salvation : the form of godliness, how far soever it may carry us, will profit us nothing at the bar of judgment, if we possess not the power of it. How awful then is the thought, that, in a few days or weeks, those persons who are most respected and revered amongst us for their wisdom and learning, for their probity and honour, may be called to give up their account to God, before they have attained that vital godliness which must constitute their meet- ness for heaven !
But indeed the uncertainty of life speaks loudly to the best of men ; it bids them to " stand upon their watch-tower," and be ready at every moment to meet their last enemy : for, as mere morality will profit little without real piety, so the lamp of outward pro- fession will be of no service, if it be destitute of that oil which God alone can bestow.
It is a matter of consolation to us, however, that some are prepared for death, however suddenly it may come.
II. Who they are, and what their character is, we now come to shew —
The Scriptures every where draw a broad line of distinction between the true servants of Christ, and those who are such only in name and profession. Thus, in the words before us, they are called " Chil- dren of the light and of the day," in opposition to those who are " of the night and of darkness." Doubtless this distinction primarily referred to their having been brought out of the darkness of heathen superstitions, into the marvellous light of the Gospel of Christ. But we must not suppose that it is to be limited to this. The ways of sin and ignorance are justly denominated darkness, no less than idolatry itself : and the paths of faith and holiness may be called " light," whether we have been brought into them suddenly from a state of heathenism, or gra- dually, under a profession of Christianity itself. Now of the Thessalonians he could say, in the judgment of charity, that " they all were children of the light