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and sanctifying salvation of the gospel elevates its humble. and self-denying followers."

Neither do men reflect more upon the nature, than upon the worth of Christ's salvation. They do not reflect upon the conditions of the covenant in which it is contained; upon their suitableness to the relations subsisting between God and man; the uniformity of their application; and the unchangeableness of their character. They seem willing to take for granted, without the trouble of examination, that these conditions are not the same to all persons, and at all times, indiscriminately. Some inconsiderately conclude that they impose a yoke too grievous to be borne; and, trusting in their vague apprehensions of divine mercy, give themselves no trouble about compliance with them. Others inconsiderately conclude that they are accommodated to the lusts and evil-propensions of fallen man, relieving him from the severity of God's law, and permitting him to live at his ease; and imagine that outward profession affords evidence sufficiently credible of their compliance with them. Neither of these two descriptions of people will consider--neither of them can be brought to reflect that he mistakes the conditions of the covenant-that evangelical repentance implies reformation from dead works-reformation unto life--a hearty detestation and relinquishing of sin—a sincere love and pursuit of holiness-that evangelical faith is invariably a faith that works by love--a faith that purifies the heartand is victorious over a tempting world. How many misconceptions respecting the nature of the covenant of grace, and its mild, but equitable and holy conditions, are assignable to inconsideration?

FIFTH.-Too many there are, it should seem, who pass through life without bestowing a serious thought on the manner in which they conduct themselves, or the result to which their actions and conversation tend. It troubles them to anticipate consequences. They dread the pain of retrospection. "Every one that doeth evil," said our Lord on a

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certain occasion, "hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved."* To business and to pleasure he resorts that he may avoid self-accusation. Amidst the din and bustle of the world, conscience is not heard. From its facinating dissipations, sober thought retires. The honest and faithful trial of self at the bar of enlightened reason, the persons to whom I have reference, dare not abide. It would lead to a condemnation which would be painful; in as much as it would demand the immediate amendment of their ways and their doings; the immediate dereliction of cherished iniquities; the immediate divorce of the heart from its idols-of the senses from their dear but destructive lusts.

SIXTH.-The precarious tenure by which sinners hold their present existence, is not weighed by them in the balance of just and sober reflection. They live as if death were a chimera; as if this were their home; as if their foundation were deeply, strongly, and immovably laid in a continuing city, walled with everlasting adamant. They go forth in the morning to their labours, or their wonted chase of enjoyment. Funeral after funeral passes before their eyes. At every turn, badges of mourning remind them that a spirit has gone to its dreadful account. But how rarely does the thought occur, even for a moment, "this day may be my last: this very night, perhaps, my soul may be required of me." O, how do men presume upon a pulse that beats this moment, and may beat no more! They know not how soon their last breath may go out, the last glimmer of the lamp of life sink into darkness; they are in total ignorance of this, and they will not consider! They sing and dance, and carouse and revel, on the edge of damnation. Deluded men! Think not, if indeed you will be at the pains to bestow a thought even here, think not that you can avert or delay the visitation of death, by expelling the contemplation of his spectral horrours from your minds. Remember that your times are not in your own hands. "With God the

John, iii. 20.

Lord are the issues of death." "He bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up." You know not what the revolution of one hour may produce: and if you were wise, if you would consider your latter end, you would live as though every revolving hour were to be your last.

SEVENTH, AND LAST.-The greater part of the Christian world will not allow themselves to look with steady regard upon those eternal things which are invisible to the bodily eye. In their estimation, an air of uncertainty envelops the other world. But were they to consider matters as they ought, this uncertainty would afford them no solid plea for continuing in sin. On their admission, there may be a state of final recompenses. Would it not, then, be prudent to prepare themselves for it? And should we grant that they will experience no return of benefit and advantage hereafter, are not wisdom's ways thick strewn with pleasures, which, even in the present life, compensate the renunciation of vicious indulgences? But, thanks be to God, even the Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, on this subject there is no uncertainty. Revelation divests it of every doubt. The Divine Existence is not now more evident, than the everlasting existence decreed for man. "Life and immortality are brought to light by the gospel of him who hath abolished death," and broken the prison bars of the grave. “A resurrection both of the just and the unjust" is announced; and at the trumpet of the Archangel, the magnificent event shall be accomplished. "But who considers, as he ought, this subject, at once so awful and so delightful? Who carries his devout meditations within the veil that overhangs the invisible world? Who revolves in his mind the irreversible recompenses of eternity? Who ascends on the wings of a contemplative faith to the abodes of the just made perfect, or looks down with pious dread upon the habitations of despair? Who weighs in the balance things future against things present-things invisible against things which are

2. Tim. i. 10.

seen-things eternal against things temporal?" O, thou spirit of inconsideration! what ruin dost thou not carry through God's moral creation? What sin is it that thou dost not engender? What misery is it that thou dost not inflict? What thanks are not due to thee from the power of darkness, for the souls which thou has bound in his chains?

Thus, I have made it appear that inconsideration, in a very conspicuous degree, and to a very deplorable extent, is chargeable upon those who, while they are, outwardly, professors of Christ's discipline, in works deny him.

If there be such in my audience, I must be permitted to entreat them to abjure this most pernicious principle of inconsideration. In vain has God given you reason, if you will not use it. In vain has he recorded his will on the page of inspiration, if you will not study it. In vain does he address you in the words of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Ghost, if you will not lend a patient and attentive hearing. Let me counsel you to seek after God, and to keep him continually in your thoughts. Consult the end of your being, and the true felicity of your nature. Weigh well your great and manifold obligations to Heaven. Reflect much on the nature and inestimable value of the Christian salvation. Think seriously on your general course of conduct, and the result to which your actions and conversation tend. Bear constantly in mind the precariousness of the tenure by which you hold your present existence. “Look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen, are temporal; but the things which are not seen, are eternal." Regard not the present state as your final destination. Have respect unto the recompense of reward. Meditate much upon the ultimate issues of things-of death-judgment-Heaven --hell--eternity. And pray to God that he would be pleased so to teach you to number the days of the years of your pilgrimage, that you may apply your hearts to the wisdom of the just.-Amen.

SERMON XIII.

ON INCONSIDERATION.

AS CHARGEABLE AGAINST THE MERELY NOMINAL

CHRISTIAN,

ISAIAH, i. 3.

"My people doth not consider."

I HAVE already animadverted at some length on the fault of inconsideration, as chargeable upon two descriptions of characters in the visible church; the true believer, and the baptized sinner; the man of real goodness, and the mere nominalist. Deeming it advisable to pursue the subject farther, as it respects persons of the latter class, my present design is to represent to such, with all plainness and sincerity, the pernicious tendency, and, in very many cases, the fatal effects, of inconsideration. And may the Holy Ghost open their eyes and incline their hearts to attend to the things which belong to their peace, before they be eternally hidden from them!-Amen.

It

Inconsideration, then, let it be remarked, keeps men in ignorance on the only points which are of essential importance to them. It deadens their moral sensibilities. renders them criminally and dangerously indifferent to the great salvation of the gospel. It reduces and detains them under bondage to corrupt affections. It contributes more than any other thing, perhaps, to the victories of temptation. It betrays them into refuges of lies, and encourages them to build their confidence on the most deceptive foundations. FIRST.--Inconsideration keeps men in ignorance on the

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