No sooner do they close their eyes upon this world, than, like the rich man in the parable, they are in "torments"-torments, of which the fearful agonies of remorse, that sometimes here tear the bosom of the sinner, afford but a faint idea; and compared to which, the fires that consume the victim at the stake could be easily borne. Their souls, when death rends them from the body, are consigned to inconceivable misery in the place of the departed; and at the day of judgment, their bodies united to their souls, they make their bed in hell-in devouring fire-in everlasting burnings; so says the word of God. To all eternity, to all eternity they cry, cry without ceasing-" Give me a drop of water to cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame." To all eternity they cry in vain. Alarming reflection! My brethren, if we live in neglect of God and of his service-if we, devoted only to the world, neglect the care of our souls-we shall finally dwell with the devouring fire-we must lie down with everlasting burnings; I repeat it, says the word of God; and would it be wise to make the experiment whether that word be true? And the event which is to consign us to this awful destiny--the event of death-is uncertain: it will come after the revolution of a few years-it may come to-morrow-it may come to-day.

so,

5. We remark further, as exhibited in this parable, how glorious are the rewards of the righteous. Like the pious Lazarus, as soon as their spirit departs from the body, attending angels receive it, and conduct it to the place of the departed, to that place which their Redeemer blessed with his pre

sence in the interval between his death and his resurrection. They rest in the bosom of blessedness-in the society of the Father of the faithfulof all the saints who have departed in the faith of his holy name. There they are cheered by manifestations of the divine glory and perfections; and they anticipate, with holy rapture, their re-union with their glorified bodies, at the resurrection of the just. They look forward with holy and joyful confidence to the period when their corruption shall put on incorruption, and their mortal immortality-when the welcome sentence shall be addressed to them-" Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

Christian brethren, let us comfort one another with these words. Cheered by the glorious prospect which they present, let us follow our Christian friends from the bed of disease and death to the bosom of Abraham, to the custodies of that Almighty Saviour who holds the keys of death and hell; let us in holy imagination follow them-made like to the angels of God, invested with the garments of immortality-to the kingdom of their Almighty Father; and let us not sorrow, because they have gone before us to the place of rest and peace, as those that have no hope.

Lastly. We remark, as enforced by this parable, on the guilt of those who reject or disregard the offers of salvation proclaimed in the Gospel.

How great would be the obstinacy, the incredulity, and the guilt of those who would reject a messenger coming unto them from the dead, and announcing the awful realities of the invisible

world! Such was the obstinacy, the incredulity, and the guilt of the Jews, who rejected the testimony of that divine Personage who arose from the dead to assure them of the certainty of a future state--that God would judge the world in righteousness. Such is now the obstinacy, the incredulity, and the guilt of those who contemn or neglect the offers of salvation from him who has brought life and immortality to light. Would they be persuaded if one were to rise from the dead? The testimony of all ages to those divine miracles which Christ wrought-the numerous prophecies which were fulfilled in his person, and in the condition of those who were once God's chosen people the excellence of his holy religion, the sublime nature of its doctrines, the sanctity of its precepts, the efficacy of its aids, the value of its consolations, the splendour of its rewards, and the awful severity of its punishments-the warnings of God's providence the secret monitions and strivings of his Spirit the denunciations of his justice, the invitations of his mercy-the terrors of hell, the hopes of heaven-if all these do not convince or move them, "neither would they be persuaded though one rose from the dead." Alas! how shall they escape, who neglect so great salvation ?-who, immersed in worldly pursuits and sinful pleasures, neglect that one thing needful, the care of their immortal souls. Let them consider the fate of the rich man in the parable. They are now gay and thoughtless; so he once was. They are forgetful of God and eternity; such was once the forgetfulness of the rich man. "In hell he lifts up his eyes, being in torments." If the world could purchase that day of grace which he contemned, do we not

think that the world, if he possessed it, would be joyfully given? My brethren, that day of grace we now enjoy; let us not neglect it, lest, like this hapless sinner, we lift up our eyes, being in torments-lest, like him, we cry for mercy, but it is too late.

Christian brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord: for your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. Through the cares and trials of life, that God to whom you have devoted yourselves, and whom you endeavour faithfully to serve, will support you. Be not dismayed at the dark valley of the shadow of death; your Saviour shall conduct you through it. Death he will strip for you of its sting, and the grave of its victory. From this vale of tears you shall be translated, like the pious Lazarus, to the paradise of God. When your earthly house of this tabernacle is dissolved, you shall be clothed upon with a house which is from heaven--when you have passed the region of the grave, you shall come to the city of the living God, where flow the waters of life, of comfort, of salvation.

SERMON XL.

THE SOURCES OF HUMAN TROUBLE, AND ITS ANTIDOTE.

JOHN xiv. 1.

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also

in me.

i

THIS was the language which our blessed Lord addressed to his disciples but a short time before his crucifixion. It was natural that their hearts should be troubled, when they looked forward to their beloved Friend and Master suffering an ignominious death; when they considered that they thus would soon be deprived of his affectionate counsel and support; and when they surveyed the trials and persecutions which awaited them, as the disciples of one whom the inveterate malice of his enemies would crucify and slay. Jesus, their divine Master, was touched with compassion for them, and he addressed to them the voice of consolation-" Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." Ye believe in God, who is infinitely wise, infinitely powerful, and infinitely good; believe also in me, whom he hath sent to be your Guide, Comforter, and Saviourthrough whom you can have access unto this greatest and best of Beings, and obtain a title to his blessing, his protection, and his everlasting favour. What can hurt you or make you afraid? Believ