whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire of hell-it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison;" and if the tongue, then we may conclude that every power, faculty, sense, member, intention, and action of the whole man, contributes its share to increase the filthiness and depravity of the sinner, and make him and his works hateful in the sight of God. Oh how needful to observe that Divine direction concerning the way of evil men, "Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away." It is therefore plain that as God's commands must be obeyed, and his promises received, to enjoy his favour, and that as we cannot enjoy his favour too soon, so it is our duty and interest to hasten our conversion, that we may be enabled to do his pleasure, and prove to our unspeakable comfort how gracious he is. Sin must be punished; the unnatural, irregular life of a sinner, is full of evil; and his disobedience and rejection of Divine mercy will be followed by a just reward: promises neglected make way for threatenings, and commands not kept leave the unconverted soul a prisoner of hell and death.

It is suited to the brevity of human life.-The shortness of our stay here upon earth is a circumstance deserving of our most serious attention, and calls loudly upon all not to delay their conversion to God; for were it possible that our lives should be lengthened like those of the antediluvians, what is this to eternity? Our title to the happiness of heaven depends upon the right improvement of our time; for though it is an undoubted truth that eternal life is the gift of God, yet in general he bestows it only on those who hus band well the moments allotted them below, in preparing for it, by living to his glory: I say in general, for there are some who, after squandering away their years in sin and folly, by real penitence near the close of life, we may charitably hope, obtain mercy. It is not for us to limit the compassions of God towards his rebellious worms; but where men, in a smaller or greater number, are thus snatched as “brands out of the fire," by not sowing to the Spirit, they

have deprived themselves of that reward which would have been their's, had not the principal part of their time been spent in sowing to the flesh. "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." He, therefore, who has been sowing to the Spirit, perhaps for half a century or more, is likely to reap an abundant harvest; while he who only sows a little just before he drops into the dust, must expect a proportionate crop. This is another reason why our conversion ought not to be delayed till the shadows of the evening come upon us-or that night in which no work can be done. Who can tell the advantages arising from early piety, and the glory that awaits those who walk all their days in the paths of wisdom?

The standard of human life, according to Moses, is fixed at threescore years and ten: many, indeed, exceed this; but where one goes beyond it, hundreds, if not thousands, come short of it. Some just open their eyes upon the light, and expire; or lisp the name of surrounding objects, and are called away; while many of those who escape the shafts of death in infancy or childhood, seem only spared to augment our grief, by their fall at a riper age. A little reflection will convince us that a very small portion of time is given us, or rather remains for us below, to work out our salvation; as will appear by considering the irreparable loss of the past, the swiftness of the present, and the shortness and uncertainty of the future.

We begin by considering the irreparable loss of past time.--We are conscious that no part of it can be recalled. Every attempt to bring it back must, in the nature of things, be vain and ridiculous. Whether it has been well or ill-spent, it is fled beyond our reach; and every moment has reported both our principles and actions to our righteous Judge. Our first years were spent with so little thought, that we retain scarcely the slightest remembrance of them; no, not even when our observers have reported our speeches or ac tions to us. The recollection of many more only tends to confirm us in the opinion, that "childhood and youth are

vanity:" and they have passed away like the swift streams, or as a dream when one awaketh. The remainder, from the vicissitudes of life, and their effects upon us, are not so soon forgotten; yet they are vanished as the smoke, or as the varied and extended landscape on closing the eyes. The checkered scene is gone by, with its modified shades of prosperity and adversity; and while we have so suddenly shot up into life, and ripened into manhood, we have in exact proportion hastened to the tomb. We may regret that so many years have been spent in sinful indulgences, foolish amusements, fruitless undertakings, or wicked contrivances; but they cannot be recalled. A man's character may suffer for a time, and be redeemed; he may be unfortunate in business, and recover himself; he may meet with great losses, and for a season be overwhelmed in difficulties and embar rassments, and yet finally rise above all: but time once lost, is lost for ever; its breaches cannot be repaired-it is gone, never, never to return!

