glory in the world to come, whose days are passed here on earth, in wickedness, forgetfulness, and folly? What hope can there be of forgiveness to the souls of those who are given up to the sinful pleasures of the world? What hope can there be that they shall ever live with the angels of heaven, who choose amongst men the wickedest and the worst companions that they can find? If there is any truth in the word of Him who cannot lie, then let us not be deceived: for He has told us by St. Paul, that whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap and they who live in wickedness shall reap the punishments threatened against their lives, as surely as they who live in righteousness shall gather the rewards which have been promised to theirs. Let no man think that he shall ever get to heaven if he attempt to carry his sins with him, instead of casting them away. It is not by a life of thoughtlessness and vanity, it is not by giving way to the sinful lusts of the flesh, it is not by breaking the sabbaths, it is not by drunkenness and swearing, it is not by malice and uncharitableness, that we can be called

the sons of God, or hope to be heirs of His glory: it is by much faith in Christ our Saviour, by much watchfulness and care, by much seriousness of conduct, by much prayer to God for help, by much patience under affliction, by much charity in thought and word as well as in deed, by much sorrow for past sins, by earnest endeavours to become better day by day, that the soul of man may hope to rise to everlasting joy when it is called upon to quit the body.

And is this, my brethren, a state which is easily to be reached by us, who by our very nature are inclined to sin, and are every hour tempted to sin? is it an easy task for lost sinners to become holy and acceptable to God? Let any of us consider for a moment and compare his own life, his own character, with that of Jesus Christ, the only perfect man that ever trod the earth let him remember that His example was given for us to follow, then let him ask at his own heart how far it has been followed by himself. To smite upon our breasts, and cry God be merciful to me a sinner, is what we shall all surely find that

waste the time

If the righteous

we have too much reason to do! O then, if it is not so easy a matter for a man to save his soul-if the best of us fall very far short of being perfect, if even they could never get to heaven but for the death of Christ to take away sin, why should we neglect, why should we that is given us on earth? scarcely shall be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? if the kingdom of heaven is only to be obtained by those who set their affections on it, and strive without ceasing, by God's help, to become fit for it, what must the end be of those who obey not the gospel of God? whose affections, instead of being set on heaven, are all fixed upon the vanities, pleasures, and sins of this world, and who, instead of preparing with all their hearts for the life to come, appear never to be thinking of it at all?

But if it is a difficult matter for a man, even with the best endeavours, to get rid of the sinfulness which belongs to him by nature, and to become prepared for that world of glory to which we are called; if the work that we have to do to save our

souls is great, consider also how short and uncertain is the time that is given us to do it in. Too many of us live more as if we counted upon being here for ever, than as if we were to be called away we know not how soon.

Our Saviour reminds us in the text that the night is coming, the long night of death, when we can labour and work no longer for the good of our souls: thereby cautioning us, as a friend who loves us, to make the best use of our time, and to labour while it is called to-day, before that night shall overtake us. Our reason must have been given us to very little purpose, if we have not the sense to see that this is what we ought to do. What can we do when our blood has ceased to run? when the breath has left our bodies, when all our limbs are cold and stiff, when we are nothing better than a lump of clay, and know no more of what is passing round us than the dust to which we are returning? No, my brethren, if we are to become acceptable to God, if we are to repent of our sins, if we are to obtain that forgiveness without which we

must perish everlastingly, we must do it. before we go down to the grave, or we cannot do it all. How soon you or I shall be summoned to take this last journey, God only knows how soon that sun which now shines upon us, cheering and warming us with its beams, shall be hidden from us for ever; how soon the places which we now fill shall be left by us to make way for others, we cannot tell: but carry your thoughts a little back, and call to mind the numbers of your kindred and acquaintance who once smiled and talked with you, but are now gone from your sight never to return, and then ask yourselves what you have to trust to that you shall long be here. They had the same flesh, and bones, and blood that we have-they had the same blessings, the same hopes, the same prospects of life; but they are gone, many of them in the prime and flower of their days. And shall we trust to outward appearances? to strong limbs, and healthy cheeks, and merry hearts? Why, let but one of the many enemies of our bodies come upon us, let but a fever or an ague visit us, the