if

you thought it infinitely worse to be lost for ever, than to be mean and poor in this life.

Thirdly, Diligently use all means that may instruct you in the nature of true religion, and teach you what you should do to be saved: particularly, read the Scriptures, and other good books, and attend upon the most faithful preaching as you have opportunity.

Fourthly, Earnestly pray to God. If you have hitherto had prayerless families, or prayerless closets, let them be so no longer this evening consecrate them to God by prayer Pray, particularly, for the Holy Spirit, who alone can thoroughly convert and sanctify you.

Fifthly, Endeavour to receive and submit to the Lord Jesus as your only Saviour. It is through him alone you can be saved therefore, make use of him as your only mediator, in all your transactions with God.

Finally, Do not delay to follow these directions. Alas! if, with Felix, you put it off to a more convenient season, (Acts xxiv. 25.) there is very little hope. "To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts." (Heb. iii. 15.) "Now is the accepted time: now is the day of salvation." (2 Cor. vi. 2.) Therefore, now, this moment, begin the work. Now dart up a prayer to heaven, "Lord, here is a poor wicked creature, that must die ere long, unless thou have mercy upon me: have mercy upon me, O thou God of mercy." Thus pray, and keep your souls, as it were, always in a praying posture until you are heard.

upon

for

And now, my dear brethren, what is your resolution the whole? Are you resolved to use these means your deliverance or are you not? If you are, you have great reason to hope for success. But if not, I defy you to find one encouraging word to you in all the Bible. On the other hand, I am commanded, upon my

peril, to warn you; and therefore I would once more sound this dreadful alarm in your ears, "O wicked man, thou shalt surely die." And if, when you hear the words of this curse, you bless yourselves in your hearts, and hope better things, God foresaw there would be such self-flattering, presumptuous sinners in the world, and he hath prepared his terrors against them. “If there should be among you a man or a woman, or family or tribe-a root that beareth gall and wormwood, that when he heareth the words of his curse, shall bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace though I walk in the imagination of my heart; the LORD will not spare him; but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven: and the LORD shall separate him unto evil out of all the tribes of Israel." (Deut. xxix. 19-21.) What a tremendous threatening is this! and you see it stands in full force against those that presumptuously flatter themselves with false hopes of impunity, whether they be men or women, family or tribe: and it will certainly have a dreadful accomplishment upon such of you as disregard this repeated warning, "O wicked man, thou shalt surely die."

I doubt not but there are some of you to whom the character of the wicked does not belong, and therefore are in no danger of dying their death. To you I would speak a few parting words of encouragement. You must die; but oh! death to you will be a harmless, stingless thing-your Father's messenger to fetch you home, that you may be for ever with him. You will have good company in death; Jesus, your faithful and never-failing friend, will then be with you, and support

you and his angels will wait round your dying beds to receive your departing souls, and conduct them to eternal rest. Death will be your birth-day; then you will be born, not a helpless, weeping infant, into a world of sin and sorrow, but a perfect immortal, into a world of consummate happiness and glory. Death will be the last enemy that ever you shall conflict with; after that, you will be conquerors, more than conquerors, for ever. Death to you will be a blessing, and not a curse: so that as to you, I may change the threatening in my text, into a promise, "O good man, thou shalt surely die." Yes, blessed be God, thou shalt die in spite of earth and hell; thou shalt not be doomed to live always in such a sinful wretched world as this; but death, thy friend, will set thee free, and convey thee to the place where Jesus is, and where thy heart is gone before thee. This may, perhaps, seem strange language, that death should become a blessing: but such strange things does Jesus perform for his people. O may we all "die the death of the righteous; and may our last end be like his!" (Numb. xxiii. 10.)

For a more immediate improvement of this funeral occasion, instead of haranguing upon the virtues of the dead, many of which, I doubt not, deserve commendation, my business is with the living, who alone can receive advantage from what I say; and to them I would suggest a few solemn reflections.

First, how uncertain and frail are the nearest ties of relation, and all our domestic and relative happiness! Therefore, how much should we be concerned, to contract immortal friendships, and secure a never-dying happiness!

Secondly, Such bereavements should be made occasions of exercising resignation to the will of God.

Thirdly, Let this instance of mortality put us in mind of our own. Shall others die to warn us that we must die? and shall the warning be in vain?

Fourthly, Let us rejoice that though our friends die, yet the Lord liveth, and blessed be our rock! 2 Sam. xxii. 47. Ps. xviii. 46.

SERMON LXXV.

EVIDENCES OF THE WANT OF LOVE TO GOD.

JOHN V. 42.-But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you."

NOTHING Seems to be a more natural duty for a creature-nothing is more essential to religion-nothing more necessary as a principle of obedience, or a qualification for everlasting happiness, than the love of God; and it is universally confessed to be so. Whatever be the object, or whatever be the religion, all acknowledge that the love of God is an essential ingredient in it.

Should we consider only the excellency of the divine Being, and the numerous and endearing obligations of all reasonable creatures to him, we should naturally think, that the love of God must be universal among mankind; and not one heart can be destitute of that sacred, filial passion. But, alas! if we regard the evidence of Scripture or observation we must conclude the contrary. The love of God is a rare thing among his own offspring in our degenerate world. Here in my text, a company of Jews, highly privileged above all nations then upon earth, and making large professions of regard to God, are charged with the want of his love; charged by one that thoroughly knew them and could not be deceived. "I know you, that you have not the love of God in you."

But, blessed be God, his love is not entirely extinct and

* Hanover, April 14, 1756.-New Kent, April 17, 1757. VOL. III.-58