his Creator "formed after his own image and likeness;" who was invested "with dominion over the fish of the sea, and the fowls of the air, and every thing that moveth upon the earth;" and from whom a large revenue of glory was expected, shall he alone defeat the design of his existence? Must we be reproached as the only part of this lower world that disregards the call of our Creator and Lord ? "How long therefore wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?"

2. To indulge this security is inexcusable in the extreme, because thereby our salvation is neglected, and our souls exposed to endless destruction. "Be not deceived, whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap: For he that soweth to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting." Brethren, there is much to be done; interests unutterably great are at stake, and therefore there is no room for carnal ease and indifference.. "The whole world is become guilty before God: You are by nature the children of wrath even as others," and without reconciliation by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ, you cannot "escape the damnation of hell. There are none righteous in themselves, no not one; and know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?" You have by transgression forfeited your title to the nheritance of glory, and this title can be re

gained only by improving the merits of the Divine Redeemer. "He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life, but he that believeth not is condemned already, and the wrath of God abideth on him." Be not deceived, brethren, there is much to be done, and therefore no room for the indulgence of carnal ease, or indifference. "You are all as an unclean thing; aliens and enemies in your minds by wicked works and without holiness no man shall see the Lord :" You can have no communion with him either in time or eternity. As you regard the peace of your souls in this world or the next, remember that declaration of our Lord, "Ye must be born again; verily, verily, I say unto you, that except a man be born of water, and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." In heaven all the society is holy, and all the exercises are holy, and none can be admitted "unless renewed after the image of God in righteousness and true holiness." The seeds of grace, of faith, of repentance, of love, of hope must be sown in this world if we expect them to mature in the milder region of glory, and there to flourish in unwithering verdure. How necessary then to arise "from our sleep," and earnestly "strive that we may enter the kingdom?" While the work of our salvation is unspeakably great, many difficulties must be encountered in pursuing it. An evil world will attempt, sometimes to delude with its false smiles, again to dishearten by

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its frowns: "The prince of darkness" will endeavor "as a roaring lion," to affright, and discourage, and drive to despair, or as a subtle serpent, to deceive and draw aside from the paths of righteousness. "We wrestle not only with flesh and blood, but with principalities, and powers, with the rulers of the darkness of this world, and with spiritual wickedness in high places." He who turns his face towards Zion, and expects his "soul for a prey." must conflict with opposition on the right hand and on the left. The kingdom of heaven" is thus represented as "suffering violence, and the violent as taking it by force." When, therefore, we realize the infinitely great work to be done, and the many obstacles to be surmounted, how inexcusable do indolence and indifference appear? Are we not commanded" to pray without ceasing; to strive or wrestle," or agonize, "that we may enter in at the strait gate? To work out our salvation with fear and trembling? To give all diligence to make our calling and election sure? to gird up the loins of your mind as a man running a race," where the utmost exertion is required, will bind his garment around him; "to be sober, and hope unto the end for the grace which is to be brought to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ?"

3. To indulge this security appears inexcuseable in the extreme, when we reflect that our "day of salvation" is short, and must soon terminate for ever. In this world we

are merely travelling to another world; we are daily passing along to an unchanging state of existence, and it is only in the present life that preparation can be made for the next. If we neglect the Lord Jesus Christ," there is no other sacrifice for sin;" if we misimprove the opportunities now enjoyed we need not expect any further dispensation of mercy. "There is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whether we are going." As the condition of every man is found at death, it will remain through eternity without the possibility of change. There is no remission of sin beyoud the grave: The message of reconciliation is never heard in hell. Once damned the sinner is damned irrecoverably. How explicitly does the Holy Ghost mention "an accepted time, and a day of salvation?" How pointedly docs he admonish us "to seek the Lord while be may be found, and to call upon him while he is near? To hear, and give car, and give glory to the Lord our God, before he cause darkness, and before our feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and while we look for light he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness? To seek righteousness, to seek peace before the day pass as the chaff; before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon us; before the day of the Lord's anger come upon us?" Are not these considerations sufficient to startle the sinner from his security, and excite him

redemption of his

to the most diligent time?" The man who would remain at ease when he knew that the house was in flames around him would be pronounced infatuated, and inexcusable: The man who would offer deliberately to compose himself for sleep on the verge of some fathomless gulph would be pronounced infatuated, and inexcusable: The criminal, lying under sentence of death, who had the assurance of pardon by asking it within a limited time, and yet wasted that time in indolence, or amusements would be pronounced infatuated, and inexcusable; but incomparably more infatuated, more inexcusable art thou, O man, who doest remain unconcerned about thine immortal destinies. Is the situation of the persons alluded to dreadful, thine is infinitely more so. It is not the displeasure of a mortal to which thou art exposed, but the wrath of almighty God. It is not merely the loss of thy natural life to which thou art liable, but the loss of both soul and body, their utter exclusion from God the source of glory and bliss. It is not the torture of a few moments which thou art in danger of suffering, but torments "for ever. They shall be punished with EVERLASTING destruction." The ETERNITY of its torments is the very essence of hell. It throws a deeper shade over the region of damnation, that there reigns the blackness of darknes FOR EVER. Amidst apprehensions thus awful "how long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when