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 .—- r"?*- "~ - -^ -^ ii ia»u . Tii fi i rf i i ii<iiii -T j'»fr-< !K| 
 
_r»m. 
 
 L-^ *: 
 
 THE PARABLE OF THE FIG-TREJ^, 
 EXPUi^ED AKD APPLIED i 
 
 k 
 
 SERMON, 
 
 PREACHED III 
 
 ^t. MdreuPs Churchy 
 
 HALIFAX, 
 
 ON 
 
 D^BDNfeSDlV, lat JAMUARY, 1823» 
 
 BT THE 
 
 REV. JOHN MARTIN. 
 
 ^/V»/V«<»»*^*^^^*^ 
 
 *' Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on 
 this fiir-tree, and find none: cut xt down; whtf 
 
 fig 
 
 cumbereth it the ground ?" 
 
 %IM%W»/WVW<»<WW< 
 
 HALIFAX : 
 
 PRINTED AT THE ROVAL ACADIAN INSTITUTICIJ. 
 
 Sold by C. H. Belcher, J. Leiftji;nan.&: C05 
 M. G. Black, and J. A. Barry. 
 
 1823. 
 
 
 iiiagiiiii»>. i H i M ' ! 
 

 ^■ 
 
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 ■* ■# 
 
 ^^-f 
 
C/c^ *^'pt ^ (/i £^ ^^• 
 
 TO THf 
 
 MEMBERS OF SESSION, 
 f^JE COMMITTEE OF MA}(AGEl^s 
 
 AMD ' 
 
 THE CONGHEGATION 
 
 Of 
 *iT< AWDWW'8 CHURCH, HALirAX, 
 
 THE FOLLOWING SERMOWf. 
 
 Dll^IVKRlV* IK THEIR H«A»H»«, 
 AND PUBU8HBD AT THEJ* RWlUEST, 
 
 li, wirn rwvENT p»AYaii$ 
 
 FOR THBIR f RUE HAPPWMS, IKSCRIBBD, 
 PV THEIR DBVOTRD AND AFf flCTIQllATE PA8T0»| 
 
 THE AUTHORj 
 
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 Sermon* 
 
 LUKR xiii. 7. 
 
 feEflOLD, TIIFT. rilRF.E YKARS I (CWE SKEKIIfO FRITTT Olf 
 THIS riO-TRKK, AND KINU NONE: CUT IT DOWN j Wlllf 
 rUMBERETU IT THE UROUNU ? 
 
 J 
 \ 
 
 rpV.V. Immortal nature nnd final destiny of man carry 
 •* our Yicws and pro8j)Pcts far beyond this tninsilory 
 *.nd perishing scf rie of existence, to a ^tatc of never 
 cnJing duration ; to objects of the ulmo«t interest and 
 magnitude, to the mansions of joyous felicity, and 
 the abodes of unutterable misery and vro. Were the 
 present fleeting life ihe measure of our existence, were 
 the soul to sink into annihilation at the deaih of the 
 body, vfive there no hereafter to provide for ; then vre 
 might safely pursue that path, which appetite points 
 out and inclination recommends, without any dread of 
 a future reckoning to arrest our progress, or to damp 
 our enjoyments : we might eat and drink, because 
 to-morrow we shall die. But when we look forward, 
 when we extend our views beyoad the present nar-t 
 row span of duration, eternity bursts in upon our 
 minds in all its reality and in all its importance, 
 claims us as the subjects of its endless reign, and holds 
 out every thing to influence, if any thing can possibly 
 influence, the hopes and fears, the desires and expec- 
 tations of such blind and deprav?d mortals as our- 
 selves. We behold a 'life of holiness and piety ter- 
 
ji^is-,waK*fest-*«**^^^*w*'^**'*^ "" 
 
 >tmm 
 
 i&jBU-^W"^ 
 
 i 
 
 between our -;"'^'''\ " "iC, and ou^h. u. Ue con- 
 
 t^l^ wc .h«U ^-,^''tl rrn corrui.tion; ».uih. 
 to ,.he ae.h, .hall ot '^^ -^^^j^'l f ^,,e Spirit ron, hie 
 thiit sowith to lh« ^l^'*^' ; *" ' L by our wor.U, ancj 
 
 by our =^^''«'l»7f^7'T-neiHlhc siroam m which 
 oJconarmncdal »'''^'' ,;";,'. ^.U into the oo».«n of 
 ^e arc all ha^tcnuu; '^^^^^^ i^.j, ^e mark and uttj 
 Tte^nuy, and the m.nucr m w ^ ^^^^^ .^ ^^^^, ,,3 
 
 fpend what i. Pje^en^ J^ ^ ^ » .^^^^ ^^^^ ^^, , ut 
 our fuiun- and cvci last n^ .oHs^ons, <hvid^ it 
 
 and the regular rc^oKU.ion of iht .^ ^^^^ .^^^^, 
 into separate >^oruon»-, e.^cn o w ^^^^^^.^^^^^^ .^^^^ 
 
 Teach ii some ^ahUary --^; ^r^^^^;,,^ ,,o,nd us, 
 dawns, ^ndetevT evonnMh^^ ^^^^^^, „,ed.t^- 
 
 ouzht to awaken ^^^ "/ '^^^^ -.Tof iho opening spring, 
 tions in our soul;. I he *;^^ ^ ^J^^^,,, ^ud abundance 
 hTluxurianceof Hummcr a r^^h^ ,^^^,^ ^,- ,i,ter, 
 
 of autumn, and even ^^^^^ profitable jnstruc- 
 cornm-nicate the most ploasmK . ' 1 ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ 
 
 lion to an intelligent and V'^"; ;«'",• ,Uy summon, v.. 
 'Zcemcntofcrery now ye e pe J 
 
 to serious ^'^A^;^^""^; J Jei finished, that the period 
 sla^e of our earthly carreri . ^ ^,,^ 
 
 . r i:«<Te ^nd such are 
 such, my B.c,Ur™ - 
 
 * Gill. Ni. "h 8* 
 
 -1-. 
 
