sense at large. At other times, you may judge it more expedient, to use few words: perhaps a single sentence. And at others, it may be advisable to use no words at all; but a gesture, a sigh, or a look: Particularly, when the person you would reprove is greatly your superior. And frequently, this kind of reproof will be attended by the power of God. And consequently have a far better effect than a long and laboured discourse..

10. Once more. Remember the remark of Solomon, "A word spoken in season, how good is it!" It is true, if you are providentially called to reprove any one, whom you are not likely to see any more, you are to snatch the present opportunity, and to "speak in season," or "out of season." But with them whom you have frequent opportunities of seeing, you may wait for a fair occasion. Here the advice of the Poet has place. You may speak

Si validus, si lotus erit, si denique poscit,

when he is in a good humour, or when he asks it you. Here you may catch the

Mollia tempora fandi,

times when his mind is in a soft, mild frame. And then God will both teach you how to speak, and give a blessing to what is spoken.

11. But here let me guard you against one mistake. It passes for an indisputable maxim, "Never attempt to reprove a man when he is intoxicated with drink." Reproof, it is said, is then thrown away, and can have no good effect. I dare not say so. I have seen not a few clear instances to the contrary. Take one. Many years ago, pas sing by a man in Moorfields, who was so drunk, he could hardly stand, I put a paper into his hand. He looked at it, and said, "A Word A Word to a Drunkard--that is mẹ Sir, Sir! I am wrong I know I am wrong pray let me talk a little with you." He held me by the hand a full half hour. And I believe he got drunk no more.. 1.-12. I beseech you, Brethren, by the mercies of God, do not despise poor drunkards. Have compassion on them!

Be instant with them in season and out of season! Let not shame, or fear of men, prevent your pulling these brands out of the burning: many of them are self-condemned:

Nor do they not discern the evil plight,
That they are in.".

But they despair; they have no hope of escaping out of it. And they sink into it still deeper, because none else has any hope for them! "Sinners of every other sort," said a vene rable old Clergyman, "have I frequently known converted to God. But an habitual drunkard, I have never known converted." But I have known five hundred, perhaps five thousand. Ho! Art thou one who readest these words? Then hear thou the words of the Lord! I have a message from God unto thee, O sinner! Thus saith the Lord, Cast not away thy hope. I have not forgotten thee. He that tells thee, "There is no help," is a liar from the beginning. Look up! Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world! This day is salvation come to thy soul: only see that thou despise not him that speaketh! Just now he saith unto thee, "Son, be of good cheer! Thy sins are forgiven thee!

13. Lastly. You that are diligent in this labour of love, see that you be not discouraged, although after you have used your best endeavours, you should see no present fruit. You have need of patience, and then, "after ye have done the will of God" herein, the harvest will come. Never be "weary of well-doing: in due time ye shall reap, if ye faint not." Copy after Abraham, who " against hope, still believed in hope." "Cast thy bread upon the waters, and after many days thou shalt find it again."

14. I have now only a few words to add unto you, my brethren, who are vulgarly called Methodists. I never heard or read of any considerable revival of religion, which was not attended with a spirit of reproving. I believe it cannot be othewise; for what is faith, unless it work by love? Thus it was in every part of England,

!

when the present revival of religion, began about fifty years ago: all the subjects of that revival, all the Methodists, so called, in every place, were reprovers of outward sin. And indeed so are all that "being justified by faith, have peace with God through Jesus Christ." Such they are at first and if they use that precious gift, it will never be taken away. Come, brethren! In the name of God, let us begin again! Rich or poor, let us all arise as one man! And in any wise, let every man "rebuke his neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him!" Then shall all GreatBritain and Ireland know, that we do not "go a warfare at our own cost." Yea, "God shall bless us, and all the ends of the world shall fear him."

1

SERMON LXXI.

THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

MATTHEW Xvi. 3.

Ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the Signs of the Times ?"

1. THE entire passage runs thus: "The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting, desired him, that he would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather; for the sky is red; and in the morning, It will be foul weather to-day for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?"

2. "The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came." In general, these were quite opposite to each other: but it is no uncommon thing for the children of the world to lay aside their opposition to each other, (at least, for a season,) and cordially to unite in opposing the children of God; "and tempting," that is, making a trial, whether he was indeed sent of God, " desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven," which they believed no false prophet was able to do. It is not improbable, they imagined, this would convince them, that he was really sent from God.

"He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather, for the sky is red: and in the morning, It will be foul weather to-day, for the sky is red and lowering." Probably there were more certain signs of fair, and foul weather, in their climate, than there are in ours. "O ye hypocrites," making profession of love, while you have enmity in your hearts: "Ye can discern the face of the sky," and judge thereby what the weather will be: "but can ye not discern the signs of the times," when God brings his first begotten Son into the world?

3. Let us more particularly enquire, First, What were the Times, whereof our Lord here speaks? And what were the Signs whereby those times were to be distinguished from all others? We may then enquire, Secondly, What are the Times which we have reason to believe are now at hand? And how is it, that all who are called Christians do not discern "the Signs of these Times ?”

I. 1. Let us, in the first place, enquire, What Times were those, concerning which our Lord is here speaking? It is easy to answer, The times of the Messiah; the times ordained before the foundation of the world, wherein it pleased God, to give his only begotten Son, to take our nature upon him, to be "found in fashion as a man," to live a life of sorrow and pain, and at length to be “obedient unto death, even the death of the cross;" to the end that "whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life." This was the important time, the signs whereof the Pharisees and Sadducees could not discern. Clear as they were in themselves, yet so thick a veil was upon the hearts of these men, that they did not discern the tokens of his coming, though foretold so long before.

2. But what were those signs of the coming of that Just One, which had been so long and so clearly foretold? and whereby they might easily have discerned those times, had not the veil been on their hearts? They are many in num ber; but it may suffice to mention a few of them. One of the first is that pointed out in the solemn words, spoken by Jacob a little before his death, Gen. xlix. 10, "The