Go away for this season, and at a more convenient time I will call for youto-morrow I will think of this. My dear young friends, to-morrow is in eternity. You have the seeds of death, remember, in your constitution. The shroud of some one, or all of you, may be already woven; your very coffin may be prepared and whilst you are pleasing yourself with all the dreams of this vain world, and saying, Soul, thou art now laying up goods for many years; eat, drink, and be merry; and when I am forty, or fifty, or sixty, or seventy, it will be time enough to think of death-why, death's arrow is already on the wing, and soon will pierce thy heart; and then shalt thou die unconscious of thy danger, and with all thy sins on thy head. Who then shall plead for thee? who amongst all thy companions, for whose sake thou hast neglected God? Who will be sorry for thee when thou art gone away to the regions of death? Oh, be thine own friend, and remember that the most important of all things in this world is, a right preparation for the world to come. If you are not converted to God, you have not gained the great end of your existence. If you are not turned to him, you are still turning away from him. O turn then, turn then, why will he die, O house of Israel? Have ye not God among you? Are ye not called Christians? Are you attached to Christ? Do you follow Christ? Do you cast in your lot with Christ? Are you crucified with Christ? You are either his friend or his foe. Hear, and believe, and live. You Christians know how important is it for you to attend to this exhortation in my text, "Watch and pray." The idea is taken from him who cries the midnight hour, who goes round about the walls for safety, who pursueth, yea, discovereth every lurking foe and detecteth every enemy. It is death for the sentinel to be found sleeping on his post; and, my dear young Christian friend, it is next to death for thee to be found sleeping on thy post; not death to thy soul, but to thy comfort, thy hope, and thy joys. Here are the treasures of God all wide open for thee; and here is God ready, free of access to thee; and here is God's door, over which it is written, "Knock and it shall be opened to you ;" and here is God's strength granted; and he never says to the seed of Jacob, Seek me in vain. Oh, my young friends, watch against the allurements of this sinful world in which you live. Watch against unlawful things-watch against the pleadings of a corrupt nature-watch against the customs of a sinful world-watch against false friends-watch against secret foes-watch against thy own spiritual slothfulness-watch against all the sins of nature. Lay aside every sin that may easily beset you, so that you may run with patience the course that is set before you. You have got a traitor within-there is an enemy in the house-beware of him-mark all his movements-fix thy eye upon him detect him-be his death, or he will be thine. “Oh, watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.” Think not, my dear young friends, that you can grapple with all the enemies of religion in controversy. Let not the writings of wicked and blas. pheming men ever take thy eye, lest the glozing lies that they record should wind round thy poor unexperienced and unsuspecting heart. Above all, "watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.' Christ not merely teaches his disciples to pray that they may be delivered from the power of it, but that they enter not into it. He, who knew the weakness of the heart and the power of Satan, has used this language; therefore I warn you at this present time. The enemy is abroad. It has been said, that the schoolmaster is abroad; and so he is, but he is not alone. By the same avenues through which knowledge enters into the mind, does Satan enter there, and infidelity enter there. It were better that all men had remained in ignorance, and never known what they do know, than through that knowledge to lose eternal happiness. It was Eve eating of the forbidden tree which robbed our first parents of eternal life. Therefore, my dear friends, mind where you go. Do not say, "I only go to hear-I only go to see I may behold the evil without partaking of it"-it is impossible. Make a covenant with your eyes-make a covenant with your hands-make a covenant with your feet. Remember, if you have gained the right hand of Christ, you are bound to wear his livery, to bear his arms, to be ready to fight his bat tles, to suffer with him, and never to parley with the great enemy. I tell you to watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. You have seasons, my dear young friends, for reading the Scriptures and for prayer. Would you be taught how to pray? The disciples asked Christ to teach them to pray, and he taught them; and thus the Lord Jesus Christ will teach you. Do you know what to pray for? If you know not, go to the word of God. We know not what to pray for as we ought; but the Spirit, we are told, maketh intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered. Oh, go to that Spirit when you want assistance. We find poets invoking the poetic muse; oh, that we more invoked God's Spirit when we retire to pray, and when we go forth in our ordinary business; so that we may watch and pray at home, and when we go from home, that we