vants beseeched them, in Christ's stead, to be reconciled to God, to have compassion on their own souls, to consider their latter end, to flee from wrath, and to seek redemption through the blood of Jesus.

But careless, giddy, and unbelieving, they rejected all these expostulations, despised the rich offers of mercy and grace, rejected the pure commandments of scripture as unreasonably severe, and obstinately refused to receive the Saviour, to walk in his ways, or to chuse the things well-pleasing in his sight.

How bitter must be the future upbraidings of their own accusing mind! Methinks I hear them say, Had we exerted half the diligence to gain the kingdom of heaven, which we employed in fitting ourselves for the mansions of woe; had we submitted to half the anxiety, labour, or fatigue, in working out our salvation, which we employed in preparing for a lot amongst the damned ; we never would have come into this place of torment!

But, alas ! while we would do nothing for heaven and eternal happiness, we subjected ourselves to care, to toils, to cost, and

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to disquiet, for the poor, poor pleasure of walking in the broad path which leads to destruction. Far better would it have been for us, if, in the days of our merciful visitation, we had laid to heart the things which belong to our peace ; if we had chosen that good part which can never be taken away; and if we had counted all but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ, to win him, and be found in him ; then would we have escaped this blackness of darkness, this indignation and wrath, this tribulation and anguish!

Men and brethren! these things may appear to you hard and harsh sayings, so that you cannot patiently bear them, and cannot but dislike the men who prophesy such evil tidings. Yet, if these warnings are consistent with scripture, it would be cruelty to conceal them from your view, and it would be perfidy to disguise them.

May you, before it is too late, lay to heart the terrors of the Lord, and be effectually awakened from your fatal slumbers, and earnestly inquire what you shall do to be saved! Then will you learn, to your unspeakable peace, that there is salvation in

none but Jesus; that he freely invites whosoever will to come to him, and most graciously promises to all who comply with his endearing invitation, eternal life, and every thing connected with eternal life, or preparatory for it.

May the God of all grace accompany, with his powerful blessing, our meditations on this portion of the sacred volume ; and to his most glorious name shall be ascribed the unrivalled and eternal praise. Amen and amen.

SERMON XIV.

THE EVERLASTING COVENANT.

2 Sam. xxiii. 5.

Although my house be not so with God, yet he

hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.

Few per

Ew persons are so successful in life, as to have every thing happening to them according to their wishes. Nor would it be of advantage to the real Christian, to feel that his worldly circumstances continued to flow with that tide of prosperity through life, which, in his early years, he fondly expected and desired. In youth, we call the world a paradise, and expect to enjoy in it

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whatever our hearts conceive to be worthy of coveting ; in more advanced age, we term it a wilderness, and look only for a succesa sion of changes and trials for the remainder of the journey. For though God dearly loves his children, and graciously imparts to them numerous consolations, far more valuable than what any secular prosperity can yield, yet he no where promises them unmingled and uninterrupted happiness in the pilgrimage of life. Nay, he daily reminds them, by his word and providence, that this is a valley of tears; that through tribulation they must enter the kingdom.; and that, when they have suffered a while, they shall be perfected. Among the variety of their trials, spiritual declensions and domestic griefs are peculiarly severe and distressing. When personal religion seems not to grow; when their devotion is languid, their hopes clouded, their faith weak, their love cold, their prayers restrained, and their graces obscured ; then they feel sorrow which the world knows not of, and experience a bitterness of soul, far more agonizing than language can express. If, at the same time, temporal calamities abound; if