am as good as my neighbours, and do not pretend to be better than the rest of the world. I have done no one any injury, brought up my family honestly, and so hope I may fare as well as others. With such sentiments as these men live on content, nay we often hear them comforting themselves thus, when they are stretched on the very bed of death. And perhaps they think it safe to do as the rest of the world, for God surely, say they, will not punish us all so very severely. Yet what says the Gospel: "Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matth. 7.14.) And again: "Many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." (Luke 13. 24.) They then who are content to be no better than the rest, must be content to perish together. They who are satisfied with the broad path must be satisfied with its ending in destruction. Of those who seek to enter in, who desire at their last hour to attain to heaven, many shall not be able. Not many who

wish for eternal happiness but take no pains for its attainment.

The truth is that every human being is born under sentence of condemnation. From this sentence we escape only by God's mercy. And his mercy constrains all who effectually believe in it, to devote their whole lives to his will, to make it the great business of their existence to "work out" their "salvation with fear and trembling." (Phil. 2. 12.) This is the right view of the matter. But men are apt to consider things as if we were all born to an inheritance of heaven, and should lose it only by some very gross offence. Remember then that we are not born to an inheritance of heaven, which is only to be lost by our flagrant sin; but born in sin to an inheritance of wrath, which we can escape only by our striving.

God has in this universe other worlds, in number countless, in obedience perfect, ministering to his glory, and shewing forth his goodness. One family of his creatures, in this world of ours, has been guilty of disobedience. They are sentenced to ever

lasting fire. Yet his mercy interferes, in his blessed Son. Jesus descends from heaven, dies for the race of man, but dies to save us from sin, as well as from its punishment, to "purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Tit. 2. 14.) These works are set down in his Gospel. All we are to believe, all we are to do, may be plainly collected from the sacred volume. But if we practise not, how dwelleth the love of God in us? And how if we love Him not, how can we believe that He first loved us? And how if we believe not, how can we fail to be still in our sins? How can we think but that for us Christ died in vain ?

Strive then to enter in at the strait gate. Follow not the multitude to do evil; but join the few who find the way that leadeth unto heaven. Live not at ease with yourselves. Watch, suspect your own hearts, beware of evil, be ever on your guard, be sober, be diligent. The day of deliverance is at hand. Near is that last home where the weary are at

wish for eternal happiness but take no pains for its attainment.

The truth is that every human being is born under sentence of condemnation. From this sentence we escape only by God's mercy. And his mercy constrains all who effectually believe in it, to devote their whole lives to his will, to make it the great business of their existence to "work out" their "salvation with fear and trembling." (Phil. 2. 12.) This is the right view of the matter. But men are apt to consider things as if we were all born to an inheritance of heaven, and should lose it only by some very gross offence. Remember then that we are not born to an inheritance of heaven, which is only to be lost by our flagrant sin; but born in sin to an inheritance of wrath, which we can escape only by our striving.

God has in this universe other worlds, in number countless, in obedience perfect, ministering to his glory, and shewing forth his goodness. One family of his creatures, in this world of ours, has been guilty of disobedience. They are sentenced to ever

lasting fire. Yet his mercy interferes, in his blessed Son. Jesus descends from heaven, dies for the race of man, but dies to save us from sin, as well as from its punishment, to "purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Tit. 2. 14.) These works are set down in his Gospel. All we are to believe, all we are to do, may be plainly collected from the sacred volume. But if we practise not, how dwelleth the love of God in us? And how if we love Him not, how can we believe that He first loved us? And how if we believe not, how can we fail to be still in our sins? How can we think but that for us Christ died in vain?

Strive then to enter in at the strait gate. Follow not the multitude to do evil; but join the few who find the way that leadeth unto heaven. Live not at ease with yourselves. Watch, suspect your own hearts, beware of evil, be ever on your guard, be sober, be diligent. The day of deliverance is at hand. Near is, that last home where the weary are at