may not be led into the way of temptation. There is not always safety in the battle, unless God leads and protects us there. If we venture on forbidden ground, and contest with our foe, hand to hand and foot to foot, his power may prove greater than ours. It is said that truth is strong and will prevail; yet that is not always ours. The sword is tempered; and when we are called by the providence of God to wield it, God shall give strength to our arm: but if we go forth in our own strength, the weapon will partake of all the weakness of the arm which uses it. "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord." Oh, my dear young friends, read the word of God. Pray often, pray for deliverance from temptation, and run not in the way of temptation. Pray for wisdom, pray that God may be with you, that he may lead you, that he may guide you. "Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel," says David, "while I live, and afterwards receive me to glory." Put thyself under his guidance, and he shall be faithful to the charge. The Apostle Paul desired to be found in Christ, because he knew that God was able to deliver him, and to preserve that precious soul which he had committed to his care, until the great and the final day. "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation ;" and remember, that 'greater is He who is with you, than all them that are against you." A Sermon DELIVERED BY THE REV. W. DEALTRY, Isaiah xliv. 1-5. " Yet now hear, O Jacob, my servant ; and Israel, whom I have chosen. Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen. For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: and they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses. One shall say, I am the LORD'S; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe himself with his hand unto the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel." THE wisdom of our Church in appointing a season when she commemorates the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, must be obvious to every Christian worshipper: for however a closer interpretation of the prophetic passage just read may refer to God's ancient people, to that Israel who for so many ages were under his peculiar care, while the rest of mankind were comparatively left without God in the world; we cannot but discover in it a prediction of blessing to the Church at large, to the Israel of God, whether they be the children of Abraham according to the flesh, or possessed of the faith of Abel-to the Church of Christ in all its extensive comprehensiveness, including the Gentiles as well as the Jews; and conveying to all ranks, wherever the Gospel should be preached, and this holy record be proclaimed, and the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ should be " established among the nations, a promise of the best and most abundant blessings. If we discover in these words, as assuredly we must discover, a message of consolation and hope to the people of Israel, an assurance that God would, in the appointed time, pour his Spirit upon their seed, and blessings upon their offspring;" we know assuredly, that in their happiness the Gentiles shall participate, acknowledging the same Saviour, and enlightened, consoled, and sanctified by the same Holy and Eternal Spirit. Of the full force of this passage as it will be hereafter understood, when the dark page of prophecy shall have been rendered bright and clear by the light which will be shed upon it in the fulfilment of the divine counsels, I profess not to venture an opinion. There may be contained in these words a depth and pregnancy of meaning, which the wisest and holiest interpreter of the sacred page is utterly unable to discern. But of the interest which the universal Church has in its accomplishment, there can be no question; and as little doubt can there be that it holds forth to us, both collectively and individually, to the Church and to the several persons who compose it, a promise full of consolation; and be the future course of divine Providence whatever it may, here is the assurance of a manifestation of grace and mercy, which, in a very important sense, belongs to us and to our children, and to all who are afar off, even to as many as the Lord our God shall call. The promise which is contained in this passage is no other than that of the gift of the Holy Ghost; and the terms of it refer particularly to the Christian dispensation. We are doubtless warranted in asserting, that there never was a time when that Spirit was not in some measure vouchsafed to the faithful servant of the Lord. It was with Enoch, for "he walked with God;" it was with Abraham, for he was the "friend of God;" it was with Jacob in the days of his pilgrimage; and it was with Moses in the wilderness. By its presence and powerful influence the Psalmist poured forth his sacred songs; and the publisher of glad tidings carried over the mountains the glad tidings of peace; and the holy, prophets, wrapt in the visions of futurity, proclaimed the advent of Him who was the desire of all nations, and rejoiced in the anticipated glory of his everlasting kingdom. But the fuller effusion of that Spirit was reserved for the days of the Gospel dispensation; the gifts of the Holy Ghost were not to be imparted in their