commandments; and fince it is impoffible for a dying finner to bring forth fuch fruits of repentance; how unfatisfactory must be the hopes that are built upon fo uncertain a foundation!

'Tis true, to repent is all that a man, who has led a wicked life, can do when he comes to die; and rather than go out of the world hardened and infenfible, it would be better for his own fake, and for that of his friends and relations, if he would do this much; (for who knows how far infinite mercy may be extended?) But furely, it must be allowed to be the greatest inftance of folly and madness, to venture a matter of such infinite moment upon fo uncertain an iffue; to leave that weighty concern, an attention to which ought to have been the chief business of his life, to thofe moments of weakness and alarm, when the body is finking under pain and disease, and the terrified foul fluttering on the brink of eternity: and fhould not the repentance of fuch perfons be a true godly forrow, "a repentance to falvation 'not to be repented of," (and whether it

would be fuch or not, no man can fay) they are in that cafe forever loft and undone.

But suppose we could be affured, that a death-bed repentance would be effectual; yet who can tell, whether a man may have time for that work in the hour of death? Or if he could be certain, that a lingering fickness would put an end to his days, yet how does he know that God will then vouchfafe him the grace of repentance! and without that grace, it is impoffible he should repent. How much rather may such an ene fear, left God fhould be fo offended by his many wilful refufals to hearken to the admonitions of the Holy Spirit, as to cut short his day of grace, and deliver him over to a hardened and reprobate mind!

The fcripture affures us there is a time when men fhall call upon God, and he will not hearken. Because I have called, and ye refufed; I have ftretched out my hand, and no man regarded: But ye have set at nought all my counfel, and would none ' of my reproof: I alfo will laugh at your ca'lamity. I will mock when your fear com

eth; when your fear cometh as defolation; • and your deftruction cometh as a whirl. 'wind; when diftrefs and anguish cometh

upon you. Then fhall they call upon me, 'but I will not answer; they fhall seek me early, but they fhall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not chufe · the fear of the Lord; they would none of my counsel. They defpifed all my reproof; therefore fhall they eat of the fruit of their C own way, and be filled with their own devices." The end of the long fuffering and forbearance of God, is "to lead men 'to repentance" but if, inftead of producing that happy effect, it only hardens them in their fins, and determines them on a continuance in their wickedness, vainly prefuming they fhall repent, when they come to die; is there not reafon to fear that God will leave them at their laft hour under the terrors and agonies of a fearful death: that he will" laugh at their calamity, and mock 'when their fear cometh."

"O! confider this, all ye that forget 'God, left he pluck you away, and their be none to deliver you: confider it in due

time, before it is too late, before the dreadful hour arrives, which will deprive you of all opportunity of reconciling yourselves to your offended God, and when the door of hope will be forever fhut.

Lay afide your paffions for a little while, and liften to the ftill voice of reason, the declarations of God's holy word, the admonitions of his bleffed Spirit, and the checks of your own confcience. Be perfuaded to fet about the great work of your falvation "to-day, while it is 'called to-day, before the night cometh 'when no man can work." Remember that though you are now, perhaps, in health and vigour, poffeffed of every thing that can gratify the fenfes, and make life defirable; yet the time is coming, and whether you think of it or not will haften on apace, when you must take your leave of every earthly enjoyment; when nothing will appear of any value, but a good confcience: neither honours, power, riches, nor any thing elfe will then be able to give you one moment's ease, or afford you one comfortable thought. Nothing will then be regarded but the conscioufnefs of having in fome

measure answered the end for which God fent you into the world; nothing but having lived in the fear and love of God" and • in fimplicity and godly fincerity had your ' converfation in this world."

It was this that made St. Paul defire "to be diffolved, and to be with Christ ;" for he had" fought a good fight, and finished 'his course, and kept the faith." And therefore he could fay with great affurance, when the time of his departure was at hand, that "there was laid up for him a crown of 'righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, fhould give him at that day." And this it was that made a late pious divene of our church, when near his death, utter these remarkable expreffions. "I am entering upon my laft labour; the Lord gave, and he is now taking away, bleffed be the name of the Lord: For I thank my God, I am going without any distrust, without the least mif-giving, to a place of reft, and joy, and everlasting blifs. There is no

(d) Mr. KETTLEWELL; fee the preface to his five discourses published fince his death.