sciences, too, are the more seared and hardened ; and tlie more averse are they to he instructed in the way of righteousness. Besides, are we sure that so many years sliall be added to our lives ; or that, if they be, we shall be at all more disposed to serve God then, than w^e are at present ? Are Me sure that the Spirit of God, to whom we " do despite," will not at last depart from us, and give us up to final impenitence ?
Beloved Brethren, be persuaded, — whatever be your age, be persuaded, I say, — that the time past is abundantly sufficient for the course which you have followed. And now, without any further delay, begin to " work the works of God." Do you ask, " What is the Avork of God ?" I answer, as our blessed Lord did, " This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom he hath sent""." This is indeed the one great concern to which we should all attend. We are sinners, ob- noxious to God's wrath and eternal condemnation. But Jesus Christ is a Saviour : he is sent into the world on purpose to seek and save that which was lost. Do ye then go to h.im ; believe in him; implore mercy through him; cast yourselves upon him ; and " cleave to him with full purpose of heart." Let the time Avhich you have spent in the neglect of him be redeemed ; and your eflfbrts be the more vu-gent, in proportion to the time which you have lost. As for the baptized Hea- thens with whom you have associated, "come out from among them "," anol " no longer conform yourselves to their evil ways°." They will, as the Apostle tells you, "think it strange that you continue not to run with them to the same excess of riot as you formerly did ; and will speak evil of you on account of itP:" but be it so : if this be an occasion of grief to you, it should not be on your oM^n account, but on theirs ; for " they shall surely give an account to Him that is ready to judge both the quick and dead^;" and "their hard ungodly speeches, which they have spoken against you" for His sake, will be visited upon them to their everlasting confusion ^ Mind you yourselves : seek the salvation of your own soids, whether others will attend to their souls or not. Do not ye perish in Sodom, because your relatives mock at yoin* fear of God's judgments^: neither linger in the plain, lest the storms of God's vengeance overtake you: but be hi earnest: and " whatsoever your hand findeth to do, do it with all your might V]
■" John vi. 28, 2Q. " 1 Cor. vi. 17. " Rom. xii. 2.
P ver. 4. <» ver. 5. ' Jude, ver. 14, 15.
' Gen. xix. 14. ' Eccl. ix. 10.