grievous." The patient man possesses a calm and a quiet spirit while he feels the rod, and is willing to wait God's time for its removal; and for the performance of all the promises revealed in the covenant of grace. When outward appearances are dark and threatening, we may in patience possess our souls. The patient man derives great benefit from his troubles while in life, and has the promise that his affliction will work for him a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory in the world to come. I am persuaded, my brethren, that if we have the patient spirit which christianity dictates and inspires, we shall be fully convinced that our trials are as necessary for us, as the outward favours which we receive. We are liable to say in our prosperity that we shall never be moved, and to become remiss in duty. Have we not found that we have been brought to love God more, and to serve him better, when he hath been pleased to visit our iniquity with stripes? The redeemed will bless God to eternity, for the peaceable fruits of righteousness which have followed their chastisements.

5. To pass the time of our sojourning

here in fear, we must think much on the end of life, place our affections on things above, and prepare to be found of our Judge in peace.

days. It is

In the war

The godly,

We are going the way of all the earth, and shall soon reach the end of our appointed unto man once to die. of death there is no discharge. in all ages, have thought much on death, and have kept it in view in the actions of their lives. They have been studious to prepare to take leave of the world, and to impress on those around them a deep sense of their mor in tality. The patriarchs and the prophets de-es livered their dying charges to their families, and to the Jewish nation. Job saith, "all the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change come." The apostle Paul speaks of the time of his departure as being at hånd. Peter declares, that he knew that he must shortly put off this his tabernacle.

With some, whose minds have been corrupted with false philosophy, death has been considered as closing man's existence. These have given full indulgence to their sensual appetites, as the only way in which they wished to enjoy life. They have progressed in their brutishness, until many of them have

confessed themselves to be wretched; and have either fallen victims to their debauchery, or have laid violent hands upon themselves, and put an end to their lives. Those who have been illuminated by the wisdom which is from above, have considered the present state of man as but the dawn of his existence; and have considered death as finishing the season assigned to him for forming his character, and as introducing him to the endless retributions of eternity. Hence they have felt the importance of being diligent and faithful in time, and have contema plated death as a most important event. They have viewed it as being near at hand, and as a constant monitor to do whatever their hands find to do, with their might. "Brethren, the time is short," it remaineth that both they that hath wives be as though they had none; and they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; and they that use this world, as not abusing it; for the fashion of this world passeth away." (1 Cor. vii. 29, 30, 31.) Pious reflections on death, rendered habitual and familiar, will disarm it of distracting terrors, and will diffuse a se

renity through the soul in the last moments of life. When we lie down on our beds at night, let us remember that our bodies will soon fall asleep to awake no more until the resurrection; when we rise in the morning, and through the business of the day, let us not forget that our souls will soon be in the world of spirits.

If we who stand on the borders of eternity seek for our supreme happiness in earthly. pursuits and enjoyments, we shall be guilty of the height of folly and madness. Let us attend to the words of the divine Saviour, in Matth. vi. 19, 20. "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal but lay up for yourselves trea sures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal." Health and quiet, food and raiment, houses and lands, and all other worldly enjoyments, call for thankfulness to the Author of all mercies: But they are to be considered as of no comparative. value, when set over against the durable riches and righteousness, which Christ bestoweth upon his friends. True self-deniał forbids us to withhold any temporal blessing,

not excepting life itself, when called to sacrifice it to the interest of God's holy kingdom. The faithful, in view of the joy set before them, have been willing to part with every thing which they held dear on the earth. Moses "chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.” (Heb. xi. 25, 26.) The primitive Christians "took joyfully the spoiling of their goods, knowing in themselves, that they had in heaven a better and an enduring substance." (Heb. x. 34.) They cheerfully met death in its most dreadful forms, rather than renounce the prospects of an incorruptible crown.

If we are working out our own salvation with fear and trembling, we shall meditate often upon the things which God hath prepared for them who love him. There remaineth a glorious rest to the people of God. They will, in heaven, rest from sin, from temptations, from sufferings, and from sorrow ;and will be made perfectly holy, and perfectly blessed in the full enjoyment of God to all eternity. They will unite with the