ever arrive? More especially now that God's judg- ments are so visibly, and with such rapid strides, traversing the earth, and may, for aught we know, be even already at our doors ; who can tell, whether even a single day may be allowed you for repairing your present neglect, and for acquiring that renova- tion of soul which you so greatly need. Indeed, this is no timed for any of us to delay our preparation for death and judgment. On the contrary, the very circumstance of the proximity of danger, should give tenfold energy to our endeavours ; since, in the event of any sudden seizure, a consciousness of having experienced this change, would tend to tranquillize our minds, and, by disarming death of its terrors, to counteract the effect of disease itself, which would otherwise gather strength from the fears that were excited by it.
I mean not, however, to be an alarmist on these matters : but on the matters of eternity I am an alarmist, even as the Apostle Paul was ; and ". know- ing," as he did, " the terrors of the Lord, I would persuade men6 :" yes, I would persuade every one amongst you, old and young, rich and poor, learned and unlearned, to " flee from the wrath to come*,'' and to " lay hold on eternal lifeg." I ask every one here present, Is my text true, or is it not ? If it be true, what is it less than madness to waste the time now afforded you for obtaining the gift of God's Holy Spirit, and securing thereby the salvation of your souls ? It will be too late to repent, when we are taken hence, or to " ask for even a drop of water to cool our tongues h ;" when now, if we would but cry to God, we might obtain " rivers of living water1." Were we but in earnest, no soul amongst us should be suffered to seek this gift in vain. Our blessed Lord has promised his Holy Spirit to us ; yea, he has himself received this heavenly gift on purpose
d Nov. 13, 1831, when the cholera had actually begun to shew itself at Sunderland.
e 2 Cor. v. 11. f Matt. iii. 7. s 1 Tim. vi. 12.
h Luke xvi. 24. » John vii. 38.