1 truction is thronged; false religion unites with impiety in rendering our situation most perilous; God himself condescends to guide us in the safe and happy path; and shall we reject his counsels? Our own hearts are deceitful, the powers of darkness unwearied in their subtle efforts to delude us: and shall we not use every means of escaping their wiles, and warning others to elude their devices? New forms of delusion start up every day: shall we not then bestow pains to distinguish the truths of revelation from damnable heresies? Surely it is most reasonable, both to study the Scriptures, and to pray without ceasing for the teaching of the holy Spirit; that we may be kept from the ways of the destroyer, established in the pure principles of Christianity, preserved from innumerable dangers, find unfailing resources of support and comfort in trying circumstances, be rendered useful in our respective stations, meet death with joyful hope, and leave the world in full assurance of everlasting felicity. The knowledge and wisdom, which may be derived from a careful investigation of the Scriptures, will be found of the utmost importance, éven in conducting our temporal concerns. We shall thus learn the best discretion in estimating characters, and judging of men's pretensions and professions : be directed how to act even in respect of their prejudices and mistakes; and learn to accommodate ourselves to varying circumstances, without countenancing evil by improper compliances, or preventing our own success by violent opposition, where gentleness might have obviated the difficulty. But the subject is too copious to be fully discussed on this occasion. It must suffice to observe, that the advantages of diligence and earnestness, in the grand concerns of our holy religion, far more than counter-balance the self-denial that it requires. For what is it, but bestowing pains to be happy and useful? to live and die in comfort? and to use proper means of rendering our children and relatives happy? that they too may serve their generation according to the will of God, leave the world with joyful hope, and meet with us in heaven. And are not these objects well deserving of our utmost diligence and unwearied attention? Let me then conclude with the observation which introduced the subject: 'If religion be any thing, ' it is every thing.' It must be our business in this world, if we would enjoy a warranted hope of felicity in the world to come: yea, it must be our element here, in order to a meetness for the inheritance of the saints in light. Every man's own conscience must decide, how far this is his character and experience; and every one must be left to apply the subject to his own case, for conviction, admonition, or encouragement. And may the Lord himself enable us to attend to these things, according to their immense and eternal importance; and teach us so to "number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." Amen. I am a man of unclean lips, and people of unclean lips: for mine the King, the Lord of hosts. the Seraphim unto me, having hand, which he had taken with the the altar; and he laid it upon said, Lo this hath touched thy iniquity is taken away, and thy st I heard the voice of the Lord, sa I send, and who will go for us here am I, send me. WHEN Isaiah had already be a considerable time in the proph was greatly disconcerted by a re which he records in the chapter ought not to imagine that things as they appeared to the minds o when their senses were closed duri vidently leads the mind to the nan form; and St. John instructs et at this time saw "the glory ake of him." For indeed the specially made known, not only earth, but also to the hosts in rson and redemption of Emma - worshippers, and nearest to the Seraphim, the most exalted of 3 who glow with love and zeal 1. These, in other respects apn form, had each six wings; ch they covered their faces," in ound reverence with which they majesty of the Lord, before lories their derived excellencies disappeared; with two of them r feet, as conscious that their Cor. iv, 6. 3 Ps. civ, 4. Eph. iii, 10. 1 Pet. i, 12. |