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Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmAs A des taux de rAduction diff Arenta. Lorsque le document eat trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clichA, il est filmA A partir de Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droita, at da haut an bas, en prenant la nombre d'imagea nAcessaira. Las diagrammas auivanta illustrent la mAthode. srrata to pelure, n A 3 32X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 m Clei »u« Z'' ACTIVE GOODNESS ^^' "'/Ir.' RECOMMENDED AND ENFORCED." ? SERMON DELIVERED AT SAINT JOHN, ON JANUARY 1st. 1819. WHEN A COLLECTION WAS MADE FOR THE BENEFIT -"'-■■■■■,,,. *:.-■":»■■. OF THE POOR. ■" .'.'..- BY GEORGE BURNS, D. D. CLEROrMAN OF THE ESTABLISHED CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, AND MiNtmit OF THE Prcsbvtbrian Church OF Saint Andrew, ':-^^ • IN THE CiTT OF SaINT JoHN| i ■^^»- SAINT JOHN: FRINTED AT THE STAR OFFICE, BT W. REYNOLDS, AND CO. ICE WILLIil STREETS. 18 19. CORNER OF PRINCE WILLIAM AND CBUBCH ' V fA' A ■''ti »\ ff /Y*^ \ i-ii V . *'.,^-tf * v*.;^ss tf . S sv' r * * * V ^ "*.«, ,!*.r%v:'s**;'"' /r-' TO THE MEMBERS OP SESSION , _\,,.: ' AND .'..,.. CONGREGATION in GENERAL, OP THE SCOTCH CHURCH, ST. JOHN; • • / THIS DISCOURSE IS RKSPECTPULLY INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR. H I I ADVERTISEMENT. The following discourse was loritten without the most distant view to publication. It was originally composed in the ordinary course of weekly prepara- tion for the pulpit and delivered to a country con- gregation in the parish Church of Lochwinnoch in the west of Scotland^ where the author officiated as Clergyman for nearly twelve months. With some alterations suited to the particular object for which it was last delivered, it is now published in conse- quence of urgent solicitations, and it is somewhat re- markable that the same Sermon has been thrice asked for publication in different parts of the world. In discriminating the different objects of chanty at the conclusion of the third subdivision, the author has been indebted to some suggestions on the same sub- ject by a ClergymMn of his own Church. iout the iginallif )repara- try con- tnoch in iated as ih some )r which n conse- what re- THltlCE \e world, haiity at ihor has %me sub- SERMON. CccLEs. Chap. IX. Ver. 10. '' fVIiatsoever thif hand Jindeth to do, do it with thy might : for there is no work, nor device^ nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." WHATEVER relates to the concerns of the present life, excites general interest. The means of increasing power, wealth, and consequence, are closely examined, t jerly embraced, and zea- lously pursued: and for the attainment of these objects no sacrifices are accounted too great, no exertion too severe. Different, however, are the sentiments and feelings of men with regard to religion and the concerns of a future life. Visible things only, impress their minds ; objects beheld solely by the eye of faith, fail to produce the influence of realities ; men " look I I at at the things which are seen and temporal, not at those which are unseen and eternal." But, js not indifterence on such matters, unreasonable and dan< gerous in the highest degree ? are not the concerns of religion the most important and interesting to im- mortal beings? Unquestionably they are in them- selves matters of the deepest interest, and are entitled on every principle of reason, of conscience, and of duty, to paramount concern. Hence, the importance of admonitions to diligence and activity in the great business of religion. How- ever liglitly they may be esteemed, however coldly they may oe received, however contemptuously they may be disregarded by the vain, thoughtless, and secure;' to every enlightened and serious mind they cannot fail to appear in their just and awful im- portance. The text contains one of these admoni- tions, enforced by a most interesting and impressive consideration, " Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, " do it with thy might : for there is no work, nor '' device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, " whither thou goest." Our attention is naturally called, I. To the admonition, — '' whatsoever thy hand " findeth to do, do it with thy might" and. n. To the consideration by which it is enforced, — " there* is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor " wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." I. From the connection in which the text is found, this admonition may be understood as having a pri- mary ;.2 not at \s not d