ing to the ability which God has given me, I have " ministered unto you faithfully the Gospel of Christ," " not keeping back any one thing that would have been profitable unto you." You therefore have much to answer for. And the words which have been spoken to you, " if they be not unto you a savour of life unto life, will be unto you a savour of death unto death." Yes, much as I have desired to save your souls, I shall be " a swift witness against you in the day of judg- ment," if you do not truly turn to God, and devote yourselves unfeignedly to his service. I pray you let not our meeting at the judgment-seat of Christ be so fraught with sorrow to our souls ; but now make a suitable improvement of what ye hear, that I may have you as " my joy, and crown of rejoicing, in that day."]
2. Of advice — [Let the dealings of God with mankind be treasured up in your minds. They are designed to teach you what you yourselves may expect at his hands. You may see in his judgments, what the impenitent shall endure ; and you may see in his mercies what the penitent shall enjoy. Belshazzar himself may be a lesson to you, if you will not attend to other and more encouraging instructions. He was a powerful mon- arch ; yet his greatness could not screen him from the wrath of an avenging God. " That very night was king Belshazzar slain." Had he humbled himself at that moment, who can tell but that he, like his father, might have been spared to be a monument of God's saving grace to all eternity? Delay not ye, my beloved Brethren, to obey the heavenly calling ; lest death arrest you also, and it be too late. " To-day, whilst it is called to-day, harden not your hearts ; but now that ye know all this, turn to the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, and seek for mercy through him, as the propitiation for your sins." " To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sine." But, "if ye know these things, then happy are ye, and happy shall ye be, if ye do themf."]
e Jam. iv. 17. f John xiii. 17.