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vale of tears, and distinguished only by and we meet with strange usage in our different degrees of rank.

journey, which convinces us we are not

So much, then, touching a brief descrip- at home. It is not because we are sel tion of human life.

Let us hasten, in the second place, to gather from it AN INFERENCE OF CHRISTIAN DUTY. And it might scarcely be supposed, although any thing might be supposed of human nature in an unsanctified state, that, knowing ourselves to be but strangers and sojourners, and that all our days on the earth are but as a shadow, we should go through the journey of life with no concern about its termination. This thoughtlessness, indeed, is the most astonishing phenomenon of nature, and shows what a wreck the mind has suffered. Our great God has made man a prospective creature; and he gives proof of this prospectiveness in every action of his life. He has endowed him with a capacity of comparing the present with the past, and also of anticipating the future. And thus it is, too, we are perpetually dwelling with anxious rumination on scenes which are yet remote; we are capable of carrying our views, and taking our inquiries, to a period much more distant than the limits of our present existence; we are capable of plunging into the depth of future duration; and of identifying ourselves with the sentiments and opinions of the distant ages. How is it, then, that we find it so difficult to prevail on men to fix their attention on that other world, that real future existence, which reason assures us is probable, which the Bible teaches us is certain, and to which all the thousands of mankind are travelling every moment? How is it that the professed followers of Him, especially, who descended from heaven, who came forth from the Father to conduct us there, are so indisposed to turn their thoughts and contemplation to that unchanging state of being on which they are so shortly to enter? It is not because we are so much enchanted with the country through which we are journeying, as to be incapable of diverting our attention from it. This may be the case, however, with some of the congregation, but it is not so with all; for we are continually disquieted by disappointments; VOL. I.-48

dom warned or reminded, that our journey must shortly end; for every funeral bell every opened grave, every symptom of decay within and of change without us, teaches us that we are but "strangers and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding."

Now if any other event of far inferior moment were ascertained by evidence, which made but a distant approach to that which attests the certainty of another world-had we actual assurance, for example, that after a very limited, though uncertain period, we should be called to emigrate unto a distant land, whence we were never to return, the intelligence would fill every bosom with solicitude, it would become the theme of our tongue," the anxious topic of every conversation; and we should avail ourselves, with the utmost eagerness, of all the means of information respecting the prospects which await us, in that unknown country; much of our attention would be occupied in preparing for our departure, we should cease to consider the place we now inhabit as our home; and nothing would be considered as of moment, but as it bore upon our future destination. How strange is it, then, that with the certainty that every man of us possesses, of shortly entering into another world, we avert our eyes as much as possible from the prospect, that we seldom permit it to penetrate us, and that the moment the recollection returns we hasten to dismiss it as an unwelcome intrusion! Is it not surprising that the very volume which we profess to recognise as the record of our immortality, as the sole depository of whatever information it is possible to obtain of that unknown country, the map that will guide us to it, should be suffered to lay beside us unopened, unread, and altogether unattended to. But, brethren, if we had known, and surely there is not one in this house who does not know it, the Bible to be the only unerring road book to that land to which we are travelling, oh why after

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consulting it in the closet, if, at least, you do consult it there-but I am not speaking to those who do not consult the Bible, for, I say, if we acknowledge it to be the only unerring road-book to heavenwhy, after consulting it in the closet in the morning, do we forget it when we set out on our journey; and not only neglect the directions it affords, but pursue contrary paths of our own devising.

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its pleasures and occupations are regarded as ultimate objects, is at once corrected, when viewed in connexion with a boundless eternity; and whatever may be their intrinsic value, they rise into dignity and importance when considered as the seed of a future harvest, as a path which, how narrow and obscure however, leads to honour and immortality. Nothing is trivial which is referred to such a system; nothing is vain and frivolous which has the slightest bearing on such an awful reality.

As you value, then, dear brethren, the eternal welfare of your souls, bethink yourselves this morning whether, in your journey to another world, you are walking in the narrow way, choosing God for your Father, and the Redeemer for your elder brother; or whether you are hasten

Oh, dear brethren, let me beseech you, now that a kind Providence has permitted you to pass over the old year and to begin a new one, to remember that you are "pilgrims and sojourners, that all your days on earth are only shadows." Oh, do not act this year, at least so much of it as you may be permitted to see, as you have, perhaps, in years that are past as if the pleasures and occupations of the present life were matter and sub-ing on in your thoughtless career, in the stance, and as if those of heaven were broad road that leads to destruction. Redreams and shadows. But let your de- member that on earth all is shadow; but portment this year, at least, be like that all beyond is substance. Oh be careful of citizens of heaven, who are only tra- in the great and eventful journey, on which velling through the earth to the kingdom we have all set out, that none of the pleaof their reconciled Father who is in hea-sures and occupations of this life assume ven, and who are anxious to “depart and such magnitude, as to intercept our view be with Christ, which is far better;" and whose chief care is to journey on that narrow road which will conduct you safely to the promised land of rest. Oh, endeavour to display more of the mind of Christ as you draw nearer the throne of Christ, and then you shall share in the glory of Christ. As heaven is your home, there let your affections be.

