required you to pay this attention has a right to demand it, and that from the nature of his perfections he possesses singular advantages for scrutinizing your conduct, and is awfully qualified to punish your neglect! Behold! his penetrating eye is upon you. He is present every moment. He is about your bed and your path, and he spieth out your secret ways. There is no concealment from his eye nor retiring from his presence. He searcheth and trieth you, and understandeth your thoughts afar off. He encompasseth your path, and your laying down, and is acquainted with all your ways. For there is not a word in your tongue, but, lo! he knoweth it altogether. He besets you behind and before, and lays his hand upon you. Whither shall you go from his Spirit, or whither shall you flee from his presence? If you ascend into heaven he is there, or if you make your bed in hell behold he is there. If you could take the wings of the morning and dwell in the utmost parts of the sea; even there would his hand lead you, and his right hand hold you. If you say surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall he light about you. Yea, the darkness hideth not from him, but the night shineth as the day. The darkness and the light are both alike unto him. Lo! this is the Being with whom you have to do. His voice called you into existence, his providence sustains your lives, his love procured your redemption, he will fix your changeless destiny, if he then frown, you are undone for

ever.

Is it possible, can you ever forget that eternity and its important realities are just at hand! While I am speaking you are on the brink of perdition. Were the fatal bandage removed but a little from your eyes, you would see that there is but a step between your souls and " the death that never dies," the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone. The warrant for your dismissal may be scaled. Death

even now may be upon you. There may be those in this assembly that shall carry you out dead. More than this, hell may be moved from beneath, and be rushing forward you at your approach. And dare any of you from, this moment treat these things with indifference? O!

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tuo de May God your inmost souls convert, And deeply on your thoughtful heart Eternal things impress."

I will now proceed,

2. To address those who frequently think on these things, but defer all practical attention to them till a future time. This line of conduct I fear is pursued by thousands. I doubt not, but there are many now hearing me, who, upon the whole, think well of religion, your minds are frequently turned towards it, and you make many promises and resolutions concerning it, but you purpose deferring it for the present, and say you will attend to it at a more convenient season. I sincerely wish that I could be instrumental, in the hands of God, of bringing all such characters to see and feel their folly. Are you not aware that this delusion has acted the part of a sly thief, and is real enemy to man. It has blinded your minds, repulsed warnings, obliterated good impressions, silenced your consciences, wasted your time, trodden down your mercies, left you to the uncertainty of a moment, and, without some great interference, has ruined your souls.

Could I trace your follies, excuses, and delays to their origin, I I should find the most of them to arise from this fruitful source of evil. I do not suppose that you indulge these delays because you think that religion is a bad thing, or that sin is really profitable to your souls, or that salvation is not worth possessing or that hell will be a tolerable residence, or that your bones are iron, and your

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have, and lay down some well digested method for regulating your conduct in future.-Men may persuade, and satan tempt you not to lay down any plan, urging that thus you may insnare your conscience; but regard them not. Have you stated seasons for searching the scriptures? Can you not read the Book of God through once a year? To accomplish this, you need only occupy about fifteen minutes in each twenty-four hours. Can you not have a specified quantity of time for prayer? Say, half an hour in a day, more or less, according to circumstances. Act thus, and be consistent in your tempers and conduct, and, I doubt not, but you will soon derive benefit therefrom; you will become strong in the Lord, and being armed with the power of his might, you will go forward to certain victory. And, though a multiplicity of business, bodily afflictions, and other occurrences, may some times prevent you from attending to your method, yet, even then, you will reap considerable benefit from it. The recollection that it is the hour of prayer, will inspire devotional feelings; you will be anxious to redeem time from useless and trifling pursuits; when you cannot devote the whole time set apart for spiritual exercises, you will employ a portion of it, and will hail, with pleasure, the returning season, when, according to your plan, you can wait before the Lord. Thus devoted to God, you will be ready for all his will, you will cheerfully glide along the stream of time, when you leave the world, you will hear the glad sound," Come up hither," and be transported to the vision of God, where,

And eternity seem as a day."opas peuri