14. There is no change in our state after death; as we die, so we must remain. "In the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be."-Eccl. xi. 3.

I think you will now perceive the Scriptural grounds for the 22d Article of our Church, which I must beg you to repeat.

"The Romish Doctrine concerning Purgatory, Pardons, Worshipping and Adoration, as well of Images as of Reliques, and also Invocation of Saints, is a fond thing, vainly invented, and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture, but rather repugnant to the Word of God."

What disposition in Christians is described as slumbering?

Becoming less active in faith, love, and Christian duties, like the Church at Ephesus, which had left her first love, and was warned to repent, and do the first works.-Rev. ii. 4, 5.

Is there no pardon of sins for the dead?

No. There is no repentance in the grave. "For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil."-Eccles. xii. 14. "We must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."-2 Cor. v. 10.

As you have proved from the Bible that there can be no remission of sins after death, so you can shew from that fountain of truth, that there is no need of the cleansing fire of Purgatory, for those who, during life, have been freely pardoned by God's grace.

N

"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean : wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow."-Ps. li. 7. "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow: though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”—Isa. i. 18. "If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin."-1 John i. 7.

And others slept. What is that?
Dead to all spiritual things:

passes and sins.”—Epb. ii. 1.

"dead in tres

To shew that death often comes unexpectedly, the time is called " midnight." Are there not other texts like this?

"The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night."-2 Peter iii. 10. "If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee."-Rev. iii. 3.

When death calls us to meet our judge, will not all begin to examine with anxiety into their real state?

Oh yes! Then a bare profession will not calm our fears. "The hypocrite's hope shall perish."

-Job. viii. 13. "The candle of the wicked shall be put out.”—Job xxi. 17. "For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?"-Job xxvii. 8.

In that awful time, can no assistance be given by those who have been wiser in preparing for this solemn event?

No.

66

Every man must give account of himself to God."—Rom. xiv. 12. "None can redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him.” Ps. xlix. 7.

The Scriptures say "the righteous are scarcely saved," Peter iv. 18: therefore, from no man can help be obtained. This will shew the error and the danger of the Romish doctrine, that some men perform more good works than will be sufficient to satisfy the demands of God, and will be enabled to give to others the benefit of their superabundant service. Read the 14th Article of our Church.

"Voluntary Works besides, over and above God's Commandments, which they call Works of Supererogation, cannot be taught without arrogancy and impiety: for by them men do declare, that they do not only render unto God as much as they are bound to do, but that they do more for his sake, than of bounden duty is required : whereas Christ saith plainly, When ye have done all that are commanded to you, say, "We are unprofitable servants."

All that even Ministers can do, is to direct the trembling dying sinner to Christ, who alone has mercy and merits to bestow, though "without money and without price."-Isa. lv. 1. Though we must not limit the mercy of that God who pardoned the dying thief (for it has been remarked, that there is one instance of a late repentance having been accepted, that none should despair, and but one that none should presume). Still is a death bed the time to begin so important a work?

No. For whilst we are seeking, the "bridegroom" may come, and then the soul is lost for

ever.

In health, then, let us knock at the door of mercy, and we have our Saviour's assurance that it shall be opened, Matt. vii. 7; for if we neglect to do so, our Judge will profess unto us, "I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity," Matt. vii. 23; and we shall be driven away to that place where no ray of hope ever enters, but where is "weeping and gnashing of teeth."--Matt. viii. 12. "Who among us can dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?"-Isa. xxxiii. 14. "You may rest assured that life's evening will take its character from the day which has preceded it; and if we would close our career in the comfort of religious hope, we must prepare for it, by early and continuous religious habits."-SHUTTLEWORth.

Repeat for me the 27th hymn.

HYMN 27.

Nothing know we of the season
When the world shall pass away;
But we know the saints have reason
To expect a glorious day!
When the Saviour shall return
And His people cease to mourn.

O what sacred joys await them!
They shall see the Saviour then :
Those who now oppose and hate them,
Never can oppose again.

Breth'ren, let us think of this:

All is ours, if we are His.

KELLY

Waiting for our Lord's returning,
Be it ours His word to keep:
Let our lamps be always burning;
Let us watch while others sleep.
This should be His people's aim,
Still to glorify His name.

THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS.
LUKE xvi. 19-31.

You will agree with me, that no salutation can be more appropriate for a teacher than "the Lord be with you," and I must hope that your hearts respond to it, that He may be "with my spirit," while we meditate on this portion of His word. Though it may appear irrelevant to our subject, still you will excuse me desiring you to read the rubrick, where these versicles occur in our Liturgy, and you will see that the custom of kneeling when they are pronounced is not there directed, and very much destroys the effect which would be produced, were the whole congregation to stand to receive and answer the wish for God's help to accompany the prayers in which they are about to join.

By reading the context to the parable, we find our Lord had been conversing with the covetous Pharisees, and he wished to shew them, by this story, that riches and pomp (though not in themselves sinful) have a tendency to lead the possessor to place his affection on them. He,