The rocks and even the trees look down on many generations. And in all the bnstle and battle, in all the pursuits and pleasures of our life, the little time we have hastens away and is gone far sooner than we thought it would go. It is not only our poetry th,1t sings, hut our experience that testifies of the swiftness of our course beneath the eun, 2. Yet it holds manifold and precious opportunities of regaining our position as the children and heirs of God; of doing" many things" 'that shall tell even in future years for truth and God; of" suffering many things" after Christ our Lord, and in holy and noble fellowship with him (Phil. iii. 10). 3. Its transiency is an urgent reason for (1) immediate decision, and (2) constant and earnest action in the cause of right- eousness. Whilst we have the light that shines, let us walk and ltt us work in the light.-C. Vera. 26-30.-The unlearnt lesson. Man differs from the brute creation in that he learns and profits by experience-he advances, He passes through stage after stage toward the perfection of his life upon the earth. He is the bunter at one period, then the shepherd, then the agriculturist. From the lowest barbarism he reaches, in time, the most refined civilization. But he is very slow indeed to learn, if he does learn at all, moral and spiritual truths. The excellency of thrift, of temperance, of purity, of patience,-how long a time it is taking man to acquire these virtues! Our text opens to us the truth of the danger of spiritual trifling, and indicates that what men were long ages ago, that they still are in this respect. I. SPIRITUAL TRIFLING. The men of the time of Noah were living in a state of utter worldliness and impiety. They were not without remonstrance and rebuke; Noah was himself" a preacher of righteousness" unto them. But they hearkened not, nor heeded; they made light of his admonitions and his warnings. They found some pretext under which they could easily hide the truth he reminded them of, and they went on their way of materialism and enjoyment. The same with the people of Sodom, and the character and instruction of Lot. And so with ns. 1. Men are living in sinful selfishness and worldliness-many in crime, many more in vice; but a very large multitude in practical godlessness, God is not in all, he is not in many if in any of their thoughts. His will is not the object of their inquiry, is not the rule of their life. 2. The religious teacher cornea and admonishes; he says, "Man cannot live by bread alone;" the claims of the Divine Father, of the holy Saviour, a.re the supreme claims, etc. 3. But still the same course is pursued; the helter thoughts that a.re momentarily stirred in the heart a.re silenced; sacred truths are extinguished; the truth of God is treated lightly; the world and the things that are in the world are upper- most and are victorious. ll. THE PALPABLE FOLLY OF BUCH TRIFLING AS THIS. 1. It is attended wilh immediate and certain injury. For it is impossible for a human soul to reject the truth or to quench the Spirit of God, and not be seriously the worse for such an act. 2. There is the grave peril of a. great disaster. 'l'he generation is eating and drinking and marry- ing, and behold I the Flood sweeps them a.way. The cities are trading and feasting, and lo I the fires of heaven come down and consume them. They who trifle with the most sacred things a.re sure to find that, suddenly, in such a.n hour as they think not, the cud arrives. The business plans a.re a.11 broken off; the brilliant career is concluded; the flow of pleasures is arrested. Death suddenly appears, and deals his fatal blow. 'l'bese sacred opportunities which have been so little prized, so much disparaged, recede with terrible rapidity and disappear. Opportunity that waited by the side, and waited all in vain, melts and vanishes in a moment. 'l'he soul awakes from its long lethargy to see that its powers have been wasted and that its chance is gone I III. THE ELUSIVENESS OF THIS SOLEMN LESSON. Men have always known this, and they have always acted as if they were ignorant of it. ".As it was . . . so shall it be." So is it to-day. By spiritual trifling men fritter a.way the golden chance that Divine love puts into their hands. Be wise in time. Realize what you a.re doing, what injury you are working, what risk you are running.-C.
Vers. 34-36.-.Accidents. "The one shall be taken, and the other left." .And who or what is it that decides which oue shall be taken and which left? Events are often occurring which convey to us the impression of- 104 TRE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. [ctr. xvrr. 1-37,