The signs of the times are such, as to portend, in the opinion of many serious and reflecting minds, the day of grace expiring, and the speedy completion of the interval left for repentance; but whether they do or not, whether the Archangel's trumpet shall awaken us from our graves, or appal us in our dwellings, there is no alteration in the divine decrees. The sinner will be overwhelmed in sudden destruction, the penitent will be taught a way to escape it. Every page of the holy scriptures enforces this doctrine, and example presses upon example with the most convincing evidence, to shew the valuable consequences of abiding fast for protection by the word and sanctuary of our GoD, He who remembered Noah, and brought him out in safety, has signed and sealed with his blood the everlasting covenant, that when every work of man shall perish, and the globe itself be effaced from the universe, He will lead forth his redeemed to new abodes of life, and to mansions of eternal glory.

Instead, however, of guarding our hearts with this great and glorious truth, as a shield of defence, we sometimes doubt its power, and some

times know not its use.

Taught to look to an heavenly inheritance, our eyes are too shortsighted for the prospect, they take in no happiness but that within our immediate reach; and as if the only blessing of man were his share of personal gratification, as if the warning of GoD of things not seen as yet had no positive relation with the affairs of this life, or that its consumma→ tion was at too great a distance to excite present apprehension, how many delude themselves with the same fallacy of reasoning, with the same vanity of imagination, as they who perished in the days of the Patriarch. As it was, says our Saviour, in the days of Noah, (for we will repeat his own comment upon the history) so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man; they were eating and drinking, marrying and given in marriage; they were so entirely occupied with earthly concerns, as to shut out all thoughts of heavenly ones, and to be regardless of the things that belonged to their peace, till the flood came, and bore them all away to the bar of divine judgment, to give an account of their misspent time and talents. Is our conduct different? And though death may realize to us in

a moment all the desolation of a flood, and all the horrors of a conflagration, we sit down to eat and to drink, and rise up to play, as if no such event were to happen; as if destruction did not await, and judgment would not overtake us. When the Redeemer of the world brought to us the covenant of mercy and love, He is said to be the light that shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not, to have come unto his own, and his own received him not. He has been the despised preacher of righteousness, and will continue to be so, till judgment arrive, and when at his second advent, as he states with melancholy foreboding, He shall hardly find faith upon the earth.

Of those who profess to hear the word of GOD, how few treasure it up in their hearts, as the greatest blessing and the only consolation of human life. Some question its awful truths, some doubt its awful sanctions; almost all have knowledge enough within themselves, and need not that any man should teach them. Some are occupied with worldly cares, or absorbed in worldly pleasures, they sit their hour out, and think no more of it; others come to a sermon,

as they would do to a concert, of whom the prophet Ezekiel complains. He was to the Jews as a very lovely song of one who had a pleasant voice, and could play well on an instrument; they heard his words, but never did them. And a no small number there may be, whose pious sentiments being awakened, could find it in their hearts to say to the preacher, as Agrippa did to St. Paul, almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.With those, however, whose persuasion is rooted in faith, nothing doubting; whose hope of safety is in the ark of their Redeemer, whose expectation is strengthened, and whose trust is confirmed, will the minister of the Gospel still rejoice and pray; and if in the progress of prayer, and praise, and exhortation, he may have brought to the afflicted soul a Comforter, to the humble one an encouraging Redeemer, or to the desponding one a Deliverer mighty to save, he might then at the close of his ministry cry out with the exulting Simeon, Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation.

But the success is in our Master's hands, not ours; whether you hear, or whether you forbear,

thus we are to preach, and thus you say you believe; thus also ye stand self-condemned, if you act not accordingly. Every dispensation has been to shew the relationship of man to GOD and an eternal world; it has been clothed in mercy, and armed with terror; it has tried to win him to his duty, it has invariably punished the breach of it; it has promised, upon repentance and obedience, to secure his felicity and pardon; it has denounced and accomplished the severity of judgment, to avenge the scorn of his miraculous mercies.

We proclaim to you, my brethren, on a Saviour's asseveration, that these are the terms, and that this will be the issue, of the Christian covenant. If we suffer it not to avail to our salvation, it will avail to our condemnation; and GOD will be true, though every man be found a liar. The threatenings of scripture are not empty words; the tabernacle of Shiloh, the destruction of Jerusalem, the dispersion of Israel, will soon come in additional evidence, that unless we glorify GOD that is in us, unless, whilst grace and mercy abound, we hold fast our faith, the inheritance we had forfeited, and which