sinners for eternal wrath, and fitting them to dwell with spirits of darkness for ever. The temper of an unsanctified soul is just suited for the society of devils, and for the employments of perdition. There, all the horrible passions, which possess the soul of every one who has not been changed by Divine grace, being no longer restrained by any external check, (such as, the laws of society, the consideration of temporal disadvantages, and other things by which GOD, in His Providence, prevents earth from becoming as bad as Hell,)—I say, there all those horrible passions will rage without controul, and become fit means of producing unutterable torment to those, who shall for ever continue "hateful and hating one another.” Oh, how dangerous and terrible a thing is it for a sinner to remain a moment longer in a state of mind so unprepared for the Heavenly world! "For what "is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."

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Who, then, will remain unconcerned about that preparation of soul, without which none shall see the LORD? Who is there in this congregation, that will go away this day, and forget, or despise, or reject the solemn admonition, "Prepare to meet thy God"? The inward thought of your heart and mine is open before Him. It is not for us to judge each other rather let us judge our own selves. Oh think, beloved, upon the uncertainty of life; and how soon, how suddenly, you may be summoned to appear

before GOD! Verily, "there is but a step between us and death." Seek therefore, instantly, that preparation, which is the work of the LORD, and which He is ready to perform. Ye who hitherto have cared for none of these things, consider your sinful state, both of heart and life; and think how unfit you are for the presence of a Holy GoD-for the society of holy spirits above! Reflect on this your dangerous condition, until your heart be deeply affected, and, in restless anxiety of soul, you are ready to ask, "What must I do to be saved?" And then remember the infallible direction, "Believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and thou shalt be saved." Trust, therefore, in Him alone. You must be delivered from the guilt of sin, before you can be freed from its power. Justification must precede sanctification: and you can be justified only by faith in the righteousness and sacrifice of the LORD JESUS. Look, then, to His blood for pardon-to His obedience for acceptance. Nothing that you can do, nothing that can be wrought in your hearts, is capable of meriting any blessing from GOD. JESUS alone is the foundation of a sinner's hope. See then to it, that you rely solely upon Him: and in the bond of faith offer yourselves unto the LORD. Give up yourselves, to Him with a simple and earnest desire to be changed into His likeness, and conformed to His holy will. Commit your soul, guilty and defiled as it is, into the hands of JESUS, the faithful and gracious MEDIATOR. Entreat Him to wash away the

guilt of sin, by His own precious blood. Implore Him to heal all the maladies of your soul, as He did the bodily maladies of those who applied to Him in the days of His flesh. Remember, that He is still the same in power and in pity: He is " JESUS, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever." Pray without ceasing, that He would work in you, by His SPIRIT, to will and to do according to His own good pleasure. Wait on GOD in all the means of grace, both public and private; and rest not satisfied, until "old things have passed away, and all things are become new,"— until your heart and affections are drawn to things above, until you are induced to crucify the flesh, to walk in the SPIRIT, and to serve the LORD in sincerity and truth, in righteousness and holiness, all the days of your life.

Finally, let the Christian, who has known the renewing and sanctifying work of the SPIRIT, remember who hath wrought all things pertaining to salvation in him. It is GOD; and to Him all the praise belongs. He first led you into the way of life; and He has kept you in it by His mighty power, unto this day. Had not His grace maintained what His grace began, every temptation would have been victorious, every passion and every sin would have regained dominion over you. But He hath not forsaken, and He never will forsake, the work of His own hands: (Ps. cxxxviii. 8.) Praise Him, therefore, for all that has been wrought within you; and, depending upon

His strength, press on towards more complete conformity to His image. Seek after the attainment of greater holiness. There is still much pride to be subdued; much self-will to be rooted out; much narrowness, and uncharitableness, and impatience of spirit, to be destroyed; much worldly-mindedness and unbelief to be overcome. Many imperfections cleave to the best: the flame of devotion is not so bright and pure as it should be: the footsteps of active obedience are still clogged with the weight of sin and selfishness: the cross is too often borne with impatience the crown is too seldom beheld with hope and animation. These things call for humiliation; but they also call for fresh efforts in the service of Him, who has promised to be with His people, even unto the end. Let us, then, persevere in the way of holiness; and praying and labouring after perfect sanctification in body, soul, and spirit, let us anticipate the blissful period, when "He shall present us faultless before the presence of His glory, with exceeding joy."

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SERMON XVIII.

NO NIGHT IN HEAVEN.

REVELATION xxii. 5.

And there shall be no night there.

In this and the preceding chapter, we have a most animated description of the blessedness to be enjoyed by the righteous, at the Second Coming of CHRIST. Commentators have differed in opinion respecting the application of the last two chapters of the Apocalypse. It is unnecessary to recapitulate their opinions, or to determine whether the happiness here described will be experienced by the people of God during the Millennial reign of CHRIST; or afterwards, in that blessed state which is commonly called "Heaven." The main thing for each of us is, to secure a personal participation of it, in the way which the Scriptures point out. Without therefore entering upon disputable ground, let our thoughts be now directed, in dependence on the HOLY SPIRIT'S teaching, to the contemplation of the future felicity of the Godly, as it is shadowed forth to us in the words of the text-" There shall be no night there."