dan< iicerns to iin- thoin- intitled and of lipfcnce How- coldly ly they is, and id they ful im- idmoni- iressive h to do, rk, nor B grave. iiy hand ►reed, — Ige, nor s found. o ^ P"' mary mary reference to the concern* of the presimt life,— as recommending the moects. We must enter into the s])irit and feel the force of the Apostle's language, when he says "Pight the good tight of faith." "So run ' that ye may ohiuin." " Forgetting the things which " are behind, reach forth to those vvhicli are before. " press towards the mark for the prize of •' calling of God in Christ Jesus." the high II. Tlie consideration by which the admonition of the text is enforced, is of a most interesting and im- pressive nature; — " there is no work, nor device, nor " knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou "' ffoest." Taking the whole in one view, Solomon may ])e considered as thus addressing the sons of men ; Be diligent and active now, in forming schemes for your future advantage and in executing the plans which you devise, for " there is no work, nor device in the grave." Be unremitting now in your exertions to improve the jiowers of your souls, to store your minds f '11 ► r 1^ 16 miruls A^ilh useful acquisitions, and to attuia sound wisdom, for " tlioie is no kn(mlod<»o nor wisdom in " the grave/' and to that phiceof inactit^i and insen- sibility, an irrevocable niiuidate ordaiuii you to go. Viewed in tliis light, tlie language of the wise man is intelligible to all, and it states a fact which can never be questioned. But, contemplated more es- pecially in a religious light, we lind that doubts have been entertained on the subject, or at least it has failed to produce its full impression. If the conduct of men can at all be rescued from the charge of absolute folly, it seems to be founded on the presump- tion that, at dtnith, the term of their probation does not expire, and that some means shall be employed in an miermediate state for the removal of gudt and the attainment of purity. The folly of sucli an ex- pectation it is quite unnecessary to pro v^e in an ad- dress to tho:e who profess the Protestant i'aith, or who have studied the sacred volume with minds unfettered by puitialities and open to conviction. It is an expectation which the whole spirit and ten- dency of revelation declares to bt; delusive and ruinous ; which the text contradicts in the most une- quivocal, the most solemn, the most decisive lan- guage, when it asserts — " ihere is no work, nor device " nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave." The force of this consideration viewed as a motive to activity and diligence in the momentous concerns of religion, demands the greatest share of our atten- tion. Yoiu' situation in this w orid has been exhibited in different aspects, and the various duties thence arisiiig have been set before you and urged on your attention. These duties, then, I now press home upon you with renewed earnestness as demanding instant %, ir <%^ iustant ixnloniumcc, for tlioM? iniinn^Kt oflior rrn- Hods, — lluit lli(^ |)r('H(!iit in your iiiont liivoiiruljln op- jKMlMiiily, — that the pcricxl when it iriay cUipMr it* al)s(»hit(>ly uiK'iMlaiii, — and lliat, " in the ^ruve whi- " ilu'Y yon ^o tlicrc; is no work, nor chfvicc, nor " knovvlctl;^c, nor wisdom. " Aro yon phurd in a slate? of dcprndaticcr nrid rn- fpiirod to proviih' Cor yonrsclvrs and thoHc conHi^fitul toyonrcarr, by yonr own t.'vrrl ions f " WhutKorvrr '• your hand tnuh'tli to(h)" in thin niutt(!r, "do it '' with your nui>ht ; tor in tlic <;'ravc whither yon ^o" activity is unknown; {\w urni of exertion in luid nerveless by the sichj; th(; hurry of buMinesH, th« struftftles ot conij)elition, and the buHthMiC lite, arc succeeded by a sidhiess which th(? thunch-r of heaven cannot sl)ake. Placed in a state of <;'uilt and expoMCfd punishment, arc you called to " beli(!V(; in the Lord " Jesus Christ that you may Uc saved " and to evinct^ the sinc( lity of your faith by a lite of holy ol)fjdi- euce ? " NVhatsoever yoiu" hand lindt'lh to do," in llic way of tkith and o!