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“ time, and then vanisheth away"." How mahave been cut down in a moment, who looked to many years before them! We are exposed to accidents without number. In the midst of life, we are in death.

But even if life be continued, who can ensure a proper disposition at any future period to attend to religion? Will not delay render attention to this subject more irksome and difficult? Habits grow stronger with years, and become more rooted in our frame. These habits will present barriers insurmountable by human power. They who delay their reconciliation with God, rivet their chains to Satan, and seal their own hardness of heart, if God does not interpose in a sovereign way. The directions of Scripture are all intended to produce an immediate compliance with the call of the Gospel. "Behold, now is the ac

cepted time; behold, now is the day of sal"vation." "To-day, if ye will hear his voice, "harden not your hearts." There is no promise to those who defer duty to a future period. On the contrary, we have reason to apprehend the divine displeasure. They who slight his mercy when offered, cannot

h Jam. iv. 4.

i 2 Cor. vi. 2,

k Heb. i. 7, 8.

expect it when they need it. "Because I have "called, and ye refused, I have stretched out

my hand, and no man regarded; I also "will laugh at your calamity; I will mock "when your fear cometh"." Solemn declaration! Awful truth! The Spirit of God will not always strive. A time will come, when the things belonging to our peace will be hid from the contemners of Christ, and the slighters of his salvation. The patience of Jehovah will be exhausted by repeated provocations, and he will swear, "These "mine enemies shall not enter into my "rest."

Think of these things, ye who have hitherto not improved your enjoyment of a faithful ministry. God has knocked at your hearts for admittance, through the instrumentality of your late pastor'; but you have

denied him. O! let him not still stand without, while he again renews his application through your present pastor. He has manifested the riches of his goodness unto you. Let his goodness lead you to repentance. Cast down your weapons of rebellion, and close with the offered mercy.

a Prov. i. 24. 26. VOL. J.

e Dr. Griffin.

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3. Are there not some of you who have in time past trembled like Felix at the word? Where now are your impressions of mind, where are your convictions? Have you shipwrecked them amidst the cares or the pleasures of the world? Ye have trembled at the voice of a mere mortal. The time is coming, when the voice of God shall speak to you in thunder. That voice will convulse all nature, start the dead from their graves, and summon the countless nations to Jehovah's bar for judgment. To be prepared for this grand and solemn event, you must be "created in "Christ Jesus unto good works." Without an interest in "the blood of his cross," you are under the condemnation of the divine law.

Since, then, your state is fearfully perilous, be alarmed. "Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men." Surely it is better to suffer here than hereafter. Let conscience do its duty: you have sought to stifle it once; do so no more. You may indeed succeed for a while; but soon its power will revive. "ed spirit who can bear?"

f 'Eph. ii. 10. g 2 Cor: v. 11.

"A wound

You are pre

h Prov. xviii. 14.

paring for yourselves an awful period of suffering. Conscience will awake in the hour of dissolution; or if not then, it will assuredly in eternity. Yes, it will awake amidst the ruins of the world, and the horrors of the judgment-day. What a scene will you then behold! The heavens and the earth passing away with a great noise, and the elements melting with fervent heat. In that tremendous moment, your hopes perish; your controversy with God terminates; your fate is irrevocably fixed in outer darkness! AMEN.

SERMON XII.

THE PERFECTION OF CHRISTIAN

KNOWLEDGE.

HEBREWS V. 12, 13, 14. and VI. 1, 2:

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God: and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness : for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith towards God; of

a Preached at the opening of the Presbytery of New-York, April, 1811.