that you shall have time enough your own strength, when you are hereafter? Alas! can you be the languishing under a violent disordupes of so barefaced an artifice? der, overcome all those difficulties You know that you have no lease of which you have considered as next your lives, nor are sure of beholding to insurmountable, even with the to-morrow's light. Many as young, assistance of divine grace, all the as healthy, as vigorous as you, are days of your health? Will you need followed to the tomb. Dare you any additional anguish, when your risk eternal happiness or misery on bones are full of strong pain, and such a peradventure? Reflect, also, nature is even sinking under the that your lives are in the hands of load? Can you then be sure that that God, whom your sins have your repentance is real and genuine, greatly provoked, and your pre- when you have no opportunity of sumptuous impenitency still more. bringing it to a trial by the fruits May he not, even at this moment, which it produces? One instance be saying, "Thou fool, this night indeed is recorded of a dying penishall thy soul be required of thee?" tent, to show that repentance, even Hast thou not, deluded sinner, done in those circumstances, is neither enough already to provoke him to impossible nor unavailing; and but it? And shouldst thou slight the one, to teach us that such cases are present warning, and rush into for- very rare. To-day, then, make sure bidden pleasure; seriously consider of this important concern. "Give whether thou mayest not reasonably not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber fear, lest in the midst of some daring to thine eyelids: deliver thyself as provocation, he should "cut thee off a roe from the hand of the hunter, with a stroke," and "then a great and as a bird from the snare of the ransom cannot deliver thee." fowler."

Dare you flatter yourselves with "Remember therefore your Creathe presumption of repenting, if not tor in the days of your youth." Rebefore, yet on a deathbed! Alas! member your obligations and relahow many are cut off by sudden tions to him, and your offences death! how many bereft of reason against him: remember, repent, by the violence of disease! how and seek forgiveness without delay, many are seized with madness, in- through that Saviour who hath procurable madness! how many, I say, mised, that "they who seek him perish without one cry for mercy, early shall find him." and eternally curse their folly, in But indeed this best season is being the dupes of such a delusion! already elapsed with many; and it Surely in vain is the net spread in is too late to exhort them to early the sight of any bird." You evi- repentance. Perhaps some dently see the design of Satan in dolefully lamenting, My youth his temptation: he aims only to lull hath been spent in vanity and unyou into security, till he can plunge godliness; yea, the prime of life is you into despair; and then he will irrecoverably past, and I am growinsult over you. But even should ing hoary in the ways of wickedyou have a space given you before ness: what must I do? Is there nodeath, can you reasonably hope that thing for me, but a certain fearful God will then give you his grace, looking for of judgment, and fiery which you have so long refused? indignation? Indeed, my fellow sinAre you sure you shall improve ner, thy case is very deplorable: the those hours? Can you at last in day is almost spent: the night,

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wherein no man can work, is swiftly ness thy tears, confusion, and deapproaching: thy work is not be- spondency; whilst the crimes of a gun; yea, all thou hast been doing, long life pass in review before thee, during the whole course of thy life, the sword of divine justice is branmust be as it were undone. Thou dished against thee, conscience remust travel back again, with weep-proaches, and Satan insinuates that ing and supplication, all the way it is now too late. Yea, thou art which thou hast trodden for so even inclined once more to listen to many years. Death, judgment, and his insinuations; and to conclude eternity, press upon thy unprepared that there is no hope, and that after soul: the grave is yawning for thy such a life, thy late repentance and enfeebled body and should death worthless services will never meet seize upon thee ere repentance hath with acceptance. But reject this taken place, it had been good for dishonourable thought, resist the thee hadst thou never been born. lying tempter; when he pursuaded Still, however, thy case is not des- thee, heretofore, that it was too perate: though provoked by thy early in life to repent, he led thee impenitency, the Lord yet renews to the brink of an awful precipice: his compassionate invitations. If if he prevail in persuading thee it then thy heart begin to relent; if is now too late, he pushes thee headremorse embitter thy soul; if thou long into everlasting ruin. In both art at length willing to acknowledge he acts in character, "a liar and a thy offence, and seek his face; come, murderer from the beginning." and cast thyself at his feet, and ven- "God's ways are above our ture upon his mercy and truth, who ways, and his thoughts above our sayeth, "Him that cometh unto me thoughts," and "his mercies are I will in no wise cast out." If in- higher than the heavens," else the deed thou art renewed to repentance, case of the aged sinner would be though "at the ninth or eleventh desperate. But though he will not hour, thou shalt be equalled with accept the late repentance, and the those who have borne the heat and feeble obedience of one hour, beburden of the day." Herein lies cause they merit such a favour; the danger and the difficulty: but yet for his own name's sake, and with God all things are possible; through the atonement and interhe " can change the Ethiopian's cession of Jesus, he will pardon, skin and the leopard's spots; and justify, and save all those who truly by his power, even thou who hast repent and believe the gospel. This been long accustomed to do evil, discovery of the unspeakable riches mayest learn to do well." Admire of divine love, whilst it gives enthen his long-suffering, who hath couragement to the drooping heart, borne with thy impenitent disregard ought to increase the sinner's reof his precepts and promises, his morse for having so neglected and authority and invitations, for forty, provoked a God of such excellency fifty, sixty, or seventy years, and has and mercy, and to quicken his dilineither cut thee off by death, nor gence in availing himself of the dideprived thee of thy much abused vine patience, by fleeing for refuge reason, nor left thee to utter insen- to the hope still set before him. sibility! This is distinguishing pa-“ To-day, if ye will hear his voice," tience! before to-morrow, embrace his profMethinks, aged sinner, I see thy fered mercy, and harden not your relentings, hear thy groans, and wit- hearts. And whatever stage of hu

