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But, farther, it is not only a sin, but a sin of dangerous tendency. This is manifest by the effects it produces. Precious time is thereby murdered, and valuable opportunities lost, and lost beyond recal!

That there are opportunities possessed, both by saints and sinners, is plain from the scriptures. The former might do abundantly more for God than they do, and might enjoy much more of God and heaven than they actually enjoy; and no doubt it would be so, were it not for that idle, delaying temper, of which we have spoken. Like the Israelites, we are slothful to go up to possess the good land. Many are the opportunities, both of doing and enjoying good, that have already passed by. O! what Christians might we have been before now, had we but availed ourselves of all those advantages which the gospel dispensation and the free exercise of our religion afford us!

Sinners also, as long as life lasts, have opportunity of escaping from the wrath to come. Hence, they are exhorted to seek the Lord while he may be found and to call upon him while he is near. Hence, also, there is a door represented as being at present, open; which the master of the house will, one day, rise up and shut, The fountain is described as being at present, open for sin and for ancleanness; but there is a period approaching when it shall be said, He that is filthy, let him be filthy still! It seems scarcely in the power of language to express the danger of delay in terms more forcible and impressive than those which are used in the above passages. Nor is there any thing in the idea that clashes with the scripture doctrine of decrees. All allow that men have opportunity, in natural things, to do what they do not, and to obtain what they obtain not; and, if this can be made to consist with an universal providence, which performeth the things that are appointed for us; why should not the other be allowed to consist with the purposes of him who does nothing without a plan, but worketh all things after the counsel of his own will? A price is in the hands of those who have no heart to get wisdom.

O thoughtless sinner! trifle no longer with the murder of time; time, so short and uncertain in its duration; the morning of your existence; the mould in which you receive an impression for

eternity, the only period in which the Son of man has power to forgive sins! Should the remaining part of your life pass away in the same careless manner as that has which has already elapsed, what bitter reflection must needs follow! How cutting it must be to look back on all the means of salvation as gone for ever; the barvest past, the summer ended, and you not saved!

Suppose a company, at the time of low water, should take an excursion upon the sands near the sea shore: suppose yourself of the company suppose, that, on a presumption of the tide's not returning at present, you should all fall asleep suppose all the company, except yourself, to awake out of their sleep, and, finding their danger, endeavour to awake you, and persuade you to flee with them for your life: but you, like the sluggard, are for a little more sleep, and a little more slumber: The consequence is your companions escape, but you are left behind to perish in the waters, which, regardless of all your cries, rise and overwhelm you! What a situation would this be! How would you curse that love of sleep that made you refuse to be awaked, that delaying temper that wanted to indulge a little longer! But what is this situation compared with that of a lost soul? There will come a period when the bottom of the ocean would be deemed a refuge; when, to be crushed under falling rocks and mountains, instead of being viewed with terror as heretofore, will be earnestly desired! Yes, desired, but desired in vain! The sinner who has neglected the great salvation will not be able to escape, nor hide himself from the ace of him that sitteth upon the throne, nor from the wrath of the Lamb.

My dear hearers! Consider your condition without delay. God says to you, To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. To-day may be the only day you have to live. Go home, enter the closet, and shut to the door; confess your sins; implore mercy through our Lord Jesus Christ; Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him !

THE BLESSEDNESS OF THE DEAD, WHO DIE IN THE

LORD.

SERMON IV.

[Preached at Kettering, at the funeral of Mr. Beeby Wallis, April, 1792.

Rev. xiv. 13.

And I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them.

Ir is usual with us, on the death of our friends, to improve the mournful event, by a sermon on the occasion. I feel a difficulty, in the present instance, on account of my near and intimate connexion with the deceased. However, as well as I can, I will endeavour to comply with the general expectation.

Our dear deceased friend made no mention of any particular part of scripture which he would wish to have improved; I have, therefore selected the above, as being the most suitable to the present occasion of any that has occurred to my thoughts. The original design of the passage seems to have been, to support the afflicted followers of Christ in times of persecution. Nothing could be better adapted to arm the holy martyrs against the terrors of death, than the sentiment here exhibited. It does not seem, however to be applicable to martyrs only; but is rather to be considered as a

general truth, which, though applied to a particular case, is not to be confined to that case, but extended to every other particular comprehended within the general design. A few introductory observations may throw some light upon the text, and lead us on to the principal subjects on which I mean to discourse.

First Let us observe the character described-those who die in the Lord. The scriptures make frequent mention of believers, as being united to Christ or one with him. If we be true believers in Christ, we shall feel a union of heart with him; our principles. affections and pursuits, will, in a measure, be the same as his; his cause will be our cause, his people our people, his service our delight, and the gospel of salvation through his death our daily bread. The union between Christ and his people, is frequently compared to the marriage-union : as they who were twain became one flesh, so they who are joined to the Lord are one spirit; and, as in that case there is not only a mental, but a legal union, each becoming interested in the persons and possessions of the other, so in this, we, with all we have, are Christ's, and Christ, with all he has, is ours. Hence the language of the Apostle : Of him are ye IN Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. Hence also, arises the desirableness of being found IN him, not having our own righteousness, which is of the law; but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. An union like this will render us blessed even in death; death itself shall not be able to dissolve it, but shall rather introduce us to the full enjoyment of him whom our soul loveth..

It is farther supposed of those who die in the Lord, that they have abounded in good works; for it could not otherwise have been said that they should follow them. Those whose only hope and reliance for acceptance with God have been upon Jesus Christ, and who have, therefore, dis claimed all dependence upon their own works, have often been charged with being enemies to morality; or, at least, that their principles, if pursued to their just consequences, would render them so but I trust the practice of these persons, in all ages, has not been such as to justify the charge. Perhaps, on the contrary, if we could survey the spirit

and manners of mankind with an impartial eye, we might find that they who thus believed in Jesus were the most careful to maintain good works. Yea, and if we would search the scriptures with an unprejudiced mind, we should find, that, without an union with Christ, it were a vain thing to expect good works; (truly so called ;) as vain as to expect fruit from a branch that should be separate from the vine.

Secondly: The blessedness of the dead who die in the Lord, was declared by a voice from heaven. If the Apostle had hearkened to the general voice of mankind, he would have heard a very different sound. The world reckons him blessed that liveth-that liveth in prosperity. So natural is this to man, that we all feel a kind of pity for our departed friends; but surely pity is never more unnecessary the voice from heaven, whatever be the voice from earth, pronounces, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.

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Thirdly The apostle was commanded to write it. A mere voice passeth away, but a writing endureth. In this we see God's tender regard for his faithful servants, not merely in that age, but for ages to come.

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Fourthly Their blessedness is declared to be from henceforth. I do not see how this can be understood as referring to the time of the Spirit's speaking; for that would imply, that, before that time, those who died in the Lord were not blessed. It seems, I think, plainly to refer to the time of their departure from the body, and is one of the many passages of scripture in which we are taught the doctrine of a separate state.

Lastly: The blessedness which awaits those who die in the Lord consists, partly in a rest from their labours, and partly in a glorious reward, expressed by their works following them.

It is on this last observation I shall principally enlarge, in this discourse, as the most important ideas of the text seem to be here included. Let us first take a view of the heavenly state under the ideas here given, and then consider the uses that such a prospect is adapted to promote.

I. LET US VIEW THE HEAVENLY STATE UNDER THE IDEAS OF 4 REST FROM LABOUR, AND A REWARD FOR IT. The term labour does not convey the idea of simple exercise; for we shall never cease

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