And whatsoever the signs of the sky foreshow, we cannot alter. But we may alter that which is threatened by the signs of the spiritual world. When they tell us through the state of our heart that a foul morrow is at hand, it is still possible, by repentance, to alter the face of the spiritual sky, and to look forward in bright hope.

And, in like manner, the true Christian will observe the signs of the morning, as he rises as it were from death unto life again; and he will prepare himself for the day accordingly. Is it red and lowering with the coming storms of trial and temptation? Then he will prepare himself to meet it, and assure himself of a shelter in the protection of his God and Saviour; and the foul weather of sorrow shall be dispersed before the bright beams of his heavenly comfort. So shall the signs of evil be turned into good, and the peace of the day shall be an earnest of the everlasting peace to

come.

Surely the Christian desires not any more signs from heaven. The more watchful he is the more he finds that he has already, and the more evident and certain they are. It is the unbeliever, such as the Pharisees and Sadducees, that asks for more.

us,

What can any one of

if we do indeed believe, want for our assurance? Do we need a sign to assure us of the forgiveness of our sins? Look inward, and see

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whether conscience shows the sign of sins forsaken. Do we need a sign to assure us of our salvation? Look inward, and see whether the heart shows the sign of the work of salvation begun and carried on. None ask for a new sign, but such as never have made account of the signs which have already been given.

The very last has been given, even the very one, the one only, which our Lord promised to the Pharisees and Sadducees. The sign of Jonas has been given, the Son of man has risen from the dead. And the next sign that will be given will be his sign in heaven, as thence He comes in glory to judge the quick and dead. Let all these signs then be diligently observed every day with the lively attention of Christian watchfulness; that they prepare us for witnessing that last tremendous sign, of which the heavens, filled with the throne of the Son of man, and with his train of ten thousands of his angels, shall be full from one end unto the other. So may we see it and not tremble, but rejoice with exceeding joy!

Scripture is full of exhortations to Christian watchfulness; but no where is the duty more forcibly pressed upon our attention than in this conversation of our Lord with unbelievers. You see how He rebukes in them all such as, while they are most anxious observers of outward things, such as the signs of the weather; and are so fretful as to be unable to leave any thing

in the Lord's hands, and would fain take the Lord's work out of his hands, and make the weather too; yet, at the same time, pay no attention to those much more numerous, much more important, much more certain signs which He has shown from heaven, that we may watch them, and prepare ourselves to be ready whensoever He shall come. That work, the most necessary work of preparation, they are not so ready to take out of his hands, though He offers it to them; but they are content to leave it there, or any where. Meanwhile, the spiritual eye, through this neglect, becomes duller and duller, so that it should be less and less able to discern these signs, and the heart grows more and more unwilling rightly to understand such as it cannot help seeing. For instance, the various warnings of the shortening of our days, which every one of common seriousness perceives, both within him and without him, from growing infirmities, wasting strength, and from loss of friends and acquaintance, whom the grave has already taken away; how are these received with a blind eye and deaf ear, and we see them go on towards the grave as insensible as the cattle towards the slaughter-house!

And in this rebuke of our Lord's, let us take serious notice of the manner in which our Lord parts from those worldly-minded, unbelieving sign-seekers; "And He left them and departed." He left them to their unbelief;

He departed from their company and neighbourhood; He cut them off; He had said his last to them; He had done with them for ever in this world; but has He done with them, and the like of them, in the world to come? He will see them; He will speak to them once again, as He utters from his seat of judgment the last irreversible sentence, "Depart, ye cursed." Then He shall leave them for ever and ever to their misery, and they shall depart for ever far asunder from his blessed company, where is light and life, into regions of darkness and death.

Let not then the fleeting appearances, and continually changing signs of this passing world, draw your attention, my friends, from the view and careful consideration of the signs of the times, which call upon us to prepare for the coming of the Lord. Let us be awake, and on the look-out in all the anxiety of Christian watchfulness; and God grant us grace so to wait in all patience of faith, and perseverance of well-doing, that on that day, when the sky shall give its last sign, and the last morning sky shall be red from one end to the other with the dazzling glory of the Lord coming in his kingdom, we may be able to behold. the sign of the Son of man with exceeding joy, and accept it as the immediate harbinger of everlasting peace.

SERMON XXXI.

THE LIFE OF LIVING SOUL.

(Septuagesima Sunday.)

GEN. ii. 7.

"And God formed man out of the dust of the ground, an breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."

THREE degrees are here mentioned in the making of man. (1) God formed his body and limbs in due shape and proportion, as a potter forms a vessel, out of the dust of the earth. (2) To this He gave life, by breathing it into his nostrils; and thus man was added to the number of the creatures having life, which had been created on the fifth and sixth days. He was now at the head of the brutes, being fashioned, especially in his hands, and erect posture on his feet, for having the dominion over them. (3) But God destined him for a higher place still. He intended that he should not only be king of the brutes, but a servant of God, And therefore his creation was finished