DISCOURSE XV.

SUMMER AND HARVEST.

He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.-Prov. x. 5.

WHAT a scene of desolation was presented to the eye of Noah, when he opened the door of the ark. No human face appeared. The earth was stripped of all its beauty; and no trees, no plants, no grass were to be seen. The effects of the deluge were every where awfully visible; and every cloud, every wind, excited alarm. In this condition he offered a sacrifice. God accepted it-and to dissipate his fears, and to draw forth his confidence, he said, While the earth remaineth, seed-time and harvest, cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night, shall not cease.

Each of these periods is not only useful, but instructive. We cheerfully part with the dreary hours of winter, to embrace the reviving spring, and as readily resign the growing hours of spring to welcome in the joyful harvest. When under divine providence this season arrives, the year is crowned with his goodness; the earth is full of his riches-and the husband-man is called forth to secure the golden produce. He is reasonably expected to make every concern give place to this, and to exert all his diligence to improve the short but all important period. Hence the reflection of Solomon. He that gathereth in summer is a wise son; but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

Common sense readily acquiesces in all this -but let us accommodate the subject to moral and spiritual purposes. Let us represent your harvest-season and enforce upon you the necessity of diligence in using it.

I. God affords you opportunities for good. He favours you with seasons which may be considered as your harvest.

In this view we may regard the whole period of life. While you are continued in this world, you have space for repentance: and the long suffering of our Lord is salvation.

You are blessed with a season of gospel grace. While many are sitting in darkness and in the region of the shadow of death, upon you hath the light shined, to guide your feet into the way of peace. You not only live in a country where there is a written revelation, but your eyes see your teachers, and your ears hear a voice behind you saying, this is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn aside to the right hand or to the left. Though the preaching of the word is neglected by some, and despised by others, it is an invaluable privilege. By this the scripture is explained to the mind, and enforced on the conscience: by this you are warned of your danger and encouraged to flee for refuge: you are called upon to draw nigh, and assured that all things are now ready. Faith cometh by hearing; and hearing by the word of God.

And this reminds us that you have a season of civil and religious liberty. You have the bible in your hands, and are not fined for reading it. You may assemble together in public, and hear the word of life without danger. Your devotions are sanctioned by law, and you may sit under your own vine, and under your own figtree, and none make you afraid. What advan tages do we possess above many of our ancestors who suffered for conscience sake? They

laboured, and we have entered into their labours. They took joyfully the spoiling of their goods. They had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea moreover, of bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheep skins, and goat skins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented: of whom the world was not worthy: they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

Some are living in a religious family where they have the benefit of instruction, prayer, and example. Some, like Timothy, have been trained up by a mother and a grandmother of unfeigned faith, and from a child have known the scriptures which are able to make us wise unto salvation.

Who in passing through a vale of tears has not experienced a day of trouble? From such a period many have had to date their saving acquaintance with divine things. Affliction is favourable to religion, it abstracts, it softens, it awes the mind; it strips the world of its attractions, and starves us out of the creature. into God.

Where is the person who does not know what we mean by a season of conviction? Conscience has sometimes forced you to a stand.

Like Felix you have trembled under the power of the world to come. You have sometimes been pleasingly affected, you have wept, and prayed, and sighed now Lord what wait I for? my hope is in thee.

But O! can I forget another season? Can I forget to urge the admonition of wisdom and friendship-Remember now thy creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them?-Never, never, my young friends will you have a season in which your hindrances are so few, or your helps so many as the present. Every thing now invites, every thing constrains you: behold now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation.

II. I would enforce upon you the necessity of diligence to improve your reaping season.

And first consider how much you have to accomplish.... You have the work of a husband-man in harvest-and will this allow you to be drowsy and idle? Does it not require you to rise early, and be active all the day? To seize every moment, and secure every assistance? The salvation of the soul is a great, an arduous concern-and many things are required of you. For though you are not left to yourselves, nor called to act in your own