preparation to give up our account to God, and our hope of an approving sentence from the Judge of quick and dead? Let then the transitoriness of earthly things moderate our affection to them, that whether we attain and enjoy them, or lose and want them, we may still have God as our abiding and all-sufficient portion.]
Address —
1. The young and inexperienced —
[You are ready to imagine that some change in your cir- cumstances, to which you look forward, or perhaps which you rather wish for than expect, would make your cup to overflow with joy, and perfectly satisfy your most enlarged desires. But be assured that, if you could at this moment possess all that your heart can wish, you would be quickly constrained to confirm the testimony of Solomon, that it is " all vanity and vexation of spirit." Happy would it be for you if you could be prevailed upon to purchase your experience at the expense of others ; and not, like those who have gone before you, grasp at a shadow till you lose the substance. Ask those who are old and grey-headed, whether they have not found the world to be " a vain show, wherein men disquiet themselves in vain^?" And ask the godly in particular, whether they who fear God have not a truer enjoyment even of this present world, than the votaries of gain or pleasure ^ ? " Or rather we would say, attend to God's expostulation, and obey his voice ; " Where- fore do ye spend money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which satisfieth not ? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness^"]
2. Those who have grown old in the service of the world —
[Lamentable it is, that the very persons who have found the insufficiency of the world to make them happy, are still as regardless of the eternal world, as those who are just entering on the delusive path. If age or experience have blunted the edge of their feelings with respect to present things, they are as insensible as ever either of pain or pleasure from spiritual concerns : nor are they at all more stimulated to improve the time that remains to them, than if their eternal interests were of no value. Yea, age has often no other effect than to con- firm the errors, and rivet the prejudices, of their former years. Inquire, brethren, whether you have profited by your expe- rience ; and whether you be now " setting your affections on
•1 Ps. xxxvii. 6. '' 1 Tim. vi. 17. Matt. v. 5.
f Isai. Iv. 2.