■■i 
 
 ihfr. Tlir T«-.«r wlii.lt U* now rioietl. U gone for 
 ••vfr, and rallied wiili il wmie ol our nnireil and 
 deare>t frifndi to ihf houw appointed fur all living i 
 and the yc*r vfkkh has JunI rommrncrd, ralli upon 
 rath ol m to number our da^s, lo atiend lo the \*nrn- 
 inK which the silrnl but rapid moTfUunt of time 
 Ruj<gesl», aiul prepare lo meet our Clod. Who can 
 foreice all the chances that may happen even during 
 that »hori period ? May we not cxpetl that it will car- 
 rj »om«, perhnptmuny now present, into an eternal 
 ttatc? And as we are uncertain who are thede»iined 
 iubjects of the king of terrors, ix il not n(<e*»ary, is it 
 not prudent, that each one should make the applira- 
 tion to himself? For what the Saviour bays unto one 
 hi sayb unto all :— '• Watch/'* 
 
 To assist our inediintions, and to impress our hetrti 
 ©n lhi^ important occasion, when wc are called in a 
 very M)leiun manner to consider our dutyasdjin-^ 
 anti accoimtable creatures, the parable of tkc fig-tret, 
 nddressed by our blessed Lord and Saviour to his 
 disciples and followers, seems peculiarly adapted. 
 Like all his other parables, it conveys the most ncces- 
 fary and important instruction to our minds, and con- 
 vinces us, although wc have net enjoyed the ad- 
 vantage of his pe'rsonal ministry, that " never man 
 spako like this man." In explaining this parable, wc 
 conceive that it has a primary and immrdiatc refer- 
 ence to the Jew.x. the nncicrtt 'people of God, then liv- 
 ing in the land of promise, to their circumstances, and 
 character, and prospects as a church and as a nation. 
 The history of this peculiar people is truly singular 
 nnd interesting, and it has been record. u by the pen 
 of inspiration for the instruction of the church till the 
 end of time. The events of their history, the things 
 which happened unto them in Egypt, in the wilder- 
 ness, in the land of Canaan, and during their captivi- 
 ty in Babylon, were designed not only for their own 
 
 * Mark xiii. 37, 
 
 
^h.,.; ll.r rnaCof iho wnrM n.c run e. By the h 
 
 n o r were •rpurati'i: from iUv M.rrour..lihg lU. • 
 pioplf writ »rr iTlation with <.o(l, 
 
 of (Jo,!, and lUr proml-..^ i ^^^"''^l'!^(tiM came 
 vrho 's ovff All. <io<l J.Iom.mI fur rvrr. } hey lu < 
 
 every l)l..H,ng wh.rh ;' f , -^ ^^^Av^^^i^'ol.rdienrH. 
 rxcilc their ;T^afltud^ i'vl '\"'"', v/^„. .k,. iVilni- 
 '. H* il>owKh his wor.l ui.to J«col), saith tin. I •.»[!» 
 is , * hintamtc. and hi. jnac;mrnl. unto hra . He 
 hi h not deal. .^ with .,>y nation : «m •;!>;' ^^^^ 
 
 In. nt* thcv h»ve not known iheoi. f Mtj^Ht «- n*>J 
 p. ntS they tu.>(; ^^^,j j^^^.^ ,.j,,jjerrd 
 
 h ivo f xperted, inal im.-^ p.ujj.t vv«,.f, not 
 
 thchamanh'.a t. >n ^^.^ ^^^^^ nppclite. .nd 
 
 when If ft to the ^^'l^^^'^ . , , rrcafrst i-xtemal 
 
 ,,r.T,l<-g. U c J.-^ «"» , .„|,,^ ,he most 
 
1 
 
 ▼okfcl him to tn%fr *fiih tli*ip high pl^v^». and rroved 
 hiui tojrrflou«y with thrir gravrn iiiiyg*^»."* ** llfir, 
 O he^vunn}" laith the PropTin |iiiiiah« ** •iid give vtiv 
 C' cnrih ; for the L( rd hmh %\Mikttu : I have nouriahfa 
 an<i hit)Ui;ht up rhiidrtn, and lh<»y have Pfhplled 
 •ffuiri^l ni- ; Th« ox Unowf.h hi* ''wnrr, and the aift 
 liw mnHtrr'» rrib : but UrufI doih not kno'.v, mj pfo- 
 
 {»li» (loth not consider. Ah, iiulu' nntionf a people 
 aden with iniquity, « seed of evil-dofw, children that 
 «re corniplcra! thcr hnvc forsiiken the Lord, ihej 
 have prurokcd ihc lljly One oi Urarl unto anger, 
 they art gone awiy backward. '*t 'Ih'y ticre there- 
 fore iustl^ r '■.|rir(.d by our blestrd Jj'iviour, in the 
 words ot oi eil, to an uiif.'iiill'ul fig-tree. They 
 wen; alwav- lovrred with abundance of leaves, and 
 put forth the Llos.ioins oi' n fair and regular eilernal 
 
 rrofess'on For yoa will observe, my brethren, (and 
 would in ?n especial manner entreat thoa*. who en- 
 deavour to unite the plcasuren of sin w'»* 'he pro- 
 fession of relic;ion to attend '.o this* ob- ■ aiou] that 
 omidHf all their provocations and all ihcir transgressi- 
 ons, they never laida(*idc entirely the forais andcere- 
 monies of their rrligiouii woiship. ICven in the midst 
 of the grossest idolatry, they in general professed an 
 external ro^^ect to the rervice of the Grd ol Israel. 
 ' They (cavvxi the Lord," sayn the Sacred Historian, 
 " and served iheir own gods, after the minne." of the 
 nations whom they carried aw.«y from theiice,"J But 
 their arts of devotion, allhoii^jh regular and frequent, 
 were entirely formal and hypocritical. They exhi- 
 bited at A nation, no fruits of righteousness, no in- 
 warrl or praclicrd religion, no true lov3 to God, no 
 genuine humility, no ferv.nt gratitude, nnd no abiding 
 confulenrc and dependence upon their gricious Pre- 
 server and Sovereign. Their motives were impu.e, 
 their principles were corrupt, their henrti were un- 
 hallowed, and their practice inconsistent both with 
 the spirit am. the letter of the Divine Law. It was 
 
 • Ps. lxjtviii.56,57,58. t isa. i. 2, 3, 1. ; 2 Kings Jtvii.33, 
 
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 itttpowible thit their hjpocripj and insincrritjr couIdH 
 escape the ohsrrration of ihr Omniscient Jehovah,, 
 the own«r of the vinejrard in which the Jews wero 
 ))lanled^ Thej could easily deceive their feliow-nien. 
 who were blind and depraved, and willini? to i»e de- 
 ceived } and thej were.abs! but too successlul in dc* 
 teirin^ ihemaolves. But God cannot be deceiveri, for 
 6ll things whether present, or past, or future, a4»e con*- 
 «tantljr exposed' to hia injitiediate observation.. When, 
 therefore he, as their Sovereign Lord and proprietor,, 
 fame, seeking fruit upon the lig-tree, h« found none.. 
 The most reasonable expectations were completelj- 
 disappointed ; he did not find fruit in any degree 
 adecjualc to the attention and culture which had beem 
 bestowed upon it, or the fair appearance* which it 
 had displayed. For although the language here em- 
 plo^od is general, and appears to include tiie whole- 
 nation, it is- necessary to understand it in a qualified^ 
 and restrictfed signification. It would" he rash and? 
 uncharitable for us to .mppose, that even during the 
 time of 'heir greatest apo.^tacy and rebellion, all had' 
 departed from God and gone over to idolatrr. Where 
 the Prophet Elijah^ during a .season of general and 
 aggravated iniquity, conceired that he aloi>e ivmained 
 in Israel of the servants- of the true God ; the Lord, 
 who knoweth them that are Kis, condescended to^in- 
 fofm him that " he had still left seven rliousatui In 
 Israel, all the knees which had not bowed' unto lianl, 
 and every mouth which hrid not kissed him.'^ The 
 patience and foriiearance of God were longexerciscd^ 
 towards his professing and chosen peopiie; for the 
 Lord is slow to anger and plenteous in mercy. Du- 
 ring a long series of changes and events he endured 
 their provocations. "Behold," says our Lord, "these 
 three years 1 come seeking fruit on thf* fig-tiTC, and* 
 find none." By the period of three years^, here men-- 
 rioned, some commentators would unt^erstand: the time 
 6f our Saviour's public ministry among the Jews^ 
 
 * 1. Kings xix. 13.. 
 
