alarmed our conscience; if we have applied to the great Physician of souls, who can heal the sick and save the lost; and if we feel the power of his grace pardoning, renovating, and preparing us for a heavenly eternity, then happy are we; we have the true and unsearchable riches the shortness or uncertainty of our duration here cannot affect our peace; for we know we have a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens; and are certain of enjoyment, for none can separate us from the love of Christ. This is happiness, my brethren, and possessed of this it is of no consequence where we live or where we die. Let us then divest ourselves of the vanity which our text reproves. If when we embarked for this country, any of us said or thought, "We will go; and after a few years we will return." Let us now reflect that not one of us can be certain, however much we wish it, of seeing our native land again. Nay, we may be assured, that the greater part of us assembled now together, will never return, Here we must end life, and here we must be interred:" our bones will not come to the sepulchre of our fathers." These thoughts should lead us not to droop, but to determine on securing a happy issue; then come death, when FF3 when and where it may, it will never come unwelcome, but find us ready to depart; which the truly pious learn to know is better than continuance in life. It must be a woeful reflection to those, who have only this world to look to, that they expect their course will probably terminate here; while the real Christian rises above the world, and has better prospects and brighter hopes: and such will be ready to praise the pious dead, who are already dead, more than the living, who are yet alive. "O that we were wise, that we understood this, that we would consider our latter end!" SERMON IX. Preached at the Presidency Church, Calcutta, TO THE TENTH REGIMENT. LUKE iii. 14. And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? W HEN that great prophet John the Baptist, was sent from God, to preach the doctrine of repentance, to prepare the way of the Lord, we are told that multitudes of every description went to hear him. The purity of his character gave energy to his preaching; and all were stirred up to hear him: pharisees, sadducees, publicans or taxgatherers, and soldiers; persons of all ranks and degrees came to him. And he told them, "Now is the axe laid to the root of the trees; and every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down and cast into the fire." By this, the people understood that God would visit them for their sins; and that he would cut them off unless he found in them the good F F 4 fruits fruits of repentance. And all his hearers were alarmed, and asked him, "What shall we do then ?" John addressed every class of his hearers, and gave to each the most suitable and important advice. He told the pharisees, that to say they had Abraham to their father, would not profit them in the day of judgment; and that in order to escape the wrath to come, they must have the power of godliness as well as the form of it. Thus instructing those persons, as we my brethren may be instructed, that none must think it sufficient for their salvation that they have godly fathers, or other connexions and friends, as every man must seek God for himself; neither will the outward forms or appearance of religion avail us, unless the fear of God rule the heart. To the publicans or tax-gatherers, who enquired of him, Master, what shall we do?" he said, "Exact no more than that which is appointed you;" for extortion was their great temptation and peculiar sin and the faithful preacher proposed to them a test, whereby they might. prove to others the sincerity of their repentance, by renouncing their besetting sin. When the soldiers demanded of him, "What shall we do?" He gave them likewise such instruction 66 instruction as exactly suited their situation. Soldiers in those days, were aterror to the peaceable inhabitants of the country where they were stationed; and they became more formidable and oppressive in proportion as the civil powers were weak, and the laws badly administered. Besides, their dispositions were remarkable for being cruel, ferocious, and ungovernable; and they were never satisfied, unless constantly engaged in schemes of massacre, plunder and riot. This being their condition and manner of life when they came to enquire of John, he told them, "Do violence to no man (or, put no man in undeserved fear) neither accuse any falsely, and be content with your wages, or allowance." Every word of this advice applied to their hearts and consciences, and there is reason to believe that by the preaching of John, several of them became devout soldiers; for such characters we find the pious centurion Cornelius, had about him in the apostolic age, which immediately succeeded. From this history we may gather, that, as all men need repentance, so there are strong motives to lead and encourage all to repent. And first, if such characters as we have been describing, repented and obtained mercy, none need despair, Perhaps despair is the heaviest and most |