To those in church, who may be forward in the journey of life, I would say, and, oh, may the Holy Spirit of Godwithout whom all descriptions of human life, and all inferences of Christian duty will be utterly powerless-oh, may that Holy Spirit cause the saying to sink down into your heart, that, shadowy as is your life, eternity will turn the whole into substance. Every action, every word, every thought will be weighed on the day of judgment, and will be substance in the scale, either for your condemnation or acceptance; he that is unjust will be unjust still, and he that is holy will be holy still. The vanity which adheres to the world in every form, when

of the final prospect. There is, verily, no abiding, no expectation, in any thing or from any thing that we meet with in our passage through life but the one thing needful.

Let me implore you, then, dear brethren, to raise your affections above the perishing things of earth, to those things which are above. Plan for eternity, and choose the unchangeable God as your father, knowing that you have here "no continuing city, but seek one to come; a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." Let the Lord Jesus be your leader and guide; under his conduct immediately set out, if you have not yet begun the journey to the heavenly Jerusalem; and in due time he shall bring you to the city of the great King, where you shall continue, not for a year only, but for ever; and where all your shadows shall be changed into substance-even unto that glorious inheritance of the saints in light, which is "incorruptible, undefiled, and fadeth not away."

And to those who are desirous to gain

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Then John answered, Silver and gold have I none."

9. True enjoyment is not to be found in wealth.

fresh strength for the remainder of their | 8. Persons of real worth are sometimes journey, I would say, come now to the destitute of money. table of the Lord, where wisdom shall be dispensed to those who are ignorant, and strength to those who are weary, yea, come this-the first Sabbath of a new year, with enlarged expectations, relying on the unsearchable riches of Christ; and according to your faith in the ordinance so shall it be done unto you.

"He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver."

10. Every man should punctually discharge his pecuniary debts.

"Owe no man any thing, but to love one another."

SCRIPTURE AXIOMS RESPECTING MONEY.

1. GIVING is the surest way to getting.

PIETY GIVES NO EXEMPTION FROM SUFFERING.

A GOOD man is by no means exempt from the danger of suffering by the crimes "There is that scattereth, and yet in- of others; even his goodness may raise

creaseth."

him enemies of implacable malice and

2. God is the sovereign proprietor of restless perseverance: the good man has

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4. There is judgment required in the

charitable bestowment of it.

"Do good to all, but especially to the household of faith."

5. There are few mischiefs that are not

never been warranted by heaven from the treachery of friends, the disobedience of children, or the dishonesty of a wife;— he may see his cares made useless by profusion, his instructions defeated by perverseness, and his kindness rejected by ingratitude; he may languish under the infamy of false accusations, or perish reproachfully by an unjust sentence.

A good man is subject, like other mortals, to all the influences of natural evil: his harvest is not spared by the tempest,

remotely or intimately connected with nor his cattle by the murrain; his house

covetousness.

"The love of money is the root of all evil." 6. Money ought not to be made to minister to self-indulgence, while the interests of religion can be promoted by

flames like others in a conflagration; nor have his ships any peculiar power of resisting hurricanes;-his mind, however elevated, inhabits a body subject to innumerable casualties, of which he must always share the dangers and the pains; -he bears about him the seeds of dis"Wo to them that live in ceiled houses, ease, and may linger away a great part while the Lord's house is not built." of his life under the tortures of the gout

means of it.

7. The poorest man may give a some- or stone; at one time groaning with inthing with acceptance. sufferable anguish, at another, dissolved "This poor widow hath given all she had." in listlessness and languor.-Johnson.

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He is God's

And what are some of those blessings which God is ready to bestow on those who seek Christ?

1. The pardon of sin.

You know, little children, who spake | compared with Jesus. these words. It was David, the king of "unspeakable gift," and men or angels Israel. Though he was a great king, cannot rehearse his excellencies. He is and had many things to occupy his at- "the Day-star from on high, and the Sun tention, he yet considered God to be the of righteousness," from whom proceed chief object of his desire. He could not light and warmth, and every comfort and be happy without God. But you know blessing. the Lord is a great God, and to be feared and had in reverence of all that draw near unto him; and, therefore, you must seek God through the Lord Jesus Christ. When John the Baptist saw Jesus he pointed him out to his disciples as the “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John i. 29. 36. And when his disciples heard this, they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him, and said unto them, ver. 38,"What seek ye ?"" Now, David and John's disciples were seeking the same thing; for sinners, as we are, cannot approach the glorious presence of Jehovah but as he is revealed in the Saviour.

