good concerning Israel." Will you, like the workmen of Noah, be content to assist in building an ark in which you yourselves decline taking refuge? Oh, that you would be persuaded, before the storm rises, and the billows swell with terrific roar, to accept the offered shelter! Then may you outride the storm, and land safely in the haven of perpetual peace. Ponder the solemn words of Christ, "If any man be ashamed of me and my words, of him shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels." Printed by S. DOUGLAS WYETH, THE END. A CASTAWAY. WHAT IS IT TO BE CAST AWAY? I. WICKED Men shall be CAST AWAY BY GOD. Matthew xxv. 41, "Depart from me, ye cursed;" 2 Thess. i. 9, "Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power." 1. Away from Christ.-At present ungodly men are often near to Christ. Christ stands at their door and knocks. He stretches out his hands to them all the day long. He speaks to them in the Bible and the preached gospel. He says, Come unto me, and I will give you rest. Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out. But when Christ pronounces that sentence, "Depart from me, ye cursed," there will not be one knock more-not one invitation more -not one sweet offer more. Christ is the only way to the Father; but it shall be then closed for ever Christ is the only door; but it shall then be shut for ever more. It is the blessedness of the redeemed that they shall be with Christ. "To-day shalt thou be with me. Having a desire to be absent from the body and present with the Lord. So shall they be ever with the Lord. His servants shall serve him, and they shall see his face." It is this that maintains the eternal calm in the bosom of the redeemed. But the ungodly shall be cast away from all this. "Bind him hand and foot and cast him into outer darkness." 2. Away from God.-True, the wicked can never be cast away from the presence of God. Ps. cxxxix. 8, "If I make my bed in hell, behold thou art there." Job says, "Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering," (xxvi. 6). His almighty power creates it, His breath kindles it. Isaiah xxx. 33, "The breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it." But they shall be banished, First. From the possession of God.-God said to Abraham, "I am thy shield and thine exceeding great reward." God makes himself over to the believing soul, saying, I will be thy God. David says, God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. Who can tell the joy of those who enjoy God—who have God-the infinite God-as their portion? From this the Christless shall be cast away. You will have no portion in God. God will not be your God. His attributes will be all against you. Second. From the favour of God." In thy favour is life." The favour of God is what believers feel on earth. A beam of God's countenance is enough to fill the heart of a believer to overflowing. It is enough to light up the pale cheek of a dying saint with seraphic brightness, and make the heart of the lone widow sing for joy. From all this the Christless shall be cast away for ever; and instead of it Jehovah's frown shall light on them for ever. "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Third. Cast away from the blessing of God.-God is the fountain of all blessing. No creature is good or pleasant any more than God makes it to be so. The sun warms us-our food nourishes us-our friends are pleasant to us-because God made them so. All the joys in the world are but beams from that uncreated light. But separate a man from God, and all becomes dark. God is the fountain of all joy. Separate a man from God finally, and no creature can give him joy. This is to be cast away, cut off from God for ever and ever. Though there were no lake of fire, this of itself would be hell. II. WICKED MEN SHALL BE CAST AWAY BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. It is not often thought of, but it is true, that the Holy Spirit is now dealing and striving with natural |