DURING a violent storm, a trading vessel was driven upon a high rock on the western coast of England, and immediately became a total wreck. Many of the crew perished, but the captain and his wife were providentially enabled to reach the rock, and, clambering up it, to escape from the waves. But all danger was not yet over. Their place of shelter was a crag, separated from the mainland by a deep channel, where the sea rushed with terrific violence between the rugged cliffs on either side. The cold was intense, and they had neither covering nor shelter. The tide was rising rapidly, and night was drawing on. It was plain that unless prompt assistance was rendered, they could not hope to survive. Happily they were descried from the neighbouring shore, and a boat was immediately launched to attempt their deliverance. For the boat to approach the rock was found utterly impossible, and the only alternative was, to project a rope towards them from the shore by means of a rocket, and then to haul them through the surf within reach of the boat. After many fruitless trials, the attempt to throw the rope was successful. The captain grasped the rope, by means of which a second was speedily sent on, and one was made fast to each person. The mountain waves with

every successive flow surged up to their very feet; but receding, laid bare the broken and pointed rocks which were spread out below. It was clear that their only way of deliverance was by springing into the wave at the moment of its highest swell, and thus being borne over the danger, while the boat's crew were on the alert, promptly to pull them on board.

The wife is first to make the attempt, and is instructed what to do. All is ready! The big wave swells full at her feet; "Now! Now!" shouted the crew. 66 Spring into the wave!" urged the captain, with passionate energy. Alas! she trembles, hesitates, delays-only a moment; but that moment is fatal. She leaps towards the receding wave, falls upon the rugged rocks beneath, and the next moment is taken on board the boat, a mangled and lifeless corpse. The captain, ignorant of her hapless fate, follows her, takes the wave at the swell, and is saved.

Human life is not frequently endangered by a crisis so urgent as this, nor does the case often occur in which instant decision is thus necessary for its preservation. But the guilty soul is ever in danger, and the moment even now passing may exert an influence unspeakably important upon its eternal destiny.

"The

Sin has made shipwreck of human righteousness and human hope. "God is angry with the wicked every day." wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men." "The soul that sinneth, it shall die !” Like the shipwrecked mariners, the unpardoned sinner stands upon narrow and precarious ground, while the waves of Divine justice threaten on every side.

Yet there is a means of deliverance. Mercy has come to his rescue. The life-boat is at hand. Salvation is nigh. It is written; "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, 1 Tim. i. 15; "Through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and by him all that believe are justified from all things," Acts xiii. 38, 39; "He that hath the Son hath life," 1 John v. 12; and Christ declares, "Him that cometh to me I will in nowise cast out," John vi. 37.

These things, reader, you have perhaps heard many times before. Probably it interests and gratifies you at this moment, to see them again plainly expressed. Suffer us however to assure you, that if you go no further than this, they will injure rather than help you. To know the way of salvation, without personally walking in it, is to sear your own conscience, harden your heart, despise the truth, and add to your sin. That which is required of you is, at once-this moment-while now the subject is before you, to avail yourself of the only means of salvation. "Now is the accepted time."

Now, because you have now a favourable opportunity. Early

OR, THE DANGERS OF DELAY.

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may remain, to the end of life, in health and vigour. But though exempted from calamities, (and yet who can ensure you that exemption?) other causes may effectually rob you of hopeful opportunity. Overwhelming business may absorb you. Anxious cares may oppress you. Severe trials may so agitate, as to unfit you for the duty. The lasting infirmities of old age may becloud and impair your spirit. In any and all of these or like cases, though life be prolonged, the opportunity of repentance and saving faith may be gone. And if you are now free from them all, will you venture to delay? "Now!" sinner, "Now! Now, because God commands it. He gives you life, lengthens your days, preserves your health, protects your peace, and prescribes your duty. He is your real Friend. He desires and delights to save sinners. He has devised and revealed the way of your redemption, and now waits to be gracious. He beseeches you to be reconciled to him; and, knowing your infirmity and your danger, his providence and his grace combine to give you the present opportunity. And he commands you to improve it. Mark! it is God that speaks! "Come now, and let us reason together saith the Lord." "Behold, now is the accepted time."

