which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God : but that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing ; whose end is, to be burned1." Ah ! think " how nigh the curse may be !" and how tremendous it will be, when it shall fall upon you ! You know what was said to the barren fig-tree ; "Cut it down: why cumbereth it the ground ?" And you also, though spared for the present, through the intercession of your Lord, must soon expect that doom, if you continue to make no return for all the labour bestowed upon youk.J
Application —
1. Improve, then, the opportunities which are yet afforded you —
[" The seed is sown on your hearts : look to it, that it be not taken away by Satan, ere the process of vegetation has taken place at all. Beware too, lest, if it spring up, it be not soon withered for want of root ; or, if it continue to grow, it be not choked by thorns, so as not to bring forth fruit to per- fection." Prepare your hearts, by meditation and prayer, before you come to the house of God : and when you have reeeived the good seed, harrow it in by a repetition of the same process : and bear in mind, that you are to requite the labours of cultivation, by bringing forth fruit, according to the measure of divine grace bestowed upon you1.]
2. Look forward to your great account —
[It is but a little time, and both you and I must give account of our stewardship : I, of my ministrations ; and you, of your improvement of them. If I have omitted to warn you, and you perish through my neglect, woe be unto me ; for " your blood will be required at my handsm." But if I have been faithful to my high calling, then shall I have the joy of presenting you to God ; saying, " Here am I, and the children thou hast given me11." O blessed day, if I may "have many of you as my joy and crown of rejoicing in that day0!" On the other hand, how painful is the thought, that against those who have not improved the opportunities afforded them, I shall "appear as a swift witness15;" and every sermon I have ever delivered will testify against you, to your confusion q. But let us hope that such shall not be the result of our meet- ing, my beloved brethren : no ; let me entreat you to give
1 Heb. vi. 7, 8. k Luke xiii. 6—9. ' Matt. xiii. 18—23.
'» Ezek. xxxiii. 8. » Isai. viii. 18. ° 1 Thess. ii. 19, 20.
P Mai. iii, 5. <J Deut. xxxi. 21.