dent that his religious impressions soon wore off, for at the end of two years we find him still engaged in his worldly schemes: and that no means might be left untried for promoting his interest, endeavoring to ingratiate himself with the Jews, though Paul was to suffer by his complaisance to them. Felix was willing to have served Paul, but Paul could not requite him: Paul had no money and no friends. Felix, therefore, in the true spirit of a man of this world, looked favorably on that side where there were connexions, and something to be gained. He made his court to the wicked chief priests, and left St. Paul in prison.

Thus ends the Scripture history of Felix; and here we leave him. Alas! the folly of sinners with all their worldly wisdom. Is it not folly for the sake of a perishing world to destroy an immortal soul? for a momentary gratification of the senses to plunge into everlasting fire? for let us be sure that if there be indeed an eternal difference by the nature of things between righteousness and unrighteousness, God, in that judgment to come of which we have been hearing, will also make a difference between the righteous and the wicked. If your worldliness will consist with this pros pect, well; still let it be a sound ever meeting amidst the din of the world, that there is a you judgment to come. Rejoice O young man in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. For

sake the God who made you, and despise the rock of salvation, still, to him belongeth vengeance, and recompense. If he whet his glittering sword, and his hand take hold on judgment, he will render vengeance to his enemies, and reward them that hate him. He will heap mischiefs upon them, and his arrows will be drunk with their blood. A fire will be kindled in his anger, and shall burn to the lowest hell, which shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains. O that men were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end; that they would consider that they have a latter end! that how many soever the days they give to pleasure-how high soever they climb in power and grandeur-how happy soever they may be in their friends and possessions, there is an end to all not far distant. When that is come, how comfortless must be the state of the soul that has nothing else to look to! This is one reason why the benevolent God calls us away from earth, and would loosen our attachment to all things here, that we may set our affections on things above.

As we may be permitted to hope that some amongst us tremble at the thought of a future judgment, we entreat them not to stifle their convictions, nor increase their danger by procrastination. Say not to your faithful monitor, your own conscience, Go thy way for this time, when I have a more convenient season I will call for thee. Hear conscience! What more con

venient season than the present: when you have been excited, summoned, reasoned with; will you put it off to your death bed? Alas! the soul has enough to do then to support the weight of a dying body; which, after being so long the abode, the instrument, the companion of the soul, becomes a burden to it which it cannot sustain. Besides, will you give the best of your time to Satan, and leave only the remnant to God? God hath not dealt thus with you, who gave his beloved Son for you. Will you put off the necessary work till the next Lord's day? How do you know that this week's affairs will not dissipate your serious thoughts; and converse with the world weaken your resolutions? Trifle not with God: to-day if ye will hear his voice, while it is called to-day, harden not your hearts. He is free in the dispensations of his grace, and may withhold to-morrow what he grants to day. Therefore whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might; for there is no work, nor knowledge, nor device, in the grave whither thou goest. Nay, even in this world procrastination may be an evil not to be remedied, for wisdom thus speaks: Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof; I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come upon you, then shall

they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me.* Though true penitents find mercy at the eleventh hour, many pray on their death-bed who are never heard-many cry for mercy and never obtain it. Now therefore, men and brethren, while you have life, and health, and strength; while your sun is not yet gone down, nor the grave yawning for you beneath; before time begin his ravages, and disease sap your vitals, ascend your watch tower-contemplate the prospect-stretch your thought inwardand determine what the end shall be. are in one sense the arbiters of your own destiny! God has opened the way to himself, by the mediation of his Son, and by the offers of his Spirit. Through the Son you may be forgiven; through the Spirit sanctified. A feast is spread te which you are invited; a river of life, of which you may drink; a crown of glory, which is your appointed reward! May God fix your hearts for glory, honor, and immortality, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

* Prov. i, 24–28.

You

Lamb's wife; and he carried me away in the spirit, and shewed me the holy Jerusalem. Therefore under the emblem of a bride, as we see in the text, are represented all who are citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem-whether they have entered in through the gates into the city, or are travelling along the narrow way which will lead them to it. The near and intimate relation which subsists between a bride and her husband-of the union to and communion with Christ which believers enjoy, is used by the Spirit of God to convey an idea of the true love of Christ to his church, and of their dependence upon him. Once they were attached to the law, expecting to be justified by their works. In this state they brought forth no fruit unto God; but they are become dead to the law by the body of Christ, that they should be married to another, even to him that is raised from the dead, that they should bring forth fruit unto God.* We should observe in these words, which are from the Epistles, that the same allusion is made to a bride as in the Song of Solomon, and in the forty-fifth Psalm.

1. The Spirit and the bride say, Come. By this we are to understand, either that the Holy Ghost calls on the Son of God to come to judgment; or else, that by his influences in the hearts of the elect, he awakens their inward powers to long for his second coming. The latter interpretation is confirmed by the eighth chapter of Romans, ver. 26, where it is said,

* Rom. vii, 4,