alive in Christ, preach by example and counsel, ́în their own sphere of usefulness, and are ready to every good work, which has for its object the universal influence of Christianity. They are willing to spend and be spent in the cause of their Redeemer. When these persons close their eyes in natural death, they sleep in Jesus, or die in the Lord. Consider now an enhancement of this bliss. Blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord,

FROM HENCEFORTH ;"

from the very hour of death: for Paul accounted it gain to die, because he expected to be immediately present with the Lord. An intermediate state of stupidity, between death and the resurrection, would have been the loss of that valuable life, which he dignified with the appellation of Christ. He would have desired the continuance of his mortal life, until the consummation of all sublunary scenes, had he not believed with the penitent thief, what Christ asserts to every dying believer," to-day shalt thou be with me in paradise." When the silver cord is loosed, the golden bowl broken, the pitcher broken at the fountain of life; when the mourners go about the streets to the grave-yard, then has the spirit ascended to the Father of Spirits; for the soul cannot perish : the soul that is in Christ shall never die. The exalted spirit unites with the souls of holy martyrs, slain for their testimony to the word, in ascribing glory to God. It becomes " from henceforth," a fellow-ser

vant* with the suffering saints on earth, and is sent forth to minister unto such as shall be heirs of salva. tion. Live then in Christ; die in Christ; and be immediaiely blessed in Christ. To all who labour in the Lord's vineyard, death is sent,

THAT THEY MAY REST FROM THEIR LABOURS.

He

You have seen a servant of Jesus Christ in the Gos pel ministry, surrounded by a large family of dependant children. He has forsworn lucrative business, that a soldier of Jesus may not be incumbered. He has, however, the feelings of a parental heart. would educate his children for future usefulness; but with his scanty means it is labour indeed. serve his master and feed his family require not only the sweat of the brow, but also toil of spirit. Soon his debts shall be discharged, and he shall rest from the labour of procuring "the meat which perisheth."

To

You have seen a father languishing in death, and sundered from his sons; a fond mother torn from her fatherless babes; and the tenderest friends divided. Lover and friend, " from henceforth," shall rest from the labours of affliction. Sorrow and sighing shall come to a perpetual end. The toils of death are ended.

Heavenly employment is not labour. The glorified saints cease not from the exercises of holiness

*Rev. xix. 10.

and the works of benevolence. Once they laboured under sin, against temptation, and were heavily laden with their own guilt. Now they cease from that labour which weighed down the spirit, and frequently tempted to despair. Now all is activity, cheerfulness, and joy. Formerly there was fatigue under Satan's bondage; now there is complete, everlasting discharge. Henceforth there will be no labouring conscience, no sense of shame, no injury from another, no angry or libidinous passion to be subdued; no doubts about the good estate of the soul, or the application of Christ's righteousness; no fearful expectation of judgment; no sensation of misery. To rest from the toils of sin is heaven. In addition to complete emancipation from labour, such as live in Christ, and are about to die in the Lord, may remember, that

46 THEIR WORKS DO FOLLOW THEM:"

not to procure justification, but to bear testimony to their faith, and constitute the measure of their happiness. Having pardoned the sins of the believer, God will bless him in exact proportion to his works of faith; for he will render to every man according to his actions.

Where is the Christian, whom God greatly prospered, who was "sharper than a thorn-hedge," which fleeces every lamb; who cried "give, give," but was never satisfied? Where is the man of strong

mental powers, who exerted himself but a little to advance the cause of Christ? Where is the man o moderate fortune, who had some zeal for God, mingled with much selfishness; the man who gave less yearly to the spiritual poor, than the pious mechanic, his neighbour? Where is the man, who would have continued to purchase luxuries, but when asked to give, for Christ's sake, a bible or a destitute, excused himself by saying, cations for religious charity never end?" to be found in heaven, you will find them among the least in the kingdom; among a company scarcely saved: among the vessels of a small size, that contain but a little grace. They are the gill measures of heaven.

sermon to the "these appli

If they are

Where now is the poor widow, who served God according to what she had, and not according to what she had not? Yonder, behold her with Ruth, who protected the aged Naomi; Hannah, who nursed Samuel for God; Eunice, who taught Timothy the Scriptures; Dorcas, who made garments for the poor; Mary, who washed her Saviour's feet with tears, and anointed him for burial; and Mary, the mother of Jesus.

There is a higher and a lower seat in heaven; but although it would be bliss to abide for ever on the threshold of glory, yet he is a mean spirited believer who would not humbly aspire to eminence among the luminaries that surround the throne of God.

The subject before you, my hearers, is calculated to excite Christians to greater activity in the divine life. You live in Christ; but if you are to die in the Lord, and immediately rest from your labours, how can you live so sluggishly? Is there nothing to engage your zealous activity? You are much employed in attention to the spiritual concerns of your own souls. That is well. You attend public and private worship regularly, instruct your families, associate in religious societies, and do much for Christ. Very well : but you might do more.

It is pleasant to praise believers, and give Jesus glory for working in them, of his benevolence, both to will and to perform. But reproof is also necessary. A very considerable number of professing Christians in this city, are certainly exemplary in charitable actions. The cause of Jesus is dear to their hearts. They build churches at home and abroad, for themselves and for others; they erect free-schools for the poor of the Churches and the streets; they visit the widow in her affliction, and save thousands from famine, frost, and nakedness; they have bible, religious tract, and missionary societies; and, in some cases, associations for the instruction of coloured people. In these things they have well done. All, however, which they might and ought to do, is not accomplished. "Be not weary in well doing."

The asylum for maniacs, and the orphan asylum, are monuments of praise to those who have endowed