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It is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." Soon the short term allotted you on earth will close; and with it all the pleasures, hopes, and prospects, which now so much delight you. This we mention, not to make you gloomy, but to make you thoughtful-to apprize you of what you must know in order to be safe, and what you must experience in order to be happy. Be assured, you are neither happy nor safe while walking in the counsel of the ungodly, and in the imaginations of your own heart. In proof of this, you need but appeal to what passes in your own breasts. You enjoy neither security nor solid peace without an interest in the Saviour, and unless you give him your hearts and resolve to walk in his ways. And what should hinder? Is there not wisdom in this resolve? Yes; the truest wisdom, and the best satisfaction. But there is the strength of youthful lusts; the vanity of a proud heart; the folly of an unfurnished mind; the influence of trifling companions; the fear of singularity; the love of pleasure, rather than the love of God;- these are the fatal barriers against the welfare of the soul; these are the ruin of thousands, and will be the ruin of you, unless you earnestly implore the saving grace of God, and wrestle hard in the all-sufficiency of his strength. Happy indeed for you, if with this closing hour, you close your course of sin; if henceforth you forsake the broad way which leadeth to destruction, and choose decidedly to walk in the narrow way

which leadeth unto life!

Lastly. The Impenitent are seriously warned.To you, the unchangeable perfections and perpetual life of Christ are facts affording no comfort. Live in the rejection of the Saviour, and persist in

sin, but know that "the Lamb of God" is the Lion of the tribe of Judah!" In him centres not only the most amiable meekness, the tenderest compassion and love, but unbounded authority, almighty power, and inflexible truth! He holds forth now the sceptre of his mercy, he invites you to his arms, he opens to you his heart-" Come, and I will give you rest.” He urges you to submit to his gentle government, and yield to his easy service; but if you obstinately refuse and rebel, his language will be— "Those mine enemies, who would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me."

It is most wisely ordained, in the plan of human redemption, that the Saviour is the Judge of men. "The Father judgeth no man; but hath committed all judgment unto the Son." "God hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ." Now, remember, you "that know not God, and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ;" your present Witness will be your future Judge! The compassionate Saviour, whom you now slight and despise, will pronounce your final irrevocable sentence; and who shall annul it? On such as you, "The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance." He shall come "in his glory, and in the glory of his Father," omnipotent, at once to save and to destroy! To them on his right hand he will say, "Come, ye blessed!" but to those on his left, "Depart, ye cursed!" And forget not, He is "the same," and his " years shall not fail." To the countless ages of eternity your doom is settled, because the righteous Judge is fixed in his purpose, and immutable in his perfections!-May these awa

kening truths be duly considered, and rest on your minds with solemn weight! Think on your state; realize your danger; and while there is hope, flee from wrath, to the only Refuge! Forsake your sins, and lay hold of Christ! "He that believeth shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be lost."

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SERMON XXVI.

THE CHRISTIAN MINISTER'S JOY.

3 JOHN 4.

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

THE Epistles of the New Testament are a valuable part of the inspired Scriptures. They were written on different occasions, and sent to various persons. Some are called "general" Epistles, because addressed to professing Christians, wherever they might be "scattered abroad;" as the two Epistles of Peter, and that of James. Others are directed to particular churches, to distinct religious societies; as that to the church at Rome and Galatia. Others again are addressed to individuals; as those of Paul to Timothy, and these two, the Second and Third Epistles of John; the former, to an honourable and pious female, the latter to a respectable and beloved friend. To this friend, John directs the Epistle from which the text is selected.

His name was Gaius, but whether the same as is mentioned in other parts of the New Testament is not certain. We read of one person of this name in the

Acts of the Apostles, who is called, "Paul's companion in travel:" he accompanied him in some of his journeys, was with him in his labours and trials. Paul mentions, when writing to the Romans, "Gaius mine host;" and speaks of him as a person of much hospitality and kindness, both to himself and "the whole church." Whether this Gaius to whom John wrote, was the same or not, he was certainly of a similar disposition and character. He is mentioned with honourable respect in the words immediately following the text: "Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; which have borne witness of thy charity before the church." John was now advanced in years: hence he calls himself "the elder," and begins his letter thus: "The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth;" not in appearance only, but truly, and in the best bonds of the Gospel. The health of this esteemed friend seems to have been impaired, and in those times of persecution, he had probably suffered loss in his temporal circumstances; hence the Apostle breathes an earnest wish, and fervent prayer; " Beloved, I wish above all things," or concerning all things, in every respect, "that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." If many professors of religion were to prosper in their health, and worldly affairs, only as their "soul prospereth," would it not be ill with them? Would not poverty and sickness lamentably prevail? The soul of Gaius, however, was in a healthy condition; and the Apostle could desire nothing better in his behalf, he could pray for nothing with greater propriety, than that in all things it might be well with him, even as his soul prospered.

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