conscience in seasons of sickness and reflection, and be brought home at last with penitential sorrow to their God. At all events, we have encouragement to hope, that " our labour for them shall not be in vain in the Lord ;" and that, though in some instances we should fail, it shall be found generally true, that, if we " bring up a child in the way he should go, when he is old he will not depart from it."]
That I may enforce the counsel in my text, I would beg you to consider,
1. The alternative that is here offered you —
[It is not "life" or annihilation, but "life or death;" not " a blessing, or a mere privation of good," but, " a blessing, or a curse." And have you ever thought what that " death" is, and what that "curse?" Oh! who shall declare what that " second death" is, in the lake that burnetii with fire and brimstone ; or what that " curse," which shall be there en- dured? Were annihilation, or eternal sleep, the alternative, you would at least have the consolation of knowing, that you would be unconscious of your loss : but, as you must live for ever, either in heaven or in hell, I entreat you to " choose that life," which shall be " at God's right hand, in pleasures for evermore0."]
2. The responsibility attaching to you for the privileges you enjoy —
[Our blessed Lord said respecting his hearers, " If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin : but now they have no cloak for their sinp." And may I not say the same to you? Doubtless, if you had the Gospel ministered unto you with less clearness and fidelity, you would have less to answer for, even as Sodom and Gomorrha had on this very account a lighter condemnation than Bethsaida and Caper- naum*1. It is certainly a great comfort to a minister to know that "he has delivered his own soulr." But it is a painful reflection to think, that the very means he has used for the salvation of his people, will in many cases only increase their guilt ; and the word he has spoken to them, instead of being to them a savour of life, will only be a savour of death to their more aggravated condemnation. Beloved, let me not have to appear in that day as " a swift witness against you," but rather have to present you to God as my children s, and possess you as " my joy and crown of rejoicing for evermore*."]
3. The nearness of the final issue —
0 Ps. xvi. 11. p John xv. 22. q Matt. xi. 20 — 24.
r Ezek. xxxiii. 8, 9. s Isai. viii. 18. * 1 Thess. ii. 19, 20.