II. "Lord are there few that be saved?" was a question put to our Lord, the truth of which his reply appears too sadly to confirm. "Strive to enter in at the strait gate." Indeed he expressly declares as much in another Gospel-"strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth to life, and few there be that find it." If salvation be a matter of difficult attainment to the righteous, it follows that it is an impossibility to the impenitent sinner. It is, however, no speculative truth, but the positive declaration of scripture. "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived; neither fornicators nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." Remove all these characters from among us, and the number of the saved will be fearfully diminished. whether you belong to the class I have just enumerated, or come under any other description of vice not there specified, I ask any and every such, where does he think to appear when God comes to judgment, and the fiery trial is to prove every one's work, of what sort it is, whether it be good or whether it be evil? Your case is

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determined. "The ungodly shall not be able to stand in the judgment, neither sinners in the congregation of the righteous."

But there are others who are careless of their salvation, and who slumber over this the greatest and most awful concern that can exercise the thoughts of man. They have no just and adequate conception of the nature of sin and its awful consequences of what God hath done for them in his son Jesus Christ, the misery he would rescue them from; the hopes he would call them to in the Gospel. Except the name and outward profession of Christianity, the careless worldling has upon him no distinguishing mark or feature from him who professes to be guided only by the glimmering light of natural religion. Talk to him of the great truths of Christianity and they are foolishness to him. Press upon him the spirit and temper, the meekness and gentleness, the forgiveness and self-denial which should distinguish the follower of Christ, and, (so opposite do these things appear, and indeed are, to the spirit and temper of the world) that nothing can be imagined by him more senseless, more tame, or more insipid. And yet, my brethren, "unless these things be in us and abound," our Apostle informs

us "we are barren and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." We are not giving diligence to make our calling and election sure nor can we expect an entrance at all into his everlasting kingdom. We fall under the denomination of "the ungodly and sinners" in the text. For can it be soberly imagined that they shall gain a quiet and easy possession of that kingdom, who have never had a serious thought, never felt a single fear or apprehension or doubt of their salvation; who have resisted no temptation; strove against no sin; vanquished none of their spiritual adversaries; made no sacrifice for Christ and conscience sake; with whom all is smooth and easy in this life—and all men speak well of them; who feel that they are "whole and need not a physician" to heal their spiritual maladies and to restore them to that holiness and righteousness without which no man can see the Lord, or lift up his head in the judgment? Is Heaven reserved for those who have had their consolation in this life, who have, at best, but trimmed between this world and the next-God and Mammon; and have deferred the business of salvation till a more convenient season, reserving for God only the dregs of their existence, and leaving their

sins and follies only when they have left them? Be assured, my brethren, salvation is too glorious a thing to be thus easily attained. It is every where represented in Scripture as a prize, a victory, a conquest, a crown, a reward—not of the listless and indifferent; but of the brave, and energetic; the fervent in spirit, the joyful in hope, the patient in tribulation; the bearer of Christ's cross, and not of his name only: of him who dies daily to sin, and mortifies his members upon the earth. In short "the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent alone take it by force."

The use I would, in conclusion, make of the subject, is twofold, that of caution and encouragement.

1. Of caution to the presuming Christian. When it is seen that the highest even real attainments in religion are insufficient to stand the test of that fiery trial, which at one period of his course or other, is almost sure to be sent by Almighty Wisdom and goodness to try the Christian's faith, whether it come in the shape of grievous bodily suffering, or anguish of spirit; and we see the best and most experienced servants of God, when they come to die and to give up their account, sometimes shrink with

amazement bordering on despair, at the sight of hell and the grave; surely those of far lower attainments, but of too confident notions of themselves and their condition, would do well for the remainder of their earthly course, to "walk humbly with their God," and not to be high-minded, but to fear: utterly to renounce themselves, and their own fancied attainments: not to think that all is well within, because it is well without, and men speak well of them: ever recollecting that the judgment of God differs widely from that of man. Much will always remain to be done by the humble Christian, who with St. Paul, thinks not himself to be already perfect; and that there still exists a sad and awful possibility, after all his endeavours, and notwithstanding all his attainments, of his being "a Cast-away."

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2. The subject speaks comfort and encouragement to the righteous-to the suffering child of God. Say ye to the righteous it shall be well with them." Hereunto were ye appointed. Ye fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ. "And though no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness, unto them which are exercised thereby." Though disciplined in the