and thus the penitent thief was assured, To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise. In those blessed regions, they sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven, free from every sorrow and temptation, from every fear and anxiety, from every want and every care; they rejoice in the Saviour's presence and love, waiting for the accomplishment of the number of God's elect, and the final triumph of the resurrection day, and the consummation of bliss, both in body and soul.

O blissful state! Would to God you may all arrive there! O may we sacrifice every thing for this; may we help each other to gain it! Let us beware of throwing any hinderances in the way of each other. My beloved people, O that I may meet you there! My joy and crown will be your possession of this exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

THE PRACTICAL USE OF THE SUBJECT.

1. LEARN THE EVIL OF DEATH TO THE WICKED.

What tongue can describe, what heart can imagine all the unutterable evils comprehended in this one word, death, as it regards the wicked!

That which is seen is painful, the weeping friends around the bed, the bodily suffering, the gasping breath, the groans and distress, and expiring sighs, the breathless palid corpse, the coffin, the funeral procession, the dark grave, and the mouldering body;-but all this is but the shadow of death. That which is unseen is death's substance; sin and God's wrath against the sinner; the immediate presence of the offended Judge, and the irremediable consequences which follow. Remember, oh! remember, death is a certain event, it must overtake you. You cannot by all possible contrivances guard against its approach; all the gold of Mexico or Peru, all the skill of the ablest physicians, all the care and tenderness of the most beloved friends, all the efforts of forecast and providence cannot turn away death. He laughs at all human contrivances, and with steady step proceeds onward conquering all. You may imagine a security, but the Bible says, Your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand. Remember, oh! remember, death brings you into the presence of your Creator. However you may have managed to shut out the thoughts of God, however you may have shunned his

presence, and have lived as without God in the world, then you must appear before his searching eye, and be under his immediate hand. Remember, oh! remember, death decides your state for eternity. There is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. (Eccles. ix. 10.) In the place where the tree falleth, there shall it be. (Eccles. xi. 3.) In that world the saying shall be realized, He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still. (Rev. xxii. 11.) Between the abodes of the righteous and the wicked, there is an impassable space, a great gulf fixed, which neither righteous nor wicked can pass over. Remember, then, oh! remember, that at death the wicked begin an eternity of woe. What evil can be compared with this say you lose every thing for religion, you forfeit situation, friends, health, life itself: O happy loss, if you may but escape the bitter pains of eternal death. Lord, let not our eyes any longer be blinded by Satan, enable us to see our danger! awake, poor sinner, awake! open, O Lord, open thou the eyes of sinners, even of some sinners now in thy presence, and awaken them from the sleep of sin!

O my brethren, a time is coming which will

awaken you, when death comes you will be roused, and cry out for a little longer space, and hell will be seen to be a real and tremendous evil. Believe me, it is now the same evil as it will be seen to be on your death-bed, only with this blessed difference: you have now time to escape the evil, and to attain security for ever. O redeem time for your soul's salvation !

2. Learn THE BLESSEDNESS OF DEATH TO THE

BELIEVER.

In truth, in the evil sense, the believer never dies. Our Saviour Christ says, Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. (John xi. 26.) If a man keep my saying he shall never see death. All that is evil in death, is by Christ so removed, that the believer may say, Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. As it regards the body, if it be for a moment an enemy, it is the last enemy, and will assuredly at length be utterly destroyed. Christ has also the keys of death, and can, and does set at liberty all its captives. And as it regards the soul, death is our best friend; it is equally with life itself numbered among the Christian privileges-whether life or death, all are your's-it is a dark door, but the darkness is on this side and not on the other; when it

opens, it introduces us to light, and life, and glory, and shuts out for ever all darkness and misery. It is the end of trial and temptation; no more conflicts nor warfare; no more sins nor sorrows can harass and injure the happy believer. He is shut in by death from the world of death, and brought by this his last enemy safe into the mansions of endless life. The scriptures lift up the veil that hides the eternal world, and shew us the angels waiting round the pillow of the dying believer, longing to have another happy spirit added to them; the scriptures shew the Christian, that, to him this is the land of darkness and tears; and the unseen world, the true land of light and joy: in thy presence is fulness of joy. May we have but a good hope through grace of this happiness, and we shall long, not for life, but for death, (Phil. i. 23.) and say with David, My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? (Psalm xlii. 2.)

3. Learn THE IMPORTANCE OF PREPARATION FOR DEATH.

It is not a speculative subject we have now brought before you. It is not a vain thing. It deeply and intimately concerns you. It will add much to your comfort here to be delivered