man life you are now arrived at, I and the Wisdom of God saith," LAcan only inculcate the same exhor- BOUR not for the meat that perishtation: "Behold, now is the ac-eth, but for that meat which encepted time; behold, now is the day dureth unto everlasting life, which of salvation ;" and suggest the same the Son of Man shall GIVE you.” petition: "So teach us to number John, vi. 27. Christ will give it our days, that we may apply our most freely, but you must labour hearts unto wisdom." Psalm xc. 12. for it most diligently. Thus the "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to harvest is the gift of God, who do, do it" speedily, and "with thy giveth seed to the sower; who might; for there is no work, nor de- giveth rain from heaven and fruitful vice, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in seasons, and causeth the earth to the grave, whither thou goest." yield her increase; yet must the Eccles. ix. 10. I have shown you, husbandman labour. In both temthat this, of all others, is the most poral and spiritual concerns, God necessary and important work you gives not to the slothful, but to the can find to do: make then no delay, diligent; and his bounty does not lest "he swear in his wrath, that supersede, but encourage, our actiyou shall never enter into his rest." vity.

PART V.

He works in us, that we may work out our own salvation; he hath appointed means, and commanded us to use them. ObediThe Means of Repentance. ence is our duty. We ought to use In entering on this part of our sub- the means, and trust in the Lord to ject, a formidable objection may be render them effectual; but not to be started, and even grounded on depend on them, or rest in them. what hath already been discoursed, They who seriously desire to reagainst treating upon the means of pent and turn to God will manifest repentance at all. It hath been ob- their sincerity by thus using every served, that repentance is the gift proper means with diligence and of God to us, the purchase of Christ perseverance: nor shall their lafor us, and the work of the Holy bour: be in vain; "for every one Spirit in us: "How then," it will that asketh receiveth, and he that be objected, “can we do any thing seeketh findeth, and to him that towards it? If it please God to be- knocketh it shall be opened." But stow it upon us, we shall repent, negligence will detect hypocrites, without difficulty or labour: if not, and justify God in their condemnaour labour will be altogether to no tion. Something then must be done purpose." It is indeed a certain in order to our being made partruth, that repentance is the gift of takers of repentance: not under the God, as it has been proved from notion of merit, as if we made the plain Scriptural testimonies: but it purchase; for it is the gift of God: is equally true, and capable of the not under the notion of efficacious same proof, that we must diligently operation; for it is the work of dilabour for it. Nor is there any in-vine grace: but in order to evidence consistency betwixt these distinct our integrity in purposing repentviews of the subject: they only ap-ance; and that we may be found pear inconsistent to our dark and waiting upon God in the way of narrow apprehensions. Upon a si- his appointment. And though the milar occasion, the Truth, the Word, means will not effect the end with

out efficacious grace; yet they are chief, with them? Hath God been quite as much calculated to pro- the delightful subject of your mediduce the effect, as medicines are to tations and conversation: or have remove sickness, or agriculture to you willingly and habitually forgotprocure the crop,-both of which ten him, and regarded religious are rendered effectual only by the thoughts and converse as insipid divine blessing. and irksome? Hath the sweet work