Now, for delay is new transgression. You have but one moment given you at a time, and the duty of that moment is to repent of sin, and seek peace with God through Jesus Christ. As it glides swiftly by, it warns you to reflect, decide, repent, believe, and fly for refuge to the Saviour of sinners. Do this, and all will be well. Neglect it, on whatever pretext, and you add another sin to your awful account, and make the present moment a swift witness against you before the bar of God.

Now, for it will be easier now than at any future time. Many as your sins are, they are fewer now than they will be tomorrow. Hard as your heart is, it grows harder day by day. Strong as the influence of the world is, it grows stronger and stronger. Habits acquire force by indulgence, and the habit of procrastination most of all. You must some day or other resist and overcome the world and sin, if you ever turn to God at all. The effort will never be so easy again as at this moment. "Now is the accepted time."

Now, because past delays have only deceived and endangered you. Perhaps you intend at some time to seek God. So far well. But possibly you can recal a season, many years ago, when you entertained that intention as firmly as you do now. If it had been then foretold that you would live till now unconverted and unchanged, would you have believed it? Have not similar seasons occurred in the interval, in which you have renewed your seemingly firm intention, and hoped and believed that long ere this it would be carried into effect? Yet, in spite of all, the work is still undone. Had death overtaken you in the interval, as it

might have done, what would have been your condition? And will you again expose yourself to danger so awful, again venture all your eternal hopes upon resolutions by which you have been so often and so plainly betrayed? Let your own experience be your warning. Be wise, and wise at once.

Now,-for you have much to encourage you. You are now, perhaps, attentive, convinced, impressed, reflective, serious; your heart may be less hard, your spirit less worldly, your disposition less hostile to eternal things, than it sometimes is. Whatever may have induced feelings like these, they come from God. They give hope that your day of grace and mercy is not yet past. Jesus is the Intercessor for every penitent and contrite sinner. Oh, harden not your heart! Value and improve the precious opportunity. Cherish and obey the heavenly influence. Unite your prayers to those of your merciful High Priest. Everything combines to encourage hope and assure success. Yield your heart to him in faith and love, and you are saved.

Now,-for perhaps upon this moment the great question of life or death, heaven or hell, may absolutely turn. In every man's history there is a moment, unknown perhaps to any but God, when a choice is made, a decision taken, which gives complexion to his whole future existence; a crisis, the influence of which tells upon all time, extends through all eternity. If that moment were to you consciously the present, how would you decide? If you are not certain (and you cannot be so) that it is otherwise, adopt that decision now. Believe now, and be saved.

Friend, that to which you are urged is, at once to flee from the wrath to come. Satan would have you delay, for he would thus accomplish your ruin. Your own heart inclines to delay, for by nature it loves its guilty pleasures, and shuns the cross. But God has 66 no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live,' Ezek. xxxiii. 11. Christ would have you decide, for he would lead you to glory. The Spirit would have you decide, that he may draw your heart to holiness and to heaven. Reason, Scripture, conscience, all echo the Divine admonition, “Now is the accepted time." Choose then your adviser and your friend. Will you listen to the world, or to conscience; to Satan, or to God? Will you learn saving wisdom at the feet of Jesus, or be the dupe of the Evil One's delusions? If your heart, indeed, incline to the path of peace, then act at once. Lose not a moment! Take at least one step! Implore the Spirit's aid, ere you cease to read; believe, trust, pray; and rest assured that before you call, God will answer; and while you are yet speaking, he will hear.

But

CHRIST, THE SAVIOUR OF THE LOST. READER, you have doubtless often heard of Christ. You may have also often heard that he said, "The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost," Luke xix. 10. as you listened to that great truth, what did you think of it, and how did you act? Did you at once exclaim, "I am the man who needs that Saviour; Lord, I believe: help thou mine unbelief?" Or, did you carelessly think within yourself, "Ah, well, then, I suppose if Christ died for sinners, I shall be saved by-and-by?" Was this the spirit in which you received the news, which of all other news most concerns the interests of your soul-those interests which have to do with your well-being not only in this life, but much more with your well-being throughout eternity? Can it be possible that you treated such a solemn truth, we do not say with levity, but with so little concern? Were it not for the daily proofs we have of the indifference of mankind, we should at once say that no one could hear of the great love of Christ towards a guilty world, without giving up all