The swiftness of the present time.-This is a very striking consideration. See that shadow on the dial, mark its silent progress; though almost imperceptible in its motion, how rapidly it passes from figure to figure, and never stops for a moment! Or mark that clock in its various vibrations; each movement of the pendulum is a comment upon the waste of time; or rather a heavenly admonition, to warn us against placing our affections on things below, and an exhortation to improve these small portions of time for eternity. Sometimes, in agreeable company, conversing on interesting subjects, and during the hours of sleep, we have scarcely a perception of its sudden lapse: but, whether we think of it or not-whether we suffer or rejoice, it always runs with the same speed, like the restless floods hastening to their source, or like an arrow through the air, till it is -lost in an eternal state. While we are reading these lines we are carried forward to our end. Thousands the last few hours have reached the grave, that solemn goal, towards which we must all direct our course; and thousands more

are prepared to follow. Happy, if the moment commissioned to remove us hence, finds us prepared for our departure; inexpressibly happy, if the moment which introduces you into the presence of God, leaves you there with a smile, as a subject of endless glory!

The shortness and uncertainty of the time to come.-Whether it arises from the natural love of life, or from whatever cause, yet, in general, to persons in health, in its advances towards them it appears much slower, and much longer than the past. Even in old age, though contradicted by the judgment, the imagination is so prevalent and active, that it is not uncommon to hear them speaking of worldly affairs, as though, instead of resting from their labours, they had but just begun. This infatuation is one of the chief causes why their return to God is delayed. They entertain the false notion that their death is a great way off, and on this ground neglect their salvation. Time is, however, of equal measures; the year to come is no longer than the past, and will pass as swiftly away. But as comparing one thing with another gives us a clearer perception of their existing differences, it may also be of use to us in respect to time. Let us then compare our past days with those which may yet be afforded us, our life with that of others, with surrounding objects, and especially with eternity.

With respect to the first, the time past with that to come.— If seventy years be the boundary of human life, with the exceptions already mentioned, inquire how many years are already severed from this number? Shall we say one half? Then what a sweep is here! Some who may cast their eyes upon these pages, may, it is true, be much younger: but I have fixed upon thirty-five, considering that the mind is then fully capable of weighing this subject aright, and feeling it too, for there is but little probability of its ever being in a better state for this purpose. Not that I would be understood, as though such as are below this standard are insufficient to judge of these things, or that it should not be attempted till they arrive at that age; by no means;

what I would enforce is, that it becomes extremely dangerous to defer it past that period, as it becomes more and more difficult afterwards, from a variety of causes, to im prove time to the best of purposes. If the solemn realities of eternity are neglected all those years, the mind becomes at last so occupied and entangled with worldly cares, or so habituated to vice and folly, that such persons become so conceited, or stupid, that the Spirit of God is grieved, and seldom strives after that age as he did before. Many are doubtless saved after that time; but what I wish to convey is, that the longer any man continues in his unregenerate state, the less probability is afforded of his becoming a new creature in Christ Jesus. It is therefore the duty of young people to meditate on this circumstance, that they may escape all the evils arising from delay, and may derive all the advantages of an early conversion to God. Those that have obtained this age should remember, that if the same number of years are appointed them as are already spent, how many of them must unavoidably be consumed in sleep, in attention to business, and in less serious pursuits, or the many trifling occasions they are likely to meet with in the world. They should also take into the account the many days of weakness and indisposition which may attend them, and the various trials with which they may be exercised; and they will plainly discover, that, though it is possible for them to preserve holy dispositions of mind towards God, yet in all those years, only a small portion of time, or parcels of time, can in general be wholly appropriated for their improvement in divine knowledge, or the due preparation of their souls for the Divine presence. None ought there. fore to delay their conversion, under the erroneous idea that they may begin too soon, or become too good.

Let us compare our lives with those of others.-If we look back to the first ages of the world, what an amazing difference between their lives and our's; and yet what were their years when compared with those which have since passed away! Even their lives were as "the shadow which declineth;"