 , 
 
 f % 
 
immtm 
 
 1! 
 
 which thf J ronrcivc had now lasted for that spftce nf 
 time. Cui as the Divine pntiencc and long siilVering 
 were manifested towards this people for a niuf h long: 
 er season, it ii highly pi^bable tJiat this period of 
 three jrcars may dc«ote, the three difTrxc^it kinds? oif 
 adroinisiralion, under whi» h tliis people were succe«- 
 fivc\y placed, Thrir snhjection to the immediate 
 government of JeiiovaJi. romuioivly termed tJieir Theo- 
 cracy, was the fir^i of these years, cxtendfng fron^ 
 their deliverance out of f),i,'ypt to the comnoenoement 
 of the reign of Said, Theii- monarchy may l)c con- 
 sidered as the second year, l»eginmng with the s "ign 
 ^f Saul, and extending to the d«'par(ure of the sceptre 
 from Jud.ih at the birth of Christ} aid tlicir subwis^ 
 siou to the galling yoke of the Hornans may be viewed 
 as the third year, Etretchirigfronj the-depaTturcof the 
 •ceptre from .TiidaJi to the d< stnictiori of the city and 
 tcoiipJe of Jerusalem. During all those different pe- 
 riods, the Lord was gracious and merciful to the 
 Jews. He preserved them in » national state, and 
 supplied them with those ordinances of religion 
 whicfe Itad a tend««5cy to prorBotc their spiritual in- 
 struction and cdifir.iiion. He gare unto them space 
 to .'epent of their sins, but they repented not. " Be- 
 hold," fl^ys he, " i send unto you prophets, and wis(? 
 men, and scribes : and some of diem ye shall kill and 
 crucify; and sprae of them shall ye scourge in your 
 synagogues, and persecute them from city tocify: 
 that upon you hiay come all the righteous blood shed 
 upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unt(> 
 the blood of Zacharifis son of Barachiac^ whonj ye 
 f^Uw l)etw€ea the temple and the alia*.'** 
 
 ^ In the course of the la^t period, when tbe Messiali 
 himself was the dresser of the vineyard, the Jews 
 were still like a bai-ren fig-tree, professing a strict 
 adherence to the precepts of the Mosaic law, and at- 
 tending regularly upon the external ordinances of the 
 
 * JVIatt. xxjii. 34, 5^, ' ■ 
 
 f 
 
HMIi 
 
 ■HfMl 
 
 il 
 
 
 •incMiarv ; >)ut making ho improvement in their dis* 
 positions and views and conduct, bringing fonh ncne 
 of the peacfahle fruifs of righteousness to the praise 
 and dory of God. Therefore the Lord, the proprie- 
 tor of the vin*>jarrd, provoked with their obstinacy and 
 impenitence, and grieved bj their repeated and ag- 
 (^Hvated apostacies, announced his intention to cut 
 fhem down as cumberert of the ground Thi« inten- 
 tion would have bcei instantly carririt into execution; 
 but for the intercession of Jesus, the dresser of the 
 vineyard, who, mov«<J with compasiion at their un- 
 happy condition, aid desirotis to make a farther 
 trial of this highly favoured, but ungrateful and diso- 
 bedient people, entreated that thev might be allowed 
 to continue in the enjoyment of their religious privi- 
 leges for the current period, under the care and ?ia. 
 ii^gement of hinaself and his «postl«s ; and if they did 
 Tiot, under these superior and distinguished advan- 
 tages, return unto God, and bring forth works meet 
 for repentance, then the threatening might be imme- 
 diately carried into full effect. His request was 
 ? [ranted, and the time of mercv and forgiveness pro- 
 onged. But when that period at kngtli expired, this 
 people were still living in sin, having despised the frte 
 and generous offers of the Gospel, having crucified 
 the Lord of glory, and given themselves over to aban- 
 doned wickedness. Having filled up the measure 
 of their transgrfssions, havipg despised the threaten- 
 ings of the law, and rejected the offers of the gospel, 
 the justice of heaven, which could no longer be re- 
 strained, fell with tremendous vengeance upon their 
 guilty heads, a weeping away (he greater part of them 
 trom the face of the earth, dispersing those that sur- 
 vived the dreadful catastrophe among the nations, 
 which they hated, consigning them to infamy and re- 
 proach in every land, making them, according to the 
 threatening of the Lord by Moses, " an astonishment, 
 fl proverb, and a by- word, among all nations -whither' 
 the Lord led them.*'* 
 
 Deut. xxviii. 37. 
 
 siMi 
 
 ttrnmm 
 
 
^Hn»| 
 
 I 
 
 n 
 
 This oppej^rs to he the original and iniBwdiate 
 Import of this instructive parable. We have Heeii 
 how exactly its dpclaratio^s and ihreateningt, have 
 been verified in the hi»iorv of the Jews. When 
 we read thp iiistory of this stiff-necked and rebellious 
 race, as it js recorded in the Old Testament, we are 
 filled with rainKle-^ feelings of astonishnncnt and indig- 
 nation i astonishment at the /goodness and forbearance 
 of God, and indignation at their numerous, repeated, 
 and aggravated provocations. We are perhaps in- 
 clined to think within ourselves, that if we had enjoy- 
 ed their advantages, we would have acted in a very 
 different way ; we would not have rendered evil for 
 good, and hatred forlov^e; ve would not have pro- 
 voked God in such a wanton and impious manner. 
 " But let him that thinketh he standeth -take heed lest 
 he fall." The Apostle Paul exhorts the Corinthians 
 to avoid the very same sins, which the Jews commit- 
 ted : an exhortation which was entirely unnecessa- 
 ry if they had not {.assessed the same evil hearts of 
 unhehef, and been exposed to similar snares and temp- 
 tations. " Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of 
 them; as it is ATitten, The people sat down to eat and 
 drmk, and rose up to play. Neither let us comtnit 
 fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one 
 day, three and twenty thousand. Neither let ua 
 tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were 
 destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some 
 of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the 
 destroyer."* Let us bring home this parable to our. 
 selves, let us apply it to our own state, and character, 
 and conduct, and see whether there are not with us, 
 even with us, sins against the Lord our God ; such 
 sins as might justly provoke him tp cut us down as 
 cumberers of the ground. 
 
 In applying this parable to ourselves, we shall con- 
 eider m the first place, every .professing dirietian as a 
 
 T ' ' '" " "~" "" -■■■■.■I ■■-I I ^. I „ .,ii^a II, II ^ 
 
 * 1 Cofinthians X. 7— la, 
 
 \*. 
 
