The Apostle introduces our text with much solemnity. "But this I say, brethren.". What does he say?" THE TIME IS SHORT."— What more interesting could he say? There is a similar admonition in the 40th chapter of Isaiah "The voice said, CRY. And he said, What shall I cry ? ALL FLESH IS GRASS."

We will, first, illustrate, and, then, improve this serious thought.

1. The expression in the text is general, "Time," all time is short," compared with that incomprehensible duration, which is never to end.

Time is duration measured by the motions of the heavenly bodies, especially of the sun and moon, which are appointed for signs and seasons, for days and years. When these began their motion, time, in relation to this earth, began its existence. When they shall be plucked from their spheres, then time shall be no longer. Duration will continue; but it will be duration to which no measure can be applied. The little portion of time, which our system shall have occupied, will be lost in eternity.

This world has existed nearly six thousands of years; and it may continue to exist as many thousands more. The great scheme of the Creator in forming this globe, and placing man upon it, is far from being finished. The scripture foretells many interesting events and mighty changes, which are yet to be accomplished. When we consider the duration of this globe by itself, or in comparison with shorter periods, it seems long. Ten or twelve thousands of years is a duration which our minds cannot grasp They take it peacemeal. But still it is a duration, which will come to an end. One half of it is gone already: The rest will follow. Long as it may seem, it shrinks to a point, when eternity is placed by its side.

The revolutions of the sun, after awhile, will have completely measured off such a period. But all the rays, which, in that period, shall have been poured from the sun, in floods so constant and copious, as to fill millions and millions of leagues of space, will not be sufficient to count off the ages of eternity. Are we to exist in sucha duration as this? Is its commencement just before us? Will a few more revolutions of the sun-ah, perhaps a few more changes of day and night, bring us into it ?-How solemn the thought! How serious should we be in the contemplation of the grand and untried scene before us! How diligent in the execution of the business here assigned us!

2. Short is the time alloted to man in the present state of his existence.

The duration of the world is short compared with eternity. Inconsiderable is the life of man compared with the duration of the world. Solomon observes, "One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; but the earth abideth forever," or continueth for ages; we know not how many. There is a similar expression in the 104th Psalm. "God hath laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed forever." This is intended to signify, not its absolute perpetuity in the present form; but its permanence and stability compared with its mortal inhabitants. For in a preceding Psalm it is said, "Of old God hath laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of his hands. They shall perish; but he shall endure -Yea, all of them shall wax old as a garment, and as a vesture shall they be changed; but he is the same, and of his years there is no end."

In the early ages of the world, the life of man was extended to nearly a thousand years. But this term seemed short to those, who reflected, that man was made to be immortal; to dwell on earth till he was

satisfied with life, and then, by an easy transition, to enter into a happier paradise. Alluding to the introduction of death by the apostacy, and to the longevity of the first generations Moses says, "Thou turnest man to destruction, and sayest, Return, ye children of men. For a thousand years are, in thy sight, but as yesterday, when it is past, and as a watch in the night." Moses here expresses the sentiments, which in that early period, mankind would naturally entertain of human frailty. A life of a thousand years seems long to us, who seldom hear of one that lives a tenth part of that time. But to those among whom death had but recently obtained dominion, and who, after six or seven generations had come on the stage, began to see their aged people dropping into the dust, a thousand years were but as yesterday, when it is past.

In the time of Job, the age of man was much reduced: But probably, then, it was was three times its present length. Yet in what diminutive terms he speaks of it. "Man that is born of a woman, is of few days and full of trouble; he cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down; he fleeth as a shadow, and continueth not." What similitudes shall we find to represent its shortness now? David has chosen the best, "Thou hast made my days an handbreadth; mine age is nothing before thee. Verily every man at his best state, is altogether vanity."

Moses says, "The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away." But there are few who reach to this term. It is computed, that one half of the human race die under the age of twenty years. The youth of twenty is then to consider himself as middle aged; and the man of forty to view himself as aged. How short is human life

compared with the duration of the world! How ma ny generations of mortals have risen and disappeared, since our race began! From the creation to the flood, there were ten. From the flood to Abraham about as many more. From him to the birth of

Christ four times that number. Since Christ's time there have probably been nearly as many, as there were before. How rapid is the human succession ! If revelation had not opened to our view a future existence, what answer could be found to the Psalmist's complaint? "Remember, O Lord, how short my time is. Wherefore hast thou made all men in

vain?"

3. Short as our time now appears, there is another light, in which it will appear shorter still.

There are some who are dead, while they live. If we measure our life, not by the suns which roll over us, the nights which we sleep, and the meals which we eat, but by our moral, rational, useful existence, it will be reduced to a much shorter term, than what we usually compute. If we deduct from the time of life the infant years of incapacity, the youthful years of vanity, the aged years of inactivity, the hours which daily pass in indolence and slumber, the seasons of folly and trifling which are utterly lost, and the time which is worse than lost, and must be redeemed by repentance, how little is there left?

4. Time is short in comparison with the estimate which we make of it in youth.

Job, in the days of his youth, when his glory was fresh in him, said, "I shall die in my nest; I shall multiply my days as the sand." But reviewing life in the time of affliction, he said, "My life is wind; it is consumed away as a cloud." In youth we look forward with eager expectation of many years to come, and with impatient desires of many pleasures to be enjoyed. When we have reached old age

which once appeared remote, we are surprised that we have reached it so soon. The intervening years seem scarcely to have existed. They are gone, we - know not how. The youth raises to himself flattering prospects, and longs to push forward that he may sooner realize them. He thinks little of disappointment, disease and death. The aged man has made a trial of life, and by experience has learned what it is. He has been deceived in his earthly expectations; and it is now too late to hope for pleasures below.

When a youth hears the aged talk of the shortness and vanity of life, he considers them as speaking the language of gloominess and impatience. In contempt of such sober lectures, he expects to live many years, and rejoice in them all. If he sees a gay companion cut down in the bloom of life, he reflects that such instances are unfrequent, and flatters himself, that a better lot is reserved for him. To convince him that his time is short, let him look back on the years already past. From the speed with which these have flown, he may form some imperfect conception, how short his future when they are past.

years will

seem,

Our apprehensions of time past, and time future, are, in all stages of life, very different.

One cause of this difference is the different employment of our thoughts with respect to the past and the future.

We have always something in prospect. We form designs for months and years to come. We meditate on the supposed success and happy issue of these designs; on the means to effect them; on the accidents which may defeat them; on the measures to prevent or counterwork these accidents.While our minds are full of these projections and