pations of the human mind, in reference to a future state, are abundantly confirmed and put beyond all doubt by the revelation of Him who came down from heaven, to give his life for the redemption of the world;-He has brought life and immortality to light by the Gospel. Some persons have said that the Jews did not look for a future state; and an English Bishop of the last century, (Warburton), wrote a book, on the supposition that the Jews did not expect an hereafter. But the ancient Patriarchs, and king David, when they confessed that they were "strangers and sojourners" on earth; "declare plainly," as St. Paul observes, in his letter to the Hebrews, that they looked for another country; and truly, if their minds referred, when they made such a declaration, to the country from which they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned; but now they desire a "better country,"-" that is a heavenly." If St. Paul understood the old Testament, it is manifest the Bishop was wrong.

Since, then, mankind generally, in all ages and in all nations, in the old world of Asia, and the new world of America, have believed in a future state, and the same is confirmed by the sacred writings of the Jews and of the Christians, is it wise, my young friends, to let the bold assertions of here and there a profligate infidel, or an irreligious cold-hearted sceptic, have any weight on your

min ds?

A very few deny an hereafter; many wish there were none; and still more live as if there were none: and even those who are "looking" for a future state, alas! too frequently seem to forget that their sojourn here shall inevitably soon terminate. This appears, even among the most devout Christians, by their being too much distressed about the ills and discomforts of their present abode, and from an undue anxiety to secure earthly comforts. And of this inconsistency the aged, who have nearly finished their course, are often more guilty than the young. This state of mind is full of distrust in the gracious Lord and Master, who has in times past provided for them: it meets, indeed, with some excuse in the prevailing vice of selfish mortals

feel, I trust, though you cannot explain, his happy influences; but still you look forward, and hasten to the coming of the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. When he will come he has not told us; but he says, "Lo! I come quickly." -He will come at the hour of our death, previous to which the time may be but very short. I do not mention five, or ten, or twenty years, which will most assuredly bring many of us to death and to the house appointed for all living;-but I mention a hundred years, which will bring us all to death, and introduce us to our Lord.

But we stop not here: direct your prospect onward still to the great and notable day of the Lord, when he shall come in flaming fire in his glory-in the glory of the Father and all the holy angels with him; and by his allcreating voice, that spoke the universe into existence, shall rouse thy dust from the slumbers of death, and transform thy body; and in the audience of an assembled world shall bid thee welcome to his Father's house, and to those mansions which were prepared for thee from the foundation of the world.

But are we sure that Jesus will come again? where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers slept, all things continued as they were. My young brother, suffer not Satan to whisper into thine ear such an insinuation. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, but is long-suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Know ye not that a thousand years are with the Lord as one day, and one day is as a thousand years? You have seen the promises of Jesus fulfilled in other instances, and these furnish a rational evidence that this also shall be fulfilled in its time. But what shall succeed my Lord's coming? shall I see him whom my soul loveth for a short time, and again be separated from him? No;he will receive us to himself, that where he is, there we may be also; we shall be ever with the Lord. And this is the

Fifth and last source of consolation offered in our

dence, and comfort, and security of fortune and affluence, aiming all the time to make you forget or neglect the coming eternity. But, oh fools that we are, and slow of heart to believe the truth. We are but sojourners here, and have no right to stay, no real property in the goods we accumulate; we build houses for others to inhabit, we hoard riches for others to squander, we enlarge our barns and stock them with supplies for many years, (every one to the extent that he can,) and after wearisome days and nights of misplaced toil, ere we have sat down to enjoy, the rightful owner, having warned and exercised long patience with us, bids us at once remove. Preparation for eternity was, at the commencement of our course, enjoined upon us; we despised the commandment, and neglected the admonition, and now further respite is impossible. Thus are the men of ambition, of sensuality, and of avarice, driven away in their wickedness. Oh that every individual who now hears me, of every age and of every condition, children and servants, and young and aged, and poor and rich, would, as in the sight of God, look solemnly and distinctly at a coming eternity, so as to retain throughout this year, and the rest of life, vivid and uniformly abiding impressions of its infinitely important concernments;-then should we see a rational and devout preparation for it. I alarm you not with declamation about sudden and unexpected death, events, however, very common; but I would fix your attention on its shadow-like, slow and noiseless, and certain and inevitable approach.

"Every beating pulse you tell

Leaves but the number less."

What earthly power can arrest the sun in his course, or stay the dial gnomon's shadow, as it silently and impercetibly moves? None! and equally powerless are all human efforts to protract man's sojourn on earth, beyond the period of God's good pleasure.

Prepare then, oh sojourner! to quit at thy Lord's bidding! Prepare then, oh thou moral criminal, to meet thy Judge! Prepare, oh Christian, to meet thy Saviour!

I to my Father's house return,
There numerous mansions stand,
And glory manifold abounds
Thro' all the happy land.

I go your entrance to secure
And your abode prepare;
Regions unknown are safe to you
When I, your friend, am there.

Thence will I come when ages close,
To take home with me:
you

There shall we meet to part no more,

And still together be.

Finally, ye who have believed in Jesus, remember that he has gone to prepare mansions for you in his Father's house. Oh repine not at the afflictions which ye may be called to endure in this land, wherein ye are strangers and pilgrims. Be not impatient; be not like the Budhist of China, and the pleasure-sated, wearied, profligate of Europe, to call your existence a curse. Rather Rather up and be active to do all the good possible here. Opportunities to do and to suffer for Jesus, will soon be over. Work therefore while it is day, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God, when ye shall attain to your eternal abode in heaven.

"O God of Bethel! by whose hand

Thy people still are fed ;

Who through this weary pilgrimage

Hast all our fathers fed;

Our vows, our pray'rs we now present
Before thy throne of grace:
God of our fathers! be the God
Of their succeeding race.

Thro' each perplexing path of life

Our wand'ring footsteps guide;
Give us each day our daily bread,
And raiment fit provide.

O spread thy cov'ring wings around,
Till all our wand'rings cease,
And at our Father's lov'd abode

Our souls arrive in peace.

Such blessings from thy gracious hand
Our humble pray'rs implore;
And thou shalt be our chosen God,
And portion evermore."

man shall his blood be shed." But beyond this we doubt the right of any earthly power to shorten man's sojourn on earth, or to remove a fellow creature into eternity before the Sovereign Lord himself shall be pleased to do it.