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will present it "faultless before the throne of his glory with exceeding great joy."

We behold ourselves" compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses," even all that have gone before and obtained the promises: we endeavour to "run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of God." Prone to loiter or turn our feet astray, a sight of our glorious leader, whom no allurements could beguile, no difficulties hinder, inspires us afresh to gird up the loins of our mind," to lay aside every weight and the sin that doth so easily beset us," and, with sober steady perseverance, pursue the path which Jesus trod. Often through pursuing we are faint; weary and faint in our minds, our soul is discouraged because of the way, and we exclaim, I shall never hold out to the end. Jesus is then at hand to succour and sympathize with us, to strengthen and support us with the right hand of his righteousness: we hear him say, "Fear not, I am with thee... Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." And we are inspirited with fresh courage and zeal, to "press forward to the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

And while by the example of Christ we are animated to perseverance as a duty on our part, we are encouraged by the promise of it, as a covenant

blessing bestowed on his: he is able to keep us from falling, and he is engaged to do it. His gifts and callings are without repentance; he is "the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever;" whom he loves he loves to the end; he will never forsake the work of his own hands. We are "confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in us will perform it unto the day of Christ Jesus... Who shall separate us from the love of Christ ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that hath loved us." Strengthened by the Captain of salvation,

"The feeblest saint shall win the day,

Though death and hell obstruct the way."

Finally, We look to Jesus in expectation of his second coming. He who died and rose again, ascended to heaven in triumph, and shall assuredly so come again in like manner. Behold he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him on his great white throne, attended by his holy angels; and before him gathered all nations, kindred, tongues, and people, awaiting from his lips the dread irrevocable sentence that shall fix their doom in bliss unutterable or endless woe. Awful day! Yet even to this the. believer can look forward with smiling composure and humble confidence; for "unto them that look. for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." Believers are safe, for the Judge is their friend; he will never impute to them sins

which his own blood cancelled; he will never deny the evidences of holiness which his own Spirit. produced. This day, the thought of which fills the sinner with dread and horror, the Christian anticipates with joy and delight. "There is laid up for me," he exclaims, " a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but to all them that love his appearing."

Christians are characterized by this, they "love his appearing;" and well they may, for when he who is their life shall appear, they also shall "appear with him in glory." When he shall appear, they shall for ever have done with sin and sorrow; when he shall appear, they shall be like him, for they shall see him as he is, and praise him as they ought. "Surely" says the Saviour, "I come quickly;" and animated by prospects so glorious, well may our hearts beat in delightful unison. "Amen, even so, come, Lord Jesus."

But let it never be forgotten, hopes and prospects like these are the portion of the real Christian only. He must make the will of God his rule on earth, who would have the glory of God for his portion in heaven: it is only as we have looked with penitence and faith to Jesus as our Saviour, that we can look to him as our Judge with comfort and joy.

Oh might I hope that every one who now hears me were as willing to look to Jesus for salvation, as Jesus is willing to impart salvation to all who

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seek it of him. Whatever be your character, circumstances, age, or station, I invite you all this night to "look unto Jesus," and I find my warrant in his holy word; "And the Spirit and the bride say, come; and let him that heareth say, come; and let him that is athirst come; and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

Ye young, "look unto Jesus;" he will not deny you the blessings ye seek, for he loves them that love him, and those that seek him early shall find him.

Dear little children, "look unto Jesus," he will not reject you; for these are his gracious words, "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

Aged sinner, "look unto Jesus;" even now he will not refuse your prayer. He is able to save, even at the eleventh hour.

Ye middle aged, turn aside from the busy, distracting, unsatisfying cares and pursuits of this world, and "look unto Jesus;" he will accept you, for "him that cometh" he "will in no wise cast out." "For as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so is the son of man lifted up, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life." Look then unto him, "and be saved, all ye ends of the earth."

SERMON V.

PREDICTIONS OF MOMENTOUS EVENTS.

MATT. XXIV. 25.

Behold, I have told you before.

To penetrate into the secrets of futurity seems to be a passion natural to the human mind, and has on many persons so great an influence, as to lead them to the most foolish and unlawful means to gratify it. Hence every vain and wicked pretender to a knowledge of future events, has been sure to find some persons weak and deluded enough to give heed to his fables, and ascribe to him superior degrees of sagacity and skill. We are apt to imagine that could we foresee the future course of things, we should better arrange our plans and our conduct; but in general the reverse appears to be the case. A knowledge of futurity instead of fitting us for future events, would much more probably unfit us for present duties, and imbitter sent enjoyments:

blindness to the future wisely given, That each may fill the circle mark'd by heaven.'

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