hitherto ? Are you at all more disposed for exertion now, than you were when first you were bidden to arise ? Ts your ability for God's service at all increased by deferring your attempts to serve him ? Have you not found, invariably, that procrastination has increased your difficulties, at the very time that it also enfeebled your powers ? Say not then any longer, ** There is a lion in the way," nor plead any longer for delay : but arise and call upon your God, if peradventure time may be yet afforded you to " work out your salvation," and to " flee from the wrath to come."]
Address —
1. Those who have never yet been avs^akened —
[Have you no work to do ? or is it a matter of small im- portance whether it be done or not ? Is not the present life the only time for doing it? " How long, then, wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep ?" Knowest thou not, that if thou sleepest on till this short life be past, thou wilt assuredly awake in hell ? What then shall I say to thee ? Shall I say to thee, as Christ did to his sleepy disciples, " Sleep on now, and take thy rest?" No: God forbid. Let me rather say, " Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light"\" Verily, if thou wouldst now, even now, call upon his name, it should not be too late. Whatever thou wantest, it should be given thee: he would give thee the light of truth to shine into thy heart ; the light of joy in his reconciled countenance ; the light of holiness to attest thine acceptance with him ; and the light of glory to perfect thy felicity. While ye have the light then, walk in the light, that ye may be the children of light.]
2. Those who, though in part awakened, are yet disposed to give way to slothful habits —
[This, alas ! was the case both with the wise and foolish virgins ; " they all slumbered and slept." But let me affec- tionately guard you against yielding to sloth. It is said, and the very best amongst us know the truth of it by bitter ex- perience, that " the idle soul shall suffer hunger"." Who has not heard of the vineyard of the sluggard, where, through in- attention, nothing was produced but nettles and thorns? To him is the same warning given as to the sluggard in the text". Guard then against the excuses which ye are ready to make. See the excuses made by the Bride in the book of Canticles ; how injurious to her welfare! how destructive of her peace i"! *' Watch ye then, and pray always." Had the disciples watched, when they were directed to do it by their Lord, they
™ Eph. V. 14. n Prov. xix. 15.
° Prov. xxiv. 30—34. p Cant. v. 2—7.