would have given-what would he not have given?-to call back the time which he had wasted in guilty indulgence; but it was then too late; he was shut up in that dismal prison, from which neither men nor angels could deliver him, where he was doomed to dwell in everlasting misery.

The resolution of Zaccheus, which he set himself at once to execute, was accepted and approved by Christ. How pleasing it was in his sight the Redeemer himself gave proof, when he declared, "This day is salvation come to this house." And they who break off resolutely, and at once, those evil courses which they have hitherto pursued, praying to God for his grace to support and guide them, may humbly hope that the salvation purchased by Christ for all his faithful servants, will be granted to them, if, as they have begun, they go steadily on: for if they are not wanting to themselves, God, who has begun a good work in them, will carry it forward till their day of trial is past, and they have entered into their rest. * Luke xix. 9.

This consideration may well press upon your thoughts the unspeakable value of time. Those precious hours which we are now wasting, (for we do waste them, if we suffer them to pass by without thinking of God and the service which we owe him, however busy we may be and active in the affairs of this life,)—those precious hours which we are now wasting, will rise up in judgment against us and condemn us. We shall then see that we have been placed, all of us, in situations where we might have served our heavenly Master by yielding ourselves up to his will, and governing our lives according to his commandments ; and that we have lived, as it were, without God in the world, thinking no more of him than if there had been no such Being, and giving no more heed to the Bible than we would to any idle tale, to which we might listen or not, as we felt ourselves disposed by the humour of the moment.

But can it be really believed, that they who have thought scorn of the law given them for their instruction, and intended to govern their lives, will fare the same as those who have obeyed it sincerely and steadily?

Can it be really believed, that God will put no distinction between those who make it their chief study to please him, and those who have him not at all in their thoughts? The notion is too absurd to be admitted for an instant. But Christ has himself declared, that "the hour cometh, in the which all that are in their graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and come forth; they that have done good unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation." Whoso is wise will think of these things and none can think seriously of them, without seeing the necessity of casting away at once "the works of darkness, and putting on the armour of light-of walking, from this time, soberly, as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying." Let them, therefore, from henceforth "put on the Lord Jesus Christ, render his rules of life as familiar to them by daily use as the clothes they wear, and not make provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereofm"

John v. 28, 29.

Rom. xiii. 12, 13.

SERMON XI.

THE DUTY OF TRAINING UP CHILDREN IN

RELIGIOUS HABITS.

PROVERBS Xxii. 6.

Train up a child in the way he should go; and, when he is old, he will not depart from it. THE advantage of being early exercised in those things which are to be practised hereafter, is so generally acknowledged and strongly felt, that brutes, no less than human beings, are regularly and carefully prepared for the different employments to which they are destined. The dog, who is to take his part in the sports of the field, is fitted for his future work by a long course of training. The horse also must be brought to obey the bit and the bridel, by frequent and, it may be, painful discipline.

Is it then to be supposed, that man alone can obtain, without any effort of attention, those habits which are to qualify him for the right performance of his several duties in this life, and for happiness in the next?

Doubtless much has been done for him, by a gracious Redeemer, who died on the cross to procure for him the pardon of his sins, and an everlasting abode in the heavens: so much indeed has been done for him, that, without the mercy of Jesus Christ, the gates of heaven would have been shut against him. But then these blessings are not designed for the careless or the wickedfor those who think not of God, or mock at his commandments-they are intended, on the contrary, to render our earnest endeavours effectual, to crown with success a patient and persevering obedience to God's will in the discharge of our daily duties for our assistance in this undertaking, the aid of the Holy Spirit is promised to each, if we will but seek after it by earnest prayer, and follow the directions which the Holy Spirit addresses to our consciences.

Since therefore so much has been done