us.

Secondly, as addressed to public judgments. Thus we are principally to understand the passage before The people spoken of were ripe for ruin: God therefore calls for the executioners of his wrath to cut them down. Thus it was with the people of Canaan, when their iniquity was full; and Joshua and his army were the reapers. Thus it was with the Jews themselves: and Nebuchadnezzar was called in to punish them; and afterwards the Romans to destroy them. Thus it has been with many nations since. And thus it has been with many a community, even in our own times. The work was soon done for the reapers were the Lord's; and the fields were fully ripe-Are we in danger? We have reason for apprehension, if we estimate our condition by our guilt, and our guilt by our privileges. Let us not be highminded, but fear. God can never be at a loss for instruments. He can mingle a perverse spirit in the midst of us. He can take wisdom from the prudent, and courage from the brave. Hearts, events, elements, are all his. He has a controversy with us; and, by menacing dispensations, seems to say aloud, Cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? But these threatenings are mercifully conditional. "At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and pull down, and to destroy it; if that nation against whom I have pronounced turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them." May we hear, and fear, and turn unto the Lord-and he will leave a blessing behind him, that we perish not.

Thirdly, as addressed to the messengers of deathaccidents, diseases, whatever can bring us to the grave. This regards us individually. Whatever be the des

tiny of the nations, we know our own destiny: old or young, rich or poor, it is appointed unto us, once to die-This is the way of all the earth.-But when are people ripe for this removal hence?

It is certain that sin ripens the transgressor for hell. But when he is ripe, it is not easy to decide. The most grossly and openly vicious are not always the most guilty before God. We see a profligate wretch, and deem him ripe for ruin; and wonder he is not cut down-when, perhaps, though not immoral, we ourselves are much more criminal in the sight of Him who judgeth righteously. He, perhaps, never had our advantages; and was pressed by severer temptations than we ever knew. If asked, therefore, when a man is ripe for destruction, we acknowledge we cannot determine. But it must be wise to beware; and to keep from every approximation to such a dreadful state. Surely when a man is insensible under the word; and incorrigible under the rebukes of Providence; and his conscience ceases to reprove; and he can turn divine things into ridi cule; he must be, as the Apostle says, "nigh unto cursing."

Holiness ripens the saint for glory. But here, again, when he is matured and made meet for it we cannot ascertain. Actions strike us: but some have few opportunities for exertions; and yet they have much of the life of God in their souls. We should think favourably of a man in proportion as he was dissatisfied with himself; and esteemed the Lord Jesus; and relied upon him; and was anxious to resemble him; and acknowledged God in all his ways. However, the Lord knoweth them that are his, and them that are not his; and he chooses the most proper

time to remove them: the wheat for the barn; and the chaff for the burning. But the end of all things is at hand. And,

Fourthly, God thus addresses his angels at the last day. When this mandate will be given is uncertain. But we are as sure of the event as we are ignorant of the period. And then shall the Son of man come in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Then cometh the end. Then all will be ripe. His purposes will be accomplished. His promises and threatenings will be verified. Time itself will be no longer. The earth will be cleared of all the produce; and the very fields in which it grew will be destroyed. "The field is the world; the good seed are the chil dren of the kingdom: but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear."

Let him hear this. tinually said! And how are One says, this is excellent; portant. But if you would know what is the real value of these things, bring them to the standard— bring them to the great day! How do they abide this trial?

How many things are conwe to judge of them? another, this is all-im

"Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless." If you say, "All this is far off, and many things must be previously accomplished," remember you cannot say this of death-there is but a step between you and death. How soon, therefore, may all the prophecies be fulfilled and the world be at end, with you! And as death leaves you, judgment will find you. Many who once had the warnings are now in possession of the facts. Could we ask them-now they have entered the eternal world by death, and are waiting for the judgment to come-Is there one of them that would not bear his testimony to the importance of every Sabbath, and every sermon, with which you are favoured? Is there one of them that would say, "While I was living, the preacher was too close, and too alarming?" Rather would he not say, "Why was he not more in earnest ?-And oh! wretch that I was, to disregard his voice-and come into this place of torment!"

AUGUST 6.-MORNING.

"I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do."

JOHN xvii. 4.

THIS work was the redemption of the Church. It was no secular purpose that brought him into the world. He came not to act the merchant, the philosopher, the statesman, much less the warrior; but to be the Redeemer of Sinners. And "in him we have redemption through his blood."

For to him was the execution of this work intrusted

-It was "given him to do." Great undertakings require great qualifications and abilities. And here was an enterprise to which all the angels in heaven, though they excel in strength, would have been found inadequate. But help was laid on One that is mighty. He had everything that could fit him for the work. It was necessary that he should be human, bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh; and "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." It was necessary that he should be innocent; and "he did no sin;" "he was manifested to take away our sin, and in him was no sin." It was necessary that he should be voluntary, for there is no value in undesigned or constrained actions; and he made himself of no reputation, he laid down his life of himself, he loved us and gave himself for us. It was necessary that he should be divine, his divinity was required to sustain his humanity, and to add value to his doings and sufferings; and "in him dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."

He therefore fully accomplished this work, and could say "I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do." Yet how was this true? For though his active as well as passive obedience was included in his engagement, and though he lived the man of sorrows for us, yet without shedding of blood there was no remission; and it was by the sacrifice of himself that he made an end of sin, and brought in everlasting righteousness: but as yet he had not agonized in the garden, nor died on the cross. We answer; the thing was as good as done-It was near at hand-It was absolutely certain. Purpose and fulfilment are the same with God. Hence the language of prophecy and promise announces things