 I 
 

 i 
 
 
 I 
 
 i- 
 
 tr«c pUnted, for n ocrlain period of tiraef in God^t 
 Spiritual vineyard; wc shall show in the second 
 ' place, that diiiinj; this period he is furnished with 
 every advantage for the cultivation of his moral and 
 religious principle* j we shall endeavour to evince, in 
 Ihc third place, that if the professing christian neglect 
 to improve these advantages, he acts in a ^crv foolish 
 and injurious manner both to himself and others; he 
 is a cumberer of the ground i and we shall attend, in 
 the fourth and last place, to the awful sentence here 
 denounced against the unfruitful professor j " Cut it 
 dpwn,'' sailh oyr Lord, '' why curabcrelh it the 
 ground." And may God give each one of us wisdom 
 to understand, and huniilily to appl^ this solemn and 
 interesting subject for our own Spiritual instrwctjoo 
 and edification. 
 
 I. This parable intimates to us fn the first place, 
 that every professing christian is like a tree, planted 
 for a certain period of time in God's Spiritual vine- 
 jard. When we asHume the profession of religion, 
 when we arc baptized in the name of the Father, and 
 of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, when we associate 
 with the people of God in the public services of the 
 Sanctuary, we separate ourselves from those who sit 
 ii^ darkness and in the valley of the shadow of death, 
 we withdraw, at least in profession, from open and 
 avowed infideU, and from the world which lieth in 
 wickedness. If wc understaad the nature of our re- 
 ligious profession, wc certainly intimate our belief in 
 the doctrines, and our ap|)ro,bation of the precepts anc^ 
 institutions of Christianity. Every person must be. 
 cpnvinced, that there is a wide difterencc between a 
 professing Christian aiid an open infidel, that the ono 
 is expected to think and act in a .very different man^ 
 ner from the other. If there were no advantages ta 
 H derired from the Christian Religion, if it ^. not 
 enlighten the mind and renovate the heart, if it did; 
 not elevate our views and reform our conduct, there 
 would be no wiidom an4 propriety, in submitting to. 
 
u 
 
 it» restraints and bearing iu reproach, in fonaklaf 
 
 a.I our earthly pleasures, niuJ taking up our cross that 
 we inight follow the Kcuceiiicr. '1 lie Lord is pUase^l 
 to aflord ui lime- to uoik out cur MalviUion, to disco- 
 ver whtthir we afe true thiiaiiana or artful and dc- 
 signing hvpocrites, whether we have made a profes- 
 sion ol religion Iron: a sincere belief ol the truth, or 
 from an indolent compliance with the customs anr! 
 fashion of the age and place in which we live. That 
 Ahmghty Being who brought us into the world, and 
 flared us within the sacred enclosure of his church 
 has determined the bounds of our habitation, haa 
 confined the duration of our present existence within 
 limits which we cannot pass. But whilst the number 
 of our days is with him, whilst our mortal career is 
 restricted to hia appointment, he has wisely concealed 
 under an impenetrable veil, the dread hour when we 
 sfiall drop our connection wiih this transitory s'ate 
 and enter into the world of Spirits. '1 he reason of 
 this concealment is obvious, and the appointment of 
 heaven wise and gracious. ]f ^,Q knew the precise 
 measure of our jears upon earth, and could foresee 
 the time and the manner of our departure from the 
 world ; such knowledge, instead of aiding, might re- 
 tard our progress in the christian course, by leading 
 to procrastmation, and confirmed habits of immoral^ 
 ty. CalcuJatmg upon that portion of life which is 
 yet before us, we would be apt to give full indulgence 
 to all our appetites and passions, to pursue with in- 
 creased ardour our criminal course ; from a convic- 
 tion that there was still sufficient time remaining to 
 repent of our sins; and return to God before our dwith. 
 i he very uncertainty, therefore, which attends our 
 existence in this world, operates as a pi^wcrful in- 
 ducement to watch and be sober, to keep the end of 
 purjourney as steadily and constantly in view as if 
 It had already arrived, to employ every instant of 
 our time, and avail ourselves of every advantage in 
 preparing for that eternity, into which we may sooo 
 Reintroduced, For if the present mouent only b^ 
 
 T 
 
f 
 
 ! li 
 
 'il 
 
 .i\ 
 
 \\\ 
 
 n 
 
 «-- if the n«iH m«T wal ouf mnrfiiion for wr, *hirt 
 Z^'thal regards hi. .mmorul H.c«e«», whai m.» 
 
 «hii man thai is not alloselher «uiik in the love « 
 TenWl^y and crime, and degra.lod even below tte 
 rankof. rational being, would forgot ""'"'y ^» 
 future re,pon.ibility, and rush in a daring, hecdlew 
 ;„dnre"mp.uou» »a,mer, into the presence of hi. 
 O^S^ind rightcou. Judge* "■".'--','>,« ,ti^ 
 .nderslanding, and hard m«.- be '>» , "•"'a.^^.J^,^ 
 no. affected at ihe projocct of dissolution. 1 t\M roan 
 ?, lunk in an awfivl and deplorable state indeed who 
 caa regard the Divine favour nn.l J'»l'''^»«"'-« ""^ 
 ecualSfferencc ; who Ib neither charmed w th the 
 L« of heaven no^ overawed hy the terrors of hell : 
 ^f^rwemuTei her deny the trt.lh of Divine Rev.la- 
 1 alto.^ he , or believe in a state of fulnre reward* 
 a^'pSmenls, and be convinced that each ol ». 
 must «on .nler into that unseen and endless state. 
 
 Now have vovt, my brethren, considered the end 
 for whlh VOuCe called into existence, and brought 
 
 ferrwS'yru^rbrinj^itog 
 
 Jplantedwilhinthesacr^ 
 
 Crl'Ciancf nvTrrati;:s,.othe praise and glory 
 ^f his tolv name. Now, have you answered ihis 
 lrnn,T Have TOU if.stificd the expectations of 
 rorsovereignprop'ri.tor? or have you merely put 
 forth he Ses of 'an empty profession and ex-.ted 
 
 TrH I season ^hich marks another stage m yo«. 
 
17 
 
 progress towanls the hind oJ' Spirits. If jou are ron- 
 »ciou» thait yim havr iirglecU'<l your tlulj ami ahiised 
 J^our mercies in llic days that arr pait, have you not 
 a louder call fo rcpc nlancc and ohediem e in the time 
 tocomr? Otighl yoii not to reioice, and hiess God 
 that if is not too late for yon ; it is not too hue for the 
 chief of sinners to rr|)rnt and lu licre the Gospel : 
 *' Hrhold, nojrf in the accepted tiin'^ ; now is the day 
 of salvation."* " To-day, if ye will hear hi* roire, 
 harden not jour h'art, as in thf piovf-^-ation, and as 
 in the day of temptation in the wilderness. ''t 
 
 2. Wc observe in the "ocond plare, that during the 
 lime the protrsiiing christian is planted within the 
 spiritual vineyard, he ii fafonred with erery advun- 
 ta^c for the cultivation of his moral and rtl'gious 
 principles. He is not placed in this situation to he 
 neglected and forgotten, to struggle with difficulties 
 without assistance or support, to strike his roots in a 
 stubborn and uncultivated soil, and spread his branch- 
 es in a severe and inclement atmosphere. He is 
 planted in a vineyard, he is rtourished and cherished 
 by the influences of.thc Spirit, and defended from the 
 rigorous blasts of temptation and the storms of ad- 
 versity, by the tender care of the Husbandman. So 
 that in the end, if we should prove unfruitful, the evil 
 most be traced, not to the deficiency of culture and 
 attention, but to our innate and incurable obstinacy 
 and depravity. 
 
