This is the misery to which every case of death-bed repentance is liable; this, the horror which every one must feel, who, having been through life careless of pleasing God, is, by the sudden pressure of calamity or danger, compelled to fly to God for succour, namely, that it is impossible for him to know whether he is really and acceptably penitent; or whether he is only filled with terror at the prospect before him, and with grief at the pleasures and enjoyments which he is obliged to leave behind him. And for this it is hard to find a remedy. All which remains for a man so circumstanced, is to pray that God would look on his misery, and show him, for Christ's sake, that mercy to which he has no claim; that He would send down His grace to melt his stoney heart, and help his confused understanding, and raise his soul to that necessary pitch of repentance, and resignation, and faith, and love, which, whosoever hath, shall never ask in vain for pardon and redemption.

Blessed are they, however great their former wanderings, whom the Spirit of God, even in the eleventh hour, thus calls to His vineyard. But blessed, far more, are they who have already, before the evil days came, begun to think on their Creator; who, having loved Him in the season of health and prosperity, are as

sured of His love in the time of darkness, distress, and danger; and who, having sought of old the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, have reason to hope, that all other things of which they stand in need, shall, so far as is expedient for them, be added unto them.

SERMON L.

EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

[FOR THE COMMUNION OF THE lord's supper.]

ST. MATTHEW, xxii. 2, 3.

The kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not

come.

THE parable of the marriage supper, from which these words are taken, and which you have heard read in the second lesson for this morning, as it is full of most useful instruction and most blessed comfort, so it is happily expressed with so much plainness, and the moral which it conveys is so eminently practical and simple, that few of our Saviour's parables need less the commentator's aid. And my present discourse will, therefore, be confined to what is a constant cause of sorrow to every preacher of the Gospel; — I mean the careless and unworthy manner in which the most solemn truths, and the most serious warnings are received by worldly minds.

Our Saviour has, in this parable, described a message sent by the ruler of a country, a king

who had power to save or to destroy, to those who were his subjects, and whose life and property depended on his will. It was a message of no light importance; for it enjoined a mark of respect which, in those little kingdoms of Syria was very usual, to partake of their sovereign's bounty, and to pay their dutiful homage to his son. It related to no future occasion, of which, from its distance, it might be uncertain, whether it would happen at all, or which gave them time to loiter by the way; for the banquet was already prepared, the oxen and fatlings were killed, and their monarch was waiting their arrival. They had already once been guilty of an open act of unthankfulness, disrespect, and disobedience, in refusing to attend so kind a master; and they could have had no reason to expect that he would have vouchsafed a second message. A second time, however, the invitation is sent in still kinder language, and a still more urgent manner; but what sort of answer is returned? Some, indeed, are open and sturdy rebels, who beat and slay his messengers, and renounce at once their allegiance and loyalty. But the greater part, without either questioning his authority to command, or doubting his power to punish, consider both the one and the other as absolutely unworthy their notice, and make light of the message of an angry and insulted king. They consider it as

of no consequence whatever; or, at least, as what may be deferred to a more convenient season, and as a far less serious or urgent concern than the common business of the day, than their farms and merchandize; though, in the anger of this neglected monarch, their goods, their farms, their very lives themselves were in danger. Strange and foolish as this conduct must appear, even if the history were understood of a mere earthly prince, how should our surprise be changed into shame and horror, when we consider that we ourselves are the careless subjects, and that the Lord of Heaven and earth is the long-suffering king!

We are called by the ministers of Christ, and by the words of His Gospel, to receive a kingdom prepared for us by the Father from the beginning of the world; to enter into the joy of our Lord; to sit down at the marriage supper of the Son of God; we are warned that if we despise this summons, we are rebels in His sight; and that, on our choice one way or other, our happiness or misery must, to all eternity,` depend; and do we linger? do we hesitate? God be merciful to us! do we "make light” of truths so aweful? How How many there are, alas! among those who hear me, and how many more among those who do not attend this Holy Place, who hear the joyful tidings of salvation without gratitude; and listen to the threats of the Gospel