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into wilful sins, you will certainly be ashamed. And yet, if we compare practice with profession in the present day, do not such evil things seem extensively spreading? Yea, was there ever a time, when there was more need to remind the Church of Christ what manner of persons they ought to be in all holy conversation and godliness, if they would be found of Him in peace with their hearts established in holiness at His coming? Let me, then, with earnestness entreat you carefully to review your position. Look at your opportunities, means, influence, wealth, time, talents, in the light, I will not say, of coming judgment, to alarm you, but of coming glory, to encourage you. There is no doubt your intention, whatever it may be, has great capabilities, much greater probably than you have ever been aware of. Ascertain what they are, and at once seek to make the most of them. Watch against a careless and slothful spirit, against. easy indifference, against religious indolence.

Beware of moderation and lukewarmness where a holy enthusiasm alone becomes us; and of leisurely working, when "the time is short." Just think now, how your conduct will strike you when it is impossible to retrieve it. Suppose that your worldly means are large, or that you are in what are popularly called easy circumstances, and

that you listen to the solicitations of self-indulgence, and forbear exertion,-that one hour after another is frittered away on (miscalled) innocent amusements, or some pursuit of refined taste; that

the poor and sick are uncared for, the fatherless and widow unvisited, ignorant children untaught, perishing Jews and Heathen unevangelized, the world not inconvenienced by your light, or made uncomfortable by your faithfulness; you may have passed for a Christian, and have had something of a Christian's experience within you, but will you not be ashamed of yourself in that day? And if, on the other hand, a lawful worldly calling and full employment have been avowedly the reason and secretly the excuse for your neglecting all such duties, and you have given your time and strength to the labour of this life, it may be, for your children's bread, yet is it possible you will not feel, that something should have been done more directly bearing on the glory of God, and time reserved for the more precious and peculiar duties of your Christian profession? Oh! whether men of leisure, or men of business, remember the incorruptible treasure is the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and see that in seeking these ye be not to be reproved. Remember, too, the character which becomes you as expectants of this glory, and see that in that also ye be not to be

reproved. Yea, seek to gather round you in its Christian perfectness every Christian grace; and, therefore, (to close with a passage I would commend to your deliberate examination and prayerful pondering,) "giving all diligence add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore, the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things ye shall never fall; for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."

Thus, brethren, will your hearts be established unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints. Amen.

LECTURE V.

THE ATTENDANCE OF ANGELS IN THE DAY OF

CHRIST.

BY THE REV. JOHN ELLISON BATES, M. A.,

INCUMBENT OF CHRIST CHURCH, HOUGHAM-IN-DOVER.

1 THESS. IV. 16.

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God."

THE distinguishing feature of our Lord's first advent was deep humiliation. "He came to visit us in great humility." "Born King of the Jews,"* (for it was a true report which the wise men brought from the East,) yet were no preparations made to receive him as king. So far from it, the angel, who announced his birth to the shepherds, gave this as a sign,-" Ye shall find

Matt. ii. 2.

the babe wrapped in swaddling-clothes, lying in a manger," a sign, not merely of the Saviour's identity, but of the colouring and character of his first advent. His head lying low with the beasts of the stall, was an intimation not only that this was he whom the angel had announced, but that it was he of whose deep humiliation the Prophet spake when he said, "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; . . . . despised, . . . . stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted."†

The second advent will be distinguished by great glory: he will "come again in his glorious majesty." Hence this event is designated in the Scriptures, "The glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;"+" the coming of the Son of man with power and great glory;" his " power and coming," and "majesty."||

The humiliation of his first advent was his own voluntary act. "He made himself of no reputation:" "he humbled himself unto death, even the death of the cross." The glory of his second advent is the honour and majesty laid upon him by the Father ;** "Wherefore (because

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