and hereafter. For, although God is a being of infinite goodness and mercy, and is patient and longsuffering towards sinners, being unwilling that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance ;' yet we must remember, that he is also infinitely just, and will assuredly vindicate the honour of his laws. All sin and wickedness is an abomination in his sight: He is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity; and if his wrath be kindled, yea but a little,' what will become of the wicked and ungodly? Nothing but a sincere repentance, and amendment of life, will be sufficient to secure them from the vengeance which he hath threatened to pour down upon all obstinate and rebellious sinners: and true repentance will most undoubtedly avert his anger. He hath declared himself to be a God merciful and gracious, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin;' and hath promised forgiveness of sins to all them that, with hearty repentance and true faith, turn unto him. He hath no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked should turn from his way and live.' In order to assure us of this his great love to mankind, and his desire to reconcile us to himself, He hath sent his Son,' his only, his beloved Son, into the world, to the end that all that believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life;' John iii. 16.

It hath pleased God, of his infinite goodness, to establish a most gracious covenant of mercy to mankind through the mediation of his own Son; and the condition of his part of the covenant, namely, the remission of sins, is always ready to be made good, if we fail not, on our part, of sincere repentance, and a thorough reformation of our lives. Our Saviour hath made a full, perfect, and

sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction, for the sins of the whole world. He hath suffered a cruel and ignominious death upon the cross for our sakes and by his death and sufferings hath purchased this grace for us, that real repentance, and the sincere endeavour of perfect obedience, shall be accepted instead of innocence; but, without this repentance, and renewed endeavour of perfect obedience, we shall not be accepted upon any terms. The sacrifice which Christ offered upon the cross, although of infinite value, will be of no avail to us, unless, in conformity with his death and resurrection, we die unto sin, and rise again into newness of life. Nothing but a good life will entitle us to the favour and love of God; and, without his favour, we are of all creatures the most miserable.' Better had it been for us never to have been born, than to have made God our enemy by leading vicious and wicked lives. Let it then, above all things, be our great and constant endeavour to make him our friend, who is the best of beings, the sovereign good and happiness of all his creatures, and the fountain and foundation of all our comforts and enjoyments in this life, and of all our hopes and expectations in that which is to come. Let us make religion the great business of our lives; and, while we have time and opportunity, let us prepare ourselves, by a life of virtue and righteousness, for that great account which we must one day give. Let not the pleasures and vanities of this world, which will shortly have an end, make us unmindful of the great and momentous concerns of eternity. O eternity! how amazing are the thoughts of it! Who, that considers what it is to live for ever in a state of endless happiness or misery, would not labour and strive with

all his might to secure the one and avoid the other! Now, this only can be done by a good life: for without holiness no man shall see the Lord.' Heaven is prepared for those, and those only, who fear God, and live in a strict endeavour to perform a perfect obedience to his will. There shall in nowise enter into that holy place any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie; but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.' And those only are the good and virtuous, who have kept themselves from the pollutions of this wicked world, and have led a life of piety and renewed obedience toward God, and of love and charity towards their neighbours. To all others, that blessed Lamb of God will declare ' he knew them not;' to the workers of iniquity,' even that merciful and compassionate Saviour will say, Depart from me.' Dreadful words! Whither must such wretched souls go, when they are bidden to depart from the Saviour of the world! Whither, indeed, but to that dismal place of horror and everlasting misery prepared for the devil and his angels!'

May God, of his infinite mercy, give all of us grace to see and follow the things that belong to our everlasting peace in this our day,' lest they be hidden from our eyes, and all opportunities of reconciling ourselves to our offended God be for ever lost and gone! May every one of us be persuaded to hearken to the advice of Solomon! Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, and every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil;' Eccles. xii. 13, 14.—And may we always keep in remembrance that merciful caution of our blessed Lord

and Saviour;' Watch, therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh;' Matt. xxv. 15.

A PRAYER.

O MOST glorious Lord God, and merciful Father in Christ Jesus, who hast prepared for them that love thee such good things as pass man's understanding, and hast promised to give eternal life to them who, by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory, and honour, and immortality; give me, I most humbly beseech thee, a firm and unshaken faith in all thy promises; that, being fully persuaded of those important truths which thou hast revealed to us in the gospel, I may make it the principal care and concern of my whole life to please and obey thee in all things! And, that I may obtain those things which thou dost promise, make me to love that which thou dost command; and grant, that, by the assistance of thy Holy Spirit, I may be enabled to persevere in the practice of a holy life, even to the last moment of my days!

Let the hopes and expectations of that unspeakable happiness hereafter, which thou hast prepared for those who live in obedience to thy commandments, enable me to pass through this vale of tears and misery with cheerfulness and submission to thy blessed will, and to bear with patience whatever troubles thou, in thy great wisdom, shall see fit to lay upon me.

O Lord! give me a heart raised above the vanities and enticements of this world, and free from all its pollutions and defilements. Fix my thoughts, my hopes, and my desires, upon heaven and hea

venly things; that, having always in view the crown of glory which thou hast promised to thy faithful servants, I may press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus; and, being strengthened by thy grace, and supported by thy Holy Spirit, I may run with patience the race which thou hast set before us; that, when the great day of retribution shall come, I may look up to my most merciful Judge with joy and com fort, and may hear those ravishing words pronounced unto me, Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.' Grant this, O merciful Father, through the alone merits, and for the sake of my eternal advo-` cate and mediator, Jesus Christ. Amen.

A MORNING PRAYER

FOR A FAMILY.

O MOST gracious God, and kind Father, in all humility of soul and body we present ourselves before the throne of thy majesty and glory, acknowledging that we are thy dependent creatures, 'and that from thy bountiful hand we have received many and exceeding great blessings.

By thee we were wonderfully made; by thy power we have ever since been preserved; and it is owing to thy great mercy and goodness that we have not been cut off in the midst of our sins, but that thou hast been patient and long-suffering toward us, and hast given us this opportunity of coming into thy presence to renew our praises and acknowledgments to thy divine Majesty. O Lord, thy compassion fails not. By thee we have been