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fancied enemy. The believer mistakes if he fancies his Saviour has done all, to encourage him either in carelessness or idleness: the Captain of his salvation has left him (who be it remembered is but a common soldier) to strive, to fight, and to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil; he has left him to work out his salvation; and this is quite enough to keep him well employed: with work like this, there is no time to stand idle; and with a life of only a span in length, there is no time to waste.

If we would have comfort in the valley of death, we must employ the best of our days, and the full force of our powers, in acquiring a store for the time of need; for it is better to have comfort at hand than to have comfort to seek! And why should we delay the preparation? Can we suppose that that which is only to be obtained by the greatest perseverance and effort in prayer and self-examination, which requires the whole powers of the soul unimpaired by disease of body, will be effected by a feeble and languid effort? The soul is incapable of fervent supplications when the body is in a constant state of restlessness, or is tortured by disease; and this is usually occasioned by the disorders that are the forerunners of death. We must not suppose that either the laws of nature or of grace will be reversed for us; the promise runs, "Grace shall be given equal to thy day;" but then it will only be given conditionally: "Ask, and ye shall receive." It must be asked for importunately "with strong cryings and tears," with a holy prostration of soul; and this will be in proportion as the need is felt. A beggar dying with hunger will not quit the threshold until he has obtained a morsel; nor will the doubting Christian, if he feels the desirableness of having the fear of death removed, cease to importune

at the throne of grace until he is enabled to rise above its fears.

Prayer can be but of little avail unless it is importunate, unless the soul is energized when engaged in the duty; for as a bucket will not draw water unless lowered into the well, no more will prayer be the instrument of fetching down the desired blessing unless carried beyond the mere form of worship.

The aphorism, "dying grace is reserved for dying moments, has lulled many a lazy Christian into inglorious repose; and has led him to fancy the necessity of living in the bondage of fear; because few Christians have taken the pains to eradicate it, but have rather preferred increasing the evil, by relating to each other their forebodings.

Let us fear not! "Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as is thy day, so shall be thy strength." Let us live up to our privileges, especially in searching the scriptures; therein we shall find promises for time, promises for eternity, and promises for our support in the valley of death. It is to be regretted that there are thousands who assume the name of Christians, but who shew their bibles the same formal respect that the ancient Romans did the books of the sybils-they hold them in great veneration, but seldom look into them.

Let us continue inflexible in duty, aiming at the glory of God; reposing all confidence in the Lamb who was slain, not trusting in our own performances; and if we seek the gift and graces of the Holy Spirit, persevering to the end, our hopes will surmount our fears as we get near to the heavenly world, just in the same proportion as the mercury rises in a barometer with the approach of serene and settled weather.

With such encouragements, then, to persevere; with

such anticipations in the valley of death, and such prospects at the end of our journey, we are constrained to say, "Happy art thou, O Christian; who is like unto thee? saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, and the sword of thy excellency! thou shalt rest in the grave, and then stand in thy lot at the end of the days."

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BEING RICH IN FAITH.

WHEN a hundred years from the present period have elapsed, it will be a circumstance of no moment who among us are possessed of riches, or who are poor; because then the present consequences attendant on this different state of things will have passed away. It is pretty certain that twenty years hence many who now peruse these essays will be gone to their long home; and to them it will be a matter quite unimportant whether they were rich or poor while in this world, any further than as Providence has made their circumstances conducive to their soul's everlasting interests. But when I say, a hundred years hence it will be a matter of no moment to the present generation whether they possessed riches or whether they suffered want, I mean, of course, to imply, that we shall certainly then, with scarcely an exception, have passed into an eternal state of existence, and that then no further consequence will remain of our present circumstances in life than that which has influenced our eternal destinies.

A hundred years hence, it will matter not how many pleasures we experienced in this life, for they will be past and gone like a dream that is forgotten. A hundred years hence, it will matter not whether we fed on

fowls and pheasants or on potatoes and meal; it will matter not whether we were driven about in carriages or walked on foot. A hundred years hence, it will matter not whether we were clothed in rags or whether we were delicately attired; for then all the fine clothing that now is will be moth-eaten, and will have passed into decay. A hundred years hence, it will matter not whether we ranked among the fashionable or among the vulgar; whether we were literary or unlearned; whether we were esteemed for our talents, or whether we were despised for Jesus' sake; it will matter not whether we fared sumptuously every day, or whether we were starved to death; for then "old things will have passed away." If, then, a hundred years hence it will be of little or no importance how we fared in this life, does it not appear to be a mark of extreme folly to be anxiously careful for anything, or to be over earnest in making provision for the flesh?

But there are some things with which we are connected now that will prove to us of the utmost importance a hundred years hence; that will have an influence on our state TEN THOUSAND YEARS HENCE; that will be instrumental either in our eternal happiness or our eternal misery! What insufferable fools, then, shall we be, if in the present life we exhaust all our energies, spend all our time, and destroy all our peace and comfort, in the pursuit of those things that a hun dred years hence may be forgotten, and will with all their influences have passed away; while we are indifferent to, or entirely neglect, the things that concern our future well-being, and will have a sovereign bias on our future destiny!

Do you not see the vast importance of making sure your eternal interests? Do you not know that your everlasting all is at stake, perhaps on the present

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