the poor man, who would not prefer this to all the wealth of Solomon? Where is the sick man, who would not gladly bear his infirmity all his life, that he might attain to so glorious a condition? Where is the mourner, who would not rather look forwards to the hope of being united with the object of his grief for ever in heaven, than merely have a few more years of his society. upon earth? Where are the afflicted in any way, who do not readily agree with the apostle in "reckoning that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us?"

But will "all that labour and are heavy laden," will all the wretched and unhappy, be consoled for their afflictions in this world by the enjoyment of so blessed a state hereafter? Yes! my brethren, without a doubt, if they accept the invitation, and "come" to him, who has offered to give them rest. But "come" they must, or they will be disappointed of their hope; that heavenly rest is not promised merely to the afflicted, but to those whose afflictions have induced them to come to Christ. And what is the meaning of this? Why, to come to Christ means to be a follower, a disciple, a servant of Jesus Christ. To come to Christ, is to be an humble and sincere Christian, to love and adore him, and

to obey the commandments contained in his holy gospel. If you are living in sin, if you are careless about religion, if you give up all your time and thought to worldly matters, if you have no anxiety about the salvation of your souls, if, in short, you have not "set your affection on things above," but are altogether earthly minded, and study only how you may be happy here, (let your labours be ever so toilsome, and your burden ever so heavy,) Christ will give you no rest, for he has promised none to such. It is to the people of God only, that there remaineth a rest; there is no rest, no peace, no tranquility, no happiness, either here or hereafter, to the wicked.

You must often have observed, how common a thing it is, when one, who has been long af flicted and distressed, whether in body, or in mind, is at length taken out of the world, for friends to speak of the death of such a person as a happy release," as if heaven were to be purchased by the afflictions of life; which is a very mistaken notion, for it is only when affliction is sanctified by religion, that it becomes entitled to the blessing which our Saviour pronounced upon it; so that death is not necessarily a happiness to those whom it releases from a life of misery. To him, who through the gates of the grave, enters into the eternal glories and happiness of heaven,

death is the greatest of blessings, even though this life should have been full of enjoyment. But to him whose departure out of this world, is but a passage to the dreadful place of punishment, death is very far from being as it is called, a happy release," even though he should have been the most miserable wretch upon earth; for all the pains and sorrows that ever were experienced in this world, are heaven itself compared with the torments which the wicked will endure in hell. So that a man may have been sufficiently unhappy here, and yet (shocking as it is to think of,) he may be more miserable still in the world to come; and so he will be, if in his unhappiness he has still been an inpenitent sinner. Reflect on this most seriously, "all ye that labour and are heavy laden." Consider that your earthly sufferings will not necessarily carry you to heaven, but that if you do not turn to God, and lead Christian lives, they will after death be increased to an infinite degree, and will continue without relief for ever and ever; and if you are impatient under your distresses now, oh, think how horrid it would be to have to bear more painful torments, without hope, without end.

My brethren, if you really believe there is a heaven, you surely must all wish to go thither when you die. Some of you have been perhaps

great sufferers in life, and you look forward with joy to the time when you shall be free from all your pains and all your troubles, and partake of all those pure and unmingled pleasures which God has in store for the heirs of redemption. Others of you may not have met with many serious afflictions, but you too (unless you have been unobservant,) must have perceived in the case of others, though you have not yet experienced in your own, the certain truth, that human happiness, however great it may be, must soon come to an end.

You too therefore, I suppose, have sometimes directed your minds onwards, and longed for that more secure and settled state of felicity, for the sake of which Christians are taught to despise the sufferings, and to resist the temptations of this miserable and sinful world. Now only imagine all of you, every individual who has ever wished to exchange this troublesome existence for one of more solid and certain satisfaction, every individual who has ever dwelt with delight on the prospect of everlasting happiness in heaven, every individual who has ever felt a wish that he might one day be an inhabitant of that blessed and glorious kingdom, I say, only imagine a disappointment; only reflect, if you should be driven away into the lake of fire, and exist to all

eternity amidst those scenes of woe, where there will not be one single ray of hope permitted to enter, not one moment's respite from pain, but where your torments, and those of your wretched companions, will be expressed in one unceasing cry of lamentation and despair! I exhort you to think of the possibility of this, because I would prevail on every one of you to strive most earnestly that it never may be realised. You may, by the help of God, easily avoid this horrid condition. Oh be not so thoughtless then as to run the very slightest risk of it. Fly from sin, as you would from that hell which I have described, if you saw it open to your view, and proceed as steadily in the paths of piety and virtue, as if you beheld the heaven you have often hoped for, opening to receive you. Whether you are happy, or whether you are afflicted, Christ invites you all to come to him. He only can save you, and he will "save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him." Come unto him therefore, and he has promised, he "will in no wise cast you out," but, after the toils, and trials, and vexations of this short life are over, he will give you "everlasting rest and peace in his heavenly kingdom."