the earth, and its inhabitants, which may give us some imperfect idea of what will be the terrors of the closing scene. When the united wickedness of nations has loudly called for vengeance, sometimes the storms of fury have rushed down upon them! The Almighty, after bearing long, has plucked his hand from his bosom, and scourged, and pun ished a daring race. On some of these occasions death has appeared unusually awful. His size has been enormous His gigantic strides have measured the astonished earth. From his looks have showered horror and dismay unutterable. Nature has shuddered and stood aghast. The earth has trembled beneath the weight of his ponderous féet.** The elements have joined in his train. The doors of heaven have flown open over his head. Tides of vengeance have rolled down around him. The fountains of the great deep have been broken up. Rival torrents have drenched creation. The flame in animated existence has been nearly extinguished. The voice of lamentation has risen from> earth's extended surface. The world has been made empty and void.—In further ages his visits have been attended by sudden storms of fire and brimstone rolling furiously>< from the clouds. Thousands of earth's sons have fallen victims to the awful tempest.-During the space of a whole night a destroying angel has walked by his side; and the first born of a populous nation have breathed their last.→→ In some cases the whirlwinds sudden blast has gathered around him, and men, heaps upon heaps, have been swept to the grave. The working ocean has engulphed the shat→ tered bark, and the tempest-beaten mariners have, in great numbers, found a watery grave. The earthquake, and t desolating tide of lava, rolling from the bowels of the burn-, ing mountain have attended his march, and their united carnage has furnished the survivor with a faint sketch of the final desolation which he will make in our world. The enormous roar has been heard from afar. Paleness has

elouded many faces.

The feet of numbers have tottered

and fallen. The earth, even towards its centre, has felt

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the tremblings of the distant shock. At some times it has appeared as though the very pillars of creation shook, and were tottering and bending towards their final fall. With a dreadful heave, towns, and domes, and towers have been levelled to the ground. Many a stately pile, over which ages have swept with comparatively little effect, has, in one short moment, been precipitated into a confused heap of ruins. On some of these occasions, millions were crushed beneath the weight of general devastation, and have been buried in one common grave. Scarcely has a widow been left to mourn the absence of her son, and departure of her husband. With them she is covered in the mass of ruins. The fertile plain, that was covered with grass and smiling corn, has opened a mouth which has swallowed up the fair foliage, that adorned and enriched its surface, aud all the animated beings that were supported by it. While the cloud topped mountain, on whose side the nodding pine and towering cedar reared their heads and waved majestic, shook at its base, has rushed headlong to the gaping grave. These things may be viewed as an awful pressage of the world's final destiny; and may faintly shadow forth the ruins connected with the period, when death's desolations shall come to a perpetual end.

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Then it will appear as if he had a commission to shake all beneath the sun, and ruin all connected with the probation of man. Then time's gay glories will wither, the earth's green surface will be defaced and destroyed, the earth will be pierced with her dying groans, and heave with her final throes,--her funeral fires will be kindled, the atmospheric air will be tempested by the burning ruin, the sun extinguished, and creation's fair scenes pass away. But this is about his last effort!

Important, awful moment! I sometimes imagine myself placed amidst the sublime and stupendous scene; and while meditating on the extinguished stars, the moon dyed in crimson, and the sun shrouded in sackcloth; while feeling the shakings of a trembling world, and viewing the surface of the earth as a vast shambles of mortal slaughter, as a Golgotha, a place of human skuils, as covered with the spoils of the king of terrors; I am suddenly delighted by the appearance of a glorious person who is approaching towards death. He is possessed of cloudless majesty. His garment is purer than the light. His head and his hair as white as snow. His voice like the rush of many waters. His countenance as the sun when he shineth in his strength. His whole person illustrious as the body of the heavens in its clearness. But, amidst all this splendour, I imagine I see some scars upon his glorious form, indicative of his having passed through a severe conflict. Yea, it is the Prince of peace, the Lord of life and glory. He once had a conflict; a conflict with wrath, and furies, and death. But, in the combat, death was conquered. It is true, numbers, for a season, thought that death had gained the victory. Even the hope of his friends gave up the ghost. These discouragements, however, only continued a little while. When the Saviour rose, he vanquished death,—crushed his sting, destroyed his mortal venom,-demolished his throne,-invaded his territories, and took possession of his amazing empire. He broke asunder those bonds, by means of which death had detained his captives. It was impossible they should hold him. He is the Prince of life. He brake asunder the bars of iron, and threw open the gates of brass, which, till then, had never been moved; and thus opened a passage from the grave, to the portals of light and glory.

But what are these gracious words which proceed from

his lips; words, at which death becomes abashed and dis- mayed? Why does he tremble? Has he not conquered kings? Have not many mighty men been thrown down by him? Has he not, with resistless sweep laid waste the nations, and subjugated the human family? Has he not spread This ravages as extensive as the world, and the things connected with it? Why then these marks of consternation? Hark what awful, and yet delightful sounds proceed from the lips of the Prince of life : O death, says he, I will be thy plague, yea I will be thy destruction. At this sound death sinks down in his last agonies, and heaves his final groan.

But what rejoicing throng is this which I see? It strikingly resembles the Prince of life, attended by his glorious train. How immense their numbers. How white their garments. How green their laurels. How rich their crowns. How cheerful their countenances. How loud their shouts, like the triumphant burst of unnumbered millions, like the united rush of many waters,-like the continued pral of mighty thunders. But, what is the burden of this mighty burst? It is not the sound of grief, nor of contending armies. Hark, the burthen of the noise is victory! victory ! victory! the Prince of life has completed the victory: and thanks be to God, we also have the victory. through our Lord Jesus Christ. May you and I form a part of that enraptured crowd.. Amen.

Othat they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end.

IN these words there is something pious, solemn, and impressive. When considered with their connected circumstances they are calculated to make a powerful impression on the mind. Let us remember that they contain the sentiments of a man who knew himself to be standing on the brink of the grave. A man marked by many honourable distinctions, A man whose post in society was much elevated, whose knowledge in things human and divine was very considerable, who was deeply read in the book of painful experience, who had lived to an advanced age, and a considerable part of whose days had been devoted to the service of God. A man who possessed an uncommon measure of sound sense and religious excellence, whose hand had written all the revelation then given to man, who knew that he was just about to explore the secrets of an unknown state, and, within a few hours, render up his account to God. Let us likewise remember, that the words before us breathe the dying wish of Moses for a people whose welfare laid near his heart. Most of you know that they were uttered by him, and had reference to the Israelitish tribes while they journeyed in the wilderness. With them he was well acquainted.