conduce to your benefit or not. The day will come when we shall be required to render an account of all those means of grace which God hath vouchsafed to us: and when it will be more tolerable for those who never heard God's Word, than for those, who, having heard, have despised or neglected it.

But, lastly, remember what Saint Paul says of some hearers, "the Word preached did not profit them, not being mixed or imbued with faith, in them that heard it;" faith, that it is in truth the Word of God; faith, that it was given for our instruction in righteousness; faith, that, if duly attended to and obeyed, it will, through the merits of Christ, save our precious souls. For, "other foundation can no man lay, than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."

In this, our day of grace, therefore, let us fervently pray, that it would please our heavenly Father to "increase our faith:" let us endeavour to know and to meditate on the things which belong to our eternal peace: and may "the grace of God, which bringeth salvation," enlighten our understandings and purify our affections, that we may receive the divine Word with gladness and singleness of heart, never forgetting that blessed are they, and only they, who hear the Word of God, and keep it.

SERMON II.

FOR NEW-YEAR'S DAY.

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF TIME.

1 COR. VII. 29.-" Time is short."

TIME, though incomparably the most precious of all temporal gifts, is that of which, commonly, we are most profuse; as if, in spite of daily experience, we could possibly entertain so absurd and groundless an opinion, as to fancy the store inexhaustible. Respecting time, indeed, a great fallacy is imposed on our moral perception, in the different views of its past and present duration. The same term of years, which, when reviewed, appears short, in prospect seems comparatively long. And from whence does this arise; Either, because it is the nature of hope to flatter; or, because in reverting to our past lives, we can recal to memory many things which occurred within that period; while on the time which is to come it is of course impossible

for us to make any remarks; since, from our ignorance of what shall happen, we have nothing on which to fix our thoughts. The future lies before us like a boundless ocean.

But we are as liable to an error, on the other hand: and may as unreasonably lament that we have too little time, as before we conceived that we had too much; that we are but tenants of a few short years, and that our lease, when expired, can never be renewed; that we cannot bring back again one hour that has so swiftly passed. Whereas to complain of the shortness of time, when we should be employed in its use, is, in fact, only to make it shorter by the complaint. To rectify both these misapprehensions we must consider that our time is exactly proportioned to our labour; that, although in other respects "art is long, and life short," yet the true art of living is entirely consistent with the shortness of life. We must consider what is our real concern, and what account will be required of us at the last day. The business of a Christian's life is to attain the end of his hope, through him who died and rose again;—a hope full of immortality. The account to be required of Christians, their Redeemer tells them, is the use and improvement of their several talents; their endowments of mind, whether natural or acquired; their fortunes and estates, whether an inheritance from their fathers, or the fruit of

their own industry; their health of body; their station and profession; but especially the means of grace by the Gospel; the light and assistance graciously afforded them in their passage through this scene of probation. These talents are to be employed, and consequently improved, by an advancement in knowledge and virtue; by promoting the honour of God, and the happiness of man. He who is engaged sincerely in the promotion of these designs, like the wise virgins in the parable, hath oil in his lamp, not only proportioned to the course of his time, but even sufficient to light him beyond it to the dawning of eternity. Religion is so far from engrossing all our time, and entrenching upon proper secular employments, that it even enjoins us, more or less, according to our age, health, and ability, to discharge them; preferring the public offices of doing good, in human society, to the severer virtues of retirement, and the strictness of solitary devotion. What relaxation is, in worldly business, such is cheerful piety in respect of religion. The human mind is not able to bear perpetual tension, constant labour, and application, either in earthly or in heavenly things. Under the former we relieve ourselves by innocent recreations, and by the temperate enjoyment of social intercourse. Under the latter,

we are refreshed by a faithful diligence in our station, by an agreeable discharge of moral

duties. But as our pleasure is not to obtrude itself, in prejudice to our worldly affairs, so neither are they, like the tares mentioned in the Gospel, to choke the divine Word, or encroach upon our duty to God. These, if rightly applied and managed, instead of hindering or interrupting, will promote and aid each other. As relaxation imparts new vigour and spirit to labour, so the discharge of honest labour gives more zeal and alacrity to religious exercises. "One thing is needful," with respect to a better world; but the rest are useful in the present, though we must ever take heed that they be subservient to that "one thing needful." Thus, there is a salutary mixture, a sweet interchange, a holy pause, among all the lawful uses of time; that we may be always satisfied as men and as Christians, who know how to live, yet who have not their hope confined to this life only; for then, indeed, would they be of all men most miserable. But the faithful disciple of a crucified Saviour, whatever his station in the world, or how trying soever the crosses he may be called upon to endure, led by the light of faith, goes on his way rejoicing. He knows, indeed, that the time of his earthly pilgrimage is short and uncertain; but he also knows that the blood of Christ has been shed to purchase his eternal salvation. Placing his whole trust therefore in this all-atoning sacrifice, it will be his