Page images
PDF
EPUB

of a day, haftening unto the place from whence we shall return no more;—that whilst we are here, our conduct and behaviour is minutely obferved;-that there is a Being about our paths and about our beds, whofe omniscient eye spies out all our ways, and takes a faithful record of all the paffages of our lives; -that these volumes fhall be produced, and men fhall be judged out of the things that are written in them ;-that without respect of perfons, we shall be made accountable for our thoughts, our words and actions to this greateft and beft of Beings, before whofe judgmentseat we must finally appear, and receive the things done in the body, whether they are good, or whether they are bad.

That to add to the terror of it,this day of the Lord will come upon us like a thief in the night;-of that hour no one knoweth ;that we are not fure of its being fufpended one day or one hour; or, what is the fame

cafe, that we are standing

upon the edge of

a precipice, with nothing but the fingle thread of human life to hold us up ;-and

that if we fall unprepared in this thoughtless state, we are loft, and must perish for ever

more.

What manner of perfons we ought to be, upon these principles of our religion, St. Peter has told us, in all holy converfation and godliness;- and I fhall only remind, how different a frame of mind, the looking for, and hastening unto the coming of God, under fuch a life, is, from that of spending our days in vanity, and our years in pleafure.

Give me leave, therefore, to conclude in that merciful warning, which our Saviour, the judge himself, hath given us, at the close of the fame exhortation.—

Take heed to yourselves, left at any time your hearts be over-charged with furfeiting, and drunkenness, and the care of this life; -and fo that day come upon you unawares; -for as a fnare fhall it come upon all that dwell on the face of the whole earth.Watch therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these

things that fhall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. Which may God of his mercy grant, through Jefus Chrift

Amen

SERMON IV.

ST. PETER's Character.

G

« PreviousContinue »