the best of friends. In the enjoyment of this most blessed hope, the lapse of years, so far from being a matter of regret, only animates the soul to a more lively expression of the Psalmist's prayer: “when shall I come to appear before God?" It reconciles us to, nay, it endears to us, the constitutional ravages of time; and cheers us with the bright promise of eternal youth. Be this the hope of all my dear Christian hearers; of him who ministers here in holy things; of those to whom he ministers! May it be the essence of all your joys, and the solace of all your sorrows! Set this hope always before you, my beloved: it is at your right hand; and you shall not be moved; for it is a hope full of immortality. Soon shall it be lost in the full enjoyment of things now unseen. What a Saviour is ours! How worthy of all our love, and all our praise! "A Saviour," as one observes, "whose eye brightens the path of affliction: whose efficacious blessing makes all things work together for good: gilded by whose smile, even death looks gay, and the grave no longer a den of destruction, but a peaceful avenue to those enduring mansions,

whose foundations are laid with sapphires: whose windows are of agate: the gates of carbuncle, and all the borders of pleasant stones!" There may we all meet, and dwell for evermore! Meanwhile, let us be sober, and watch unto prayer.

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SERMON XX.

CHRISTIAN DILIGENCE.

2 PETER iii. 14.

"Be diligent, that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless."

THERE can be no doubt that in the passage which forms our text, St. Peter is speaking in immediate allusion to the second coming of Christ to judge the world; of that day when, the heavens being on fire, the elements will melt with fervent heat: and the earth and the heaven will flee away, and there will be no place found for them. That day, which no man knoweth or can know, or can, without most unhallowed presumption, wish to know, the Son of Man will come with power and great glory, and

will raise the dead: some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. To be found of Him then peace, without spot and blameless, will be matter of inconceivable moment. Our being so found, however, will be seen to be most intimately connected with the Christian character which we have been enabled to sustain in this world, and with the state of soul in which we leave it. Oh! my brethren, how does this one consideration throw all other considerations into the shade! While year after year is closing upon us, and while the taper which, at any moment, may be blown out, is consuming itself, how impartial, how frequent ought to be our self-inquiries as to the situation in which we individually stand, with a reference to this momentous question! God may have prospered many of you in your worldly callings, and may He prosper you more and more! But if I may be permitted to express in your behalf the best wishes of my heart, they are simply these,-“ that you may in all things prosper and be in health, even as your souls prosper :" and that you may at length" be found of Christ in peace,

without spot, and blameless." To this end was the gospel sent unto you: with this view it is preached in your ears.

There are two particulars suggested by our text, to which I would direct your attention. I. The being found by our Lord at His coming, in peace, without spot, and blameless. And II. The diligence neces

sary

in order to so desirable an end.

I. When our blessed Lord shall come to judge the world in power and great glory, He will find us all-those who are in the flesh at the time, and those who have been previously removed by the hand of death— in those circumstances, with which our future and everlasting destinies will, in every respect, most accurately correspond." They that have done good, shall then go into everlasting life; and they that have done evil, into everlasting fire." Now, it stands on indelible record, that since the fall of our first parents, "that which is born of the flesh is flesh;" that " they who are in the flesh cannot please God;" nay, that "the carnal mind is enmity against God." It is said also, that "there is no peace to the wicked:" but that they are like the troubled

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