"We spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength la bour and sorrow: for it is soon cut off, and we fly away."

I proceed to consider,

of God which is

II. The manner in which we ought to pass the time of our sojourning in the present world. We are commanded in the text to pass it in fear. This fear is that holy fear every where inculcated in the scriptures. Psalm cxi. 10" The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." A reverential fear of God is the offspring of love, and distinguishes his friends from his enemies. These last have sometimes, in the present world, such apprehensions of the vindictive wrath of the Almighty as fills them with dread.. In the world. to come, the impenitent will have a perpetual overwhelming sense of the vengeance of the infinite majesty. A pious fear leads men to draw near to God, with a humble hope of his mercy as revealed in the gospel. The righteous pay to him the homage of the heart; they rejoice that he is on the throne of the universe, and study to know and obey his

will in all things. To fear God and keep his commandments is the whole duty of man. In discharging this, we ought to spend all the time of our sojourning in the present world.

To open and illustrate the fear which is required, I observe,

, 1. That they who fear God cordially acknowledge and adore his holy character. Revel. xv. 4." Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? For thou on ly art holy." The God whom we are commanded to fear, is glorious in holiness; and he is the head of a holy kingdom which he hath established, and will uphold for ever. A view of him as seated upon the throne of his holiness, excites a filial reverence towards him in the hearts of all his children. Their knowledge and their love are small while in life, but their supreme affections are placed upon their heavenly Father, and they desire above all things, that the honour of his name, and the happiness of his kingdom may be promoted. The holiness, the justice, and all the other moral perfections of God, appear to be infinitely amiable to the pious mind, and command reverence from it. God is love. Love, or holiness, is the

sum of all the excellencies which belong to the divine nature. The knowledge, the pow er, and all the other natural perfections of Jehovah, are employed in accomplishing the designs of infinite love. How deserving is such a God of our love and reverence? How different is that fear which hath the glori ous majesty of heaven and earth for its object, from every other which is known by mankind? If we, my brethren, arc governed by the filial fear of God, we shall enjoy.communion with him on the earth, and shall dwell at his right hand for evermore.

God hath revealed his character in, his law. The commandment is exceeding bread, as well as holy, just, and good. We shall delight in God's law, if we fear him. It is our duty to compare our hearts and lives with God's law. If we are impartial in comparing ourselves with it, we shall find that we have within. us a carnal mind which is enmity against God, and which is not subject to his law. We cannot fear him if we do not judge and condemn ourselves, and ap prove of all the requirements of the lawgiver, and acknowledge the justice of thesentence of eternal death which is denounced against every transgressor. "I acknow

F

ledge," saith penitent David, "my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight; that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest." (Psalm li. 3, 4.)

2. To pass the time of our sojourning here in fear, we must humbly seek God's mercy, as revealed in the atonement made by Jesus Christ. No one of the human race, can have any just ground of hope on the footing of the covenant of works, which God made with man in the day of his creation. We have all sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. "There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." He was delivered for the offences of his people, and he was raised again for their justification. The heirs of glory were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. The grace displayed in the gospel, is wonderful grace. The divine perfections are displayed in glorious harmony in the atonement: mercy

and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. If we have tasted that the Lord is gracious, we shall adopt the language in the context, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you." The saved are brought out of darkness into marvellous light-they are born again. They choose God the Father, for their Father; Jesus Christ, for their Redeemer and Saviour; the Holy Ghost, for their Sanctifier, the Word of God, for their Guide; and Heaven for their home.

The good tidings of great joy proclaimed in the gospel, will be in vain to us, if 'we continue to go about to establish a righteousness of our own, and do not submit to the righteousness of God, which is exhibited in the atonement. We must renounce self-dependence, and come to God in Christ's name, and rely only on the efficacy of his blood to deliver us from the wrath to come, and on his obedience to ren