 The owner of the vineyard hath adopted a beauti- 
 ful and an efficient plan for training up the trees of 
 righteousness for glory and honour and immortality. 
 Motives and ar|»'umoi:fs arc addressed to every power 
 and faculty of the soul, and cv(cy feeling and aflcr- 
 tion of the hearty, and enforced by every considera- 
 tion, whether of interest or duty, of honour or of grati- 
 tude. The mercies of God are sent to allure us to 
 
 ♦ 2 Cor. vi. 2. t Psalm xcr. 7, 8. 
 C 
 
 i-ssaigti 
 
t-!^ 
 
 ^ti: 
 
 11 
 
 IF ■ 
 
 i^ }■ 
 
 < ominiss'DH of sin. Our «iiuy ii fointctl oiu, botli bj^. 
 precrj.'t and px »mp!o, with a clr:inicj»8 mul a {ireci- 
 sioM which (XchiJc ail tonlmvcr^jr ; ami our dan rri%, 
 il' f,? ronfinue ir) jiin, Ik h<?ld forlli iti j-.h h mlrusif^and- 
 fort iblc term?, ihai. thosi« M'iu> -.di" 't to disrc;.';;»rd it,. 
 rniJsl lie altopedier incxcusahltf. The word of truth,, 
 which isal-Ie to niak«» m wIrc ur.to .snlvmiou, i* li'aiis- 
 latcd into a'.iv.O't rvcry 1:mi,2:ii;»2C spokcM hj mfin, and, 
 iironjht \»ilb!n lluM-cach cf iTio.sf who f< »1 iuclincd 
 to pciase it; and K-st wesr.oulu forg^^t it.-* in«,liurtiou.s. 
 and dofpiso its n proofs, ihc niini.st/.r^ oi' rcli;;i«»n, 
 Cfxl'-s spiritual hushandmcn, ni'» ^<(it forth lo pr?afh 
 thi' gos[»(.'l to ovcry cicaturj*. and .is anihasr.'.ulijs for 
 Christ to bcsorch sinnrns in his st<»ad to l.>c rocoiicik J. 
 unto C'od. The lauf^uagf of Difine Trovidcnce is 
 al.?o wcvy loud a:»d iuiti-uctive, and arouses many who. 
 nfglcct "and despi.'-c other ap|oiii(fd riifans of salva- 
 tion, r^ it poiT.iblc dien. thai prrson;^ with so manr 
 nnip«:\kahlo advatiiagC8,iiio;ild fail to proHt by them? 
 Is it possible that tiie coiMlfsctiisions nad endcar- 
 mcatirof hraveu, manifestc^J in such an abundance, 
 and variety of ordiuanccj ai.d institutions, should 
 make no salutary imprt ision upon our minds ? Is it. 
 po5Si1de for an^'per'-on to ibr;^Tf. nmid.^t repented ad- 
 monitions, th;it to whom Liu'-h i- given, of them ruuch. 
 will be rrquirrd? "What could hnvn born done,"* 
 fta^th the prophet, ''• more to U3V vinojnrd thai: I liavf*. 
 iiotdonc in it ? wherefore, whfj> 1 lookctl that it shor.ld. 
 brinc^ forth ^rapci, broii-jit it forth wild grapes ?"* • 
 Suivly, there cannot be any necessity for more por/- 
 erful and pcr.iuasivc motives to duty ; for those whot 
 improve the mcms already bc8io\/cd, find i hut they- 
 aro sndicient to accomplish the end for which they 
 TYcrc intended ; they find, that. '• ;dl Scriplrre i:s pr^y- 
 titable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, fcr.- 
 instrurtion in righteousne«s ; that ih? man oi Ooi\ niay 
 be perfect, throu;;hly furnirdicd unto all good wor]:s."t: 
 
 * kaiah v. 1. t 2 Tim. iii. IC, 17^ 
 
 It 
 
 .:# 
 
Tbry fiivJ. iliat (lt»> doruiii^ t*f rhrist rrucirioil, in iht 
 v.iauom niMi'hc jovvi-r ol (iofl iimo s.ilviUio!j,tocvtr5 
 onr lh;U l^clicvcih. Krultrmin^ llir.sc lrmh% aiiJ 
 trmlini^Ln iliif* AltyigliU' S.iviour. iurmmfrabic niula- 
 tu<Vs hatP (:»»ntinr«'(J feiililiil into ilir i!tu?h, uiul ii"e 
 now r» joking 1 r )or»» I lie llircmc olCii.d iiiid cil' ilio 
 l.irnli. And surely, lho.-*<» wiin iir2;lt'( i and {l«\i>isR 
 ihe means ot graro, tuwe no ri^da lo comi^bin ol'ilipir 
 kielliracv. '1 h"V wem m'xcv lulraficd lo iij^ct* om* 
 ai-".iii.. I. Ml (•» i.u'.liiic and {)«M'mi idr r^ to oL> dienco. 
 And ili'Mi" iiillnent r « rm <inlj \>v lilt ly ihosp who im- 
 |*rove ilK-ni in linniiliiy fii.«i .smcrri^^'. ll r.ould l»n 
 ^Vusl iii ralioiial and * on.sistf nt lor its lo exj.cct, llvit 
 Uic l)'>dy would be hupMortid )m »'c .iclu or the 
 murll ot" i'oo'l. a.s to rx|i<»rt an i:i». urd ftfid s|Mritual 
 cliangp, fnmi aq tMBj)ly ^iid i'onn il piorc^^ion of icii- 
 gioii, with nit ihi' nxrrc.i.'-f and ti,-pp!i(ation ol'tbe vdudc 
 SM>d. The vFord oi' G©d mail bo received with meek- 
 ness, it mu«t l.« rsreiiilly ^?«dir,d, and fiiihrully ap- 
 plied ; we mniit iml thit it is *' (pd'-k, and )>ovv'orldl, 
 and pharjHT thin any tMf.^edgfd sworil. piert in-; even 
 to the dividing; n^nnder of th*^ soul and F{)irit^ and of 
 thr joints and nnnnjw, and is a di:^rerncr of tlie 
 thoughts and int^nnts of the heart.'"* If the >vord cf 
 God has not such a pow.Tfni irnneuec I'jHni ojr 
 ii^inds, if th<» prestMt means of ,(;rarc are rn^irely iii- 
 cjl>ctui!. our condition in hopelcH.s indeed. If th.* 
 hloud of C'hri.it canriot w ish out the stnins tf o-ir p,uiit 
 and pollution, how cm we e:;pect to be purlfnd from 
 GUV defjleiucnt. Thrrn i"* no sacritire fur a'::), init t!iat 
 TThich was once offer^^d (jp upon tlie cross. 1 1n- re in 
 HiO g'lidt? to heaven, b'U that gospel which h now 
 preached unto \v<. And thero ir, no wa^', by tvdiicli wn 
 c;ine.-;;ane tVom futun- rnif^ery^ if we connj^iue to dc?-, 
 pise and r»"ject ir. " For if tiir! wc-rd spoketi by an- 
 ^fU was si(>(]fa«t, and every traiis:ires:«it»n ^nd iii3(">]a'- 
 dience received a just recomper.co of reward; liow 
 shall we e«cnpn, if wc nc:;lcct so %vcut salvalionj 
 
