-justified you then he will glorify you. O yield to his loving hands, you that are not far from the kingdom of God! Let him wash you, for then he will carry you to glory. Amen.

Dundee, Oct. 30, 1841.-(Action Sermon.)

SERMON XLIX.

MAN THAT IS BORN OF A WOMAN.

"Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not."-JOB xiv. 1, 2.

THREE things are taught us in these words.

1. The beauty of man: "He cometh forth like a flower." -Verse 2. There is something beautiful about man. He was made at first in the image of God; and though sin has blighted and defaced that image, yet there are the traces of God's workmanship to be seen in man still. His body is fearfully and wonderfully made; and the soul, though wholly averse from God by nature, is yet a lost piece of silver. 2. He is short-lived: " Of few days-he cometh forth like a flower." When Pharaoh asked Jacob how old

he was, although he was one hundred and thirty years old, he said: "Few and evil have the days of the years of my life been"-few, compared with the life of other men. Some of the patriarchs lived nine hundred years; Methuselah nine hundred and sixty-nine. How few are our days compared with this!-few, compared to eternity-few, when we think of the work to be done. 3. Full of trouble. If his few days were all full of joy, it would not be so sad but they are full of trouble; and those that are most anxious for worldly pleasure generally have deepest troubles. Troubles of the body, and of the mind, and of the estate, come upon the back of one another like wave

a case,

upon wave.

We have had solemn experience of these truths within these few days. There have been five solemn deaths, all

connected with our parish, and, taken together, they form a practical commentary on these words. 1. Two children died, both lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death not far divided. They were full of promise, and their fond relatives looked forward to their being a joy and comfort to them. They came forth like a flower, and were cut down. 2. A young man in his prime. He had reached the vigour of manhood, and thought to see many good days in the land of the living; but God changed his countenance, and he has passed away. 3. Another was the blooming mother of eight blooming children, beloved and admired by all around her, with all this world could give to make her happy; but the cry came at midnight. She came forth like a flower, and was cut down. 4. The last was an aged man, called upon, after long forbearance, to give in his account. How solemn the lesson! The child-the young man—the mother—the hoary head— are all laid low this day! "Man that is born of a woman

is of few days."

Some of

1. Learn the need of immediate conversion. you are angry that I speak so much of conversion; but, ah! when I stand beside these open graves, I am ashamed of myself for speaking so little. "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." Repent, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out."

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Children, seek conversion now, for little children die. These new-made graves are less than yours would be. Young men, seek conversion now, for young men die-they are cut down in their prime. Mothers, do not say you will seek conversion afterwards, when your family are grown, and you have more leisure-seek it now, for mothers die. Old men, do not say this is nothing to you. Others may die, but you must die; and therefore the lesson comes doubly home to you: Seek conversion now.

2. Learn the folly of living in pleasure. There is no net by which the devil catches more souls than the silken one of worldly pleasure. It is common for worldly people to take it for granted that there is no harm in these things. Children are fond of games; young people delight in dances, and songs, and laughter; coarser spirits love the glass, and the glee, and the coarse debauch; more polished circles love the ball, and the concert, and the play; and old withered dames, and swearing captains, tottering on the brink of eternity, could hardly sleep at night without their

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hand at whist. Where is the harm? Sit down upon yon grave, and ask the dead. Are you not Christless-unpardoned-unholy-on the road to hell? Are your days not numbered? May you not be cut down this night? Where would you be if you were hurried away from the dance, or the play, or the card-table, to the presence of your Judge ? Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment." "Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided?" "She that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth." This is the time for seeking conversion.

Are we to have no pleasure, then? Yes, in Christholy pleasures, such as are at God's right hand for evermore. Ah! I have tasted all the pleasures of time, and they are not worth one drop of Christ's sweet love.

