words of Christ go even beyond this. They set forth the justice of God in a very awful light, for they clearly teach us, that though the imprisoned soul had paid all the ten thousand talents, except one farthing, for that last farthing he should by no means obtain release. In short, man cannot make atonement for one single sin, and yet the sinner must discharge every separate item of his debt,"all that is due,"-before he can quit the place of punishment. Good were it for that man if he had not been born.

Behold then both the mercy and the justice of God, and let these things stir you up to take hold of his covenant. Now, you may have,—you are invited and urged to have,--the whole debt freely forgiven then, if you fail of the grace of God, you will be rigorously dealt with for every separate farthing.

Does not He, then, who has come to save men's lives, and, with this view, to bear witness to the truth, do well to urge us to a speedy reconciliation with our God,-to leave procrastination and delay to fools, to cast ourselves at once, with all our sins, on Him who liveth, but was slain for us? For who knoweth the power of the wrath of Almighty God?a wrath we are treasuring up to

ourselves every moment we disregard the hand stretched out in mercy. Be reconciled, then,

'quickly" with your God, while now you are "in the way," or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken. Do it with thy might, for there is neither work nor wisdom in the grave, whither thou goest. After death the judgment, of things done in the body. Escape for thy life, lest thou be consumed.

Come to Christ this day, if you will hear his voice. Believe on him whom God hath sent, and thus give glory to the Lord your God, before he cause darkness, and your feet stumble on the dark mountains, and when you look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death. If the Lord had bid you do some great thing, for so great an object, would you not do it? How much rather, then, when he says to you," Wash, and be clean; look to me, and be saved; believe, and thou shalt be made whole; knock, and it shall be opened to you"? "I am the door," says Christ: "by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and go in and out, and find pasture.” But enter “quickly;" for when once the Master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us; then shall he answer and say unto you,

"Depart from me. I know you not whence ye are." There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when once you are delivered to the tormentors, till you pay to your Lord all that is due unto him.

Am I not addressing some who have said in their hearts before now, "I will surely one day seek peace with God, but not just yet I will wait for a more convenient time"? Brethren, how often have you reasoned thus? And has that time yet come? Are not the former excuses for delay as powerful as ever? And yet your road is shortening fast, and you are nearer now to judgment. Do you not, then, see how your great Enemy is dealing with you? You are as one that lieth on the top of a mast, and beneath you is the bottomless abyss, and you are saying, "When shall I awake ?"

Awake this day, then, thou that sleepest, and call mightily upon thy God, lest thou lie down in sorrow, and the pit of destruction close her mouth upon thee. Faith is what puts you in communion with the Saviour, and gives you an interest freely in all his infinite sacrifice and merits. Believe the witness of God which he has testified concerning his Son. He that hath the Son hath life. Will it make you less happy to feel that

you are in an ark of safety, that underneath you are the everlasting arms, and that you have passed from death unto life? Salvation is a present business, and the loss of the soul is irreparable. Let this word, "quickly," sink down deep into your heart, and give no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids, till you have Christ for your peace, God for your Father, and heaven for your everlasting home.

II.

LIGHT AND DARKNESS.

"I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."-JOHN viii. 12.

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"GOD is light, and in him is no darkness at all." He is not only light himself, but he dwelleth in the light which no man can approach unto he covereth himself with it as with a garment. He is the fountain and source from whence it is diffused around him. All the light, moral and material, in the universe, is but an emanation from the uncreated glory of the Father of lights. Whatever brightness there is in any creature, is but the reflection of the invisible Creator's image; and if our souls see light, it is in his light they see it.

Now, man consists of two distinct, though united, natures, body and spirit; and what the light of day is to our bodily eyes, such is God's revealed truth to our spirit or inward man. while God is "light," and "dwelleth in light,” we are

But