reference to our souls ? Are our souls of less value than our property, or the concerns of time than those of eternity? Are not the consequences of unwatchfulness sufficiently awfulc? And is not our real danger increased, rather than diminished, in proportion to our security d? To every one then who is unconcerned about his eternal state, and unprepared to meet his God, we address the reproof which even heathen mariners gave to a prophet of the Lord? "What meanest thou, O sleeper ? arise and call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon thee, and thou perish not6."]
2. The half-awakened —
[Pardon the term : it is but too appropriate to the states of many, who, if good wishes would carry them to heaven, would not come short of it ; but, when God calls them to run, and strive, and wrestle, and fight, will not exert themselves in the way that he requires. Nevertheless God's word is true ; " The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force :" " Many shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able :" none shall succeed but those who " strive." Guard then against the fate of the Foolish Virgins, who were not aware of their want of divine grace, till it was too late to obtain itf. Let the Apostle's exhortation sink down into your earsg, and adopt instantly the resolution of the prophet, " I will stand upon my watch-tower, and will watch to see what God will say to me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved11."]
3. The professing people of God —
[Think not yourselves above the exhortation in our text : " What we say unto some, we must say unto all, Watch." See what a caution our blessed Lord addressed to his own Apostles1: and then say, whether any caution can be too strong for you. Many who have appeared to run well, have turned back again ; and not a few have died without ever re- turning to the good way from which they have departed. Be ye then on your guard, " lest, having known the way of right- eousness, ye turn from the Holy Commandment delivered unto you." Beware of imitating the slothful conduct of the Spouse in Solomon's Song, lest, like her, you provoke your heavenly Friend to depart from youk. Watch unto prayer with habitual persevering earnestness1. You know the truths we have insisted on ; act therefore agreeably to them, and to
0 Matt. xxiv. 48 — 51. d 1 Thess. v. 3. Prov. vi. 9 — 11. e Jonah i. G. f Matt. xxv. 8 — 13.
g Rom. xiii. 11 — 14. h Hab. ii. 1.
1 Luke xxi. 34 — 36. k Cant. iii. 1 . and v. 2— G. 1 Eph. vi. 18.