to bring us to the possession of it. We speak not now of those who are yet " in darkness and the shadow of death/' but of those who have been " brought out of darkness into marvellous light :" yes, to the greater part of them is this reproof pre- eminently due. Let it only be considered how "slack" the professors of religion almost universally are in the pursuit of heaven ; how slack, I say,
1. In reading the Scriptures —
[The sacred volume contains, not only the will which makes over to us the grant of this inheritance, but the title- deeds themselves, yea, a map also of the whole estate, a descrip- tion of every thing that is valuable in it, and clear directions for securing to ourselves the everlasting possession of it. Now I would ask, What would be our employment, if such a docu- ment were put into our hands in reference to an earthly inheritance ; especially if we were called to make out our title to it, and our ultimate enjoyment of it depended on proofs to be adduced from the records themselves ? Should we not diligently apply ourselves to those records without loss of time ? Should we not call in professional aid, and use every possible effort to establish our right ? Should we find ourselves at ease whilst the issue of our exertions was doubtful ? or should we waste our time in unprofitable pursuits, and thereby endanger the ultimate loss of our property through the craft and subtlety of an envious adversary ? We all know how we should feel and act on an occasion like that. But how do we act in re- ference to the inspired volume? ([ speak not of those who entirely neglect the Bible; their conduct speaks loudly for itself: I speak of those who do occasionally read the Scrip- tures.) Do we search that blessed book with half the interest that we ought ? Do we mark every thing in it that can assist us either in discovering our title to heaven, or in securing the attainment of it ? Let us ask ourselves, whether we do not often find less interest in it than in a common newspaper ? and, though for conscience sake we read a portion of it every day, we find it oftentimes only a dead letter, and a sealed book, from whence we derive no real benefit. Does not this then shew how justly the reproof of " slackness" may be applied to us ?]
2. In prayer —
[Prayer is that which brings down aid from above, and tends, more than any thing else, to the furtherance of the work of God within us. But O ! what a poor, cold, formal ser- vice is prayer in general, even among those who profess to be looking for the enjoyment of heaven ! But, what if we were