men confirmed in their native degeneracy, are dead in trespasses and sins; that he who liveth in pleasure, is even dead while he liveth.

Let us then consider the magnitude and difficulty of the task assigned us. Let us work out our eternal salvation with fear and trembling; and, to accomplish this important purpose, let us without delay rise and be doing. Let us attend to the call of our Master. Let us work while it is day, for the night cometh, when no man can work. Having gifts differing according to the grace of God that is given to us, let us, in our respective stations, do our duty faithfully from the heart; not as men-pleasers, but as the conscientious servants of God. Let him that teacheth, wait with zeal and diligence on his teaching. Let him that ruleth, consider himself as appointed to be a terror to evil works, but the minister of God for good to those who do well. In whatever way we may be enabled to promote the welfare of our neighbour, let us give with simplicity to the relief of both his temporal and spiritual necessities. Let mercy, on all occasions, be showed with cheerfulness. In a word, let love to God and man be without dissimulation, and we shall not be slothful in the proper business of rational and immortal creatures; we shall be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.

And what service can be more honourable, or more advantageous? If there be any among us who have hitherto refused to comply with the invitations of this bountiful Master; who are now totally immersed in the business or the pleasures of the world; let me with. the utmost seriousness exhort them to consider, that the evening of this day of trial is fast approaching: that the mighty hand of death will soon rend from their

cance.

fond embraces all those temporal possessions, to which they are now cleaving with such ardent affection: that in this awful hour, without a title to the joys of heaven, the acquisition of the whole world will be of no signifiWhat melancholy deprivation must surround that immortal spirit; what terror and dismay must overwhelm it, when launching forth into the eternal world; if no provision be made for its future wellbeing no prop to sustain it, no refreshment to repair its decaying powers, no friend to minister consolation? Let heedless mortals be persuaded, while the accepted time and the day of salvation continues, to guard against the assaults of these terrible evils. Why stand they idle, all the day, when so much work is yet to be done, and such are the awful consequences of inattention and idleness? If they believe the Gospel, and their practice has hitherto been so inconsistent with their principles; let a sound faith from this moment have its due effect, and begin to be productive of a holy life and conversation. As the apostle exhorted some of the primitive believers-" Let the time past of your life suffice to "have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when ye "walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, re"vellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries. "Soon shall ye be called to give account to him that " is ready to judge the quick and the dead. The end "of all earthly things is at hand; begin, therefore, "immediately, to be sober and to watch unto prayer.”

Surely, the longest life that is commonly allotted to man here below, ought not to be deemed too long a period to be devoted to the service of God, if we may thereby attain a happy immortality. Are there any, who, having been dedicated to Christ in their infancy,

have endeavoured to serve him with fidelity from their early youth? Let them go on their way rejoicing. Let nothing seduce them from the paths of that heavenly wisdom, which they know from happy experience to be full of pleasantness and peace. Are there any, who, having lost many of their first years in vain amusements, corroding cares, or vicious gratifications, began at a later period to serve God in truth and sincerity; who have entered, at the sixth or in the ninth hour, into the vineyard of their heavenly Master? Let them by future industry compensate for past neglect. Let them endeavour, by increasing diligence, to redeem the time that has been mispent. And then, they may rest assured, that the labourer will not be disappointed of his hire: whatsoever is right, they also will receive in the hour of general retribution.

We serve a gracious Master. He giveth liberally to every man, and upbraideth not.-Let us learn,

4thly. From the passage of Scripture now under consideration, to ascribe the reward that will hereafter be given to God's dutiful people, to his mere bounty and unmerited loving-kindness. The wages of sin is death; but eternal life is the gift of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. It is lawful for him to do what he will with his own-to offer the perfect felicity of heaven upon any terms that may seem best to his infinite wisdom: highly, then, does it concern us, to inquire diligently what his will is, respecting this momentous subject. This is sufficiently revealed to mankind, in the Scriptures of everlasting truth. Here we are taught; that by wilful disobedience, man was precluded from the benefit of God's promise, and forfeited his title to life and immortality: that the com

passionate Parent of the universe was graciously pleased to enter into a covenant of mercy with his fallen creatures, through the mediation of a Redeemer: that after man might have been justly abandoned to the effects of his own perverseness to sin and to consequent misery; he is now wonderfully restored to the capacity of obtaining eternal salvation: that the appointed means of accomplishing this great end are repentance for our guilt and depravity, hearty faith in the merits of our Redeemer, and a sincere desire to be obedient to all his laws prescribed in the blessed Gospel. These are the instituted terms of attaining to immortal life and joy; and, in every view of the subject, it must be acknowledged that the Lord is good. It was goodness alone that devised a method of restoration to the divine favour. It is mere goodness that induces him to bestow the least reward upon our most perfect services, who, after we have done all, are to him unprofitable servants. For ever blessed be his abundant grace and mercy, that our everlasting salvation is not now suspended upon the condition of entire obedience to the divine law; for, upon these terms, in the present degenerate state of our nature, were God to be extreme in marking what we do amiss, who could stand justified before him? The economy of redemption by Jesus Christ is a dispensation of mercy provided, not for perfect creatures, but expressly calculated for the relief of penitent sinners. In this situation, let us labour in the vineyard of our Master; let us be as industrious, as careful to maintain good works, as if the happiness of heaven were to be merited by our own exertions: but, when we come to receive our reward, our language will be-"Not unto

"us, O Lord; not unto us; but unto thy name as"cribe all the praise!" And to produce this disposition of mind, it may be remarked,

In the last place, that the day is far spent: with every one of us the hour of retribution is at hand: are we ready to meet our Master, cheered with an humble reliance on his promise, with a steady expectation of approaching bliss? If the time past of our life has been wasted in unprofitable indolence, or what is worse, in active wickedness; let us remain no longer idle, as to the most important business which immortal creatures were sent here to perform; but let us listen to the invitations of the great Householder of the whole family in heaven and earth, and cordially engage in his service. Why should we stand all the day idle? It cannot be said, that no man is willing to hire us. The Son of God persuades, exhorts, commands us to abound in works of righteousness, under the comfortable assurance of an ample recompense for all our labours-by patient continuance in well-doing, we may obtain glory, and honour, and immortality. After a few fleeting years, of what avail will be all the heaps of vanity which the children of this world are now gathering round them? How will the workers of wickedness, the proud infidel, the impious scoffer; the stupid sensualist, then lament their folly, for remaining amidst the thorns and briars of the wilderness; when they might have been engaged in the dignified employment of serving the most bountiful Master; when they might have regaled themselves, even here, with the pleasant fruits of his vineyard; and have been entitled hereafter to a joy unspeakable and full of glory?