brood over the chances of sickness which may never come upon us; and it would be equally unwise if we were to vex our minds with the apprehensions of losses which might never happen. But punishment will be the certain portion of those, who slight the offers made by Jesus Christ, and refuse to walk in the way which he has pointed out. As surely as there is a God in heaven, we shall all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, to give an account of the deeds done in the body, whether they be good or evil, and at that awful day we shall be judged, not only for what we have done, but for what we have left undone, and not only for our actions, but for our words and our very thoughts.

"If then the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appeard?" The very best of men will find so much in their conduct which needs forgiveness, that they will not be able to rest on any other hope than the mercies of God, through the death of Jesus Christ.

d 1 Peter iv. 18.

But on this rock they may repose with firm dependence, assured that he, who shed his blood for them, will in no wise cast out such as, however unworthy, have made it their study to please him. But what can the hardened sinner plead in his behalf? How can he look on Him, whose warnings he has either regarded with careless indifference, or treated with contempt and scorn? Instead of the smile of approbation with which the Redeemer will welcome those whom he invites to take possession of the kingdom prepared for the faithful from the foundation of the world, the sinner will have to meet a dreadful and overwhelming frown, while he hears his Judge pronounce on him these words in the presence of men and angels: Depart from me, thou cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his angelse."

66

• Matt. xxv. 41.

SERMON VII.

THE INESTIMABLE VALUE OF THE SOUL.

MARK viii. 37.

What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

IN the last discourse I endeavoured to impress you with some faint notion of the value of the soul, from the consideration of the misery which they will bring on themselves through all eternity who neglect its concerns, and think nothing of its inLet us now take another view of the subject, and consider the blessedness of those who watch over their soul, and are anxious to provide for its welfare in this world and the next.

terests.

1. It will be found upon enquiry, that light and darkness scarcely differ more, than the sincere Christian and he who is a

Christian only in name; and this difference appears, not in outward circumstances, for both may be placed in the same outward situation and circumstances, but in the frame and temper of their minds. This indeed may be made to appear in the most ordinary things. The book f which I sent round the parish last month, and which, I hope, you have all read carefully, instructs you "how to take a walk." The man who has no views beyond the present moment, looks around only for objects to amuse him, and finds that the surrounding scene fails, after a time, to keep alive his attention. Having nothing but what his eye can fasten upon to create an interest in all that lies before him, he soon grows restless and dissatisfied, and seeks for some new means of enlivening his thoughts, and keeping them in motion. And here, it may be, from mere want of employment, he is driven to a train of thought which will prove injurious to his future peace, by drawing him aside from the path

of innocence.

'The Cottager's Monthly Visitor for October,

1821.