than to be deceived for ever? Is it not better to have a troubled conscience than a seared one?" To this "man," says God, "will I look, even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at "my word. Pass the time of your sojourning here in "fear. Be not high-minded, but fear. Work out

"your salvation with fear and trembling."

Indeed this fear seems to be unavoidable from the very nature of the case. Whoever attends to the workings of his own mind, well knows, that the proposal of any great, or unexpected benefit, always produces a variety of emotions; wonder is the first: this is instantly succeeded by joy-but there is another feeling, which also immediately seizes the mind, and works very pow erfully-and this is solicitude-care to attain and secure it-fear lest after all we should not realize the possession of it. And this is what our Saviour means when he says, "the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure “hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he "hideth, and for joy thereof goeth, and selleth all that "he hath, and buyeth that field." This hiding is not in order to secrecy, but safety: for as by hiding things we commonly secure them-the one is put for the other; and this explanation accords with the experience of every awakened soul. For in proportion as you prize salvation, and desire it, and apprehend it to be necessary-will be your fear of coming short of it. Indifference does not generate fear-No-but conviction does, and so does attachment.

Lastly. What are we to say of those of you who know nothing of this salutary concern? perhaps if some of you were to speak what you feel, you would say that the loss of this rest was the least of all your fears. It never disturbs your repose by night, or embitters your enjoyment by day. Whenever the thought enters, you consider it as an intruder, and soon expel it. All your fear is limited to the world, and the present life. You fear for your health, and are alarmed when any unfavorable symptoms appear. You fear for your business;

your fortune; your estate-and cannot deem yourselves too secure. "You ask what shall I eat, and what shall "I drink, and wherewithal shall I be clothed?" you never inquire, "what shall I do to be saved ?"

But

And yet, what is every other interest to this?—And do you imagine, that this greatest of all concerns can be managed or secured without attention or care? Do you think that leaving the boat to the stream will bring you safe-while you are asleep, or at play ?—This may do, if you wish to sail down with the stream, and be carried into the gulph below. But the course to heaven lies against the stream-and helm, and oars, and labor, and diligence, are indispensably necessary. "Let us "therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of entering “into his rest, any of you should seem to come short "of it." Amen.

DISCOURSE II.

REVIEW OF LIFE.

(LAST DAY OF THE YEAR.)

And God requireth that which is past.-Eccl. iii. 15.

WITH God nothing is past, nothing is future. IM

is his name, and this is his memorial in all generations. “One day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a "thousand years are as one day."

The very reverse of this is the case with us. For with us nothing is present: all is future, or past. Thus a man stands by the side of a river, and sees something swimming down the stream-now it is above him—and now it is below him-but it never stops before him-So of all the things that befal us in this world, to use the language of the poet,

But when they are gone by, we have not entirely done with them. Some consequences do remain, and others ought to remain-" and God requireth that which is

past." He demands an account of the past-and this we shall render hereafter he demands an improvement of the past-and this we must attend to now.

Let us then apply this to a review of our means-to a review of our mercies-to a review of our sorrowsand to a review of our sins. opportunity for this exercise, when we are closing another

We cannot have a better than the present season, period of our short and

VOL. 11.

fleeting time. While therefore the few remaining sands of the year are running out, let us remember, that God requires that which is past.

I. A review of our past means and privileges. God judges of things as they are: he knows that the body is nothing to the soul, or time to eternity! he has therefore graciously provided for our spiritual and everlasting welfare. He remembered us in our low estate, and devised a way in which his mercy could be exercised in harmony with his justice. This purpose of grace formed from before the foundation of the world was accomplished in the fulness of time. The friend of sinners came to seek and to save that which was lost. He was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. "All things are now ready"—

But you are to be made ready too: and hence the dispensation of the gospel, and all the advantages with which you have been indulged. By these, I mean your having been born in a land of vision where the Saviour of the world is known. I mean your having enjoyed the blessings of the reformation which gave each of you the scriptures in your mother tongue. In the original, the bible would have been no more to you than a fine well of water covered by a rock, which you could not move, or as so many beautiful pictures hung up in a dark room-but now the stone is rolled away from the well's mouth, and these pictures are placed in open day. I mean your having had the word of life, not only to read, but also to hear. I mean your having had ministers to call you to repentance, to warn you of your danger, to beseech you in Christ's stead to be reconciled unto God. I mean the various ordinances of the sanctuary, and all the helps to seriousness and devotion, which the goodness of God has afforded you.

These means of grace are unspeakably important, and you have had them in rich profusion: you have had line upon line, and precept upon precept. During the past year only you have to account for fifty-two sabbaths, and perhaps more than one hundred sermons !-What

influence have all these had upon your minds? Are you crucified to the world? Are you denying yourselves, and taking up your cross, and following the Saviour? Are your affections more spiritual, your principles more powerful, your minds more enlightened? Must we address you as our Lord did his disciples, "are ye also yet without understanding ?"—or as the apostle did the Hebrews, "when for the time ye ought "to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again "which be the first principles of the oracles of God; "and are become such as have need of milk, and not of "strong meat ?"

O let me call upon you to review all your opportunities, and means of instruction, and improvement: and compare yourselves with them. See whether the end of them has been answered at all; and whether your proficiency has been proportioned in any degree to the number and value of your privileges. Do not think your concern with them is all over-God requireth that which is past. "What is become of these advantages ? "to what purposes have you applied them? Where are "the fruits of them? They were given you as talents "to improve and if they have been useless, be assured "they will prove injurious. If they do not save they "will condemn; and if they are not the savor of life "unto life, they are the savor of death unto death."

:

The proprietor of the vineyard said, "behold these "three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and "find none.' "" Observe this. You sce God distinctly notices how many seasons of unprofitableness people have passed through. And if he thought of cutting down this tree because in a favorable situation, it had yielded nothing for three years only; what can he re.. solve, but the immediate destruction of those individuals who have been fruitless under the means of grace for ten, twenty, perhaps forty or sixty years! Surely the vine dresser himself cannot implore for such, one year, one month, one week more! "He that being often re