Therefore, each man's experience of their truth, ought to work in him an entire trust in his word; and when the heavenly Canaan is held out to him, as the reward of his labours through Christ, he should not despise and reject the proffered gift, and like the Israelites lose his inheritance with the saints above, but with Joshua and Caleb believe and be saved. The days of that people were shortened, but not limited to the very narrow span, by which our own are contracted; when all beyond threescore years and ten are said to be but labour and sorrow. Thus reminded of our short and transitory state, how soon we must return to the dust from whence we were taken; what conclusion can we come to but that of applying ourselves more zealously, more seriously, and more uniformly to our duty, both to God and man; never to defer till to-morrow what can be done to-day, lest some one of the various casualties by which life is extinguished, should put an end at once to all our plans and schemes for this world's enjoyment. This night our soul may be required of us! As in the great day of judgment we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; so we know, that the voice of God is some times heard in the thunder, and the lightning flash may in one instant call the unconscious shepherd from his flock on earth to be placed either on the

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right hand or the left of his Almighty Judge, and hear his everlasting doom proceed from the mouth of that Holy Being, who came down from Heaven to seek and to save that which was lost, and who still maketh intercession for us. As people grow older time appears to pass quicker, because, probably, less occurs to mark it. But what is the longest life to look back upon. "A thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday, when it is past;" if Moses spoke justly when the age of man was a thousand years, how much more forcibly will he speak to us whose age is only threescore years and ten? Is it not an imperative duty on us to fill up this short span, with all the good deeds in our power, that the retrospect may appear longer and be in reality more satisfactory?

The shortness of human life is very beautifully and affectingly illustrated in this Psalm by different similitudes. I will only mention one, viz. the grass of the field-" In the morning it is green, and groweth up; but in the evening it is cut down, dried up, and withered." And alas! how often not coming to that evening of our days, when the blood and juices of the body are naturally dried up, do we behold the young and tender flower droop its head and die! how often does the fond parent, in the very morning of its youth and loveliness, see

the green and growing plant of her affection languish and die! In short, all nature speaks to us of the transitory character of our condition here, in language which cannot be misunderstood, and ought not to be forgotten. What was the conclusion which Moses came to? "So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."

Though we are convinced of the evil of sin, and the direful consequences which ensued from its introduction into the world; though we are constantly seeing the penalty paid, sometimes without a moment's warning, and know that, sooner or later, it must be paid by ourselves, for there is no ransom from the grave itself, though there be a full and costly one from its power; who is there on whom these convictions and meditations have their due effect? We grieve for our friends to-day, and they will grieve for us to-morrow, that is, very shortly. But who, therefore, ordereth his conversation aright. Who so so ordereth it as to give him an especial interest in the victory which was obtained over death and the grave by our Saviour Christ the Lord? He is risen indeed," saith the Evangelist; but are we risen with him? Do we crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts? or do we crucify the Son of God afresh? O think of this, my beloved brethren, while it is

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day, before the night cometh when no man can work. In your passage to the heavenly Canaan, forget the flesh-pots of Egypt; let no regrets bring you back to the sufferings, temptations, and trials of the evil world from which you are escaping; let no murmurings be heard among you, but let the prevailing sentiment of your hearts be thankfulness for great and unnumbered mercies; let the will of God be your will, and his word your law; there is a law in your members warring against the law in your mind, and it will bring you into the captivity of sin, unless you put on the whole armour of God, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit; to this Holy Being make your humble, daily application to be enabled to resist the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil. When mourning for the dead, while standing on the brink of the grave which is about to close on their mortal remains, pray that you may be raised from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness, that with them you may be partakers of everlasting bliss, through him who is the resurrection and the life, our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Now, &c.

FINIS.

Croydon: Printed by J. M. Langford, High Street.