made, and the final destiny of sinners and saints be decided, is called the harvest-a period which may be delayed, but must inevitably come-such is the promise of God, such is the necessary result of previous engagements, such is the universal experience of every successive age; death is the harvest to every one-the end of the world.

2. The reapers who will gather all to the fire, or the barn, are the angels; they will have an especial commission, it is true, at the day of judgment, but it is not to be doubted but that they receive the charge of every disembodied spirit as it quits its mortal residence-they attend our dying beds they watch the expiring gasp-and as the ministers of God, his servants who obey his high behests, they bear the impenitent as criminals to the prison, where bound in darkness, they wait the coming of the great day-emphatically, the great day of dread decision and despair!

3. The wicked will then be detected, every disguise torn away-every secret thing proclaimed -they will be consigned to eternal, entire, and associated misery.

The fire into which the tares are cast, is represented as quenchless-as never dying-as inextinguishable; and indeed, the scriptures are not more

expresson this subject in what they affirm, than conclusive in all the inferences which can be deduced. The eternity of future woe, results also, from the very nature of punishment; which does not purify -nay indeed, their torment will occasion an increase of guilt; with spirits unsubdued, and rage exasperated, they gnaw their tongues with pain, and blaspheme the God of heaven.

Total misery is the final destiny of the impenitent. Men may destroy the body, but the Great Judge of all, can cast soul and body into hell. Every member of the person will suffer the fury of the inextinguishable furnace, and all the faculties of the mind will be penetrated by the piercing sting of the never dying worm. The understanding will fully comprehend the nature and extent of Divine vengeance ;—the judgment must admit the entire equity of their own sufferings; the memory will busily recall their multiplied sins-their various aggravations-the means of escape once pressed on them but slighted-and the many mitigations of pain they formerly possessed, but which now are passed away for ever. Remembrance is the very essence of hell. The affections will be the source and seat of the most pungent anguish ; black malignity, despair, revenge; yea, the atmosphere of the heart will be more gloomy and

tremendous than even of the local prison by which their persons will be immured.

Solitary confinement were a comparative favor, but they will be associated, compulsorily associated with their fellow criminals. "Bind "them in bundles to burn them," is the significant term devised by our blessed instructor, who wills not the death of any sinner, but wishes him to repent and live. A more distressing aggravation of future woe can scarcely be imagined; what more abhorrent to our feelings than a compelled continuance among characters the most infamous and abandoned, and that only for a small season? Those infernal regions will ever resound with mutual accusations, with cutting reproaches, with most cruel recriminations, and he who was the chief tempter, becomes the most successful tormentor. From such sights and sounds of woe, we necessarily recoil, and flying to the throne of mercy, breathe the animated prayer, "Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men!"

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But we pass on to a pleasanter theme, to consider

4. The developement of the characters of the righteous, and their perfect and everlasting felicity.

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Here, from various causes, the righteous are not known, even to those who are like-minded with themselves; many are the thousands who have not bowed their knees unto Baal; these shall be gathered from the east, from the west, from the south, and the north, and be brought into the kingdom of God, here compared to the garner, where the good grain is lodged-lodged in a state of complete security; where it is reserved for the honor and advantage of the great proprietor, even God "who will be glorified in all them that "believe."

When referring to the heavenly state, we soon discover the scantiness of our information, and the poverty even of our Lord's similitudes and language; a poverty arising from our childish comprehension and the inconceivable delights of future enjoyment; a poverty the result of our contracted and enfeebled powers, and the vast infinity of the subject. If he has told us of religious truths relating to the present state of spiritual existence, and we understand not, how could we understand if he had told us of heavenly satisfactions. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor can it enter into the mind of man to conceive the joys God has prepared for those that love him. But lest this discourse should be protracted to a wearisome

length, we proceed to close it by some applicatory remarks.

1. Learn the folly of cherishing false opinions of yourselves; shortly all disguises shall be torn away; and your real character proclaimed, with the eternal and irreversible decision.

Let me urge upon you immediately to enter your closets, to enquire if you have a name to live and are dead; every thing depends on the sincerity and severity with which you conduct this scrutiny. Did persons deal honestly with themselves on these matters, there would be far fewer doubts in their own minds of their true condition, and far greater diligence evinced in escaping from the wrath to come.

It is not yet too late; as the thistle can be transformed into a myrtle, so the tare into wheat, by his mighty operation who can subdue all things to himself. O may you discover your danger, that you may value and seek the provided and promised remedy! It is with this view, that knowing the terrors of the Lord, we persuade men.

2. Again; accept encouragement from this subject; observe the tenderness displayed towards the