of your soul. Have you carefully and faithfully employed these means?

'I gave to you my Word. What use have you made of this gift? It was "able to save your soul;" "to make you wise unto salvation."* It was intended to be "a lamp unto your feet, and a light unto your paths. Have you used it as such? Have you "received it not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God?" Have you read it, meditated on it, prayed over it, and sought for grace, that you might understand it, and that it might be mixed with faith in your heart? Have you practised what you did understand of it? Have you governed your life by its holy precepts, doing what it commands, and abstaining from what it forbids? Have Have you believed its precious promises, casting all your care upon them, and patiently waiting for their accomplishment?

· I gave to you my Sabbaths. How have you employed this gift? My sabbath was designed to be a day of holy rest. I commanded you on that day to cease from worldly labour-not that you might waste the hours in idleness and worldly pleasurebut that amidst your earthly callings, you James, i. 21.-2 Tim. iii. 15. + Psalm, cxix. 105. 1 Thess. ii. 13.

might have time to attend your soul, and to provide for eternity. I knew that you were prone to forget these things. I knew that unless some set time was fixed for more especially furthering the work of your salvation, the work itself would be greatly hindered and neglected. For your sake, therefore, I gave to you the Sabbath. I charged you in the most solemn manner to remember to keep it holy and I added the promise of a blessing, if you would diligently observe my command, and would employ this sacred day to the purposes, for which I had separated it from all the other days of the week. Have you used it thus? Have you habitually made it a day of holy rest, of religious exercise? Have you employed it in taking care of your soul, and in making yourself fitter for heaven? Look back on the many sabbaths which you have enjoyed. Call to mind the way in which you have spent them. They were talents com-. mitted to your trust. Have you duly improved them?

I gave to you my Ministers. How have you profited by this gift? I sent them to "watch for your souls;" to remind you of your dangers, and your duties; to shew you the way of peace; to be your spiritual guides and comforters, helpers of your joy,

and furtherers of your salvation. They were my ambassadors, who came to you in my name, invited you to my kingdom, and prayed you in my stead, to be reconciled unto me. How did you receive them? Did you" esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake?"* Did you take in good part their friendly admonitions? Did you listen to their words with reverence and attention? Did you pray for a blessing on their labours? Did you wait on their ministry with a view to your own spiritual edification? Did "your profiting appear unto all men "?"

I gave to you the privilege of Prayer. Have you improved this privilege? I opened to you a way of access to the throne of mercy. I commanded you to "pray al ways and not to faint." I exhorted you "in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, to let your requests be made known unto God." I taught you to pray "in my name."§. I promised that "all things whatsoever you should ask in prayer believing, you should receive."|| Have you availed yourself of this privilege? Have you turned it to good account?Have you prayed constantly, earnestly, in my Thess. v. 13. + Luke, xviii. 1. Phil. iv. 6. § John, xvi. 23. 26, Matt. xxi. 22.

name, in faith? Have you "cried after knowledge, and lifted up your voice for understanding?" Have you daily "poured out your soul" before God, and humbly sought him in every time of need?

*

I gave to you the Promise of my Spirit. Have you prized and improved this gift? It was this gift which crowned the whole. Had this gift been wanting, every other would have been bestowed in vain. My word, my sabbaths, my ministers, the privilege of prayer, would have profited you nothing, without my Spirit working with them in your hearts. It was my Spirit alone, which could give a blessing to those means, and make the use of them serviceable to your souls. But this my Spirit is freely promised to all who ask me." Have you asked me? Have you anxiously desired me to give my Spirit to you? Have you avoided every thing which might grieve and vex him, and drive him from your heart? While you read and heard my word, while you kept my sabbaths, attended my ministers, and drew near to me in prayer, did you do these things, trusting to the promised assistance of my Spirit, and hoping in the use of these appointed means, to have his grace and power increased and established in your soul?

* Ļuke, xi. 13.

And now, what is the fruit of all that has been done? In what state do I actually find your soul, now that I require it at your hands? This is at last the test which must decide the point in question. The way in which you have managed your stewardship, will best appear from the simple fact of what your soul now is. Is it pure and holy, dead to sin, and alive unto GOD, made ready for heaven, for living in the presence of God, and in the company of saints and angels: "a vessel unto honour, sanctified and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work?"** This is the state in which I expect to find your soul. This is the state in which, if you have faithfully improved your talents, I shall find it. Do I find it thus? Is such the state of your soul in this great and solemn day of account?'

My brethren, I know not what reply you will make to these inquiries in that great day. God grant! you may be able to shew that you have been faithful to your trust, and so may deliver up your account with joy! But remember, that you can never do this, unless you now give diligence to make "your calling and election sure."+ Opportunities lost, and talents wasted, must

* 2 Tim. ii. 21. + 2 Peter, i. 10.