which engage the heart and affections; and, when men have felt their power and consolation, then have they found MOTIVES for diffusing them. When we shall have learned to consider the Gospel as "the UNSEARCHABLE RICHES,' and the INESTIMABLE GIFT, then shall we earnestly desire to impart it to others. Thus much of the consequences of disbelieving the spiritual doctrine of Christ. We further observed, that many persons disbelieve also his divine predictions.

Our Saviour foretold that, the city of Jerusalem should be destroyed on account of its sin, before the generation, which then lived, had passed away. And he warned mankind that this judgment on Jerusalem would be a type of the judgment of the world at the last day; and that, therefore, if the first event should come to pass, they might believe in the certain accomplishment of the second. He further referred them to a former great event in the history of the world, (as if to establish the fact by analogy) which was a type of both the subsequent events; namely, the judgment of the flood. For, as it was," said he, " in the days "of Noah, so shall it be in the days of the Son of "Man." As if he had said, the scene which the world saw ONCE, it shall see AGAIN. " As it was, so shall it BE." Now, my brethren, let us look round, and survey our Christian com

munity, and inquire whether there be any tokens of a general belief in this prediction of our Saviour? At the time our Lord uttered it, he added the following sentence; "heaven

"and earth shall pass away, but my words "shall not pass away." "" But even this solemn declaration makes no impression on many. In regard to them," his words have passed away." They are regarded as " a voice, and nothing more."

VI. Let us then impress on your minds, once more, the solemn admonition, to believe the words of Christ, and to prepare for those events which "must shortly come to pass." There are many persons who sincerely desire to establish their principles, and to secure for themselves the consolations and support of an unshaken faith, against the day of trial. But they find they make but little progress in the great work, as the years revolve. Being occupied by the business, or fascinated by the pleasures of life, they perceive that they cannot fix their thoughts on the scenes of the world to come. Holy scripture, they find, cannot be read with interest by a man of the world. By this, indeed, its divine original is proved. In the midst of dissipation, they can peruse the most solemn pages of pagan antiquity; but they dare not read the Bible. Ard, after some years have been passed in this manner, (the sacred

volume being all the while unread, and never meeting their view in the societies to which they belong) they begin, at length, to doubt whether there shall be a day of retribution at all. They once read that "the blood of the "Lamb" was shed, to " deliver them from the "wrath to come." But they now begin to doubt whether there shall be a " wrath to "come."

66

How, then, is such an one to be delivered from the fatal error into which he is falling? and which will certainly destroy his peace at the last? He is in danger of being "taken

66

captive by Satan at his will," and of being “tied and bound by the chain" of unbelief. There is but one remedy. He must come again to the scriptures of God, and submit his understanding to "his sure testimony." He must endeavour to read them with the docility of a child who would be instructed by his father. Our Lord hath said, "except ye be

66

come as little children, ye shall not enter "into the kingdom of heaven." He ought, at the same time, to exercise his reason, and acquired knowledge, in a dispassionate manLet him compare the state of the world with the records of scripture, and endeavour to form a judgment from ANALOGY, (even as Christ hath taught us in his reference to the flood) that is to say, let him judge of what

ner.

shall probably be hereafter, from 'what he sees to be now.

For example, he is ready to say to himself, "if there be a God, he is a God of mercy, he "will not punish." But what is the fact? Let him here exercise his reason, and refer to the evidence before him. He sees that God DOTH punish, even in this world. This life is to many a permanent scene of punishment and misery. Now, what is the just inference and legitimate conclusion from this fact? It is this, that, if it be consistent with the mercy of God, that there should be misery here, it will be consistent with his mercy that there shall be misery hereafter. If it be compatible with his justice, that there should be punishment in this world, we may believe that there will be punishment in the life to come. Do we behold a succession of awful events and revolutions in this world? Let us prepare ourselves to behold more awful and terrible scenes in the world to come. The events of this life, in regard to their importance to the soul of man, are but shadows and names, compared with the great realities which are approaching. We behold, at this time, the kingdoms of the earth desolat. ed, new empires established, princes dethroned, and new kings created; and all this executed by the hand of man; executed with an impious spirit which would arrogate the cha

racter and power of the Deity. What, then, may we believe shall be the scene in that Great Day, when God himself shall come to "judge "the world in righteousness," to vindicate his insulted honour, and to display his almighty power, in the presence of angels and of men! in that "great day of his wrath, when the "kings of the earth, and the great men, and "the rich men, and the captains, and the mighty men, shall hide themselves in dens, "and in the rocks of the mountains ; and "shall say to the mountains and rocks, fall on us, and hide us from the face of HIM "that sitteth on the throne, and from the "wrath of the LAMB; for the great day of "his wrath is come, and who shall be able to "stand.'

..

66

Judging from the same principles of analogy, we infer again, that if God giveth happiness and gladness of heart to believers in this world, he will give happiness in the world to come. If there be seasons of joy and exultation in the converted soul here, there will be unutterable joy hereafter. If there be persons now in this world, who delight in praising God, and in contemplating the blessings of redemption, by the blood of the Lamb, we are warranted to presume, that they will enjoy the delights of

* Rev. vi. 17.