it been for us never to have been born, than to have made God our enemy by leading vicious and wicked lives. Let it then, above all things, be our great and constant endeavour to make him our friend, who is the best of Beings; the sovereign good and happiness of all his creatures; and the fountain and foundation of all our comforts and enjoyments in this life, and of all our hopes and expectations in that which is to come. Let us make religion the great business of our lives; and, while we have time and opportunity, let us prepare ourselves, by a life of virtue and righteousness, for that great account which we must one day give. Let not the pleasures and vanities of this world, which will shortly have an end, make us unmindful of the great and momentous concerns of eternity.-O'eternity! how amazing are the thoughts of it! who, that considers what it is to live for ever in a state of endless happiness or misery, would not labour and strive with all his might, to secure the one, and avoid the other! Now, this can only be secured or avoided by a good

life: for without holiness no man shall see the Lord. Prov. xiv. 27. Heaven is prepared for those only who fear God, and live in a strict endeavour to perform a perfect obedience to his will. There shall in no wise enter into that holy place any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie; but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life: and these are the good and virtuous only, who have kept themselves from the pollutions of this wicked world, and have led a life of piety and renewed obedience toward God, and of love and charity toward their neighbours. To all others, that blessed Lamb of God will declare he knew them not: to the workers of iniquity, even that merciful and compassionate Saviour will say, Depart from me.-Dreadful words! whither shall such wretched souls go, when they are bidden to depart from the Saviour of the world:whither, indeed, but to that dismal place of horror and everlasting misery prepared for the Devil and his angels!

May God, of his infinite mercy, give

all of us grace to see and follow the things that belong to our everlasting peace in this our day, lest they be hidden from our eyes, and all opportunities of reconciling ourselves to our offended God be for ever lost!-May every one of us be persuaded to hearken to the advice of Solomon Fear God and keep his commandments; for, this is the whole duty of man. For, God shall bring every work inte judgment, and every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Eccles. xiii. 14. And may we always keep in remembrance that merciful caution of our blessed Lord and Saviour; Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day, nor the hour, wherein the Sou of Man cometh. Matt. xxv. 13.

A PRAYER.

MOST glorious Lord God, and merciful Father in Christ Jesus, who hast prepared for them that love thee such good things as pass man's understanding, and hast promised to give

eternal life to them who, by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory and honour and immortality; give me, I most humbly beseech thee, a firm and unshaken faith in all thy promises; that, being fully persuaded of those important truths which thou hast revealed to us in the Gospel, I may make it the principal care and concern of my whole life to please and obey thee in all things! And, that I may obtain those things which thou dost promise, make me to love that which thou dost command and grant that, by the assistance of thy Holy Spirit, I may be enabled to persevere in the practice of a holy Life, even to the last moment of my days!

Let the hopes and expectations of that unspeakable happiness hereafter, which thou hast prepared for those who live in obedience to thy commandments, enable me to pass through this vale of tears and misery, with chearfulness and submission to thy blessed will: and to bear with patience whatever troubles thou, in thy great wisdom, shall see fit to lay upon me, L

O Lord! give me a heart raised above the vanities and inticements of this world, and free from all its pollutions and defilements. Fix my thoughts, my hopes, and my desires, upon heaven and heavenly things; that, having alway in view that crown of glory which thou hast promised to thy faithful servants, I may press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. And, being strengthened by thy Grace, and supported by thy Holy Spirit, I may run with patience the race which thou hast set: before us; that, when the great day of retribution shall come, I may look up to my most merciful Judge with joy and comfort, and may hear those ravishing words pronounced unto me, Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Grant this, O merciful Father, through the alone merits, and for the sake, of my eternal Advocate and Mediator Jesus Christ. Amen.