Some of you little children may be inclined to ask,

I. Why you should seek Christ? You know that the Lord Jesus Christ is a very glorious Being. He is adorned with all the perfections of God. He is the chief among ten thousand, and altogether lovely. He is the brightness of the Father's glory, and the express image of his person. He is called in Scripture "the pearl of great price"—that is, nothing is so valuable in heaven or earth as to be

Every one of us, young and old, needs to have his iniquities blotted out. The word of God informs us that we are born in sin, and brought forth in iniquity; we are the children of wrath, and liable to destruction. You know that when God destroyed the people of the old world, because their wickedness was great on the face of the earth, little children like you were drowned, along with their parents and friends; and this shows us that little children are sinners as well as others; for God, who is a just God, would not punish them if they were not guilty. And if you think on your own hearts, and consider your own conduct, do you not feel that you do many things which are wrong? Have you not been thinking your own thoughts, and speaking your own words, and doing your own works, on this holy Sabbath? This is sin, and you need to be forgiven your iniquity. How much should you and I desire to obtain the happiness of which

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David speaks in the thirty-second psalm! that the blood of Jesus cleanseth from all "Blessed is he whose transgression is sin. And, little children, what peace, forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed and comfort, and hope, and joy does it is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth produce in the mind, even in the most not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is distressing circumstances! I have read no guile." about a dying soldier and a dying officer. We can do nothing for ourselves. I The soldier was wounded at the battle of will tell you a story about the Rev. Da-Waterloo, and carried by his companion vid Dickson, a good minister that was to some distance, and laid down at the once in Edinburgh. Being asked, when foot of a tree, where his companion, at on his death-bed, how he found himself, his request, read to him a few verses of he answered, "I have taken my good the Bible, upon which he said, "I die deeds and bad deeds, and thrown them happy, for I possess the peace of God, together in a heap, and fled from them which passeth all understanding." A both to Christ, and in him I have peace." little while after one of the officers passed He felt that he could do nothing for him- him, and, seeing him in a very exhausted self. When he inquired, like the prophet state, asked him how he did. He anMicah, (vi. 6, 7,) "Wherewith shall I swered him as he said formerly to his come before the Lord, and bow myself companion, and then expired. The of before the high God? Shall I come be- ficer was soon after mortally wounded, fore him with burnt-offerings, with calves and when surrounded by his brother of of a year old? Will the Lord be pleased ficers, full of anguish and dismay, he with thousands of rams, or with ten thou- cried out, "Oh! I would give ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my sand worlds that I possessed that peace first-born for my transgression, the fruit which gladdened the heart of the dying of my body for the sin of my soul?" He soldier whom I saw lying under the tree. found that none of these things could be I know nothing of this peace! I die of any avail. "There is no name given miserable! for I die in despair!" under heaven among men, by which we can be saved, but the name of Christ." I read lately of a certain man on the Malabar coast, who had inquired of various devotees and priests how he might make atonement for his sins; and he was directed to drive iron spikes, sufficiently blunted, through his sandals, and on these spikes he was directed to place his naked feet, and to walk about four hundred and eighty miles. If, through loss of blood, or weakness of body, he was obliged to halt, he might wait for healing and strength. He undertook the journey, (for what will not a person, awakened to a sense of sin, attempt to get rid of the burden of it?) and while he halted under a large shady tree, where the gospel was sometimes preached, one of the missionaries came and preached in his hearing from these words: "The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin." While he was preaching the man rose up, threw off his torturing sandals, and cried out aloud, "this is what I want," and he became a lively witness God," are able to sing "unto Him that

Now, little children, you must seek Jesus, that you may have your sins forgiven, and that you may live at peace with God, and die in safety and in happiness.

2. Another blessing which Christ gives, and for which you should seek him, is holiness.

You know, little children, that God is "glorious in holiness," and that he says to each of us, "O do not that abominable thing which my soul hateth!" We are in his sight "altogether as an unclear thing." Our hearts are full of malice, and pride, and impurity. We require that God would create in us a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within us. Now, Christ cleanseth the souls of those that come to the fountain which has been opened for sin and uncleanness; and his Holy Spirit is sent to sanctify the soul. The people of God who, like the Corinthians, have been "washed, and justified, and sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of our

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