only by the loss of them. They enjoy a faithful ministry, but will not avail themselves of it, till " the candlestick is removal," and the privileges, which they have slighted, are withdrawn. The same is too often experienced by children who have neglected the admonitions of their parents, and servants who have disregarded the instructions of their masters. Happy they, who " know the day of their visitation," and " walk in the light before the night cometh !" To those indeed who die, it is comforting to know that they shall leave such a testimony behind them : but, when we consider the augmented guilt and misery of those who have slighted our admonitions, our sorrow for them preponderates, and turns our self-congratulations into tender sympathy and grief: for the greater our exertions were for their salvation, the more certainly shall we appear as swift witnesses against them, to increase and aggravate their condemnation.] Address —
What if God were now to issue the command to any one of us, " Go up to thy bed, and die?" how would it be received amongst us ? Should we welcome such an order ? Should we rejoice that the period was arrived for our dismission from the body, and for our entrance into the presence of our God? Such an order will assuredly be soon given to every one of us : the old and the young, the rich and the poor, those who have travelled all through the wilderness, and those who have but just entered into it, may have it said to them within a few hours, " This night is thy soul required of thee." But, however men might receive the summons, its consequences to them would be widely different, according as they were prepared, or unprepared, to meet their God. Think,
1. Thou who art regardless of thine eternal state — [Thou art now perhaps adorned in costly array, and filling some high station ; perhaps, if not crowned with a mitre, like Aaron, at least officiating at the altar of thy God. But thine honours and thine ornaments must all be laid aside ; and thine office, together with thy wealth, must be transferred to others. " Naked earnest thou into the world, and naked must thou go from it." But whither must thou go ? To heaven ? Alas ! persons of your description can find no admittance there. Thou wilt be excluded, like the foolish virgins, who had no oil in their lamps. O think, from what thou wilt be excluded : not from an earthly Canaan, but from heaven itself; and not, to be merely bereaved of good, but to bewail thy misery in hell