to prepare us to share the rich blessing our kindred spirits now enjoy!

On the other hand, how should it move our fear, and urge our caution to apprehend the danger of an eternal separation from them, and to aggravate the misery of such a fate, that we shall view their happiness, of which it is impossible to partake: nay, horribly afflicting as the thought must prove, that they who once contributed to so exquisite a degree of bliss, must necessarily hate us; for they will feel the justice of our condemnation, in consequence of their enlightened and exalted state, and can be interested only in those who love the Lord of life and glory; for, they that have followed Christ in the regeneration-they that have obtained an inheritance with the Lamb, they shall also judge the world. What! shall the tender parent-the fond husband, the loving wife, the darling child, the partial, the affectionate friend-is it possible, I say, THEY shall sign our final condemnation? YES; and from positive NECESSITY too, and in the very nature of things; and, what will aggravate the misery of the GUILTY, to the REDEEMED will be NO SORROW; for their eyes will be opened, both to the infinite mercy and justice of the Lord. If we slight our day of grace, my brethren, the final sentence will strip us of all hope, overwhelm us with despair, and the torment will increase, both

from our loss of all we loved, and envy at their blissful state.

But there is another case, if possible, still more shocking to contemplate than this: viz. should we be found in any degree accessary to the final condemnation of those relatives, towards whom the ties of nature alone, supplied a motive of very different conduct. Alas! though from them we shall never be parted, yet their society will only augment our torture: their continual reproach of our unfeeling neglect, or bad example, perhaps of every encouragement to vice, which has involved them in similar ruin with ourselves, will swell our portion of misery, from the remorse at not having laboured to prevent them also coming into the same place of torment.

This most terrible of all cases is verified by the condemned spirit of the rich man in his final state of punishment: his torment was increased by the gnawing reflection, that his bad example and infidel principles might endanger the eternal misery of his brethren.

Let us strive, then, to escape the portion of devils, to avoid being driven away by the holy angels thereunto appointed, into the place of torment; but rather, when the consummation of all things is complete, that we may, with our blessed Saviour, and his holy angels, return triumphantly to the realms of bliss, and

there continue under his glorious rule for EVER

AND EVER.

Here, truly, are two eternal states of being, of very different description. For one, we may wisely count every thing but loss, that we may attain unto the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ, who is the author of so great salvation. And to escape the OTHER, what can be too hard a condition, that will hide us from the wrath of the Lamb?

But as hitherto I have only dwelt upon the certainty and particular nature of the states of which we must all become partakers, when we quit these mortal bodies, I cannot, with propriety, leave off here, lest any should depart in perplexity of mind and fear, not knowing how to act, that they may escape this dreadful judgment, and happily attain unto a better inheritance. I will, therefore, propose a sure remedy for frail creatures to apply, in the most desperate condition-a never-failing means to rescue them from all danger, and to light them on to glory. Whatever principle first engages to call our ways to remembrance, and leads us to repentance; there is but ONE instrument that can carry us through the work we have to do, and that is FAITH in the Lord Jesus Christ: this, in proportion as it is pure, will convey a healing balsam to our drooping spirits, and renew our miserably deficient nature.

Would you wish to know in what this faith consists? Why, it is a firm belief in all that he has said, and that is written of him-That there is none other name under heaven, whereby we can be saved. It is an humble reliance on the efficacy of his merits, to restore the principle that was lost by man's original fall from innocence; a deep sense of our own insufficiency for any thing that is essentially good; that, with-out partaking of the spirit of Christ, we can do nothing truly pleasing to God the Father; and that, through Christ helping us, we can do all things: that he died for all in this sense, because all had fallen short of true holiness; and that his grace must be alive in us, to destroy the works to which a corrupted will is prone, no less than to save us from the punishment of sin; or, in other words, that the birth of his Spirit must be revived in the soul, or we shall want the best assurance to plead his atonement; for, Depart from me ye cursed, is the sentence pronounced against all that do not the will of God. This then, my brethren, is the faith we must obtain in order to save our souls. But this faith, perhaps it may be said, is not in our own power; it is the gift of God. True: nor is any thing in our own power, in one sense of the assertion, for all grace and goodness is the gift of God; but no one will deny that the means are in our power, or why, in our excellent Liturgy, do we thank

God for the means of grace, which lead to the hope of glory? Even in worldly affairs we can do nothing without endeavouring, much less may we hope for spiritual improvement without labour. But what are the means? Why, what you may all employ, if not your own faultprayer, perseverance, and the sincere use of such power as you find you have, however small, Doubtless Doubtless you have power to read God's holy word, to beg for light to understand it; honestly employ the power you have; slight not the means of grace, and depend upon receiving MORE. What is the history of the life of Christ, but one grand means of faith?-what are his precepts but another?-what are the sacraments, and all holy ordinances, but still further means? Ask and ye shall have, &c. are clear encouragements to close with the means. Him who cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out, is a comfortable invitation to forsake all, and take up Christ's yoke. If ye that are evil give good gifts unto your children, how much more will my heavenly Father give the Spirit to them that ask it? is another blessed encouragement to expect it. Here then, my brethren, are the most positive injunctions to use the means, and precious promises in recompense of our obedience. And if we are sincere in this service, need we doubt of possessing saving faith in time? Nay, is not our Christian prac