or the miseries of a future state. If they are pressed on their attention, there is a sophistry which easily satisfies them that they have little to apprehend from the displeasure of God, or that they will have sufficient opportunities hereafter to appease him; but, amidst the retirement and seclusion of advanced life, the sinner feels that his ruin is certain, near, and terrible. This is his conclusion,-" If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?" My place cannot be with the wheat, which he will gather into his garner, but with the chaff, which he will burn with fire unquenchable. I am now, and I have been useless and vile as it is. My doom is merited, and it cannot be too dreadful for my deserts.

With regard to persons in early life, the idea is entertained by many, that the offences of that period are so few and so trivial, that God will not be severe in punishing them; but with whatever force this may be maintained by those who have low conceits of the purity of the Divine character, and light thoughts of the evil of sin, the most presumptuous will scarcely admit that the aged transgressor can be soothed by such sophistry. If his conscience is enlightened it will repel it with abhorrence, and he will acknowledge that he is worthy of the sorest punishment, and that he hath destroyed himself.

II. Let me now state the circumstances which, in the case of the aged sinner, give to this lamentation peculiar bitterness.

1. The length of time during which he has enjoyed

these opportunities. Had there been but one offer of mercy, the disregard of it would have been felt as highly criminal; but most aggravated is the guilt and inexcusable the folly of rejecting offers of mercy without number. If there had been but one day of salvation, the neglect of it would have been a display of gross ingratitude and stupidity; but when we think how for years, yea, scores of years, God has waited to be gracious, wonder at his patience is mingled with astonishment at the sinner's infatuation. These texts strike the aged sinner as a just picture of his own character:-" All day long have I stretched forth my hand unto a disobedient and gainsaying people. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them that were sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children to me, as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, but ye would not! Despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God calleth thee to repentance, but after thy hardness and impenitence of heart treasurest up to thyself wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God?" For a long life doth he say, I have been disobedient to the most solemn mandates, and resisted the most affectionate entreaties. What method could be employed to awe, or what strains to melt, which have not been used with me in vain? In the obstinate wickedness and ingratitude of Israel, I see a picture of my own; and, alas! while I

* Matt. xxiii. 37. Rom. ii. 4, 5. and x. 21.

fancied that I was making provision for a comfortable age, I have been fitting myself as a vessel of wrath for destruction.

It is mentioned in the history of our Lord, that when he came to the pool of Bethesda, a certain man was there which had an infirmity thirty and eight years; and when Jesus saw him lying, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, "Wilt thou be made whole ?” but that man's imbecility was his misfortune, not his crime; and the beautiful view which it gives of the Saviour's compassion appears to the awakened conscience to yield no hope to him who has lived for scores of years in wilful sin.

2. The idea that others have been saved under these opportunities aggravates this regret. He calls to remembrance the young who remembered their Creator in the days of their youth, and laments that the kindness of his youth was devoted to objects which he ought to have abhorred and shunned; and the sick, who rose from beds of distress, to show, by their wisdom and sobriety, that the discipline of affliction had reclaimed them completely from folly, while he returned "like the dog to his vomit, and like the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire." He calls to mind those who wisely cherished the motions of the Holy Ghost, and in whom good impressions were matured into a complete change of heart and character while he resisted and quenched the Spirit. He thinks of those who, by the ordinances of the Gospel, were made wise to salvation, and filled with the fruits of the Spirit, while he must mourn at the

last when his flesh and his body are consumed, and say, "How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me! I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly."*

There are circumstances which heighten this anguish, as when these means have been effectual to those who have had them for a shorter period, and in situations less advantageous than theirs. The benevolence which leads persons to rejoice in the happiness of others under their own misfortunes, can scarcely be supposed to operate in the case of those who see themselves children of wrath, while others are called to glory and virtue. In the parable of the talents we are informed, that, after a long time, the Lord of the servants came and reckoned with them; and while the time in which the slothful servant had suffered his talent to lie unimproved aggravated his guilt, bitter would his shame and anguish be when he contrasted his indolence with the activity of the other two, and his punishment with the approbation and advancement of which they were the objects.

3. Despair of their renewal. With regard to the season of youth, it is as impossible to restore its simplicity, its docility, its pliableness, its ardent feeling, its detachment from engrossing cares, as it is to bring back its fresh bloom to the wrinkled face of age, and its brisk movements to its palsied limbs.

And with regard to other seasons of mercy, we

• Prov. v. 12-14.

have reason to think that God will not still vouchsafe them to those who, after his long patience with them, remain foolish and disobedient. He will not give back such opportunities to be again trampled on and abused. The word of God assures us, that his patience with the sinner hath its limits, and that when these are come, no entreaties nor efforts can obtain a farther extension. men shall desire to shall not see them. Lord say to the Jews, "Yet a little while is the light with you: walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light."* It was this idea that made the heart of the Saviour himself melt. He beheld Jerusalem, and "If thou hadst known, even

The time shall come in which

see days of the Son of Man, but It was this idea which made our

wept over it, saying, thou, at least in this thy day, the things that belong to thy peace! but now are they hid from thine eyes.”+ He then predicts her speedy and utter desolation, be cause she knew not the time of her visitation. Besides, death is at hand, and it will take us from all the means of grace. The summer may appear in its glory, but it will not be to us. The harvest may put forth its golden treasures, but it will be for others. The multitude that keep holiday will tread on our graves; and around the place where we moulder the joyful sound may be proclaimed for ages, yet still it

* John xii. 35, 36.

+ Luke xix. 42.