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equally in his eye, and who knew everything that was going on in the other as well as in this. And we may suppose that this knowledge, even the holy angels have, who are about his throne, and that this is the reason why they feel so intense an interest about us, as to rejoice over one sinner that repenteth."

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And from his having this knowledge of the two worlds, there is another consideration also, which must have been ever present to our Lord's mind, in a way that it cannot be to ours, viz., of the exceeding shortness of our mortal stay here on earth: for how extremely short must it appear to him who could see through eternity? For even to ourselves, ever as we grow older, time appears to get shorter and shorter, every year appears to pass quicker than the preceding, as our mind grows; whereas in childhood a year appeared very long, it is much shorter in manhood. And another reason why we do not perceive the difference between time and eternity is, because the minds of most of us are engrossed by passing interests and concerns; were the world quite shut out from our thoughts, the case would appear to us very different. The more we disengage ourselves from it, the more we pray and study the Scripture, the more do we come to understand the reality of our condition; the more do we come to judge of things according to the mind which was in Jesus Christ; and therefore to see more fully the meaning of his gracious and awful words.

What a tender consideration for others, what an earnest anxiety for ourselves should this thought produce in our minds? Even the rich man, when he came to know the reality of these great truths in the place of torment, was touched with a feeling of pity for those who were upon earth, throwing away their lives in the midst of such delusions. It was the first thought, next to that of his own sufferings, that moved his mind, in his for ever hopeless condition: "Then he said, I pray thee, father, that thou wouldest send Lazarus to my father's house; for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torVOL. II.-25

ment." And this should teach us not to deceive ourselves with the thought, that we have occasionally some good feelings of pity, for such we find that even this wretched man had in the place of lost spirits. But when we are brought to a true sense of things, let us not waste our feelings in a mere idle pity for others, but let us, while we have time, endeavor without delay to do them real good; by this only can we approach to the mind which was in Christ.

Our not having done so, not having actively and perseveringly done good to our Christian brethren is, our Lord has told us, the very thing which he will bring forward at last, as the reason why he will not admit those who will have at that time to knock in vain, he will say, "inasmuch as ye have not done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have not done it unto me." And the reason why this will be their condemnation may be this, that it is in God's sight the proof that they have never earnestly and sincerely received the gospel, and the terms of pardon contained in it, at all; for when a person does so, then the immediate and necessary consequence is, that together with an earnest fear respecting himself is a tender concern for others, first of all for those who are nearest to them, and then for all others. The first act of repentance will be ever as it was of old, "Zaccheus stood and said unto the Lord, behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give unto the poor; and if I have done any wrong to any man, I restore him four-fold." Indeed, a serious sense of our condition cannot but inspire us with this tender pity for all mankind when any one ventures to say to himself, "Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years," then such a thought immediately fills the heart with selfishness and selfish projects. But when the words of God himself to this foolish man sound in our ears, "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee :" or, "be ye also ready, for at such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh ;" then, indeed, instead of selfishness, and a hard heart, we become softened and subdued.

The thought that on so many who are busily engaged in the perishable concerns of the day, the door of life will so soon have closed, this is indeed a moving thought! But to think that many are so perfectly unconcerned at what happens beyond it, at the thought that they may find the door of heaven for ever closed against them, how much more moving is this thought to the Christian? What else is there in the world worthy of any serious regard, much less of any care or anxiety, than that we may be found safe at that awful hour; that nothing may be left undone which we shall then wish to have done? Surely, we should feel heartily ashamed of allowing anything else to trouble us but this one thing everything else we should cast aside as needless impertinences, as things which do not concern us, as matters of no real importance. We should practise ourselves to keep a constant and steady eye set on this one thing, allowing nothing whatever to divert us from this one purpose, weighing all things with respect to this one thing alone, taking care every day to do something to advance us forward on our road. As we read of Jesus Christ, that he "set his face steadfastly to go to Jerusalem;" so should we set our faces steadfastly to the heavenly Jerusalem, hoping for nothing, caring for nothing, fearing nothing, excepting only with regard to this one thing alone which is needful. If we would once do this, then we should begin to feel what it is to offend and displease him who is alone worthy to be feared: what it is to have forfeited his favor who alone is worthy of all our love: then we shall learn rightly to estimate the time we have wasted, and the time that we have worse than wasted: then we shall begin to consider how little time we have left, even at the longest, for so great a work. Then we shall perceive the greatness of our temptations, our exceeding weakness in the day of trial, and the reality of our danger: then we shall begin to see the magnitude of that prize for which we are contending; how terrible and irrecoverable the miscarriage if we fail: how fearful the thought to find ourselves on a sudden thrust without!

the door closed against us, and no place to turn unto but that bottomless pit from which there is no escape!

Let these terrible realities lead us betimes to take to heart the things that belong unto our peace, lest they should be for ever closed from our eyes: let us not dare to look back to the world while engaged in so great a work, lest that look cost us our immortal souls, remembering who it is that has told us to think of Lot's wife. Let us ever be mindful that we have enemies around us, very crafty, and very powerful, who know our weak points far better probably than we do ourselves, and who will never give over lying in wait for us till we are in our graves; never for one day can we be safe if left to ourselves. What words, therefore, can be more suitable for us, than the solemn prayer of our church; "of whom may we seek for succour but of thee, O Lord, who for our sins are justly displeased? Yet, O Lord God most holy, O Lord most mighty, O holy and most merciful Savior, deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death."

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SERMON LXVII.

CONSCIENCE, AN EARNEST OF THE LAST JUDGMENT.

PREACHED ON ADVENT SUNDAY.

1 St. JOHN iii. 20.

"If our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things."

THESE words refer to the great duty, the universal indispensable duty, of self-examination; and therefore they are well suited for our consideration, at this time of advent in particular.

For as the evening is the natural time for examining one's self concerning the past day, and forming good resolutions for the next, so is advent, concerning the past and the next year. The great day of judgment, the second coming of our Lord, begins now to be set before us, with all its terrible circumstances, foretold by himself; in order that we, truly judging and trying ourselves, may the more worthily keep our Christmas, the memory of his first coming; and not throw away that his unspeakable favor.

The

And this so much the more, as the world grows older, and we draw nearer our own latter end. According to the warning which you heard in the epistle to-day: "Now it is high time to awake out of sleep for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly as in the day." In this place the church urges us to consider advent as our morning twilight, as our preparation for the coming year. But as no one can rise up and go about his

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