4thly. Let all take the alarm, and awake to righteousness, lest the wrath of God come upon them to the utmost.

Let saints arise and trim their lamps. They should ever be greatly engaged in laying up a treasure in heaven, that they may reap a rich harvest, a great and glorious reward. Their redemption is now nearer than when they first believed; hence, they should give all diligence to make their calling and election sure. The present, especially, calls for extraordinary exertions and zeal in the cause of the Redeemer. The Lord Jesus is doing great and wonderful things for Zion. In a very special manner is he blessing the exertions of his people, and enlarging the borders of his glorious kingdom. And is this a time for his people to sleep? Let them awake, be up and doing, and not tarry to make excuses, but prepare to meet the bridegroom.

Let impenitent sinners awake, and speedily flee to the mountain of safety. Have they not folded their hands together long enough, crying, "Yet a little sleep, a little slumber." It is now almost impossible to awaken some, and will they yet sleep? Are they determined not to see, till the light of eternity opens their eyes? Will they turn away from the light, gleaming and bursting upon their sight from the divine pages of the gospel! Yonder, methinks, I see the Saviour with very solemn but cheerful looks. What heartfelt expressions flow from his lips! Rise, sinner; he calleth thee. Come, O come to Jesus. "The Spirit and the Bride say come. Let him that heareth, say come. And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely." If any will yet sleep, it must be for their own cost. But awake, thou that sleepest, arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee life. Awake to righteousness; lay up for yourself a treasure in heaven, that your soul may live, and for ever feast and rejoice with the innumerable com

pany of the redeemed at the great marriage supper of the Lamb.

Awake to a sense of your dignity and momentous responsibility. Do not imagine that you are a being but one grade above the animal creation; for your immortal soul exalts you far above them; yea it renders your existence of infinite worth. Then think and act as becometh your dearest, present, and eternal well-being and thus you will prepare to be an inhabitant of the celestial regions. Be awake whilst in health, to the importance of your preparing for sickness and death; and go the word of God continually, that you may see the wisdom of, striving with your utmost efforts for those varied, those exalted and eternal glories which through grace are to be the recompense of the just.

Reader and hearer, be not only admonished by inferiour creatures to provide for the future, but let the glorious, principalities of the heavenly world, let the dignified powers and blessed station of angels, and the exalted felicity of saints in glory, excite and emulate you in the ways of righteousness, and in all the duties of self-denial, that you may be made conquerors over sin and Satan, and be crowned with glorious immortality. Would you be emulous for an honourable, though temporal station, on this foot-stool of heaven? Aspire then for a holy habitation with superiour beings, and for the grandeur, not of feeble men, but of your God. Amen.

SERMON IX.

CONNEXION OF OBEDIENCE AND BLESSINGS.

MARK III. 5.

Stretch forth thine hand.

ALL the ways of God are perfect and right, whether man be reconciled to them or not. He is the Lord and Sovereign of the universe, and all his intelligent creatures are bound to render implicit obedience to all his commands; for no one of them is unreasonable. Both the general laws and positive precepts of the supreme Ruler are such as are worthy a Being supremely wise and good. Notwithstanding there is a controversy between the supreme moral Governour, and his rebellious subjects on the earth, his foot-stool. Their language is, His ways are hard and grievous; not suited to the state and condition of weak and erring mortals. But says the Lord, "Come now, and let us reason together. Are not my ways equal? and are not your ways unequal?" In the most tender compassion he condescends to reason with men, even the rebellious, who find fault with his ways, and call him a hard master.

The words of the text with those in connexion, are an interesting narrative, and serve to show both the depravity of the human heart, and the benevolence of God towards man. "Jesus entered into the synagogue; and there was a man there, which had a withered hand. And the Pharisees watched him whether he would heal him on the Sabbath day; that they might accuse him. And

he saith unto the man, which had the withered hand, Stand forth. And he said unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life or to kill? But they held their peace. And when he looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out; and his hand was restored whole as the other."

By this miraculous restoration at the effort of the man, we are taught that human exertion in obedience to the divine command, is a means of obtaining blessings from God. The subject will be illustrated with considerable variety.

1st. Domestick and temporal concerns.

The conduct of mankind in secular life, may serve to illustrate and evince the necessity of human activity, to obtain what are denominated the common blessings of Providence. The comforts and conveniences of life are not obtained by idleness and sloth; but by industry and diligence. The earth would not yield her increase in such rich profusion, were it not cultivated by the hand of man. There must be ploughing and sowing, harvesting and ingathering, that the wants of her numerous inhabitants may be supplied. Not only activity, but times and seasons are to be observed, for committing seeds to the earth, and for gathering her precious fruits. Hence, the husbandman at a suitable time casts forth seed, then patiently waits for the early and latter rain, and in due season reaps a rich harvest, as a reward of his labours.

The earth is a vast and inexhaustable storehouse, from which, by proper means and exertions, the whole human family may derive the necessaries of life. But without human effort, only a small portion of the globe could subsist. Even in Paradise Adam was to till the ground; and since the fall, human labour is necessarily increased. After the flood the promise was made, "While the earth

remaineth, seed time and harvest, cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." But this does by no means imply, that should mankind fold their hands together as the sluggard, and call for a little more sleep, that the earth would spontaneously abound with all her productions, and lavish on man her choicest goods. It is designed as an encouragement for human exertion. And, in similar circumstances, where a people are the most industrious and economical, there the good things of this life are enjoyed in the greatest profusion. All nature teems with life and activity; and to the slothful, her voice of admonition is, "Go to the ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways and be wise." and be wise." As it is true, that without the blessing of God, in giving fruitful showers and the genial influence of the sun, the labours of man would be vain, so is it equally true, that in the constitution of natural things, we may be led to see the necessity of human activity, to obtain what are denominated the common blessings of Providence. 2dly. Individual prosperity in earthly good things, is connected with human activity.

It is true, that riches are distributed by the hand of Providence, whether mankind be born to affluence, or whether they acquire wealth by the means of their labours. It is also a matter of fact, that the industrious do not always become wealthy, nor that riches are always to men of understanding. But still, we often see this truth verified, that" idleness will clothe a man with rags; but the hand of the diligent maketh rich."

Property is generally acquired by the use of means; either by bodily or mental exertions, and frequently by both. Some, by persevering labour and an enterprising spirit, not only obtain a competence, but accumulate great riches. Persons in want, are convinced that human activity is the proper means to relieve their necessities. Such may trust in Providence; but this is only by looking to