malefactor on the cross, to encourage delay; that it is a startling consideration, that there may be no opportunity whatever for a death-bed repentance, because of sudden death, or a frenzied state of the mind; that such is the nature of repentance, as a great change in the soul, a change of its thoughts, views, prejudices, feelings, affections, and habits, that it seems impossible, except by miracle, to be a sudden change, and that also in a moment, when body and mind are oppressed with weakness, terror, and anguish; and that when it seems to take place on a death-bed, there is great reason to fear, that, like impressions which have been ineffectually made by dangers, afflictions, and other means, the appearance may be deceptive.

In view of all that has been said, let me ask, will any of you, who are conscious that you have neglected religion hitherto in the hope of a more convenient opportunity, like Felix, or with the secret self-flattery of a death-bed repentance, neglect it any longer? Consider what repentance is; it is the fullest and clearest act of the heart and soul, choosing that which is good, and refusing forever that which is evil. It is not a thing that you can grasp as a sudden expedient in extremity, but a reflecting entrance into a holy state of living, and a resting in it of choice; it is the settlement of the soul, with full satisfaction, in the abhorrence of sin, and the love of holiness, in utter aversion to vanity and sensuality, and delight in heavenly purity of heart and life. So great, and rational, and transforming a

work requires all of time and vigour, that you have remaining. Begin then, at once, this momentous work, in devout and humble reliance on the grace of God, for which you may now hope, but which you provoke him to withhold, if you delay to a dying bed. Give not your strength to sin and the world, but devote it to God and heaven. "It is foolish," says an old writer, "when the ship is sound, the pilot well, the mariners strong, and the gale favorable, to lie idle in the road, losing such seasonable weather; and when the ship leaks, the pilot is sick, the mariners faint, the storms boisterous, and the seas a mountain of raging waves, to launch forth on a long voyage, into a far country. Yet," he adds, "such is the skill of death-bed repenters, who neglect religion, in the soundness of health, and perfect use of reason, and yet feed themselves with the persuasion, that, when they are disordered with sickness, their understanding clouded, and their bodies and souls tormented with the pangs of a mortal disease, they will begin to think of the weightier matters, and become sudden saints, when they are scarcely able to conduct themselves as reasonable creatures." Save yourselves, my friends, from such folly and guilt. Loiter not in seed-time, and hope to sow, when others reap. Slumber not out the day, and then think to begin your journey, when the evening is come, and the light fails you. Live not a life of sin, and then hope for an eternity of purity and joy.

May God grant you his blessed spirit to convince

you

of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment to come, and seasonably and early may you obtain that repentance which is unto salvation, that you may be happily saved from the perils and pangs of that repentance, which comes too late.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward

men.

This day is the reputed birth day of the world's Saviour. Millions of our fellow Christians are this morning engaged in celebrating the great event with religious honors. The Roman and English churches celebrate it with great external pomp and ceremony; with splendid ornaments they deck the sanctuary; with loud anthems and animated chants and pealing organs, they testify their joy and gratitude to God on the great occasion, and with feasting and mutual gifts their sympathy and fellowship with one another. But the celebration is not confined to those ancient churches. Most of those who dissent from them in ceremonies and doe

trines, will gratefully distinguish the day, occurring as it does on the sabbath, and will pour forth their songs of thanksgiving to God for his unspeakable gift. And what event is there in all time, from the beginning of the world to the consummation of all things, which should excite a deeper interest or a livelier joy? It has a bearing on the highest welfare of all the generations of men; on their peace and happiness through time, and on their joy and glory in eternity. The great event was held in lively expectation for four thousand years. Patriarchs foresaw it in vision; prophets foretold it; types prefigured it; the legal economy shadowed it forth; prophets and kings and righteous men desired to see it, but died without the sight. But at length the day drew near which was to give the long expected Saviour to the world. The pious were waiting to see the consolation of Israel; him whom the prophet Haggai described as "the desire of all nations," And it is remarkable, that the expectation of an illustrious prince was not confined to the Jewish nation, who held in their hands the oracles, which predicted his coming, Probably those sacred scriptures, which had been translated into Greek three hundred years before Christ, had circulated in Egypt and other nations, and had served to excite this expectation, and Jews, scattered in different nations, had confirmed it. I remarked, the day at length drew near, and heavenly portents began to announce its approach. The devout Simeon had it revealed to him that "he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ." The angel Gabriel appeared to Zach