firongest evidence and clearest demonstration, that the falva tion of their fouls is incomparably more precious than all the treasures and riches of the world, yet they are incomparably more engaged to acquire the latter than fecure the former. They plunge into the world with all their heart and strength, as tho' it were to last forever and could alone make them happy. How careless, unconcerned, and thoughtless is man with regard to his future ftate? "The ox knoweth his owner, and the "afs his master's crib; but Ifrael doth not know, my people "doth not confider." With regard to the prefent life mankind in general are very forefighted, anxious and careful. They are greatly folicitous in making provifion for times of fickness, and to have a fupport for the feafon of old age. But with respect to their fouls and how it will fare with them in a future state of existence, there is little or no attention or concern. The most precious interest is neglected, while that which is of inferior worth has immenfe,pains and care beftowed upon it. The workings of unbelief are either fo great that they do not realife the immortality of their fouls, or if they grant that they are immortal, it is in fo cold and indifferent a manner, that it makes no impreffion upon them. If at times they have any remonstrances of confcience or misgivings of heart, about the state of their fouls, they ordinarily fupprefs fuch reflections by promifing to confider these things hereafter, and commanding their minds to a more clofe attention to the world. "This "their way is their folly, and yet their pofterity approve their "fayings," and their practice. But whether men will hear or whether they will forbear, and reject the counsel of God against themselves, the fact remains perfectly certain, that the foul and its falvation is incomparably more precious and valuable than all the things of time.

Many are the confiderations which might be produced to illustrate and administer conviction of this, but I must not enter farther into them at prefent-And fhall close the fubject with one fhort reflection. It is this

If men are not convinced of the fuperior worth of the fal vation of their fouls, it is not for want of light and evidence, but because they will not receive it. Light is come into "the world, but men love darknefs rather than light, becaufe "their deeds are evil." There is no man, who will allow himfelf to confider the nature of his foul, and its relation to eter. nity, and the nature of wealth and riches, fuppofing he could gain all the valt poffeffions of the world, but must be fatisfied, that the falvation of his foul is incomparably more precious than the other acquifition. And if perfons who live under the gospel are not convinced of this truth, there is no poffiblę reafon can be given for it, but that they do not chufe conviction. They hate the light and evidence which would difcover this truth, and fo they will not come to the light. They will not fairly confider and weigh the matter in their own mind, left it should reprove their deeds, and fhow them the horrid nature of their own conduct, and thus oblige them to alter it, or live under the infufferable lafhes of confcience and terrors of divine wrath. If after we have had fufficient light and evidence to convince us that our fouls are more precious than the things of the world, and yet labour and toil more for the fading profits and pleafures of the latter, than for the eternal falvation of the former, our mouths must be forever ftopt. We know what would be the confequence of this conduct from the unerring oracles of God, that if perfons would' chufe, feek and purfue the riches of the world beyond the glory of God and the enjoyment of him, they have nothing to expect but everlafting ruin. Thus men who act this part are wilfully their own deftroyers. Their final deftruction is etirely of themselves. They act contrary not only to the commrands of heaven, but they violate the dictates and conclufions of their own reason. For they cannot but admit, in cafe they confider and allow they have immortal fouls, that they are infinitely more precious than the things of the world, and therefore the falvation of them ought to be fet higher than any

temporal acquifition, and fought and purfued exceedingly beyond it. They know and their judgments declare, where their conduct muft lead and land them forever, even in unutterable mifery, anguifh and horror, "Where the worm "dieth not and the fire is not quenched."

Let us now be seriously exhorted to attend to the concerns of our fouls above every other acquifition. Let us remember how much it coft Chrift Jefus to procure the redemption of them. Confider his bloody fweat in the garden, and how he groaned and died on the cross in order that pardon and falvation might be purchased for your fouls. Wherefore, if we now neglect our fouls, not only muft we fuffer the torment of our lofs, but all the encreased wrath of Jehovah for defpifing the blood of his fon. O let us therefore humble ourfelves before God, becaufe of our worldly mindedness and carnality. Let us repent of our fins and turn unto God by faith in Jefus Chrift. Remember how our bleffed Saviour ef teemed the riches of this world, how indifferent he was to them, and let us imitate his example. Let it appear that we are chriftians in reality, by living above the world and laying up our treasures in heaven. "Put ye on the Lord Jefus Chrift, "and make no provision for the flesh to fulfil the lufts thereof. "Look not at the things which are feen and temporal, but at "the things which are unfeen and eternal."

SERMON XXII.

The Duty of Declining Chriftians.

Rev. ii. 4, 5. Nevertheless I have fomewhat against thee, becaufe thou haft left thy firft love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent and do thy firft works, or elfe I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

THESE words are part of a letter written at the exprefs inftance of the Son of God by the Apoftle John, to the minif ter and church of Ephefus. The minifters of these feven churches are filed angels; because as angels are the mesfengers of heaven, fo minifters are meffengers of God to mankind, to preach and explain to them the divine meffages contained in the gofpel. It happened in this church as in most of human focieties, that tho' there was fome good, yet there was a mixture of evil therein. In fome refpects they deserved praise, yet in others they were worthy of blame. What was good and commendable in them, is taken kind and particular notice of, and they receive high approbation for the fame. Attend to the endearing praises given them by their Lord. "I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy

"patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil; " and thou haft tried them which fay, they are apostles and "are not, and haft found them liars; and haft borne, and "haft patience, and for my name fake, haft laboured, and "haft not fainted." Could more be faid in recommendation of any church or people? How many amiable qualities, vir. tues and graces, are here eminently and diftinctly praised? Such as works of righteoufnefs, affiduity in duty, patience under afflictions and fufferings, perfeverance in religion, aiming at the glory of God as their chief end, labouring for the honor of Chrift's name and the advancement of his kingdom, peculiar zeal for truth in doctrine, purity in worship and morals, ftrictness in government and difcipline, rejecting apoftolic imposters, ignorant and wicked minifters, &c. Yet after all thefe grand encomiums upon their excellencies, our Lord, whofe eyes are as a flame of fire, beholds fomething amifs in them, and in the wonders of his goodnefs and love, he does. not omit to reprove with faithfulness. And this he does in: the most beautiful, gentle, and fubduing language in our text, "Nevertheless, I have fomewhat against thee, because thou "haft forfaken thy first love." This is the evil laid to their charge, and the only thing amifs in them; they had forfaken their first love; the warm and tender affections they felt and exercised in the feafon of their firft efpoufals to Chrift, had fuffered abatement and langour. They had not loft their love or religious affections entirely, but thofe which they once had, alas! had become cold and fubfided; they poffeffed not that life and ardor which were formerly experienced, but were like a flame in the focket, approaching to extinction. After this our Lord fubjoins a clofe and pungent exhortation. "Re"member therefore from whence thou haft fallen, and " and do thy first works." To this exhortation is added a most folemn and alarming threatening, "Or elfe I will come "unto thee quickly, and remove thy candlestick out of his "place, except thou repent." Such a friendly and faithful

repent,