1. Then, "Consider your ways," of prayer and praise, the worship of as David did: "I thought on my God, and hearing and reading his ways, and turned my feet into thy word, been your pleasure, or your testimonies." Psalm cxix. 59. Are task? Have you been out of your you now desirous truly to repent? element when thus employed, and Retire frequently into your cham- found more charms and experiber, shun the hurry and dissipation enced more satisfaction in licentiof a crowd, and court solitude, that ous company or dissipated mirth? you may recollect yourselves, and Have you habitually reverenced the seriously commune with your own sacred name of God, hallowed his heart. There minutely review your Sabbaths, and frequented his sancwhole past life: with exactness sur-tuary with reverence and devotion? vey your thoughts, words, and ac- Or have you taken his name in tions, ever since the dawn of reason, vain *, despised his ordinances, polor from the beginning of recollec- luted his Sabbaths, or mocked him tion. Ask yourselves seriously with a hypocritical worship? such questions as these: What What have your imaginations have you been scheming, intend- been? pure and heavenly, or lewd, ing, pursuing, all your days? *By taking the name of God in vain, I What hath been the standard of do not mean, nor does the Bible mean, merely blasphemy, perjury, and profané your judgment, and rule of your swearing; but every jest or expression conduct: the opinion of men, or the which implies want of reverence to the word of God: the fashions of the Almost in all companies, the conversation, name of God, his word, and sacred things. world, or the example of Christ? even though trifling and polluting, is incessantly interlarded with the words God, What have your affections been Lord, Christ, and such like: which are fixed on? Have you given God, or formed into hackneyed phrases, and used as mere expletives to adorn a period, or as the world, your heart: I mean your notes of admiration, approbation, or indigwarmest desires, and most devoted nation. Nothing can more fully discover the degree in which sinful man despises the attachment? Have you intentional- glorious God, than this general and almost ly been pleasing God, or yourselves? universal practice. Without pleasure, profit, or apparent temptation, in violation of Have you been seeking his glory in an express commaud, and in defiance of every thing; or your own ease, in-an awful threatening; that tremendous terest, gratification, and honour? In what have your time and money been most cheerfully expended? In works of piety and charity; or in gratifying your sensuality, pride, and ambition? Have you been laying up, or aiming to lay up, trea- inefficacy of much apparent religion, and sures in heaven, or on earth? Have the worthlessness of much evangelical profession, are demonstrated by their failing you improved health, prosperity, to repress this awful profaneness. All true abilities, and influence, in promo-Christians, who worship God in spirit and in truth, are, by that profound veneration ting the glory of God, the interests which they bear to the Lord, cured effec of piety, and the good of men? Or tually of this practice; and they ought to unite in bearing testimony against it, boldhave you done no good, but mis-ly, in all companies.

name which impresses angels with holy awe, and at which devils tremble, is made fronted Jehovah shall at last address the man's mere by word. But when the afsinner," Wherefore hast thon despised the commandment of the Lord?" and he finds his profane trifling will be at an end; and he will be constrained to tremble at the

that God will "not hold him guiltless;"

name which he would not reverence.-The

ambitious, envious, covetous, re-examined obscurity, till they rush vengeful, and abominable? What blindfold into remediless ruin. But has your discourse been? edifying, by carefully examining how matters serious, and candid; or profane, stand betwixt God and our souls, polluted, trifling, slanderous, and the danger is discovered, the remedissembling? What have your tem- dy is at hand, and our destruction pers been? meek, peaceable, and happily prevented. Shift not then kind; or turbulent, contentious and this business; slur it not over, but overbearing? Have you behaved, as go through with it, though disagreethe word of God directs, in relative able and mortifying; and you will life, as parents, children, husbands, find yourselves amply recompensed, wives, masters, and servants? Has not only by its subserviency to reequity, disinterestedness, and kind-pentance, but to future solid and ness, or selfishness, covetousness, abiding peace of conscience. and fraud, directed your worldly II. Examine your heart and life business? Have you in sobriety, daily. Nor only say, "What have chastity, and temperance, governed I done?" but "What am I now your appetites and passions? doing?" "The heart is deceitful But I have already exceeded due above all things, and desperately bounds in this specimen of queries, wicked, who can know it?" And which you ought with all imparti- the Lord pronounces him a fool who ality to propose to yourselves; al- trusteth in his own heart. Men relowing conscience, after mature re-tain their good opinion and conficollection, to return a faithful an-dence concerning themselves, beswer. In short, set the law of God cause they remain strangers to their and the example of Christ before own hearts, for want of daily exayour eyes, make diligent search into mination: for the only way to disyour secret practices, intentions, cover a concealed villain is careand inclinations; steadily view fully to watch him. Watch then your likeness, and estimate your your own hearts: examine well your character in this manner, until you own lives; keep before your eyes know what manner of persons you the requirements of the divine law, are. Shrink not back from that as far as known: search the Scripview of self-deformity which will tures daily for further information: thus be presented to you; but look, review your daily conduct, judging and look again, till you "abhor of it by that infallible standard: deyourselves, and repent in dust and scend to particulars: to omissions ashes." and commissions, words and acThe man whose circumstances tions, intentions and imaginations, are embarrassed may possibly re- deficiencies and defilements in duty, trieve all, if he have resolution in and backwardness to it. This will time to look well into his affairs, prove of vast importance to selfand be made sensible how bad they knowledge, and consequently to are but to shrink from this inves- self-abasement. Though difficult tigation, and to banish reflection on at first, it will soon become natural a disagreeable subject, complete and pleasant to the true Christian; many a man's ruin. Thus multi-it will continually keep the heart tudes are afraid, or averse, fully to humble and watchful, and the conexamine their own character, con- science tender; and dependence on duct, and state; they flee from re- the mercy of God, through the blood flection, because uneasy and morti- of Christ, for pardon, in continual fying; and huddle up all in an un-exercise. This conduct, like well