works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect."

2. It shall be well with the righteous in this world. Outward circumstances may be unpromising; but the inward state of his mind is well. He has omniscience to direct him, omnipotence to protect him, and infinite fulness to supply his wants. God is present with him as a cloud by day, and as a pillar of fire by night. Is he poor? He can trust in God. Is he rich? His riches are sanctified, and enable him to do good. Is he in pain? He knows it will work for good, otherwise his heavenly Father would not have permitted it to come upon him. Do men despise him? He knows God sets a great value upon him, and looks down with complacency. It is well with him in times of public danger. The sword may go. through the land; but he is safe. The plague may rage; but he fears no danger. Earthquakes may shake the ground; but he stands firm on the Rock of Ages. Famine may prevail; but his bread shall be sure, and his water shall not fail. Thus he lives: but how does he die? When death approaches all is well. His work is done, and he lies down in peace. God is with him, and he fears no evil. Holy angels stand

around his bed, and wait to conduct him to his Father's house. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." 0 the calmness, the sweetness of a dying saint! He would not exchange his situation with the proudest monarch on earth. The world has nothing to court his stay: heaven has every thing that his soul desires. "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his." Death is the end of this life, and then another life begins.

3. But it shall be well with the righteous in the world to come. "They shall eat the fruit of their doings." This is a figure borrowed from husbandry. The husbandman breaks up his ground, sows his seed, and watches over it with constant care. He labours hard; and meets with many discouragements. Perhaps the seasons may be unfriendly, the fowls of the air, or the beasts of the field may visit his inclosure, and noxious weeds may spring up in abundance; but he waits for the harvest, when all his labour and care meet with a full reward. He gathers his corn, he makes his bread, and eats the fruit of his doings. This life is a (seed time. "Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap." We sow with labour and care; but the harvest comes, and we eat the fruit of our doing. God will reward the righteous. They do not deserve what he will give; but he is gracious, The

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reward will not be of debt, but of grace. God has promised, and he is faithful, We claim no merit, but our claim to the reward is as good as if we had all the merit to which some, pretend.

Look forward, ye righteous, with joy ful hope! You may sow in tears, but ye shall reap in joy. You may go forth sorrowing, but ye shall return rejoicing, bringing your sheaves with you. Think nothing of your toils, and pains, and labours. Heaven will recompense the just. Only be faithful to the end. Turn not aside from the holy commandment. Prize your present privileges; and prize your future hopes. Never exchange them for any thing that this world can give. If it were to give -you all it has, you would be infinite losers by 'the exchange. You would exchange solid happiness for vanity and disappointment; you would exchange a heaven of glory for a hell of pain and shame!

II. IT SHALL BE ILL WITH THE WICKED.

Wickedness is either secret or open. All are wicked by nature; but some endeavour to conceal it, and others glory in their shame. The wicked who conceal their wickedness are abhorred of God, and the openly, wicked are abhorred both of God and man. It shall be ill with both. The woes of God belong to them-alike.

Were we to judge by external appear ances, this passage would be difficult to explain. "The wicked flourish like the green bay-tree." They are merry, they laugh, they sing, they dance; but there is a worm within which preys upon their vitals. We must form our judgment of men rather by their inward feelings than their outward shew.

1. Woes are pronounced against them by the God of heaven, at whose word hell quakes and devils tremble. Woe to them in prosperity! God is against them. Their pleasures are mingled with poison: their riches are à snare and temptation; and their honours lead to disgrace. Woe to them in adversity! God and men forsake them. To whom will they turn in days of-darkness and distress? Woe to them when they reflect! They cannot bear their own reflections. Conscience, which should be a guide, becomes a plague. Woe to them when the judgments of God are abroad! They cannot escape. "They are cast down as in a moment, and are consumed with terror." Woe to them in the hour of death! They turn their pale faces to the wall, and die without hope. A heavy burden of guilt weighs them down, and they sink like lead in deep waters. Woe

to them in the next world; for "the labour of their hands thall be given them." They

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have laboured in the work of iniquity, and their reward shall be given in full weight and measure. Their works shall follow and overtake them in a future world.

2. Recollect the character of God who pronounces these woes. "God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth, the Lord revengeth, and is fúrious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies." He bears long, and is not willing that any should perish; but when he ariseth in judgment, we shall find "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." But is there no hope? Is there no remedy? Yes, blessed be God, who waiteth to be gracious! It is in the power of man to prevent these woes.

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may obtain mercy. There is a friend in heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ, who pleads for guilty man. Hear his call: "Look unto me, all the ends of the earth, and be ye saved; for I am the Lord." The time will come when there will be no remedy. "He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy." Secure, then, the present moment, Return to your God. Humble yourselves before him, and he will enable you to say, "O Lord, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me."