>edience, "do it with your '"mii^'ht; for iri the f»rave whither yon go" even ''the willKrod arm" of faith eaimot int e\t(Mid(fd to the Saviour, pardoning;' mercy Ih unknown, "the " accepted time and the day of salvation " are pro- claimed no more. Arc; yon Miu'rounded by bem<;;H like yourselves to whom you arc? bound by close and endearin:; ties, and who demand of you olliees of tenderness and love? *' Whatsociver your hand " tindetl) to do/' in the various relations (if lif(*, "do "it witii your mi^ht; for in tins ^'rav(! whith(»r you ' ^o"' tJie most sacred connections of time art; bur«t asunder, "love is perislu.'d," atid dijeds ofkindnesM can no lono( r b,* pci-fonned. Parents! inslruct your e hihh •en 18 ^1 jii, rhildren and aiiiinatt; tluMii in tin; pufh* tti hI« duiii and of pracc ; lot* yotinniMt mmhi \t'it\$' iUt'Ht to u iTiei'cilcHM and (Misnarin*'' world, and wIii'M yoti aro consi«i^nrd to tlio i;ni\<», tli<'y sliail rJM* ii|», (tot to call you bh'ssrd, hnt to n'[)rou(ii your ini^niory ; tfii'y shall visit yonr |L»rav(', not to droji tlio t<*iir of rt'p^rt^i or to vow over yonr hallowed dnsl, ctcrnul oImmIi encc to your connnands, but to cnrs^* you for Vour neglect of their d(»arest inten'sts. (.'Iiddreu! mint to the admonitions of your parents and imitutit f^t^ji' virtues; for soon you must Ini deprivetl of th v; f>^< of counsellors, and when you consign tlwirh ' f** i'^lhr j^rave, yonr breasts will be wru«i^' with Ih" I tif-^t ana^nish of remorse at the thou«'iil of o'»r uttdiifihd conduct, your ingratitude and n<;;,i^«;i. Mni^iv.fHt reo'ard yoiu* servants as bein»s kA' {ha adm** imiUfP. with yourselves, aud treat the u with ciiriHtiMiU fjfitti- tieness and tender forbearance; tor in iUt* ^fMV/? whither you and they equally t(Mid dititiucftoitM of rank are unkuowu, " the rich and t)i<» poor tm*H " too-etherj the small and the <;reat are then*, und Ihw " servtiut is free from his master." Herv«nt«»! i'tm- tinuc faJtiiful to the interests of your \ui\HWfH, Ut* naif discoura^v^'d in your coiu'se of duty townrd*» tlM'ui thon«;h they may tail in their duty to you, b<*«r ivith their iiduunanity and unjust reproiu'hex ; for the ji^rave is the land of peace whither the tVi>>oM<'r«t r^^^t *' together, they hear not the voice of the i>\)\m**mit/' Ye who are bound together by the tien oj idood or of affection! cherish ti*;. /i» m innentH of fr^'wdi^hip, take delight in an inte i < mm*:*, A kinu aitiMitiotN mul soothing endearments; lor the touch of dejuth (flttlh the warmest current of affection, and in ** iSw, |^rttt« M HhitJK^r ¥ Mf ilU'Ut Wit yoii ', tuti i(f y '. i\wy \ ofwdi if ymw \ \\%iv\i it*, iUl^^\' miUiYti 19 " wliiili'i" yon ^o" \]\v aslu's of fr'uMHls unci lors are miii^l(H. i()'«;('tlH'r in oiu' iiii(iistiii«;uislitHl mass. But tlioic is 11 IhmhI vvhiclniuilrsiiuiii with man and there- tore 1 a 'jl'-ess all <»t' yon as related to each oilier by the ijrs of one ronimon nature, and our breasts with peculiar force on this oeeasiou. One year has just closed and another has just comnienced. How solemn 20 ■#';• Hi: r! solemn the truth which the laj3se of tune prcff?se3 on our recollection, — " thou j»ocst to fhe «»Tiive!" and how awful the thought that talents, opportu- nities, and means of iniprovemeut shall be buried \vith us ! The period of our departure is wrapt in dread uncertainty, but one thing* we have too much reason to apprehend, that before this year comes to its close, some of us sliall have gone to the grave. Is not each of us reatly to utter the language of fearful anxiety and to say with the disciples of old, " Lord, is it I?" At all events, our duty and our interest is to be active in business, '' fervent in spi- " rit, serving the Lord," — prizing every opportu- nity as if it were our last, and improving every mo- ment as if the next were to terminate our earthly career. This is sound wisdom, and the most care- less and vmconcerned of mortals shall certainly find it so, though, alas ! it may be too late to repent of their folly. The time of sober consideration must arrive, but it comes too late when it cim no longer reform but merely reproacli, a conduct guided by folly and tending to misery. Brethren ! You see your perilous situation if you contirme indifferent to the concerns of eternity. Whilst you are thoughtless and gay, every thing around you wears a serious as- pect. You may loiter, but time will speed its flight. Satan will not be inactive in carrying on his work and God will not be mocked. For once, then, be thought- ful and serious. Reflecting on the past, may you tes- tify repentance! anticipating the future, .may you awake to newness of life ! — But if this like other warnings fails to produce its designed effect, you musl Eerish, — not because you were so unfortunate as to e ignorant of your danger, but because you were mad enough to disregard it. FINIS presses ^rave!" Dpportii- e buried wrapt in oo much joines to B grave. ;iiage of i of old, ind our t in spi- )pportu- ery mo- earthly st care- nly find 3pent of »n must > longer ded by ^ou see Rrent to ightless ious as- s tliglit. ork and lought- ou tes- lay you ! other >u must e as to .1 were I