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and his righteousness, all these things shall be added to you, for godliness hath the promise of this life, as well as of that which is to come. Were you sure therefore of living a great many years, it would be your best and wisest way to come to God in your youth and seek his blessing, which maketh rich, and addeth no sorrow therewith.

Let the little children come to Christ, for it will render all safe for eternity. I said, if you were sure of living a long life, it would be best to begin religion early; but you are not sure of becoming old you may soon be cut off, many as young as you die. Now if death were to come and take you soon, how happy a thing would it be that you were ready to die; having come to Christ, and found pardon, peace, and salvation from him. Death cannot hurt you, if you be found in Christ; but will ensure heaven to you; to live is Christ to you, and to die is gain; for if Christ blesses you, you are blessed for ever.

Let the little children come to Christ, for else they are under the dominion of Satan, and will perish for ever. They are by nature children of wrath, and there

is no way of escaping it but by Christ: you are under the power of Satan, and there is no way of getting free, but by the help of Christ: there are many temptations and sins will attack you; there is no defence against them but the power of Christ. If you do not seek him, Satan will seek you, and will keep you. If you do not come to Christ now, in repentance, and faith, you must one day come, and stand before him in judgement. You must receive at his hand, either mercy or vengeance: choose which; choose at once. Come now to the Lord Jesus Christ, little child as you are; he will receive you, and bless you, and keep you through life, and accept you in death, and give you then to know more fully, what he means, when he says, Of such is the kingdom of heaven.

HYMN.

THOU glorious Jesus, Saviour see,

Invited by thy grace,

My soul consents, I come to thee,
And humbly seek thy face.

Wilt thou a little babe receive,
Nor frown away a child?
Wilt thou a heart repentant give,
Humble, and pure, and mild?

Lord will thou listen when I cry,
And hear my feeble pray'r;
And bring thy great salvation nigh;
And grant my soul a share.

Behold I come, my heart I give,
I would be only thine;
Let me thy righteousness receive,
Let pardoning love be mine.

I come to claim thy proferr'd grace,
To children freely given:

Let me behold thy smiling face,

And dwell with thee in heaven.

U

XII.

THE DIFFERENT STATES OF MEN IN THE NEXT WORLD.

Matthew xxv. 46.

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment; but the righteous into life eternal.

If we were to live only in the present world, perhaps it would not be so easy to convict the sinner of folly; especially the mere worldling, who is free from gross vices. If one man should choose to say, I am determined to get rich; and another, I am resolved to be famous! or a third, give me good wine and I am content; or should I take a little too much I

do not care :-and do you, if you like it best, fast and pray. We should certainly pity the poor creatures who had so low a taste; but we might perhaps own, that every one will be happiest to have what he likes best: and we might let them alone, on the same principle that permits the sow to wallow in the mire, because the mud pleases her. If men are indeed to live after death, in another world, and live for ever too: and if, as is indeed the case, living in sin and sensuality, will ruin us as to the world to come; then. do sensualities and sins appear to be not foolish merely, but very dangerous, and destructive.

In the present world, sinners are mixed with saints; and therefore do not so much feel the difference. If no man who was a sinner could get rich, or could show his face among the learned or polite; if every man who was guilty of vice, was to be scouted from good company; they would feel the evil of sin more than they do. But while men even of bad lives are borne with, are caressed, can be rich, enjoy honours, and perhaps are in high repute while such a man is received in the city, and enjoys his place in his fa

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