you aside; but continue stedfast and persevering, forasmuch as you know that your labour, which is attended here with much comfort, will hereafter be crowned with unutterable glory, and, at any rate, cannot be in vain in the Lord.-Oh! that men were wise, that they would consider this, and with a determined mind, walk uprightly!—He that walketh uprightly walketh surely.

BUT, while to this important maxim I earnestly solicit the attention of all, I press it particularly upon the young. They are in the beginning of life, and I would remind them, that it is of the utmost consequence to begin well. This is the spring time of their existence, and as they now sow they shall hereafter reap. Upon the moral and spiritual improvement which they now make, will depend the richness or poverty of their future harvest. He that

soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the spirit, shall of the spirit reap life everlasting.' ** Ye young, mispend not then, your precious

* Gal, vi, 8.

time; but diligently apply your hearts unto wisdom. The solicitations of sense; the example of the world, and the wiles of wick⚫ed men and seducers,' will all combine to divert you from the right path; but firmly resist temptation, under whatever form it may assail you. Study to know and to be deeply impressed with a sense of your duty, and pray that you may be en

abled to conform to it with a fixed resolution, and without any delay. Then fear not, for the Lord shall be your friend, and all you do shall finally prosper. The Lord is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will •he withhold from them who walk

up

* Psalm lxxxiv, 11.

THE

FINAL TRIUMPH OF THE UPRIGHT,

PSALM xlix, 14.

-The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning.

THE

HE upright are those who have obtained grace to fulfil with fidelity the various duties resulting from the different relations in which they are placed. They know what these relations require of them, and with a prudent, but determined mind they endeavour to perform it. No temptations, however strong, can withdraw them wholly from the right path. They may be occasionally surprised, but they cannot be finally overcome. They increase their strength; they more and more abhor that

which is evil, and cleave to that which is good. They do justly, love mercy, and 'walk humbly before God." Their character accordingly, is generally esteemed even by the wicked; but still it does not receive, at present, all that estimation to which it is entitled. Were it duly esteemed, it would of consequence be universally followed. But instead of this, it is often disregarded, nay sometimes hated and despised. Thanks be to God, however, that it shall not always be so. There is a period fast approaching when their character shall be clearly illustrated, and their excellence fully known. The upright shall have ⚫ dominion—in the morning.'

THIS Comfortable and important truth is stated in a most impressive manner by the devout Psalmist, in the passage from which these words are taken. He takes occasion to condemn, in strong terms, the conduct of worldly men who set their affections wholly on the vanities of earth and time. Their way,' says he, is folly.' It must be so, for all the things of earth and time are not only unsatisfactory, but fast And their posterity,' he

passing away.

adds, approve their sayings. Each new generation imitates the preceding: the children follow the steps of their fathers: untaught even by their experience, they run the same silly, sinful round, till death bring them and their schemes to the same gloomy termination.—' Like sheep they are laid in 6 the grave: death shall feed on them, and the upright shall have dominion over 'them in the morning.' Yes,—while the wicked perish from the earth, and sink into the abyss of destruction, the upright shall rise and reign in all the felicity and glory of the kingdom of heaven.

THERE are two things here which require our particular attention.-The first is, in what respects it may be said, that at present the upright are often depressed: The second is, upon what grounds we believe that they shall afterwards have dominion. These are interesting topics, and the illustration of them will lead to some important and useful reflections.

FIRST, then, let us consider in what respects it may be said that, at present, the , upright' are often depressed.-It is un