 *Jkb. iv. 12, 
 
 M 
 
 HB 
 
 "rSjS"~i^^-j .^'is''" 
 

 % 1 
 
 'it 
 
 
 90 
 
 which at the fir^t lies^an to be ipoken hy the I.©r<I, 
 MikI w.i9 rouhrrn«'<l iiiUo »ih hy ilum that hfurd hiiii."* 
 *• If vrc hcnr noi Mo^rn aii«l ihc prophet*, neiihrr will 
 Wf be per«u;ulr«i ihoMgh one rose trotn tbf (lea<l."t 
 With what care and atichlion then, ought we tosriircb 
 (he irripfurcj*, aiui receive the toiimony which (iod 
 hnih given ((MuerniM^ his Son? Otir eternal interests 
 are tit «take, tnd our improvemrnt or abuic of our 
 j»reset»t advuniagcs, wili determine the nature of our 
 future slate. 
 
 3. We observe in the third place, thnt those who 
 neglect to improve the advtntages whi( h we at pre- 
 sent possegu, are considered as cumberers of the 
 ground, useless and injurious to theiiifielveK and to 
 otheri^. There are persons, who conceive that be- 
 came the J hare not openly and maliciously opposed 
 the truths' of Revelation, they must hare embra( e4 
 them, and therefore thej continue in a lifeless and in- 
 active state, and fet'l no desire, and make no efforts 
 for the prosperity of religion. Such persons, how- 
 ever vain they may be of their fancied attainments, 
 and however high they may stand in the estimation 
 of the world, are not the friends and follower* of the 
 Hedrcmer. " He that is not with me," says the Sa- 
 viour, " is against me ; and he that gath-reth not with 
 me scatlerpth abroad.''^ If we do not ajipear as his 
 sincere and faithful disciples, he will account ms as his 
 secret enemies. If we arc not improved by the ordi- 
 nances of religion, if they do not enlighten our minds, 
 and sanctify our hearts, we receive real and serious 
 injury. For they are either the savour of life unto 
 life, or the savour of death unto death. We must for- 
 get the things whirb are behind, and reach forth unto 
 those which are before, if we are desirous to preserve 
 ourselves from lukewarmness and apostacy. It is 
 impossible for any person to neglect and resist the 
 truths of religion, without becoming more hardenec^ 
 
 ♦ llcb. ii. '2, 3. t Luke xvi. 31. | Malt. xii. 30. 
 
 \ 
 
ft 
 
 afid roiifirn»e«l in inii;uii\ . For. wp rouH make Rtt 
 eilon to rr«i»i the iruitij* t)l'th«* gOH^u-l, if ihej do not 
 •ink into our luMi*tH : wc mii>>t ^trive lo banish our 
 cuiivicliunH of siti, if ihcy do uoi trrininntr in Mincero 
 and Mnteiniicd rr|>*atnin e. Arul ihes^ eflforu und 
 exrriions lofHc: i« IVona our il»il^, iturca»e tlif power 
 of inward (tfpravitjr; riicourHj^c our sniritual adversti- 
 riM ; and vender our lionrts more cnlloun an<) inscnsi". 
 hie. Tlu' man who Iium lisfciK-d for thirty, for forty, 
 prrhap« for sixty years, to the wirniogs of providence 
 ar-.l the invitaiiun>* of n»cr'y, without receiving any 
 bpirilual advantage, i»c»'rlainly chargeable with great- 
 er guilt, and exposed lo a severer punishment, than 
 the youth who hau only hvji^un bis career. Although 
 he be still in the place of rejientance ynd of liope, he 
 is in a more wretched situation, and he iii more diffi- 
 cult to he reclaimed than even the ignorant and un- 
 tutored heathen. Religion ha» lost the charm of 
 novelty in his eMiriation. Ft has ju.st sufHcient power 
 to keep alive an outward profession ; but it neven 
 reaches the heart. " The men of Nineveh," says our 
 Lord, '• shall rise in judgment with this generation, 
 and shall condemn it : because they repenttd at the 
 preaching of Jonas ; and behold^ a greater than Jonas 
 15 here. The (jucen of the south shall rise up in the 
 judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: 
 for she came from the uttermost parti of the earth to 
 hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a grtater 
 than Solomon is here.''* Our Lord represents unfruit- 
 ful professors in this parable as cumberera of the 
 groimd. They are entirely useless Tftd unprofitable. 
 They receive no spiritual improvement from the or- 
 dinances of religion themselves: ther can do »o good 
 either by their instructions or example to their fellow- 
 men : and, they bring no honour and glory to God. 
 Their light is concealed under a bushel, and their ta- 
 lent is hid in the earth. Their very acts of devotion 
 are defiled and fiqlluted with sin, and aboaunable in 
 
 ♦Mail. xii. 41, 42. 
 