largest measure, till He, who came down from heaven to die for the sins of the world, had ascended again to his throne of glory and at no distant period—the day of Pentecost-we have the testimony of the Apostle who is most distinguished in the history of that memorable day, that upon the Gentiles also, as well as upon the Jews, were poured out the gifts of the Holy Ghost; and in the events of that period, and in the mighty operations of that Spirit, during the apostolical ages, when miracles, and prophecies, and discerning of spirits, and speaking with tongues, accompanied the preaching of the Gospel in attestation of the truth which they taught, and in evidence of the authority under which they acted-we cannot but read in these things a very remarkable fulfilment of the passage before us—“ I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring." The images which are here adopted denote, not a partial communication of the Spirit; but blessings, large, copious, abundant, according to the power of Him who giveth all things liberally, and to the satisfying of every want on the part of those who receive it. But while we are thus naturally lead to the early glories of the Christian Church-a period to which later ages afford no parallel-we are taught, by the very terms of the promise, to seek other influences and other operations than those which are put forth in the instances of miracles and tongues. When we read in the Scriptures of "him that was thirsty," and consider the meaning of such expressions as "dry ground"— -we can scarcely fail to find in such words a description of the parable of the Sower, of him who bringing forth comparatively no fruits of righteousness, in a conscious sense of his wants is earnestly seeking for a supply of them; or of that dejected mourner in Zion, who is wait ing for consolation from above. These | lows on the margin of some never-failare characters which, in this proba- ing stream. So fair and flourishing tionary state, and in the existing con- when God gives to the Church the prodition of Christ's Church, are ever to mised measure of the Spirit, shall be be found among his people; and in- the generations that shall arise to serve deed by the emblem of water he pro-him-when it is poured in its lifemises the spiritual refreshment which giving power on the souls of them that they need, which shall cleanse and in-serve him in successive generations. vigorate their souls, and render them Is the promise, my friends, of such fruitful in every good work. And a nature that we can scarcely hope for upon this view also we are authorized its accomplishment? It was in the to speak of the largeness of the pro- midst of rebellion that God thus conmise, a point to which I have just ad- descended to address the offending verted. If in other passages it is said, Israelites: and how natural would be "I will sprinkle clean water upon you" the reflection, that under their circum-or, "I will be as the dew unto stances it would be little short of preIsrael" that "he shall grow as the sumption to look for blessings so unlily, and cast forth his fruits as Le- deserved and so unmerited. Observe, banon;" and if in those images we then, the manner in which it pleases are taught to behold the purifying God to check all such risings of unbeand refreshing influences, which cleanse lief, to meet all such apprehensions, to and make fruitful what before was confirm and ratify the promise in all barren and unholy; what force and its amplitude. "Yet now, hear, O emphasis does it afford to the pro- Jacob, my servant; and Israel, whom mise before us. Here is a pouring I have chosen"-words calculated, not out of water upon the thirsty-here is to excite the attention only, but to inconsolation in abundance-a quench-spire the hearer with ardent hope. ing of the spiritual thirst by enlarged views of the goodness and glory and faithfulness of God, especially as manifested in the Lord Jesus Christ, penetrating by the divine influence the very depths as it were of the dry ground, the barren and unfruitful soil, so as to clothe it with rich vegetation. This is very beautifully supported and confirmed by the language of the prophet"I will pour out my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring; and they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses." As the change here predicted shall not be a partial change, in respect to the objects of this heavenly grace; so neither shall it be confined to one age, nor to one generation. The generations to come shall know God; a new seed shall serve him, when the present race shall have passed into eternity; and even while they are yet themselves partakers of that refreshing and purifying Spirit which is preparing them for heaven, shall they see their children, under the benefit of their instruction and example, "spring up as among the grass, like willows by the water-courses"-reviving like grass after a long frost, refreshed by the heat of the Sun of Righteousness, like wil What names can be more endearing, or can carry with them more powerful intimations of the merciful connection of the Lord, than these names of "Jacob" and of " Israel?" By what title could the Israelites be addressed, more strongly expressive of the loving kindness and tender mercy of