Think seriously of Judgment, and let the thoughts of that great account which you will one day be called upon to give, lead you to a strict holiness of life, and make you watchful, not only over your words and works, but also over the secret thoughts of your hearts, remembering that in that day all things must be brought to light.

God grant that we may all so diligently watch, examine and judge ourselves, that we may not be condemned of the Lord, when He shall come to judge the world in righteousness.

SERMON III.

PSALM CXxii. 1.

I was glad when they said unto me, we will go into the house of the Lord.

WHEN We take our thoughts from the follies and vanities which are too apt to hold them, and turn them to that great and glorious God, who made this world in which we are placed; when we consider, that He has given all things here on earth for the use and enjoyment of us poor men; when we remember, that it is His providence which gives us, day by day, our daily bread: above all, when we call to mind, that He sent His only Son to die upon the cross, that we might be saved, surely it is impossible not to feel how great, how immense is the debt which we owe Him for

ages, of all ranks, of all conditions, by all manner of ways-by sudden accidentsby untimely deaths-by lengthened sick

nesses;

-some young, some in fullness of their health and strength, but the fewest, I believe, by far, in old age. We cannot come to the house of God, without seeing around us the graves of those who are gone: gone into happiness or misery, according to the use which they made of the time of their visitation. Which of us can say that in another week our last bed shall not be made with theirs? O, how does it concern every Christian to think seriously of these things! it concerns every minister of the gospel, lest when he has preached to others he himself should be a cast-away. The young are concerned to think of them, that they may take heed lest they fall early into a sinful course of life, which will harden their hearts and blind their understandings, and lead them to their ruin. The healthy and the strong should think of them, for health and strength cannot keep them safe from death; and surely the aged are concerned to think of these things, for in the

nature of things their time cannot be long: it concerns all men to remember that this little life is the time of their visitation, and that we must all account for the employment of it.

God visits every one of us. To the ignorant He sends instruction by His mi nisters. To the careless He sends His judgments to arouse them. He awakens with affliction those who are neglecting their souls. He visits us too by His Spirit. He comforts those who fear Him and mourn for their sins the soul that is weak, and looks up to Him for help, He never refuses to strengthen and support: to those who have made a good use of the grace which He has given them, He gives more grace; but from those who receive his mercies without profiting by them, He takes away what He before had given.

I have thus shewn you the instruction which every one of us may receive to his soul from the words of my text, though spoken by our Blessed Saviour of the city of Jerusalem. I am unwilling to finish my sermon, without drawing your attention to

His love surely it is impossible not to feel what unprofitable creatures we are what ill use we make of the life which He has bestowed on us, and how lukewarm, how cold is our thankfulness!

These are thoughts which we too seldom give way to the pleasures of the world prevent them, and our own vanity dislikes them; but they are thoughts which deserve to be encouraged, for they are better fitted, than all others, to make us what we ought to be good and holy; and to fill us with those feelings of reverence, and love to God, which are due from sinful man, to the Maker and Saviour of his soul.

Yes, my brethren, if we thought of these things a little oftener than we do, we could not continue to be the same weak and wandering creatures which we are now; acknowledging (for so we all do) that God's mercy and love are without bounds; acknowledging, that every day and hour we are enjoying the benefits of them, an yet carelessly neglecting the opportunities which are given us of shewing that we are thankful.