done to us; He has appointed to every one his work, and commanded us to watch for His coming. Whether we perform that work or not, whilst we sojourn in the world, and do not behold our heavenly Master, but only hear his commands; this is the trial of our faith.

If any were to ask, what that work is which is appointed for them? the answer might be given in the words of our Lord Himself; "This is the work of God," the work which God requires of you, "that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent:" that ye live as followers of Christ acknowledging Him as Saviour, and obeying him as Lord. This is the work which equally belongs to all in their several stations: which God expects all, high and low, rich and poor, to be alike employed in. All will be tried by one rule, and judged by one question; What was Christ to them, when they were in the world? Was He a Redeemer to them; was He a Ruler to them?

The duties indeed are different, according to men's several stations. One principle belongs to all, and runs through all; that of faithfulness in their Lord's service; just as in the service of an earthly master, it is required of all the household that they be faithful. Yet the different members of the household have different offices assigned them. And so have Christians in their respective circumstances. The parable says, that to every man his own work is appointed.

1 1 John vi. 29.

And so the duty of a rich and poor man; of a king and his subjects; of a master and his servants; of a parent and his children,-is not in all things the same. But they have all the

same Master in heaven, through whom, and for whom they are to fulfil their different duties, and who commands them to watch, that when He returns to take account, they may be found fulfilling them.

35. "Watch ye therefore for ye know not when the master of the house cometh; at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning.

36. "Lest coming suddenly, He find you sleeping. 37. "And what I say unto you, I say unto all; Watch."

The reason here given for the need of watchfulness is the uncertainty of the time when the Master whom we are bound to serve, may come and take account. His coming, is His summoning us before Him; whether we are found among those who are alive and remain, when He appears again in glory, or whether we are among those who have been already gathered to their fathers. Such as a man is, when death arrives, such will he be found in the day of judgment. As the tree falls so must it lie. There is no repentance in the grave.

And who can say when the summons may be given; The judge is set, and the books are opened? Whether at evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrowing, or in the morning? Who can foretell the period of his days when the thread of

life may be cut? The Jews divided their night into four different periods or watches, of three hours each. Apply this to human life, as our Lord intends, and the first watch will be childhood or youth; the second, manhood; the third, mature age; the fourth, old age. We know, from what we daily observe, that life is no more secure at one of these periods than another. The only difference between middle age and old age is, that the old cannot live long; the middle aged may die soon.

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How much reason then has the Lord to add Watch therefore, lest coming suddenly, He find you sleeping.

We know what it is for the soldier, or the sailor, or the porter, or any one whose business it is to watch, to be found sleeping on their post. And that it is for men, who all have their work appointed them, to be surprised by death whilst the work is yet neglected, perhaps not yet begun : certainly unfinished. Repentance delayed, no sin forsaken,—no pardon sought,—no Saviour acknowledged:-then it is that the master of the house comes suddenly and finds us sleeping. And whom does He find watching? The servant who, during the absence of His Lord, has work appointed him to do, is watching and ready if when his lord returns he sees the work performed. The porter who was commanded to watch, is not afraid to meet his lord if he has guarded his house faithfully, and kept off the spoiler. And the Christian is found watching, who is thus pre

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pared when death arrives. Whilst health and strength remained to him, he still looked for his Lord's coming: He expected death; he did not live as if he had "made a covenant with the grave," that he should be exempt from the lot of all the sons of Adam: and now, at the last hour, he has not his worldly affairs and his eternal concerns to settle, when he has strength or faculties for neither, and the work of dying is more than enough for him. He does not exclaim, as Ahab to the prophet, "Hast thou found me, O mine enemy?" But he receives the summons of death, as the call of the Saviour whom he has long trusted and obeyed; and is enabled to say, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word." He is conscious, no doubt, of many sins and infirmities, which, though he has struggled against them, have remained with him to the end: but he has learnt, and taken it into his heart, that "there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus:" that "the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin" those who have believed in His name. And belief in that name has not been with him a formal thing; the repetition of a creed: it has made a part of his daily thoughts and habitual feelings to ask himself, " And now, Lord, what is my hope? Truly my hope is even in thee," who, that I might not perish, hast loved me, and given thyself for me. And further, he has asked, "Lord, what wouldest thou have me to

do?" How am I to show myself thy servant? What sinfulness am I to contend against? What duties to practise? What graces to acquire? Thus he has endeavoured to perform the work given him to do. In his Lord's absence, the adversary, the tempter, the destroyer, has often assailed the house; but in the strength of the Lord he has been repulsed: Satan has never got dominion there; he has sought admittance; perhaps for a while he has seemed to have success; but he has not finally prevailed.

Such an one is not found sleeping, even though his Lord come suddenly: he is prepared and it is a blessed summons which calls him to enter into his everlasting rest.

What, therefore, the Lord said unto His disciples, He saith unto all: Watch. Let watchfulness be the habitual attitude of your lives, which none of the cares, none of the pleasures of life are to disturb. For "the time" is "short," and the business arduous; and ye know not when the master of the house may come to take account, whether at even, or at midnight, or at cockcrowing, or in the morning.