however lawful he may regard it, he is guilty of idolatry. That object which has the greatest share of your attention and affection is your idol, and I need not attempt to particularize the various idolaters: pleasure-takers, &c.

Has this world, or the world to come, most of your thoughts? Have the things of this world, or those of the world to come, most of your affections? Perhaps you say, God has not left

"I keep all things in their proper place. me here to be idle." I admit it; but whether has He or these things the greatest share in your heart? Stifle not conscience; if it accuse, do not palliate. If you ask the inward monitor, it will inform you. That you may not deceive yourselves, answer the following question: If you had your choice offered you by God, to live in this world forever with all your possessions, or to die and be with Him forever, which would you accept? You know you would choose this world. It follows that in it is your heart bound up; you are an idolater in the sight of God!

Now of you, as well as of Ephraim, God says, "he is joined to idols," cemented together. God utters not this indifferently; it is not unconcernedly addressed. He still mournfully calls them "my people," and the endearing name of Israel brings all to his recollection. So with us. They were no people; even those who bear my name, they are now joined to idols.

II. "Let him alone!", When God says this, how awful.

1. He ceases chastising him; ceases sending him cross providences. The wicked are now left to prosper; why should they be stricken any more? they will only revolt more and more. God often loosened the roots which bound them to the world; he often disappointed them in their prospects in life, that they might not take too deep a root in earth; he often corrected them with sickness in their own persons or in their families, to show them the little dependance to be placed on all things here. Men do not look at this; they do not mind this; they do not read, "whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth;" they heed none of these things. They would not think of him in health; in love to their

souls, he sent them sickness: then they murmured under it, and kicked against their God. He again raised them up; he gave them worldly good: they forgot the Giver. He took it away; they repined; they were as bullocks unaccustomed to the yoke. He fed them as in his own stall; He gave them his easy yoke of duties, which ought to have been lovely; they would not draw in it. By gentle treatment, he goaded them; they kicked against the pricks, and were, as himself says, "a backsliding heifer." "I will chastise no more; let him alone; let the wicked prosper in his ways; let him live sumptuously; let his roots strike deep and extend wide; let him fill himself with his own devices; let him alone; let him be in great prosperity; his heart is set on earth; he shall therefore bow himself down alway. Let him alone!"

2. God the Father, besides this his own act of chastising, commands his angels to forsake him! We walk in the invisible world: if the veil were removed, what should we see bursting on our minds? We are surrounded by evil spirits, and, but for the counteracting agency of those angels, who are all ministering spirits from God, our circumstances would be horrible! But the sinner has refused salvation; he cares not for the adoption or the glory! God, therefore, commands these spirits to withdraw their influence. This he does not in petulance or passion; no such feeling can exist in him; but justice requires it. The solemn message echoes in heaven, "Let him alone!" and angels hear the plaintive strain, give a last look, and bid farewell! "No more your guardian care his steps attend!" Farewell! "let him alone!"

3. Even God the Son now ceases his office. He had long prayed, "Father, spare him this year also!" Love had long been exercised; mercy rejoiced over judgment. But the time was now come of which he had said, "Then thou shalt cut him down! I now deliver him up to thee; thou mayst do with him now as thou pleasest." Though I have long prayed for him, it is useless; "let him alone!" ** 4. God the Spirit now ceases to act. "God's Spirit does not always strive with man ;" the Spirit has become quench

ed. He has long been striving for admittance into his heart; he has long been knocking without, and saying, "Open unto me; behold, my locks are wet with the dew of night;" but he has despised him, and God now says, "Let him alone!" There is a particular time in every man's life in which God is peculiarly zealous in drawing the soul; that time may be about to pass with regard to many of you!

He is now an independent being! he is now "like God,” as the devil temptingly said to our first parents; and oh! what is a creature independent! God, who takes care even of sparrows, now ceases to regard him; he is a blank in creation; forsaken of his God and of his all!