God, than those by which he here condescends to designate them? "My servant whom I have chosen." How deeply depressed must have been the mind of that Israelite whom such words could not inspire with hope and holy confidence. But is this all? "Thus saith the LORD that made thee and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen." They are reminded that the voice which now speaks to them is that of their Creator -of Him to whom they were indebted for the first germ of their existenceof Him who gave them life with all its powers of enjoyment-a frame so justly and wonderfully made the reasoning mind, the soul with all its faculties. He who formed thee will keep thee; he will not forsake the work of his own hands. And to banish all unbelieving apprehensions, he bids them once again, in the language of endearment and consolation, "Fear not, O Jacob my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen." And is not this promise equally applicable to the Israel of God wherever they are to be found? Does not the Almighty thus speak to the afflicted Church among the Gentiles, to the lowest of its members? Is there, my friends, among yourselves, a soul thirsting for divine knowledge, for peace, for consolation, for nearer intercourse and communion with God? Is there one, who, under the impression of much weakness and transgression, and an awful sense of the holiness and justice of Him who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, and who will render to every man according to his deeds-is there one who, on these grounds, is dejected and well nigh destitute of hope? To him then, as a child of God, as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Almighty speaks directly in the persuasive accents of the text. "Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen." I formed thee, and I will keep thee. I gave thee, not thy natural life only, but thy spiritual life, which belongs exclusively to the members of my heavenly kingdom. In the new creation which has passed upon vou, I recognize the works of my own hands. I will help thee: my servant shall not be disowned, my chosen shall not be forsaken. Fear not; thou art weak, but I am able to uphold thee; thou art fearful, but what shall harm thee if Jehovah is thy friend? Thine offences have been many; but I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions; and I will not remember thy sins. So tender, so consolatory, so encouraging, are the promises of a gracious God, by Jesus Christ, to every true believer. By words like these does he introduce the promise to pour out water like a flood upon the dry ground, in greater abundance than the dejected soul can venture to ask, or is able to conceive. It is intimated by the Prophet, that, at the season when these out-pourings of the Spirit shall take place upon the Church, very remarkable effects shall be witnessed in the increasing piety of the rising generation, the young members of the professing Church of Christ. In illustration of the statement, "They shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the watercourses"-he immediately adds, "One shall say, I am the LORD's; and another shall call himself by the name of Israel; and another shall subscribe himself with his hands unto the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel." Then will there be a public profession of the Gospel, an acknowledgement of Christ as the Saviour and Redeemer of his people, an implicit trust in his word, and a life of devotedness answerable to such a profession. Of this nature is the prophecy. But are these the days in which such predictions are fulfilled? Is there in the present state of society, in the breaking up of old systems, in the vast changes which are now in progress over the face of the civilized world-is there any symptom of that general conversion, by the influences of the Holy Spirit, that shall be hereafter? If it should please God in the kingdom of his grace, as in the kingdom of his power, to work by means, we can scarcely expect in this age, the fulfilment of the promise in all its completeness. Many converts will, doubtless, in these days, through the instrumentality of the preached Gospel, and in answer to the prayers of faithful men, be added to the Church; and out of the mouths of babes and sucklings may praise be occasionally offered. But if the Church would expect the blessings here announced, there must arise from the common voice of the Church itself, earnest supplications for the fulfilment of these promises; there must be the prayer of faith, reminding God of his own gracious assurances, and pleading his faithfulness and his love. Has this been the practice of the professing Church of Christ? The spirit of prayer and of supplication will be generally found to precede in any district occupied by the Christian teacher, that spiritual influence which is represented by the pouring out of floods upon the dry ground and wherever we observe that union of Christians, entreating for the enlightening and purifying and consoling operations of the Holy Spirit, it is reasonable to conclude that these entreaties will not be in vain, that God will give his Spirit to them that ask him; and this not merely by the conversion of one or two individuals, but by a more extensive and general diffu |