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flood, went into the ark in obedience to the commandment of God; yet thou, after that God has called thee and declared unto thee in his word, that an everlasting doom will come upon all those that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, (2 Thes. 1,8.) hardenest thy heart continually, and triflest away thy time in this evil and sinful world, with lands and oxen, and the like, which thou supposest will serve thee for an excuse, (Luke 14.) and dreadest not the fearful unending fire and burning hell which threaten thee with impending destruction, till at length the door is shut, and thou art compelled to go with the ungodly into torment, where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched. Mark 9. If a criminal in prison is convinced, that by human judgment he will be sentenced to death, will he rejoice in his confinement? Yet thou, who art imprisoned in sins and bound with the ponderous chains of darkness; who art convinced, that if thou wast brought before the bar of God, thou wouldst be sentenced to everlasting death, canst, nevertheless, in despite of all thy convictions, amuse thyself with the world, spend thy time in idleness and sensuality; and, moreover, repose in the great

est security, although thou knowest not what hour thy Lord cometh, when thou shalt hear the dreadful sentence: Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strewed, and bring all thy works, which thou hast done in thy life, before my judgment, and yet thou hast not put my money to the exchangers: wherefore that which thou hast shall be taken from thee, and thou shalt be bound hand and foot and cast into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matt. 25. O thoughtless man! take heed while it is called to-day. For a criminal, upon finding that sentence of death is passed upon him, petitions the chief magistrate for a pardon. But thou knowest that Jesus Christ is constituted by the Father chief magistrate, invested with the power of pardoning all such sinners as are condemned by his righteousness, and rendering them happy, provided they submit to these conditions, namely, that they humble their rebellious hearts (1 Pet. 5, 5. 6. James 6, 10.) and lay aside their carnal weapons which they have used so long against him, and subject themselves to him, and follow him in whatso

ever he commandeth them. Matt. 19, 28. 29. But this will be a hard lesson for thee, and, therefore, thou rejectest continually all the precious proffers of so high and compassionate a mediator as Jesus; and this greatly enhances the severity of thy sentence and condemnation.

Now, beloved man, art thou dead, or mad, that this consideration should not stir thee up in giving diligence to make thy calling and election sure, (2 Pet. 1, 10.) and so to run as not uncertainly, not to beat the air, (1 Cor. 9, 26.) or grope for the wall like the blind, and grope as if thou hadst no eyes, and stumble at noonday in the blaze of gospel light, as in the night, and dwell in desolate places as the dead, so that thou lookest for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from thee. Isaiah 59, 10. 11.

Oh, is this not too much the case with thee! Awake then, in earnest, from thy sleep, and arise from thy dead works, that Christ may give thee light. Eph. 5, 14. Receive him as thy wisdom, (1 Cor. 1, 30.) and like a faithful disciple (Matt. 11, 29.) learn of him the beginning of a christian life, which is repentance and conversion; and entreat him for a thorough purifica

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tion of heart and the renovating power of his Holy Spirit; saying with David: How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily; how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him. Ps. 13.

IV.

Cease not also, with prayers and tears, to read the holy scriptures, and particularly the New Testament, wherein God has manifested in his son and by the mouth of his apostles, his holy evangelical will and counsel and learn from its pages how Christ himself walked in the world, leaving us an example that we should follow his steps. 1 Pet. 2, 21.

He who was rich, for your sakes became poor, that we through his poverty might be rich. 2 Cor. 8, 9.

He who knew no sin, was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Cor. 5, 21.

He who was the Lord, became despised and rejected of men. Isaiah 53.

He who is the sovereign Lord of heaven and earth, became a servant for us

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all, and was charged with being Beelzebub, or the prince of the devils. Matt. 10, 25. and 12, 24. and 20, 28.

He, who was the wisdom of the Father and the brightness of his glory, which the angels desire to look into, was charged with being a devil and a deceiver of the people. John 10, 20. Heb. 1. Col. 1, 13.

He, who was worthy of all honor, sought no honor but that of his Father. John 5, 41. chap. 7, 17. 18. He, who is worthy to be glorified by all men, hears almost all men cry out, Crucify him! Crucify him! He, who gives to all thirsty souls the genuine water of life, (John 7, 37.) had nothing in the time of his great suffering and thirst but vinegar mixed with gall. Matt. 27, 31. Ps. 69, 22. He, who gives eternal life unto all faithful and inquiring souls, was taken by men and hanged upon a tree. Acts 5, 30. Now, they have done this in the green tree, what will they do in the dry? If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? Matt. 10, 25.

Therefore, my dear reader, view thyself in the above mirror; examine thy heart well, and see whether thou art willing to

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