his people. The next may be one of his judgment upon him whom he reckons no longer among his people. The Lord in his long-suffering begins with affectionate expostulation; but in his justice He ends with fearful condemnation. O let none allow the acceptable time to pass by. Let him answer the question which the Lord condescends to put in sorrow rather than in anger, with the sorrow of an earnest repentance. And God grant that it may be said of him, as St. Paul said of the penitent Corinthians, "For behold this self-same thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge'!"

(2.) But the Lord's question goes further yet. It proceeds to ask, "Wherein have I wearied thee?" Alas! how cutting a question to the people that profess his name, who has asserted that his yoke is easy, and his burden is light. What must be their condition who find such a yoke tight and galling, such a burden heavy to be borne? And do not multitudes of the people of this visible Church of God declare, that they do so find it, in all that they say or do? Do they take a lively pleasure in their religious duties? or do they perform them as a task, and

12 Cor. vii. 11.

lay hold of all manner of unworthy excuses for not performing them? Are, for example, his Sabbaths kept with cheerful and thankful obedience, for the great mercy shown in them and through them? Do men hasten to the house of God, with their hearts full of the remembrance of the Lord of glory, who rose from the dead, and exhibited the first-fruits of our resurrection on that day? And does this remembrance abide by them so continually, so lively, that they anxiously provide against every hindrance that can possibly happen? Or, on the contrary, do they gladly lay hold of every possible excuse, and when even that fails, even in their dull conscience, are ready to invent one? Do they on other days rise actively to the business of the day, without asking questions of what may hinder? but on the Lord's-day alone the sky is carefully observed, and a hindrance is soon found against going to be about the heavenly Father's business. This is but one example of the many cases in which men subject themselves to that severe reproof from the God of mercy, "Wherein have I wearied you?" Has it been in setting before you the work of your own salvation? Has it been in asking a meet return to my love; a due use of my gifts; a right application of my means; in laying on you such an exalted charge as that of rendering unto me due honour and glory; in stationing you in my Church on earth, where you may prepare

yourself for the general assembly in heaven; in preparing you with service here, that you may be fit to serve me with everlasting service hereafter? In all this have I wearied you? How then shall you be fit to bear the exceeding and eternal weight of glory in the world to come?

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Such are but few indeed out of the very many points in which I might exemplify God's controversy with the careless and indifferent amongst his people. Even they that are faithful and striving amongst his people are so jealous of themselves, that they set the Lord before their eyes, as entering upon this controversy with them, and calling upon them to testify against Him if they can. And they rise from the self-examination with acknowledgments of their unworthiness, and confessions of, Lord, thou alone art worthy. Thou hast done all things well. Glory and worship and honour be unto thee." What then shall the negligent, the unwatchful, the disobedient reply? Alas! too often their hearts, if not their lips, do testify against Him, murmur against the strictness of his statutes, groan with weariness of his ordinances. But, testify against me if you can, is the challenge of the Giver of all good things, of the Redeemer from the pit, of the Exalter unto heaven. Name a single good thing which I have withheld, a single mercy which I have not done, a single instrument of happiness to eternal life which I

have not supplied. What a challenge is this to our hearts. May they have grace to reply to it with thankful acknowledgment for the past, with earnest perseverance and watchfulness as to the present, with bright hope and careful provision for the future. So may He end his controversy with us.

SERMON XII.

THE TIME FOR WORK.

JOHN Xi. 9, 10.

"Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.”

THE disciples of our Lord were afraid of his being killed by the Jews, if He went amongst them again; and therefore begged Him to stay where He was. But our Lord would not let any considerations of death or of life, interfere with the great work for which He had been sent into the world, and therefore answers them in the words of the text, by which He means to say, The day is of a certain length, sufficient for all work; and then there is light by which we can walk and work: so we must do our work while it is day. We cannot see to work in the night, when we stumble, if we

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