ft 
 
 «^f tight of God, " Rri'ig no m^re vain oMatlor-',^ 
 •A. tit itu! pruphtti I'.ittli ; •• incftthe i» an uh^xiiiiution 
 nnlo ni<* ; the new iiiouim aiul fibbitbi*, iti# crilliii;; uf 
 ii»i»cinl)lit.'4, 1 cannot siw.iv with; it w ini'{iiiiy. fvtMi 
 thr RoUrwii rafctih^.'"'' llul hyp-jcntir il protVi^oii 
 «re not merely uiiftrulitnhle, lliey arc injurious 'I'hejr 
 art tiir«i ainoni; ihv wl»«al; Ukx \mv\h atul ihon n iu 
 th« miilil of a cuHivaie.l wml rrMiilul Tu-ld: iliry rn- 
 cumlKT the grouu'l, and occupy ii |.Ln;o \tlii li nn»;lit 
 he filU'iJ up Willi fivr^.^\^^r ailvHMt -s^f l»y oihrps. H hry 
 luipoverisli the soil, thy with linw tlie si'jjpori ami 
 nouriihnii'nt provided i'tiv ihf iVuiihd treen; and yet, 
 they derive no adv;«ntn.i»v to t!if m«rlvri<, " Ti»''y shut 
 ap the kin,<dom ul lieaven ai^ainsi m» n ; for they nei« 
 th<'r go in thenihelvc*, ncithLTHulFcr lU'^se that are en- 
 tering to go in." They iH'ing reproach upon the ro 
 Itgion they prfilrfts; tlicy griKVc ih? hearu of aim ore 
 rhrisliann; and render open iraiiMgreMor**, more 
 daring and putragroiii. It is dlHinill to find iaiigun^- 
 •ufficienlly »tror\j; and forrrbje, to delineate their v ha- 
 racter, and expose their bareness and trt ...hery. 
 ** These," saiih Jude, "ore »pof« in ymtr feasts of 
 cliarity, when they feii.U with you. Ircding them»e!yc3 
 without fear: clomis ihr^y arc wit!)0iit wnte.-, carried 
 about of windh ; trees \^\\<.\sc iViiit witherrth, without 
 Iruil, twice dead, phiekcd up by the rooti^; ragMig 
 waves of the sta, fo aing out th.dr own shf^me ; wan- 
 dering itars, to whom is reserved the bl jvknesa of 
 darkness for ever.'t Is this the character of the hy- 
 pocritical professor, raid oii2;ht. jon not to iiuiuire, 
 whether or not the description applies to yourselves? 
 You enjoy the ordinances of religion iu <Treat alain- 
 danc/*, ^au are r/fren warned and admoni^heil, invited 
 and cntre-ated to r-iieve in the Lord Jesus Christ \ and 
 therefore, you mu:»t be either sincere Ch.risiiiini or 
 empty hypocritof. It remains with yo-.i to determine 
 this important enquirr. You can ascertain your pro- 
 gress- in the arts and sciences — by evaminin-s; y'»ur 
 
 » haiahi. TJ. tJudc li?, 1:3. 
 
51 
 
 locb /oil can rMimnte tht Jim.'umi of jour nr«pric 
 IJ' I hoc! i.i»|iht vcu not ij hv r'oinjfiR il mik*- four 
 citlbng ii'iU flxtiou Hirr, lo j;row in grace uml in die 
 knowlrdgr ol ^our Lord nmi Suviaur Jfsus Christ. 
 Ul ;!ll yuMf iUau'% tUk j« the nioM nocfMafy aid im. 
 porftini, it I* the one thing needful ; and ilirrororc it 
 eiiv;ht hy no n,#.»us lo ),<. cictViTcd till *on»f njorc con- 
 v*niem Mfar^un. Khil.si ih«*r'' urn t>o ro.mr iniiancf* 
 ©I uion Illy even nuum.r^ 'he younc, ihe hc;jUhy, and 
 thf pruv|v rouft nmund yo.i, whilst you are «o Irrq.irni- 
 Iv If miiuU'd <.i tliu vanity of hum«i. r \p^n„tioo, nn(> 
 the Hhuru.. .,« an.J un: prt..iuty of }.uman life, can ?oi» 
 rrmaui cHliiiand unmored.as if yoM alone wf?rc exempt- 
 f (I lion, tho .nrokc of iIk kin;; of fmors ? HhiUt the 
 grcj.t Ji'.Vof fI)o world in \h mn^ vciir conduct, unrf 
 M:oi<if.^, in i< il:c huiii, of piH - :w*\ 'holinew, can you 
 U- £hciifihtk's» put] iininoral lu pcTiHiadcd to (civc 
 an immrrlii.tf .-.fteniion fo your -vcriasiinK interchts, 
 ond-v,orki*,,dsi it isfo-d;.y, for the night comcth 
 wl.r.nr. ni.n cm work:" If you .should -onlmue 
 bi«rrcn a;.f| iinlniith.l, have you not reason to fear 
 that the k.nc^.Unn of God will le takrn from you, and 
 given fo oihti'i ijr'ngin,? forth the fni its thereof, whilst 
 you ' re rut down as cumherer* of 'he nround f Whicii 
 Uuds us 
 
 4. To altpnd in the fonrih and Inst place to the 
 awful ?enfeuce whi. h i% here denounc-d against the 
 unfruiMul pi-olesscr : " Cut. it down." .saith our Saviour. 
 " w*y (un.b.-riih it the i^roi-nd?*' .«ucha thrrat«nin/ 
 OS this ot];,'hf f(^ arouse ilv^ Jitienlion of the most caret 
 Icfii and indifiV-'^af, j.nd imvc a meliorating influence- 
 "pon oi!r thoiic;lu», our view;;, and our practice. If 
 there IS any sir^.,, of repentance and amendment jer 
 lemannnij, snr. k, (ho terrors of the Lord ought not 
 to be diviTOHrded : for vvl.iLu hi- tV.vour is better thajr 
 hfe hisdisplpa5>nremiji^tbe wo-se even than deatb 
 i/ielt. I he rondir.lon of tlie C'hrddenu Monarch wa» 
 di5trr«in:r i:„jp„d, when '• a ^^ntr her and an holy one 
 came aomi frcai heaven, and cried aloud, and said 
 
 i; 
 
f 
 
 2» 
 
 thu«, H«w down the tree, and cit oft' liis l>r:mchc% 
 ghake oil" his leaves, and fc( iiltrr his fruit : In ihe 
 beasls get away from imdrr it, and the fowls from hi» 
 brarichea."* Uui how inlinilely more painful and 
 distressing i» the condition of the empty professor, 
 when he is stript of all his n;itterin<; ])retensions, and 
 his fa lee hopes perish ; when the ihre^tcnmg of Je- 
 hovah is earrif d into exf^ution, and he is cut (Ujwh a* 
 acumbcrer of the ground? The awful threatening 
 in the words of our text, is sometimes carried into 
 execution in the prescTit life. Unfruitftd professors, 
 tired of restraint, uikI yielding to the influence of 
 temptation, sometimes cast otf the form of godliness 
 altogether, and sink into open proHi^xacy and impiety, 
 »o that their last state becomes worse than the first, 
 '• If a man abide not in me." says our Lord, '^ he i» 
 cast forth as a branch, and is withered, and men ga- 
 ther them, aiid cast them into the fire, and they. are 
 burned." And if the divine patience and forbear- 
 ance h^.ad usnot unto repentance, the threatening here 
 denouQced, will assuredly be carried into execution 
 at death and the final juclgment. If sinners are not 
 inclined to submit to the divine mercy, they may ex- 
 pect to feel the stroke af divine justice. The Lord 
 has not lost his authority over us, because we hare 
 lost our allegiance to h'im. Although the wicked 
 showM sometimes fjppear prosperous in this world, 
 and -jnjoy more than their hearts could wish, fhc Lard 
 hath appointed a day, in which he will judge the 
 world in righteousness, and rerdcr to every one ac- 
 cording to his works. We may forget that this day 
 is approaching, and neglect our preparation for eter- 
 nity ; but our negligence cannot prolong the period of 
 repentance and forgiveness,- or change the purpose of 
 infinite Wisdom. " But and if," says our Lord, " that 
 cTil servant shall say it. his heart, My Lord delayeth 
 his coming; and shall bpgin to smite his fcllow-ser- 
 rants, and to eat aud drink with the drunken, the 
 
 ♦Daniel iv. 13, 14. 
 
