of honour that shall display, almost beyond all others, the riches of his glory ? O lift up your hearts to him, and pray, that at this time his grace may be magnified in you, and that you may be monuments of his love and mercy to all eternity. But perhaps with others the hour is come, when the measure of your iniquities shall be filled, and when, like Pharaoh, you shall be made signal monuments of God's wrath and indigna- tion. What a fearful thought ! The Lord grant that it may not be realized in any of you. But beware ! His mercy and forbearance will have an end ; and that end may be much nearer than you expect. Let not one hour more pass unim- proved : but " seek ye the Lord while he may be found, and call upon him whilst he is near."
As for you who have reason to hope that you are already vessels of mercy, O ! bless and praise your God. Remember, ye were taken from the same mass of clay, as others, who bear a very different shape. Remember, too, to whom you owe the distinction that has been conferred upon you. Had you been left to yourselves, you would have been in as degraded a state as any. It is God, and God alone, who has made you to differ, either from others, or from your former selves. Give him then the glory of his rich and sovereign grace, and seek daily to become more and more " vessels of honour, meet for your Master's usek."]
* 2 Tim. ii. 20, 21.