every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." These are also St. Paul's words, and I quote them, because, not only do they confirm the statement in the text, but they enlarge upon it, and draw it out to its full meaning. They show us what that self is, for which we shall have to give account. It is made up of a soul and body, which God has committed to every man; and for the use, or abuse of which He will demand a reckoning at the last.

And is such a reckoning to be treated by any of us, as a light thing? No, surely-but as something of the deepest moment to us all. The life which we now lead in the flesh, the things that our hands find to do, the words that we now speak with our lips, the thoughts that we now conceive in our minds, these make up a large account even for the very young; an account we shall have to give before long and to whom? for this is the third and last point in our consideration. Granted that we are liable to such a reckoning, who is it that has authority to ask it of us? Who but He that created and made us? who gave us our souls and bodies with all their wonderful faculties and powers, to be the instruments for promoting His honour, and showing forth His glory-even the Holy Lord God-who was, and is, and is to

come." It is before Him that the examination of our lives must take place-" Every one of us shall give account of himself to God."

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This last thought adds greatly to the solemn lesson which the text unfolds. God is not a man whom we may deceive: He is not as the wisest and best of human beings are, capable of being mocked and blinded by a show of godliness, without the power of it; we must not flatter ourselves that we can sin against Him and yet escape detection. "All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do "-from God, not the closest secrets of our lives are hid. He is," as the Psalmist so truly expresses it, "about our path and about our bed, and spieth out all our ways,there is not a word in our tongue, but He knoweth it altogether." When we go out to labour in the morning, when we come in of an evening, when we are by ourselves, or in company with others; in the stillness of our chamber, or in the crowded marketplace; at all times, and in all places, God is present with us, and there is nothing that we say, or do, or think, but is known unto Him. And it is to this all-seeing, all-searching Being, that we shall each of us have to give account of himself,-rather, I might say, we shall have to hear the account that is even now preparing against us: for God not only sees all things, but He notices all things:

there is a Book of Remembrance kept in heaven, in which the life and conversation of every child of man is written down at large: so that not the least particular of it can be forgotten. It cannot be forgotten before God, though in many cases it may have been forgotten by ourselves: but as surely as it once were done, so will it be again brought to our recollection, either to our sorrow or to our joy, in the great day of account.

Into the proceedings of that awful time I have no intention of entering this morning. Neither can it be required. There is no part of Holy Scripture so generally read, no part more sublime, and explicit, than that which relates to the final judgment. God no doubt has wisely and in mercy so ordained it, that it might not fare with this portion of His truth as it often does with the other parts of the Gospel revelation: that it might not enter into the ear and pass out again without reaching, and affecting the heart. As it is, few are so hardened, and so bold as to be able to hear, or read what is written about the judgment, without sensations of reverence, and fear. One passage only out of the many that refer to it, shall I quote: and that is, the description of the things that are to be hereafter, given by St. John in the book of the Revelation: "I saw," he says, " a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth

and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead small and great stand before God: and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works."

And now, brethren, let me beg of you seriously to meditate upon these truths: upon the certainty of this statement of Holy Writ-that "every one of us shall give account of himself to God." The words are few, but they are full of meaning, and that meaning has, I trust, been made clear to you all. We have looked at them piece by piece; we have seen that we are all included in the reckoning that is to be given hereafter; we have seen in what that reckoning will consist, that we shall have to give account, each for himself, of his life, and conduct in the world—and lastly we have considered before whom that account is to be rendered: even before God. God the Son Who died for us, Who rose again for our justification, Who now in heaven intercedes for us with the Father, will come once more in the end of the world, to be our Judge. Before Him shall we all now here present; all who are alive, and all who are in their graves, one day stand, to give account of ourselves, and to be judged according to our works.

If you are impressed, as I wish you may be, with a conviction that this is true, the very truth of God's Holy Word; there will need no argument from me, to help you in drawing from it that conclusion, to which it so evidently points-the necessity of a religious life; the manner of persons we ought to be, in all holy conversation and godliness: how careful of our steps; How watchful in all things; how zealous for God's honour; how full of charity and good deeds towards one another; how sorrowful for sin; how earnest in repentance; how persevering in the practice of a holy life; especially in seeking that help from above without which such a life must be impossible. All this would of necessity result from a heartfelt belief in, and personal application of, the words of my text. I say personal, for indeed, my brethren, this is your own concern: you have each a separate and individual interest in this consideration. Let it be seen that you so understand it; make it your business to mind the things that belong unto your eternal peace: you need not for this go beyond your proper calling: God is best served by those who abide contentedly in the position in which He has placed them. "Art thou called being a servant, care not for it :" but labour truly in that calling to do your duty; "not with eyeservices," as though you minded only to please men," but in singleness of heart fearing