condemned, as well as that blessed world, where, father Abraham, thou art. Were I once more permitted to re-visit earth, how differently should my time be employed! While I enjoyed the pleasures of earth, I would labour to secure those of heaven. would employ my substance to support and to establish the gospel of the kingdom. I would study its evidences, I would submit to its laws, I would prove myself its zealous and practical adherent. Oh, that my brethren, taking warning by my example, may be led into subjection to the authority of that Saviour whom I have slighted, and of those sanctions which I have despised!' That there cannot be a stronger barrier against vice, or incitement to virtue, than the thought of a resurrection, of a day of judgment, and of a future state of rewards and punishments, has generally been acknowledged. I am aware that there is one objection to this doctrine. It arises from the idea, that God being omniscient, he sees all things, he knows every action, that there is no escaping out of his hands, or beyond the reach of his cognizance. Such ideas are undoubtedly founded in truth; but take away the belief of a future state, and all these attributes shrink into nothing. Will the profligate be impressed with the idea, that God sees, if he will not punish? How will the restraints of virtue operate upon those who believe, that when a man goes to his grave, he is to remain there for ever! It is the thought of retribution which most effectually checks the approaches towards sin, and strengthens every barrier of virtue. You remember the argument used by St. Paul, when discoursing on Mars Hill, before the Areopagus. After contrasting the feeble light of nature, with the bright display exhibited in the gospel, he proceeds to show the superior obligations men were then under to serve the Lord; declaring, that though the times of ignorance were winked at, now God commanded all men every where to repent. And why hath he done so? "Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath ordained." Thus the necessity of repentance is argued upon the very ground I am defending; namely, the belief of future state.

II. The Scriptures contain sufficient evidence to warrant such a belief.

Let us first examine the writings of Moses and the Prophets; and afterwards, extend our inquiries to those of Christ and his Apostles. It has been asserted, and with truth, that Moses urged no direct arguments in

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favour of a future state; but surely these are sufficient passages which imply such a belief; "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his." Numbers xxiii. 10. This wish would have been vain and senseless, but for the belief in another state of existence. "O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end! Deuteronomy xxxii. 29. This expression could only arise from looking forward to futurity. In Psalm xlix. 14. it is said, "Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them, and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning." David was one of the Prophets.

In the prophecy of Daniel, this grand event of a day of judgment, is mentioned in more express terms; "I beheld, till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of Days did sit; thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened." The last words of the Book of Ecclesiastes are all I shall further cite from the Old Testament; "Fear God and keep his commandments;" for this is the whole of man, as it should always be rendered; the word duty is in italics, and I wish it were blotted out; the fear and service of his Creator is the pleasure, as well as the

duty of man; it is his interest, his honour, and his life. It is added, as an incitement to this; "For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." When we turn to the New Testament, the arguments for a resurrection, for a day of judgment, and for a future state of rewards and punishments, are so frequent, and so striking, that it would be an insult to your understandings, as well as a trespass upon your time, to enumerate them; they pervade every discourse, and may be traced in every parable. When our Lord was endeavouring to comfort the distressed sisters of Lazarus, he expressly declared, " I am the Resurrection and the Life." "In my Father's house," said he, on another occasion, " are many mansions; I go to prepare a place for you." In the parables of the tares, of the ten virgins, and especially of the shepherd dividing the sheep from the goats, we have this idea wrought up, with imagery the most striking; the assembly convened, the Judge sitting, the books opened, and all nations awaiting, in solemn silence, the sentence which shall be pronounced.

In process of time, our Lord, according to the predictions concerning him, suffered on the cross; and on the third day, he rose from the dead, a pledge of that doctrine he had taught. He appeared several times to his disciples, to prove the reality of his resurrection; one of their number was an unbeliever; he condescended to his weakness, gave him sufficient evidence, and left him a wiser and a better advocate of his cause. When he ascended to the heavenly world, he gave his apostles this extensive commission; "Go and preach the gospel to all people." And how did his followers behave, when he had ascended to glory? Did they act like men who were ashamed of the cause, or doubtful of its success? No: the coward Peter was changed into the champion and the martyr; and Saul of Tarsus, that unrelenting persecutor of all who bore the christian name, became the most zealous preacher, and the most active propagator of that religion which he had once despised. How striking were the prophecies delivered by the apostles! In what clear colours did they foretell the destruction of Jerusalem, the dispersion of the Israelites, the fulness of the Heathen, the introduction of Popery, and the final establishment of the Gospel ! Could any but an inspired penman, have delivered such predictions? And do not the sacrifices they made for conscience sake, prove the value of the religion they taught? What comforts did they forego, what trials