and futility of all its former hopes. Now it sees how erroneous were its views of sin, and its conceptions of true religion. Now it sees that the representations which God had given in his word were true. The self-deceiver now can no longer doubt to what an end his former ways were leading, or whither they will come who follow the paths he trod. To indulge a wish for another period of probation, or even for the smallest mitigation of his misery, now were vain. Gladly would he go back for a moment to the world he has left, to warn his surviving friends, lest they also come into the same place of torment : but that cannot be admitted. The sacred volume is given them for their guide ; and if they will follow their own delusions in preference to it, they must abide the consequences. Now despair and anguish seize hold upon him ; and he is delivered up a prey to all those horrors, which once he ridiculed as idle tales.
Would we avoid this awful end, let us turn from the paths that lead to it. Let us remember, that the assertions of men, however confident, are of no value, any further than they are founded on the word of God. Let not their light thoughts of sin lead us to tamper with it, or to doubt its issue. Let not their excuses for rejecting Christ prevail on us to neglect his great salvation. Rather, let us embrace him, and glory in him, and cleave to him with full purpose of heart. Let not their standard of religion be ours : let us go " unto the word and to the testimony :" let us see how Christ and his Apostles walked: and though we be ridiculed as precise and righteous over-much, let us persevere in following the path of duty. Let us " stand," as the prophet speaks, " and ask for the good old way, and walk therein." Let us seek instruc- tion wherever we can find it: and let us remember, that the broad and frequented path is, according to our Lord's express declaration, a way that leadeth to destruction ; but that the path to life is narrow, dif- ficult, and unfrequented ; for " few there be that find it." In short, let us look forward to the e/id of our journey. At tha/ we shall soon arrive ; and then it