from whence we learn, in affliction at least, to look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver us from the sorrows, the pains, the disappointments of this mortal life into that glory and happiness which He Himself enjoys. But, my Christian brethren, may we all look forward to this blessed change as a matter of course, to be accomplished in us in the order of nature, or by the necessary efficacy of our sufferings in this world? Alas! no. In too many cases, as Bishop Horne feelingly laments, "the sufferings of time only lead on to those of eternity." That great and terrible day of the Lord can only be endured by those in whom the first resurrection is past already; who have, even in life, died to sin, and risen again to righteousness; who have crucified the flesh, with its affections and lusts, and have breathed the new life hid with GOD in Christ. Let us not presume to look forward with confidence to the appearance of our Judge,

until we are assured that our pardon is already obtained by our Mediator, I say, our pardon, for of innocence who can speak?

Who may abide the day of His coming? Who shall stand when He appeareth? If the righteous shall hardly be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Who of us dare think upon the disclosures of that day without fear and trembling? Who can represent to himself that dread tribunal, where he must appear naked in the presence of Almighty GOD, and all His holy angels, without alarm and dismay?

Certainly no created being could bear the shame of so exposing all his secret sins to the eye of GOD and of GOD's creatures, unless he hoped and trusted to have his nakedness covered with the robe of his Saviour's merits; to have his foul stains washed away in the pure fountain of His precious blood; to be presented, by the great atoning High Priest,

clean and without spot to the Father of Spirits!

Here then the awful inquiry forces. itself upon our attention; "Are we washed, are we sanctified, are we justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our GOD 1?"

I beseech you, let us not shrink from this question; let us not trifle with it! Too often have our consciences required an answer to it at our hands! too often have we sullenly refused to reply, and turned away in obstinacy!

We may,

But we cannot turn away. indeed, defer our attention to the subject till it becomes intolerably painful; we may, (but GoD avert it!) we may postpone it till it is too late! but it must and it will come home to us all at last. And they that have sought it, and they that have welcomed it, and they that have improved it, shall rejoice together; their

1 1 Cor. vi. 11.

consolation shall be infinite, endless, unspeakable; all tears shall be wiped away from their eyes; all sighing and sorrow shall be at an end; all fears and doubts shall finally vanish; all hopes and anticipations be more than fulfilled; all that they have lost shall be restored to them ten thousand fold; all that they have never yet enjoyed shall be heaped upon them with the overflowing abundance of heavenly richness and divine goodness!

If we desire, (and who can but desire?) to be of that blessed number, we must learn now to make the coming of Christ's kingdom the subject of our reflections and our hopes, as well as of our prayers ; we must allow it to moderate our enjoyments, as well as to console our afflictions; to animate us in doing good, as well as to restrain us in committing evil; to fill us, not only with holy caution and salutary fear, but with "all joy and peace in believing;" to make us live above the world, discharging its duties with cheer

fulness, accepting its blessings with thankfulness, enduring its trials with patience, and hastening towards that glorious consummation when He, whom we have loved in life, and believed on in death, shall come in all His glory, to call us from the dust of the earth, with these awakening sounds, Come, ye blessed children of my Father; receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world."

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