shall be able to object to the decision of the Judge, when he shall say, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world."

On the other hand, many who call Christ Lord, Lord, will be exposed as hypocrites, and workers of iniquity; for it will then be proved that their profession or preaching of the gospel, attendance on ordinances and outward services, sprang from corrupt and selfish motives; that their transient convictions and affections never issued in an inward change; that they secretly "loved the wages of unrighteousness," or the pleasures of sin; that they were the slaves of avarice, ambition, sensuality, or malignant passions; that they did all their works to be seen of men, and were strangers to constant, fervent, secret religion; that they did not love Christ and his cause, but were deceived by a dead faith, a presumptuous hope, and a false repentance; and that they were not interested in the new covenant, but remained under the curse of the law, with the aggravation of having also abused and disgraced the gospel. This will be the case, not only with those who have secretly committed gross immoralities, and cloaked them with a religious profession; but with all who have not shown their love to Christ, by a disposition to love and do good to his people for his sake, and whatever they may now urge in excuse for their conduct, they will be silenced at last, and with all other unbelievers be doomed, " to depart accursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."

Matt. vii. 22, 23. xxv. 1-11. Luke xiii. 25-28.

The several scriptural representations of this de cisive event, concur in establishing these conclusions. "They who sin without law, shall perish without law;" they that transgress the law, (having had the benefit of revelation,) will be judged and condemned according to it; but if they claim the benefit of the gospel, their professed faith in Christ will be tried by its fruits and effects; so that none will eventually stand in judgment, except the true believer, who hath shown his faith by his works. Yet the doom of benighted heathens, however vile their conduct hath been, will be far less dreadful than that of wicked Christians; and hypocritical professors of the gospel will not only be more severely punished than the inhabitants of Tyre and Sidon, but it will even be more tolerable for Sodom than for them.

Let it be here carefully observed, that very dangerous conclusions have been drawn from our Lord's words respecting the day of judgment,* as if humane and beneficent actions of any kind would insure a man's acceptance at that solemn season. But every reflecting person, on deliberately examining the passage, must perceive, that nothing will then be favourably noticed, which has been done by impenitent despisers of the gospel, from ostentation, or pharisaical pride, or a mere instinctive propensity; for this supposition contradicts and disannuls the whole system of Christianity.—In fact, kindness to believers, the brethren of Christ, from love to his name, truth, cause, and image, as the genuine effect of living faith, is exclusively mentioned in this description.

* Matt. xxv. 35-40.

No doubt, however, but love to our fellow-sinners and enemies, from evangelical motives, will be graciously accepted: but active, liberal love to true Christians, whom we are naturally disposed to scorn and hate, is selected, as the most unequivocal proof of our love to Christ; nor can this ever be separated from other instances of humble obedience, in the habitual tenour of our conduct.

It may easily be conceived what discoveries will be made," when the books shall be opened," in respect of the different descriptions of unbelievers; which will suffice to "stop every mouth," to bring in" the whole world as guilty before God;" and to illustrate the divine justice in the condemnation of all those, who shall then. "go away into everlasting punishment." Every one who seriously reflects on his own conduct, during the entire course of his past life; and compares his thoughts, words, and works, with the holy commandments of God, will gradually more and more find his own heart condemn him: and if this be the case with the most moral of the human race, where will the blasphemous, the profligate, the fraudulent, the oppressor, and the murderer appear? Whatever may now be objected, or whatever excused, the discovery of the divine glory of the holy and perfect law, of man's obligations, and of the whole behaviour of every individual, towards God and man, will then leave the most specious unbelievers speechless, and make them fee! the justice of their own condemnation.

But what words can express the consequence of definitive sentence? Or who does not see that quage of Scripture is selected to mark out the

most tremendous effects of almighty indignation? "These shall go away into everlasting,” (or eternal,) "punishment." But how can this be, if the persons thus condemned do not exist for ever in a state of punishment? Or what proof have we of the eternity of happiness intended for the righteous, if the same word in the same verse in one place do not mean eternal? We need not enlarge. If the ideas "of a never dying worm, an inextinguishable fire," "the blackness of darkness for ever," and "the company of the devil and his angels," do not "warn men to flee from the wrath to come," none else can, for these only fail, "because they are not believed."

On the other hand, "a kingdom that cannot be moved," "an incorruptible, undefiled, and unfading inheritance," " an exceeding and eternal weight of glory," "pleasures at God's right hand for evermore," are expressions so energetic, that, did we truly believe and attend to them, we could not but be influenced by them in all our conduct. Here then we pause" Beloved, we know not what we shall be; but this we know, that when Jesus shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is ;" and the countless ages of eternity will only serve to enhance our unutterable joys. With what words, then, can we more properly close this Essay, and the present compendious publication, than those of the Apostle? Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent, that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless."

An Evening Prayer for a Family.

O THOU Giver of every good gift, thou Father of mercies, and God of all consolation; we desire to close this day with thy solemn worship. Accept, we beseech thee, our unfeigned thanksgivings for the continuance of our lives, our health, our senses, our limbs, and our rational powers; for the protection and provision thou hast hitherto afforded us ; and for all the general and special benefits we enjoy. We would consider them as coming from thy hand, and as the fruits of thy unmerited kindness to us thy sinful creatures. But above all, we are bound to thank and bless thee, for the redemption of the world by thy beloved Son; and for all the blessings of that new covenant, which he purchased by his death, and is exalted at thy right hand to bestow on all that believe. We thank thee for thy written word and thy preached gospel; and for all the abundant spiritual advantages, with which we are favoured. We praise thee for thy long-suffering towards us, when we disregarded the message of reconciliation, and continued in disobedience; for delivering us in dangers, and recovering us from sickness, when we were wholly unprepared for death; and even when we used our lives and health, in sinning still more against thee! "It is of thy mercies only that we are not consumed, because thy compassion fails not." And if at length