conflicting elements, nor, what is more, the moral violence of man, have been able to disturb this fixed irreversible decree. And whensoever the laws which regulate the physical condition of this world have been at all affected or for a moment disturbed, it has always been as in deference to the higher authority of a ruling power; it has been to confer the more distinguished honour upon the revealed word of GOD. "It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail*." Yea, verily, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words, saith the LORD, shall not pass awayt." And now, dear brethren, consider, I beseech you, the solemn responsibility which rests upon the ministers of the New Testament. "The word of the LORD endureth for ever: and this is the word, which by the Gospel is preached unto yout." To select, to expound, and to apply that truth which by the Spirit is invested with almighty power: this is our awful duty. "Who is sufficient for these things?" Pray then for us, that we may never incur the dreadful guilt of "handling the Word of GOD deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth may commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of GOD§." Pray for us, that we may "meditate upon these things, may give ourselves wholly to them, that our profiting may appear to all; and that taking heed to ourselves and to the doctrine, we may continue in them; and in doing this save both ourselves and them that hear us." And for yourselves, brethren, "take heed how ye * Luke xvi. 17. 1 Pet. i. 25. || 1 Tim. iv. 15, 16. + Matt. xxiv. 35. 66 hear." The LORD has said, "My word shall not return unto me void; but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in that whereto I sent it*." How often have you presumed to listen to the truth! How often have you dared to trifle with the word! And is there not reason to fear, lest that oft-repeated prophecy may now be fulfilling upon you, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear and shall not understand, and seeing ye shall see and shall not perceivet." May the guilt of neglected opportunities be removed; and may the insult offered to the best gift of God be forgiven, through the mediation of the Righteous Advocate at the Throne of Grace! In the sorrows of a contrite heart may you anticipate the awful revelations of the Judgment-day and proving in your own experience the Divine mercy promised to the penitent, may you thus be permitted to add your own heartfelt evidence to the unfailing certainty of the Word of Truth! But "we are bound to give thanks always for you, brethren beloved of the LORD, because GOD hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth, whereunto He called you by the Gospelt:" and because "the word which ye heard ye received not as the word of men, but as it is in truth the word of GOD, which effectually worketh also in you that believe §." You have the witness in yourself. The blessing you possess cannot be concealed: the voice which has spoken to your heart must be heard abroad. To you, therefore, it is granted, also, to "shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life." And while delivering your appointed testimony to the * Isaiah lv. 11. 2 Thess. ii. 13. + Matt. xiii. 14. § 1 Thess. ii. 13. truth of Him in whom you have believed, by the special works of piety and charity, you hopefully await the day when "whosoever shall have confessed CHRIST before men, shall be confessed by CHRIST before his Father which is in heaven." LONGING FOR DEATH. BY THE REV. F. C. MASSINGBERD, M.A., RECTOR OF SOUTH ORMSBY, WE PHILIPPIANS I. 21. To live is Christ, and to die is gain. E may find many places in the Bible, both in the Old and New Testament, where people long for death. But they do this-they have this longing-from as many different causes, and in as many different ways, as people do now in this present time. I think it will be useful to bring together some of these places of Scripture, that we may see both what sort of a longing for death it is which is wrong, and what that sort it is that is right; for certainly it does not follow that every man is fit to die-fit to die? alas, who can be fit? But it does not follow that every one is prepared to die, who wishes to do so. Nor, even for those who are so, is it right to give way to this longing, except in submission to the will of GOD. Now, in speaking of the examples in the Bible of people's longing for death, one need hardly mention such a wicked desire as that of Saul, rebellious, reprobate, wicked Saul, who, when God had mastered him, and all his rebellious schemes had turned against him, could not, or would not endure his life, and so fell upon his own sword and died. No one can doubt but that a suicide, a man who kills himself, is guilty of high and presumptuous wickedness and rebellion against GOD; throwing back the soul GOD gave him, and rushing unbidden and uncalled into the presence of his Judge. There are But to come to more doubtful cases. many good sort of people, and some very pious people, who are tempted at some time of their lives, by the load of grief, and weariness of the world, to beg and pray for death, who yet do it inconsiderately, and neither with a right motive, nor with submission to God's will. When Rebecca said to Jacob, "I am weary of my life, because of the daughters of Heth," such an exclamation was one of those thoughtless sayings which people get a trick of uttering without almost considering what they Yet this is wrong: and people would not talk so if they considered rightly. "The mouth of fools poureth out foolishness," and that is the best that can be said for them; for if they do mean that they are weary of life because of some cross that God has given them to bear, they are guilty of rebellious wickedness-they are striving against God's Providence instead of bowing to his disposal of them. mean. But now take the case of Jonah—a prophet of GOD sent to denounce GOD's judgments against the city of Nineveh ---who, because God's mercy rejoiced against his judgment, so that He spared the city on its repentance; had the presumption to charge GOD with having dishonoured him, and to pray therefore that he might die. "Now therefore take, Oh Lord, my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live*." One can hardly conceive such foolish pride. This prophet was só proud of his gift, so jealous of his fame, of his reputation for prophecy, that when GOD in mercy spared the lives of all the inhabitants of a city as large, or perhaps larger, * Jonah iv. 3. |