for ever in hell, because you knew not the time of your visitation on earth. One passage of Scripture just meets your case; it is addressed to young men, but is just as applicable to young women, "Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: BUT KNOW THOU, THAT FOR ALL THESE THINGS GOD WILL BRING THEE INTO JUDGMENT." Eccles xi. 9. Then you must say why you preferred dancing to praying; singing foolish songs to praising God your Maker; and preferred the pleasures of sin, which are but for a season, to the joys of heaven, which are for ever and ever. How will you be able to face the God whom you have so insulted?

How can you stand before the Saviour whom you have so despised? How will you bear to be mixed up with devils and lost souls, and hear the Lord Jesus say to you and them, “Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels ?" SUSAN BROWN, SUSAN BROWN, ARE YOU SURE THAT YOU ARE RIGHT?" Look into the matter at once, for it is quite time, and if upon examination you conclude that you are right, then by all means go on in your present course; but if upon investigation, you discover that you are wrong, then "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, and call upon him while he is near, forsake, O forsake

ye

your present way, and turn unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon you, and to our God, for he WILL ABUNDANTLY PARDON YOU."

However, whatever you do, be sure that you are right. If now you discover that you are wrong, you may correct your mistake; but by and by, it will be too late. The door will be shut. God will be favourable no more. The accepted time will be over. The angel will descend from heaven, and swear by the everliving One, that there shall be time no longer. Then all will be vast, never-ending eternity. Then every one's lot will be fixed, and fixed for ever. The wicked will be turned into hell, and the righteous will go into life eternal. True believers will find themselves all right; but the sinner will find himself all wrong. O make sure work, make sure work, for it is for ever! for ever!

"I WON'T BE FORCED."

"WELL, John, were you hearing the gospel yesterday ?"

"No, I work hard all the week, and I like to enjoy myself a bit on the Sunday."

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Enjoy yourself; but do you think there is no enjoyment in religion ?"

"I don't know, I never found any, and I have no mind to try. I like to have my liberty."

"Liberty, John; but don't you know that the God who made you placed you under a law, and that you are bound to obey that law? Now, that law requires you to love God, to worship Him, and to please Him in everything you do."

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Well, if it does, I am sure I have never troubled myself much about it, nor do I feel disposed to do so."

"This is a very sad confession, John, nor can you possibly justify such conduct. You acknowledge by what you say, that your whole life has been a life of sin, and God's word says, "the soul that sinneth it shall die." Not only shall the body die, but the soul shall die. That is, it shall be separated from God, excluded from heaven, and be shut up in hell with devils and damned souls.'

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That would be very terrible; but then God is merciful, and he will not be hard with a poor working man."

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True, God is merciful, and to prove this he gave his own Son to live and to die for sinners, that so he may justly pardon them, when they apply to him for forgiveness. And not only so, but he has sent his gospel, to inform such sinners as you are, that he is ready to forgive, and waits to be gracious; and if you believe his word, trust in what his beloved Son has done, and apply to him for pardon, your sins will be forgiven, and your soul saved. Now tell me, John, was it not great love in God, not to spare his Son, that he may spare you; and to send a message to you, who cared nothing about him, offering you a pardon and everlasting life? And ought you not very gladly to receive that message, and apply for that pardon immediately "

"I see what you are at, but I WON'T BE FORCED against my will, depend upon it. If I think it right to be religious, I will; and if I don't think it right, I won't; I'll act for myself."

"I have no wish to force you, John, I only want to convince you of what is right, and to set before you God's great love. But if God has given you a law, and you will break it; and if God offers you a pardon, and you won't have it; can you complain, if God punishes you as an obstinate sinner?

You say you will not be forced, and depend upon it God won't force you; if he save you, he will save you as a man, and not as a brute beast. You must see your lost state as a sinner, and believe in God's love to sinners, and doing so, come to the Lord Jesus in simple faith, and be saved by him. If you do not, there is but one alternative, you must be lost, and lost for ever. O, John, hell is a dreadful place, to be damned is a terrible doom, and then it is for ever! Yes, the worm that torments you, will never die; and the fire that punishes you, will never be quenched. Oh, that I could convince you of your danger, lead you to Jesus, and see you happy in his salvation!"

"Your wishes are all very good, and I have no doubt you mean well, but I must act for myself, I don't intend to be frightened, nor do I intend to be forced; so good bye.'

"Good bye, John; I am glad I have spoken to you, I shall now pray for you, nor do I despair of seeing you a humble, happy Christian yet."