III. The awful consequences. now given up of God!

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Look at the man who is

1. How would you gaze upon the unhappy character if produced? but what if thou art thyself the man? No longer the concern of Heaven! Angels have left the once happy station and office of ministering to such a one! Infernal spirits alone surround him! They rivet the chains of sin; they keep him bound; laugh at the prospect of his now being theirs, and exult over his fall. He was destined to be an heir of glory, and for this purpose once had ministering spirits; now he is an heir of hell, and is ministered unto by devils! His name, instead of being written in the Book of Life, is now written in the Book of Death. Chained by them to the galley of sin, he toils at the oar, works for Satan, and is paid his wages-eternal death!

2. He has no longer any interest in the intercession of Christ. "He has long withstood his grace, long provoked him to his face!" like his father the devil, an outcast from Heaven, reserved in chains of darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Like the enemy, his head is full of light, but his heart is unchanged, and his light adds to his condemnation.

3. No longer any sweet meltings of desire after Heaven! no longer any drawings of the Father, under which he could mourn and weep his life away for having grieved his love. No longer a conscience tender as the apple of an eye-it is seared as with a hot iron; a walking spectre! a condemned

criminal waiting the hour of his execution! Dead while he lives! cursed with blindness of mind as well as hardness of heart. He comes to hear God's word sometimes, merely from an itching of curiosity; he hears the terrors of God's wrath held forth; he hears there is a hell; he hears there is a gnawing worm, a quenchless fire, and he knows that the God of Truth has declared it; but he is dead to all. His conscience is so hardened that the word rebounds from it as from a wall; it leaves no impression. He hears the sweet strains of a blood-bought salvation held up to his view; he sees the affecting exhibitions of a Redeemer's love, and hears that he may feel that love shed abroad in his heart; but still he feels no meltings under the word; his heart is flint and his eyes are dry; he goes away regardless of the joys of heaven or the torments of hell. Ah! miserable soul! no longer any convictions; and yet this is the surest proof of his fall!

4. Thus he lives, and now he comes to die-no hope beyond the grave. He now begins to fear a judgment to come; and, to quiet his accusing conscience, perhaps partakes of the elements of the body and blood of the Saviour, but it is without any acquaintance with him. He was not his one great good while alive, and now he mocks him in the agonies of death! He has no guardian angels in his chamber; "the good man's chamber is a spot favoured beyond the common walks of mortal life;" but here all is sullen gloom. Devils themselves hold guard, watching for the last gasp, and ready to drag his spirit to its awful doom. Ah! deluded man!"God now laughs at thy calamity, and mocks when thy fear cometh!" (Pope's case at Bolton,) *

5. And now his last scene comes on; the judgment is set and the books opened! The devil anxiously brings his miserable captives, while the angels of God fly through the flaming world to gather the children of God: but behold the emissaries of Satan with this man! Satan heard the decree passed condemning him on earth; he saw its execution fulfilled by the departure of the angels of God from his person, and he now tauntingly insults the man; and, as winged seraphs dart along to carry the faithful, Satan cries,

E

"Let him alone! he is mine, and mine he shall ever be !" The awful sentence is pronounced, "Depart, thou cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." Christ had often said "Come;" now, "Depart!"

Application.-Examine yourselves; I have not the pow er; but know ye not your own selves whether ye are reprobates? I hold out no gleam of hope! I do not say what you may be; but, sinner, I would fasten on thy present state, Thou art the man! What part of hell shall be punishment sufficient for Gospel-hardened sinners! It is not the religion of your fathers that will save you; it is not the religion of your ministers, however great may be their piety. You must answer for yourself. By yourself you shall stand or fall! and it will not do to appeal to this or that man as the person to whom you looked for aid, and who has led you astray.

And are you not concerned? Shall the deceivableness of the wicked one still overspread your minds? Are you well pleased to drag out your existence here, and then to drop into hell? Can you lie in your beds in this state? You know not how soon you may be cut down; you know not how soon death may come Oh! awake, awake! *

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SERMON V.

THE SAVIOUR INTERCEDING.

Hebrews, vii., 25.-Seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

THIS subject not sufficiently thought upon by us, nor dwelt on by ministers.

I. The office itself which our Lord is represented as sustaining.

II. The purposes for which he sustains it.

III. We may add an improvement of the whole.