Christ would have you do it. Whatsoever you have to suffer, think how Christ would have you bear it. Is it labour? Learn of Him not to faint in your heavenly Father's work. Is it pain, or sorrow, or disgrace? Learn of Him, for the joy that is set before you, to bear your cross, despising the shame. Is it the contradiction of those whom you are endeavouring to help? Let Christ still be your pattern for meekness and long-suffering: his love for the most bitter of his enemies, the measure of your inclination to forgive.

With such a life as this to live, with such a Guide to follow, such an end to hope, who might not persevere with joy unto the end? And yet, who would not rather rejoice when the end itself shall come? Is it well to walk in the steps that Christ hath trod before? It is better to be with Him, where He now is. Is it well to help in bearing his cross? It is better to share his crown. Is it well to labour in our heavenly calling, to do good, and to distribute, to rise early for prayer, and so late take rest, whilst we

prolong his praise? Is it well to clothe the naked, to feed the hungry, to visit the sick? Is it well to overcome evil with good, to be a peace maker among neighbours, a father to the fatherless, a friend to the cause of the widow, and a preacher of righteousness by the practice of our lives to all who behold our works? It is better to rest from our labours. It is better to be where these works will follow us; where the weary are at rest; where the wicked cease from troubling. There will be no contradiction from those we love. There will be no evil to be reproved in others. There will be no sin to be ashamed of in ourselves. It is better to be there. And to be there we first must die. It is better to be there. Blessed therefore are the dead. "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord."

My brethren, are you afraid to die? Should you be afraid if you were sure you should die thus? To die thus, remember, that you must first thus live. Let your fear of death, if now you are afraid of it, oh! let it move you to mend

your lives. But, to mend your lives, remember, you must first confirm your faith. You must lay the right foundation, and "other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (1 Cor. 3. 11.) Lay then this foundation. Build on it a new and holy life. So shall you not be afraid to die. So shall you not fail to live for ever. Your life, whilst here you live, shall be directed to the end which must soon take place. And the nearer that end approaches, the more closely it stares you in the face, the more faithfully you will cling to the promises of God, the more heartily rejoice to think, that " Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord."

"Yea, saith the Spirit." It was a voice from heaven which bade John write. That voice was confirmed by the Holy Spirit of God. Nothing can be more sure. Not death itself. There be some that died not. There be many, who, when our Lord shall appear, will be taken up with Him into heaven. There be none which die in the Lord, who are not

D

"Yea,

certain to be blessed for ever. saith the Spirit." My brethren, do you believe his gracious words. Why then do you yet fear death? Why, if it be not that you have no ground to think that you live or shall hereafter die in Christ. Think more then of his all sufficient merits. Trust more in God's mercy, through Him. Pray more for the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth, to quicken you in all holiness and love. Believe more faithfully, and you will love more heartily. Love more heartily, and you will obey more willingly. You will live as they that are not afraid to die. You will die as they whose death is blessed, whose end is the beginning of eternal life.

SERMON IV.

THE DANGER OF RELAPSE.

MATTHEW 12. 43, 44, 45.

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

GOD grant it may not be so to ours! God grant it may not be so to a generation, which enjoys, above all others, the knowledge of the truth; and which has dared, above all others, to deny it! God grant it may not be so to those, who have been awakened by the prevalence of mortality,