man that made it? What now think you of him who for more than a century has borne the character of a madman? A thousand worlds for his condition now. Those nearest the ark cry and plead for admission, but in vain. The waters roar; the ark is taken up; they sink and are seen no more.

By this time every wretch on earth is convinced. Hear their cries from the tops of the houses, which are answered by lamentations from the hills. See the armies that are collected on the mountains. How like frighted sheep they crowd together! Now the waters, roaring and foaming, have reached their feet. They flee back to the highest ridge; the floods pursue them there. Some few climb the lofty oaks; the waves overtake them there. They flee to the highest branches, and for a while have time to reflect on their former madness. "How could I disbelieve the prophet of the Lord? Where is now the ark which I scorned? Whither am I going? O eternity! eternity! What a dreadful God have I despised!" On the impetuous torrent sweeps them. ken, and they rise no more. That blessed family are safe. heads of their revilers and persecutors, until they rest on Ararat.

topmost bough the Their hold is broThe ark comes by. They sail over the

The same terrors will seize an unbelieving world when the Son of man appears. As it was in the days of Noah, so shall the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days which were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered

into the ark; and knew not until the flood came and took them all away; so shall the coming of the Son of man be.

When we reflect on the wretched antediluvians, we perceive their folly in not believing God, and are ready to say with the Jews, If we had lived in their days we should not have done thus. But sinners repeat the same folly now. God has told them that he will destroy the world;—that in less than 120 years all the wicked of the present generation shall be overwhelmed in a flood of wrath. To convince them that the destruction is coming, he has set forth a spiritual ark. He has sent out preachers of righteousness to warn them. Every circumstance is the same. The destruction is as certain; it is as near; and there is no escape but in the ark. But sinners will not believe. They spend their time perhaps in scoffing at the serious apprehensions of christians, and in contemning the ark. Greater madness never existed before the flood. is coming when christians will not be deemed mad men for their concern to secure an interest in Christ; when it will appear that they did not believe and labor and bear reproaches in vain. Time is coming when they who are now as secure, as hardy, as those stupid wretches before the flood, would give ten thousand worlds for the place of the meanest christian whom they now despise. When the door of the kingdom shall be shut and there is no more entering in; when they shall stand without and say, Lord, Lord, open to us, and he shall answer, I know you not; when the sluices of vengeance shall

The time

be unstopped; when the heavens shall be on fire above their heads, and the earth shall rock beneath their feet; when the sea shall rage and rise and invade the distant land; when all the elements shall make war on man; when they shall flee from the waves and the flames shall devour them,-from the prodigies in the heavens, and the opening earth shall engulph them; when they shall stretch out their hands to God, and find him only a consuming fire; when more piteous shrieks shall be heard from every quarter than were heard in the days of the flood; when they shall see the Noahs whom they despised riding above their heads, and themselves sinking in surges of fire; ah, what will be their sensations then? O sinners, if you will believe God in season, now is your time to avoid the terrors of that day. Seize the ark and make sure of Ararat. By all the solemnities of that coming scene I entreat, I beseech you to hasten into the ark. Come, for the floods are rising. Come quickly, or the next hour may be too late.

SERMON IV.

A FRIEND CLOSER THAN A BROTHER.

PROV. XVIII. 27.

A man that hath friends must show himself friendly; and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

It is a law of the physical world that a particle of matter which is not attracted to others, cannot attract others to itself. A similar law prevails in the social world. The Ishmael whose hand is against every man, will find every man's hand against him. One of the few things in which mankind are agreed, is to detest the wretch who loves none but himself. This indeed is no more than just for who has a right to claim more than he is willing to render? "A man that hath friends must show himself friendly." To such a one the willing tribute of love is paid. The man whose heart can melt at others' woes, whose hand is ready to relieve their wants, whose life is devoted to offices of kindness,-though envy and hatred of the truth may create him ene