And to try themselves they have a much more sure criterion than any inward monitions which self might have a share to suggest or stimulate. That with which they compare their lives is the rule of God's commandments, a test of fellowship with Christ far less deceptive than the heart of man, or impulse, or impassioned ardours. Strong impulses are but the means of moving those whom milder remedies will not affect: they are medicines of last resort, and always dangerous. Let our affections indeed centre in the Almighty they cannot be better spent than in his service. Yet they will be but blind guides to his throne. Impatience will break down the sacred restraints which divine wisdom has imposed. Affection may waste itself in unfruitful fervours, and hardly discharge one of the duties, which divine laws enjoin. Let us serve God with reverence, making it our first business to obey his will, and not caring to intrude with familiarity into his presence: "Draw not nigh hither: put

off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground."

From the moral of a pagan story the light of nature seems to have taught the heathen this reverence of God, which is the true principle of obedience to him also. Semele, persuaded by her artful enemy, entreated Jove to approach her in all the splendour of heaven. The deity granted her request. But, alas, for her ambition! she was unable to endure so much majesty, and instantly expired.

ments?

It is not then an aspiration heavenward, it is not an effort of the imagination, or fervour of affection only, that will satisfy the wary soldier in the army of Christ. Do you keep the commandThis is the watchword of the band. This is the challenge by which to try the most zealous: this the criterion, by which to prove the measure of their grace. Cherish every feeling of devotion. Light up the fervour of love in your hearts. But do not mistake the purpose

of stirring those affections. Do not mistake them for the end of your Christian warfare. They are but the means to encourage and support you to a faithful service. Do not mistake them for evidences of fidelity. You must prove that by works, by conduct of life, by presenting an image alive and palpable, of a disciple of the Gospel.

In the description of the blessed on the day of judgment, at the right hand of Christ are they, who, when he was an hungered, gave him meat; when he was thirsty, gave him drink; clothed him when naked; came unto him in prison; and took him in when a stranger. And they say unto him, "Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee?" And he answers, " Verily, I Verily, I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

Let us for a moment consider ourselves here assembled to represent mankind, and speak as if we were the only people upon

earth.

Suppose this then to be our last hour, and the end of the world to be at hand; the last judgment set, the heavens opening above our heads, and the Redeemer coming in his glory, to judge us gathered together to abide his sentence of final reprobation, or of mercy. Were the eternal Judge now in the midst of us, to make the solemn separation between the sheep and the goats, what is it that would thrust us to his left hand? Would it be the defect of his mercy, the insufficiency of Christ's redemption, the reluctance of the Holy Spirit to impart grace, or the perverseness of human depravity that would not obey the commandments? may be there would be more of us set aside, than have been prepared to reflect upon the subject. God grant that there might be many more, nay! as his mercy is infinite, that all might be summoned to the blessed places on the right. Whether we should be found a congregation of true believers, whose faith actuated our lives, or there would not be found ten righteous men among us, as of old in five cities, no

It

human tongue can tell; God alone knows those who belong to him; and man can hardly judge himself, much less a whole congregation of his neighbours. Yet of himself, and of his own conscience he can inquire, Am I walking in the way of God's law? am I doing what he would have me do? and avoiding what he would have me avoid? am I of those, whose acts of charity to my neighbour can be accepted as having been done for Christ's sake, and to Christ? And if in these things his heart condemn him not, then he will have confidence toward God; but if his heart condemn him, God is greater than the heart, and knoweth all things.

Here, then, is our danger, and to this point should our efforts be directed, that we may escape the condemnation of the wicked. You who are of threescore years, fast filling up the term of human life, and you who are of threescore years and ten, tottering on the brink of no untimely grave, must feel, that this scene of a last tribunal pictured in imagination

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