3. Learn to seek one another's souls. Ah! there is no place for teaching ministers how to speak like the deathbed. I often feel that I have never preached at all, when I look upon the faces of the dying! O pray for me, that I may go out and in among you more faithfully-that I may speak more boldly, and not fear your anger or reproaches! You will not be angry with me when you are dead. You will not say I preached too plainly then.

Brethren in the eldership! Come and help me in this. You see our people are dying; hundreds are now in eternity who were once under your care and mine.

Dear teachers! Teach the children plainly, for children die. Do not mind their impatience and waywardness. Remember they are dying children-Death's mark is on them. The forester puts a mark round the trees that are to be cut down. Every child has got Death's mark. Parents! Seek your children's souls from infancy. Pray for them before they are born. Travail in birth with them till Christ be formed in them. Do not say they are too young, and cannot understand. God can teach babes.

O if you neglect this, will you not regret it when the green sod lies on their breast?

4. Learn how unable you are to bear the wrath of God.

In the time of health and strength, it is common for men to boast against God. They are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued like other men; therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain. They can sin with a high hand. But when they are brought to the brink of the grave by fever or wasting consumption—when they need some one to turn them on their bed, or to hold up their fainting head, or to feed them with a spoon like a child-then we see that a sinner is nothing in the hands of an angry God. And O what will it be in eternity, when he falls into the hands of the living God! Perhaps he doubted whether there was a God; but all of a sudden he sees there is a God. He thought there was no Christ-in a moment he meets his holy eye. He thought there was no hell, and laughed at those who believed it-in a moment he is tossing among its fiery waves; and now he feels it must be eternal. After a thousand years it is but beginning, and no nearer an end. The soul will sink into insupportable gloom-it will wish to die, and not be able. “What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath, fitted to destruction?" O brethren, flee from the wrath to come! You cannot bear it. Can you bear a fever, or the stroke of palsy, or a stroke of lightning, or wasting consumption? and these are but the little finger of God's anger.

Our

5. Learn the preciousness of Jesus. "Man is of few days," but "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever." How amazing the love of Christ, that he died for us-such poor, weak flowers, and worms of a day! How safe we are in Jesus! Although we are nothingfleeing like a shadow-yet in him we abide for ever. very dust is precious dust to him. Body and soul he will bring with him, and we shall reign for ever and ever. you that are in Christ, prize him! solve it now by running to him. choose him now.

Dundee, Feb. 20, 1842.

You that are in doubt, You that are out of him,

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SERMON L.

CHRIST, A LAW-MAGNIFYING SAVIOUR.

Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see. Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent ? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the Lord's servant? Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not. The Lord is well-pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.”—Isa. xlii. 18-21.'

I. The name here given to sinners: "Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see."-Verse 18. These words are applied here, first to idolaters, but they are equally applicable to all unconverted men. All of you who are unconverted are naturally deaf. You do not hear the voice of Providence. Mercies and afflictions come knocking at your door, but you hear them not. You do not hear the voice of Christ. It is like the sound of many waters, yet you are deaf-you hear not its warnings and invitations. You do not hear the voice of pastors. They are watchmen to blow the trumpet, and warn the people-they have the tongue of the learned; but you are "like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear; which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely."-Ps. lviii.

Blind. This word is constantly used in the Bible to describe the stupidity of unconverted souls. Unconverted ministers are called "Blind leaders of the blind."-Matt. xv. 14. Jesus once said to a Pharisee: "Thou blind Pharisee."Matt. xxiii. 26. And again: "Ye fools and blind.”—Matt. xxiii. 17. "Thou knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind."-Rev. iii. 17.

This is the true state of every unconverted soul. You do not see your own soul-its depravity, its guilt, its lost and ruined condition. You do not see the Sun-the glorious Sun of Righteousness-his beauty, his glory, his excellency : "No beauty that we should desire him." You do not see your way. You know not at what you stumble. Your path leads into hell, but you do not see it, nor believe it.

Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind. Those of you who are deaf and blind are generally the least attentive in the congregation. You say: The minister has nothing for me;