perhaps appear so evil in its consequences as the neglect of some more public part of christian worship. In the former instance the omission is known only to God, and he alone can be offended; in the latter instance the neglect is obvious both to him and the world God is therefore dishonored, the righteous are grieved, and the profane, ready to consider all religion as a matter merely of convenience, are encouraged in their iniquity. But it ought to be considered as important, being appointed for our spiritu al edification; to the due performance a promise is annexed, and in the wilful omission of any the frown of our Father may be expected. "If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments: If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments: Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes." All the stones in a particular arch may not in the view of a spectator be equally necessary: They are not of the same size, nor alike splendid in their outward appearance, yet a single stone cannot be removed without defacing the beauty and diminishing the strength and stability of the whole arch. All the members of the human body are not alike elegant or useful; the hand has not the brilliancy of the eye, nor is the foot so exquisitely nice in its structure as the organ of hearing, yet by severing one member from the body, the beauty and perfection of the whole frame would be destroy

ed. Thus every ordinance of religion is important in its own place: There is an intimate connexion between the duties as well as the doctrines of christianity. Besides, the very consideration that any institution has the authority of Jehovah as its sanction, is a sufficient reason why we should scrupulously and at any expence observe it: And a departure from any known ordinance is an impeachment of that wisdom, and sovereignty, and love, by which it was appointed.

I would apply this doctrine by exhorting all to become followers of this honored, thrice happy pair, "who through faith and patience do now inherit the promises." Their example is recorded both for our instruction and imitation. True it is, diligence is requisite, and a little sacrifice of our fleshly ease must be made in discharging the duties of religion. We cannot "search the scriptures," nor excite our souls to a devout contemplation of divine subjects without labor; without labor we cannot attain to a becoming fervor in prayer; we cannot be instant in attending the services of the sanctuary; we cannot be vigilant "in keeping our hearts; we cannot retain divine truth, frequently revolving it in our memories, and incorporating it with our souls; we cannot watch, nor fast, nor sanctify the sabbath by performing its various duties; we cannot solemnize our hearts, and rouse them up to a suitable frame" for eating the bread VOL. 3.

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and drinking the wine" which are consecrated as symbols of the body and blood of our Lord. The discharge of these duties will require attention, and be accompanied with toil; but for what will we consent to toil if not "for that meat which endureth to everlasting life?" For what will we submit to a little labor of body, or exertion of mind, if not in performing the pleasure of Him who created us, and in promoting the salvation of that soul which shall never, never die? Besides, by a disinterested zeal in" walking in the commandments and ordinances of God," we become assimilated to the most honorable of our race who have lived in all preceding generations; to Enoch who "walked with God;" to Abraham who at the divine command left "his own people, and his father's house, and went out not knowing whither he went ;" to Moses who "through faith kept the passover and sprinkling of blood, who chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy" the luxury of an earthly court, or the splendors of an earthly crown: What is a consideration infinitely more interesting, we become assimilated to the holy Jesus, who considered it "his meat and drink to do the will of his Father that sent him, and finish his work."

But let every reader of these pages be admonished that in deliberately neglecting these ordinances of the Living God they shall not, they cannot escape. "To them who obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness,

he will render tribulation and anguish." Has he commanded you to read his word? and can you neglect it from day to day with impunity? Has he enjoined you to " pray without ceasing, to ask that it may be given you?" and do you expect in the omission of this duty to escape his righteous indignation? Does he require you to "remember the sabbath day and keep it holy?" and in the profanation of that day by idleness, or amusements, or secular employments, are you not liable to the stroke of his avenging arm? As citizens you could not neglect your duty to society without injury to your character, and comfort, and interest, and are the laws of almighty God less reasonable in themselves, less righteous in their sanctions, or is he less able to execute these sanctions upon the wilful transgressor? "If I be a father, where is mine honor? If I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts."

"O merciful God, have pity on thoughtless, benighted, deluded sinners, and rouse them to a sense of their danger: In the exercise of grace infinitely rich, thou hast provided a Saviour for our guilty world, even thine own Son, who has, by much sorrow and travail of soul, by much ignominy from earth and hell, through exquisite agony inflicted upon him by thine own hand, procured a full redemption: Thou hast in thy precious word revealed clearly thy will and our duty, offering a free salvation, and de

claring that thou hast no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but art rather desiring that they should repent, and turn, and live : Thou art raising up, and sending forth men of like passions, praying them to be reconciled unto God: Wilt thou not accompany these outward means with the operations of thy most blessed Spirit effectually to apply this great salvation: Rain down his influences on all of every age and character into whose hands these pages may come, that the eyes of their understanding being enlightened, they may know what is the hope of thy calling, and what the riches of the glory of thine inheritance among the saints: May they be all righteous before thee, through the imputation of the righteousness of thy dear Son, and holy through a constant supply of grace from him the ever-living Head: By their walking in all thy commandments and ordinances blameless may it appear to the world, and by the pledges of thy love secretly communicated to their hearts may they possess an inward assurance that they are adopted into thy family, and heirs to that kingdom which thou hast prepared for thy chosen: And to thee Holy Father, with the infinitely condescending Son our Saviour, and the Spirit of all grace shall the glory be ascribed now, and everlastingly. AMEN.