nothing, and eloquence be dumb. Your connection with this world shall cease; its business or its pleasure concerns you not. It can furnish to you neither occasion of anxiety nor matter of consolation. The favor of the Almighty will then be felt to be the only and the sovereign good, for you will pass before the judgment-seat of Christ, and your unchangeable portion be pure happiness or unmitigated wretchedness. How may you provide against this crisis of your destiny? How shall you be enabled to lift up your head with joy and hope amid the wreck of nature?

I am not to say to you, that these objects will be attained by being wise legislators, honest men, worthy citizens, amiable in all social and domestic relations. This is not enough. I am a believer in the gospel revelation, and I address you as believers also. I am persuaded that your character, and obligations, and actual condition are such as are therein described. I must, therefore, regard you as subject to a melancholy corruption of nature, and as having, in consequence of your transgressions, fallen under the Almighty's displeasure. I cannot, therefore, hope that you will die in peace and be happy forever, otherwise than by using the prescribed means of salvation, by access to God through the appointed Mediator.

Cherish, then, I beseech you, an abiding conviction, that the career of life is run under the inspec

tion of infinite wisdom and holiness. Obey every impulse to duty, whether it respects the welfare of your fellow men, the honor of the great Being who formed you, or your own eternal salvation. Avail yourselves of the opportunities furnished to you by the Almighty's forbearance and grace. Let the redemption provided by his Son be the ground of your hope, the purifying influences of his Spirit the object of your prayers. And then, what though life be precarious, death inevitable and dreadful, and judgment not to be avoided-you are secure under all circumstances. This world will fade upon your view, but you will pass into one infinitely more glorious; a short but gloomy night shall dawn. into a bright and eternal day; and for the temporary loss of earthly friends, you will receive abundant compensation in the exhaustless happiness springing from the favor of God, eternal, allsufficient, all-merciful.

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SERMON XXVII.

A FUNERAL DISCOURSE.

MATTHEW Xvi. 24.

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

INSTANCES often occur in the evangelical history, where the apprehensions of the disciples were exceedingly erroneous, and where, in consequence, their conduct was marked by much impropriety. A striking exemplification of this observation is given in the context. When their master announced to them his approaching sufferings and death, the communication was not received with sad and silent submission. Peter, with his characteristic impetuosity, full of love to the person and zeal for the cause of his Lord, yet utterly forgetful of the def

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erence due to him-ventured to indulge in strong remonstrances. "Be it far from thee, Lord, this shall not be unto thee." It was after rebuking this ill-advised interference, and referring to the principle in which it had its origin, that Jesus Christ addressed his disciples in the language of the text.

The object at present had in view, is to illustrate this passage in its primary reference, and then to consider it as applicable to ourselves. There are two things involved in the text. In the

1st place-What is implied in being a disciple of Christ?

2d-The encouragement to assume that character, notwithstanding the difficulties which may present themselves in the way.

I. Our Lord's reference here is to permanent discipleship. "If any man will come after me"-not merely for a time seek my society, through curiosity; but attach himself altogether to my person and cause" let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

1. Let him be prepared in many instances to act in opposition to his natural desires-to renounce his old prejudices—to abandon all hope of worldly distinction. To such sacrifices were they called, who in the early ages of Christianity, became professors or apostles of our holy religion. The love of ease and a disposition to pleasure, are natural to man-but, how could they be indulged amid the

storm of persecution, and while the world was yet. unconverted. During the earthly ministry of their Master, danger was not so imminent as it afterward became. But the accomplishment of his sufferings was the beginning of their trials. They underwent labors-sustained privations—and encountered evils most appalling to flesh and blood. They thus at once denied themselves, took up their cross, and imitated their Master in the active usefulness of their lives, and in their extreme devotion to the service of the gospel.

And, in attending on duties so arduous, did they labor in vain? In their distress, had they no consolation? Was it unmingled, unmitigated evil, which they endured? By no means. Although the course which they accomplished was marked by toils innumerable-although its passage was through gloom-and its termination was frequently in premature and violent death-they were happy-they had reason to glory, even in tribulation-futurity contained in its bosom abundant compensation for all their distresses. A day of retribution was coming. The Son of Man should appear in the glory of the Father, with his angels, and reward every man according to his works. And then, whosoever shall in the present world have saved his life, in violation of religious duty, and in opposition to conscience, shall lose it eternally. But, whosoever shall have incurred death for the sake of