gard to his will, disobeying his commandments, serving our own passions and desires, and pursuing the things of this world, to the exclusion of our religious duties; if so far from walking diligently in the paths of a Christian life, we are not taking even a single step in such a course, is it not time for us to reflect, The night cometh, in which no man can work?

But have we no disposition for the performance of religious duties? Is the service of God irksome? Can we not bring our minds to fulfil the work which he requires? Grant that it be so. Does this make us any the more safe? Does this do away our responsibility, or release us from the obligation imposed upon us by our Creator to serve, to worship, and to glorify him; and in the way which he has enjoined, to seek our everlasting happiness? On the contrary, ought it not to fill us with alarm, that under circumstances se awful, the night is advancing upon us? that we are hastening to an account for which we are not prepared, nor indeed at all likely to be? that we are required to perform duties which we are not willing even to think of, much less which there is any probability that we shall accomplish?

And if our situation be thus dangerous, or if indeed there be any thing deficient in our preparation, (and who of us can answer to God for one of a thousand of his sins?) ought we not with redoubled diligence, with earnest prayer, with the VOL. II.

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strength of vigorous resolution, and with the most anxious importunity of desire, to look to God for help, and in his holy ordinances to seek for grace to help in such a time of need?

But does the thought rise up in the minds of some before me, that there is time enough? And is this, then, a work which we can wisely or safely delay? Is it one which any plea of earthly occupation or engagement can justify us in putting off, or leaving at the mercy of contingency? We were created to glorify God here, that hereafter we may enjoy him for ever. That high destiny depends upon the use we now make of our probationary day; upon our obtaining that spiritual character which God requires. And if we are not now living to him, and if, in consequence, it shall be our fate in that future life to be excluded from his presence; say what engagement however pressing, what pursuits however important, shall justify us in his sight for the neglect of his service, or carry consolation to our own spirit for the loss of our eternal happiness? In the language of our Saviour, What shall it profit us if we shall gain the whole world, and lose our own soul? When this dread alternative is presented to our minds, there are few who do not acknowledge the wisdom of securing the welfare of their souls. But here unfortunately we rest in the mere acknowledgment of our duty. The kingdom of heaven we allow must be sought, nay, we are

determined that we will seek it. But reversing the order of the scriptural command, we resolve first to seek the world; we give to it the morning prime, the bright meridian, even the declining hour of our only day; and risk all that most nearly and for ever concerns us, upon the uncertain, imperfect, constrained, and perhaps impossible, repentance of a dying hour.

Perhaps we make no formal resolution on this subject, but we do what is equally fatal to our happiness. We habitually neglect the great salvation. We delay, we continually postpone, what conscience tells us we cannot, and must not, entirely omit. This procrastination accompanies us through life,

4 Year after year it steals, till all are fled,
"And to the mercy of a moment, leaves
"The vast concerns of an eternal scene."

This, alas! is the common folly of all men; and perhaps there are many here present, who, if they were asked the period at which they propose to attend to the claims of religion, would be compelled to confess that they have made no decision on the subject; that they are not likely to give it their serious thoughts, until death admonishes them of their danger. My brethren, if any are thus deliberately postponing their most important duty to an hour as awfully uncertain as it is awfully unsafe, let them be aroused to confess their folly in thinking to secure their salvation at

such a moment.

The hour of death, what is it? At best, it is a fleeting instant of apprehension and of terror. Often it is one in which insensibility makes us blind to a fate which it is too late to retrieve. And never, surely never, can it be one on which to rely to fulfil that work of repentance and obedience, which ought to have been the business of our whole life. Some we have seen, who, even long before its approach, were rendered unconscious by the delirium of a raging fever; others, who have been prevented by the suddenness of some casualty by which they were in a moment hurried away; and others still, who, wasting and consuming, by permature decay, were lulled with flattering hopes, and even cherished the fond persuasion, that they had long to live, until they perceived that their heart was beating its last throb, and that their spirit was departing upon their expiring breath. But though it may be, that of those who now hear me there are only a very few who are so unreasonable or so rash as deliberately to resolve to leave their preparation to that hour; though many intend, in sufficient time, to commence the work; they dream of lengthened lives, and favourable dispositions, and convenient seasons; they determine that it shall not be much longer postponed. But, my brethren, it is the very imbecility of childhood; it is contempt of reason and of manhood; it is doing despite to the Holy Spirit; and

mocking the long-suffering of God; continually to leave a decision so full of importance; a work so exclusively the one thing needful, at the hazard of future convenience, and dependent upon an uncertain and transient life. In our fleeting days, how rapidly does the noon succeed to morning, the night to noon. And how are we sometimes startled at the recollection of many days imperceptibly but for ever gone! The days that we now enjoy are, in like manner, departing unperceived, and leaving us as rapidly as those that have passed by. And these days make up our life. How many or how few remain, we cannot tell. But seldom has the last one arrived to any who did not confess it to be unexpected, and feel that he was taken by surprise, with much remaining to be done. But whether expected or not, and whether we be prepared or not, our last day of life is rapidly drawing on. It will soon be here. Yes; the night cometh, the night of death; and then no man can work. Then the day of salvation is ended. The accepted time is past. The period of probation is brought to its close. And if until then we have neglected our preparation for another world, how terrible, how appalling, will be our fate! How unspeakable our loss! How past description the misery we shall have

incurred!

My brethren, have you ever permitted yourselves carefully to estimate your interest in the