and even Christians themselves, at times, have not that sense of its evil and malignancy which they ought. So far, however, is certain (and we need not quote Scripture for the truth of it), that grace thrives best in a weeping heart; and, that they are, in general, the most lively and joyful Christians, who, as to outward things, have tears for their meat night and day. But if this should be disputed, and the great advantages of affliction should be denied, and the gloomy Christian should find little encouragement to hope for future comfort from present appearances, I would add,

2. God, who cannot lie, hath promised it. "Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart:" "To the upright there ariseth light in the darkness:" "Though weeping may endure for a night, joy cometh in the morning :" "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." These, and a multitude of like promises, hath God given, to assure us, that how great soever the trials and distresses of his people may be, they shall, sooner or later, have a joyful issue. And hath God said it, and shall it not come to pass PHath he promised, and will he not make it good ?— Can the designs of Omnipotence be defeated ?— Sooner shall heaven and earth pass away, than one jot or tittle of what he hath said pass unfulfilled.→→ The Lord of the harvest hath engaged for it. He who "maketh the clouds his chariot, who walketh upon the wings of the wind," and doth what he pleases in heaven and earth, so that none ever hardened himself against him and prospered; He hath declared, that "they that sow in tears shall in joy;" that he will revive the spirit of the

reap

.II JO7

humble, and cheer the heart of contrite ones; and that the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs of everlasting joy; and sighing and sorrow shall flee away for ever.

True, indeed, there is little appearance of such a joyful period at present; every thing within them and without them seems unfavourable: they walk in darkness, and see no light. Nay, in the even time, when it might be expected that the near approaching glories of the invisible world should have diffused some glimmerings of light and joy over their minds-I say, even the evening of life may be dark and cloudy. We may see, we have seen, Christians who have followed hard after God; whose heart and flesh have cried out for the living God; and whose prevailing and earnest desire has been, that God would lift up the light of his countenance upon them; live year after year, even to old age, complaining, "Oh that I knew where I might find him!" Yea, and we have seen them enter the dark valley of the shadow of death, with trembling feet and doubting hearts, without any certain and joyous evidence of their title to the incorruptible and undefiled inheritance. So far from reaping in joy, to the last hour of life they were sowing in tears,-Let us therefore inquire,

IV. When this joyful harvest may be expected.

It must not be expected in our wintry world, for there is not sun enough to ripen it. The nights are here so long and cold, and the days so wet and cloudy, that, though our graces may keep alive, and be more rooted and grounded, yet it requires a warmer climate to bring them to perfection. The trials and tribulation we meet with, like the frost

and snow of winter, soften and meliorate the heart; but the highest of our attainments in grace and comfort are no better than the shoots and blossoms of spring. Heaven is the Christian's summer; for there shall be no night there. The Sun of righteousness shall shine forth with dazzling brightness, and make an everlasting day. No rising clouds, no falling storms, no nipping frosts, no scorching droughts; nothing, of any kind, shall be there to alarm the fears or damp the opening joy of the happy reaper. Then, Christians, shall "an angel come from the altar, and cry with a loud voice to him that hath the sharp sickle, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe." Then shall they gather first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them. Your corruptions and temptations, your doubts and fears, sins and sorrows, and all the disturbers of your purity and peace, shall be put under your feet; or, rather, shall be removed at an infinite distance; and your graces and comforts, which are here so weak and languishing, so crowded, and as it were choaked up with weeds, shall expand, and flourish with immortal vigour; and you shall appear beautiful as a" dove whose wings are covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold." Then shall

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your righteousness go forth as brightness, and your salvation as a lamp that burneth." And when you come to reap the fruits of your present trials; when you see what peaceable fruits of righteousness they have wrought in you, and what an eternal weight of glory they have wrought out for you; when you find the dreadful storms so happily blown over, and nothing before you but sun-shine, peace,

plenty, and joy everlasting; you will bless God, who made you sow in tears; and, in a transport of grateful admiration, cry out, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted."

relImprovement.

1. How greatly are they to blame, who in this busy time stand all the day idle!

"I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; and lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well; I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep; so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man." (Prov. xxiv. 30.) How can it be otherwise, if a man fools away the proper season for tilling, and begins to sow his seed when his neighbours' fields are white already to harvest? Equally foolish and fatal is the conduct of those, who do not attend to the things which belong to their peace till they are ready to be hid from their eyes; who trifle away the day of grace, and neglect to work the work of God, till they are summoned to the grave, where "there is no more work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom." "The sluggard will not plough, by reason of cold: therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing." (Prov. xx. 4.) And so it will fare with all those who let the many years of plenty pass, without making provision for the succeeding famine; who take no care to lay up for themselves a good foundation against the time to come. The

sluggard thinks it too cold to plough, and the carnal mind objects to the hard lessons of Christianity. To cut off a right hand and pluck out a right eye, and crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts, are duties which corrupt nature cares not to submit unto :-but as he that will not plough in cold shall beg in harvest; so he that will not deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Christ, shall never be where Jesus is, to behold his glory.. -What a lamentable sight is this! To see so great a part of the world in the way to certain and eternal beggary! to see them wasting away the precious hours of life in sauntering up and down, doing nothing, when duties of infinite and everlasting consequence lie before them!-to see eternity, with all its awful consequences, advancing towards them, and no pro vision made, or making, for it!-to see one grave after another opening, and the giddy multitude as unconcerned about dying, as if they were all immortal! Whose Whose eye does not affect his heart? who can forbear the charitable admonition? Suffer then, my brethren, the word of exhortation." Why stand ye here all the day idle?" Will you say, "Because no man hath hired us?" Hath no kind friend ever told you, that you had a God to serve, and souls to save; and that, "without holiness no man shall see the Lord ?" Then, as an ambassador for God, I take upon me to say,- Go work to-day in God's vineyard. Break up the fallow ground, Pray that God would take this stony heart out of your flesh, and give you an heart of flesh; and let this evening witness to your sincere and godly sorrow.' And God Almighty grant, that, before you sleep this night, there may be some good seed sown