without; when they see how little honour God has from themselves, and how much he is dishonoured by others, this wounds them to the heart. They behold transgressors, and are grieved; and they feelingly exclaim, "O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" But courage, Christians, the year of release is at hand; and then you shall go where nothing defileth. The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness. You shall be perfectly holy yourselves, and all about you shall be holy too; holy saints, holy angels, a holy God. Imperfection attends all your services on earth but the moment that you enter heaven, you shall find that "that which is

:

that which was in part is done auect is come, and,

Though you go out of this world lamenting your numerous infirmities, you shall be presented before the throne of God, without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing.

Thirdly. It will be a release from temptation. It was an important caution of the apostle Peter, when he said, "Be sober, be vigilant; for your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, goeth about, seeking whom he may devour." But in spite of all their vigilance, believers are often harrassed, and wounded, by this restless and implacable enemy. It is true, that armour of proof is provided. There is a helmet for the head, and a breast-plate for the heart. There is the sword of the Spirit, and the shield of Faith, sufficient to secure you from the fiery darts of the devil. But to be always, fighting, or, at least, to be always lying upon our arms, suspecting an enemy in every bush, and danger in every step, is indeed troublesome and tiresome. But courage,

Christians, the year of release is at hand, when there shall be a discharge from this war, and when you may safely beat your swords into ploughshares, and your spears into pruning-hooks; for all your enemies shall be put under your feet. Within the gates of the New Jerusalem, you shall be free from all assaults and troubles whatever; and be proclaimed more than conquerors through him that loved you.

Fourthly. There will be a release from this state of exile and confinement.

"Knowing this," says the Apostle, " that whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord." Absent, indeed! Strangers, pilgrims, prisoners; at such a distance from home, that sometimes we remain a long while without hearing from our heavenly Father. Piteous are the groans which many of God's children have uttered, in consequence of the length and painfulness of their imprisonment. "For we know," say they, "that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon, with our house which is from heaven." Courage, Christians, the year of release is at hand, when your unfettered spirits shall mount up with wings as eagles, towards the spirits of just men made perfect; and you shall get above the clouds and darkness of this lower state, and enter into marvellous light, and joy unspeakable and full of glory. Mysteries of Providence will then be unfolded; and the most astonishing and delightful discoveries made of the infinite wisdom and goodness of

God. The much greater mysteries of grace shall be also laid open; and fill our hearts with love and admiration, and our mouths with never-ending praises.

Is it not comfortable then to think, that such a year of happy release is at hand, that perhaps this which is now begun may be it, and that before the end of it, you may be delivered from all the grievances which we have enumerated, and partake of glory, honour, and immortality? Is it not pleasing to think, that before the end of this year, you may be gone from our church, and its iinperfect worship, and be joined to the general assembly in heaven; that you may have put off this vile body, with all its disorders, and be released from the noise and confusion of this bustling world? I know that it must be good news to many of you. But ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye may receive the promise.

If this were the happy state of all in this assembly, my work would be easy. I should have nothing to do but to exhort you to adore the grace which has been bestowed upon you, and to rejoice in hope of your approaching glory. But there are some,-I fear to think how many,-who have not the least part or lot in this matter. This year of release would be to them the most unwelcome thing that could happen. They would rather continue as they are; and wish, if it were possible, never to remove. But let such be assured, that, whether they desire it or not, the year of release will come to them as well as to others, and for aught they know, the time may be near.

But, O! how different will be its consequences to you, from what you have heard it will be to Christians who are prepared for its coming! To them it will be a release from all labour and suffering; to you it will be only the beginning of sorrows. To them it will be a release from the power and pollution of sin; to you it will bring an awful confirmation of that Scripture, "The wages of sin is death." To them it will be a release from the vexatious assaults of Satan; but you it will shut up with the devil and his angels for ever. To them it will be a release from this state of distance and exile; to you it will be "an everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and the glory of his power." It is not improbable, that this may be a dying year to some of this unhappy character; and if I knew which of you were the persons, I would, from motives of the purest friendship, remind you, that

The year is at hand, that will put an end to all your worldly pursuits and enjoyments.

Perhaps you have been for a long while contriving and toiling to get rich; and pleasing yourselves with the thought, that when you shall have goods laid up for many years, you will take your ease, and eat, drink, and be merry. But in the midst of your dreams of future enjoyment, God may address you in this awakening language; "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee. Then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided?" Be they whose they may, they shall not be yours any longer. You must leave houses, lands, trade, family, every thing, behind you; and be shut up in the gloomy mansions

of the dead, where rich and poor meet together, and all are alike undistinguished and inactive. Then will it be said of you, in particular, as it was long ago said of mankind in general," His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth, in that very day his thoughts perish."

The year is at hand that will put an end to all spiritual privileges, and other means of improve

mént.

Lightly, as you treat Sabbaths, and Sermons, and Prayers, at present, you will think otherwise of them, when you are about to be taken from them for ever. Now, perhaps, the Lord's day is the longest in the week, and you know not what to do with yourselves; and often, in the course of it inwardly say, "When will the sabbath be over?" Well, you may not much longer be burdened with Sabbaths. The year of release is at hand; and then you will be no more constrained to go to the house of God; and be compelled to shut yourselves up in a closet to pray or to meet twice a day for family prayer. You shall be released from all this, and go down to the grave, where there is nothing to distinguish Sabbaths from other days; for there is no more work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

The year is at hand, when for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

Now, perhaps, you may be vain enough to think, if not bold enough to say, "Our lips are our own; who is Lord over us? If we will walk after the ways of our own hearts, and the sight of our own eyes,