 ''S- 
 
 T 
 
lord of that servant -hall romr in n dav wli'^n ho look 
 Cth noi lor him, an<l in fin hour th:il lie is iml avsurr (»f, 
 and shall cut hini a«un«l(r, and ajipoiiii bim Ids |c»r- 
 tion with thr IjyporviU'S : thrrc *hall lie wcrjtinti; and 
 gnashing of teeth/'" I know it has Itcronir fashion- 
 able with inanv, to deride the idf>a of fnlnre pniiish- 
 merat. But is it po?sib!e that the mfi-f" oj'itddn of 
 those, wlio luve an interest in di'-b'^lif \ in^ this dcu"- 
 trinc, can eflfirp it from ihr rc^'onls of ii'^piruiionf 
 Must Goil re-'iic to be ju.-it. heransc \vr » hook«' to be 
 wi(k»d? Will ho tK-ulect to punish our ^inSwbt•(.•allse 
 
 * • 111 
 
 yrf^ havp foro;otien tin ir comiui'^-.ioii ? Sucl). inongnis 
 a5 these are hh'^phrniou* anti impious to the last de- 
 gree. Ke^t assured, tnv brethren, that there is a lime 
 when divine forbenraute, thoiiiih long e.onlinned, will 
 aj*snrodlv eonte to »n end. You cannot weary God's 
 patience, Mnd finally prosper. You cannot follow the 
 the paths of iniquity, and pass nnpiinif>hed. Thonjih 
 yon mar now afieet to despise the {\n\ of retribution, 
 and ?av to your souls, Kat, dritd<. and be merry, the 
 axe nav already be laid to ihr root of the tree, to 
 rut von down as mnihei-er? of I he i^rnund. The sen- 
 trnre of lieaveii may have already been i^>^ued : this 
 year thou shalt die. .A mortal disease contr;«eted per- 
 liaps by yourown irrey;ularities. may now lurk in your 
 vitals, winch sh;jii soon rerluce yaur feeble liody to 
 a lifeh^ss corp-^", and disrui>,>yotn" inmiortal spirit \\'U^ 
 the \mseon world. And the lo!if,^er the storm has been 
 gatlveriap; the lipavi.T it will fall. The lonujer the 
 sword has been wlietting tl'e sharper it wil! cut, and 
 the deeper it will wound. ^- Ti.r servanl which know- 
 rth his Lord's will, and prrpar^th not himself, neither 
 doth arconlinp- to his will, sludl bo })rat'"n with many 
 
 stripe^.*"' The ox'U-cise of the (iivinc inufiice and 
 
 forViearanee towards •fis, if it docs no! 'often cur 
 
 hearts, will ccrt-iidy a2:,!^ra\aie our guilt and increase 
 
 )ur punishment. *' He( .-.use I have ]nu'2;p<i thee.'' 
 
 •aith the prophet Kzekiel. '• and thou v,as( not pmgfd, 
 
 * Matt. xNiv. -18 — 61. 
 D 
 
 TIF-Ti 
 
 'iiWj'i i jitii 
 
 mm 
 
V 
 
 
 
 .! 
 
 20 
 
 thon 5huU not bo ruro;p..l from thy nUhine.s any more, 
 Till 1 hi^ve caused n.y lury lo re.l upon thcc. Ur, 
 
 de.pisesl thou the ri( hes of his goodness and forhoar- 
 ancc and l.nj.MdTcrin^^ ; not knowing th.t the good- 
 ness of Cod Wadcth thcc to repentance? but atter 
 thr hardness and impenitent heart trousHrest up un- 
 Uhv^elf .rath against the day of wrath .nd revela- 
 tionofthe righteous judf^ment oK.od.' t It J.ou are 
 still alienated from God and enemies to him in your 
 minds and by wicked works, you are living without 
 hope, and all your delusive ^"M^t.^tations arc only re- 
 fuges of lies. Some of you may conceive that here 
 is still sufficient time for repentance, because you are 
 in the days of youth. But this f ^P^f ^;'^^" ^'^^^ "^^^^^^^ 
 you r^6 security from the .froke ol dca h. Others 
 J,ay flutter th/mselvcs with the hope ot future re- 
 pentMHCc because they arc in the Tigour ot manhood. 
 Cno expectation can bo more foolish our delusive 
 for the heaUhiesi ard moit robust cannot promise to 
 themselves another day. And surely those who are 
 declining i:i years, and hovering ra-mmd tl»e bn k o«. 
 the crave, have no temptation to delay repentance, 
 whrn there is but a step between them and death. It 
 .ve are convinced of the necessity cf ^^^V^^^^^^^^ 
 reformation let us resolve, u. tne strength odmne 
 p-ra-e to break off our sins immediately, let r.s make 
 haste to keep the divine commandments. For when 
 the mandate of Jehovah is issued th^JV^,"°/-; ^^^^^^ 
 it must be obeyed. And if it should find us sleeping 
 01 vnrr pared! O how awful must be our situation 
 H" ^.^.ing our prospect.! With the utmost eagerness 
 ' ' . .cr^tv let us\'un into our strong hold, whilst we 
 ^''; ovisoners of hope, let us believe m the name 
 " --orl that we may have life, and trust m 
 ,,.■ on.v covert from ^^e storm the only hid- 
 ,,,place from the tempest. " Seek ye the Lord whi e 
 he may be found, call ye upon him while he i. near , 
 
 *Ezck. xxiv. 13. tRoin. ii. 4,5. 
 
I, 
 
 mmm 
 
 ^ 
 
 27 
 
 let the wicked forsal his way, and the unricjhtcous 
 man hii thoughts : and let him return unto ihr Lord, 
 and he will have merry upon him ; and to our God, 
 for he will abundantly pardon/'* 
 
 " Now the God of peace, that brouafht a^ain from the 
 dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the 
 sheep, through the hlood of the everlasting covettant 
 make you perfect in every good work to do his wil^ 
 working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, 
 through Jesus Christ ; to whom be glory for ever and 
 evcr."t Amen. 
 
 • Isaiah Iv, 6, 7. t Heb. xiii. 20, 21. 
 
 I FlNii. T 
 
 mMtLB-I^ 
 
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 rATALOm'i: or BMHtNTAnV 8< noOf nO0K!i 
 
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 The great importance ol' Tducation, or an 
 
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 The Child'^ Companion, a Selection of 
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 A word for the Bible. 
 Poor Joseph, bv Dr. Calamy. 
 Religion cxeniplified in the life of Poor Sarah, 
 
 an Indian womai:. 
 The Ha])py Negro. 
 
 On Death. v ,., r 
 
 Confidence in God illustrated m the lilc ol 
 
 John Ante*, a Moravian Missionary in Egypt. 
 
 The History of the Church. 
 
 On the Lord's Day. 
 
 On Drunkenness. 
 
 The Swearer's Prayer. 
 
 Dialot^ue between the Bible and the Smner. 
 
 Honesty the best Policy. 
 
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