World to avail themfelves of every opportunity that offers, to promote their wishes; it is with them a common maxim, that the tide of wealth and honour must be taken at the flood; they feize therefore the first favourable moment in making hafte to be rich, or great; and herein they certainly do wifely, in efteeming the time present, as that only of which they are mafters, and therefore trufting not to the uncertainties of futurity.

But what is more common than for men who believe, and acknowledge a life of purity neceffary to the attainment of everlafting happiness, ftill to put off their repentance from day to day, as if the iffue of life, were in their own power.

The last inftance I fhall mention of worldly wisdom is that which more immediately gave occafion to our Saviour's remark, namely, the provifion which the Children of this World are careful in making against the evils which threaten them.

Happy would it be for the Children of

Light,

Light, could they too be perfuaded to ufe the like precaution, and make provifion in time for those comforts which the Soul will furely ftand in need of we know not how foon.-Await not then till fickness and old age shall warn you of approaching diffolution, but fet about the neceffary tafk of repentance and amendment ere the night cometh, in which no man can work. Truft not, that the dim lamp of Life, while it expires over the bed of fickness, will yield fufficient light to cheer the departing spirit, till it fhall have made its peace with God; it will then stand in need of every confolation, and the reflection of a well-fpent Life will be among the firft. How can the eye of Faith look forward for forgiveness, unless the review of what is past afford fome reason to hope for mercy?

It is in vain to urge any arguments from the confideration of a future ftate to men who loft in worldly pursuits difclaim all intereft in it. Their reasoning is just, let us eat, drink, and be merry, if they are fatis

fied

fied that to-morrow they are to die, never more to live. But for one who difbelieves the refurrection from any thing like conviction, thousands there are who ftill believe, and tremble.

You who hear me this day, acknowledge by your prefence at the fervice of the Church, that you have other notions of God, and Eternity; to you, who believe there is a God, and that he is the rewarder of them who feek him, I address myself with greater confidence of fuccefs, when I exhort you, to confider, that knowledge, and conviction are but aggravating circumftances of guilt, if they are fuffered to lie buried in the heart, and bring not forth the fruit of Holinefs.

Confider this, ye who know God, and are backward in practifing your duty towards him. In the purfuit of Eternal happiness, give it not a speculative, but an active preference; be guided by such maxims as are the ordinary principles of worldly wifdom; be content with the evidence

dence which it has pleased God to afford, and act upon it with confidence.

Remember that the prefent opportunity may be the laft, and if not immediately improved may quickly be paft and gone for ever.-Now is the accepted time-Now is the day of Salvation. No man having put bis hand to the Plough and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.

SER