he is near," you have no security whatever that God may not cut the thread of your mortal life, and refuse you one more gracious call, or one more offer of mercy; but," because when he called ye refused; he stretched out his hand and no man regarded, but set at nought all his counsel, and would none of his reproof, he also will laugh at your calamity, he will mock when your fear cometh." Oh! my dear young friends, be persuaded seriously to consider these things; "Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth." Many are cut off around you, on the right hand and on the left; you, too, are mortal; you, too, have an interest in the things whereof we speak. "O that ye were wise, that ye understood this, that ye would consider your latter end." May the Lord, in the morning of your days, so teach you to number them as to apply your hearts to wisdom.

Let the inquiring hearer be encouraged. Though you know but in part, and lament your ignorance and weakness, yet while you diligently read the Scriptures, listen with attention to the preaching of the Gospel, and humbly seek the divine blessing upon it, assuredly, he will " give you understanding in all things;" for never shall the soul perish for lack of knowledge, that humbly kneels to ask it (while diligently using all the means he has appointed for obtaining it) of the Father of lights, "who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not.... Then shall ye know, if ye

follow on to know the Lord....Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart; wait, I say, on the Lord."

Let the established Christian who has long listened with delight to the word of God, and found it to be food to his soul, still go on after greater degrees of knowledge, faith, and holiness, "not as though he had already attained, either were already perfect, but forgetting the things which are behind, and reaching forth to the things which are before, let him press towards the mark for the prize of his high calling."

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And as we have stated that it is the duty of ministers to pray for a blessing on their labours; let me close, my beloved hearers, with one request;that you would also pray for us, that we may be made scribes well instructed ourselves in the kingdom of God, and able also to teach others; that our souls being first watered by the dews of heaven, we may be able also to water yours; that the seed we sow in weakness, may be raised in power, and produce a large harvest unto eternal life; that both sower and reaper may rejoice together, and God in all be glorified through Christ Jesus our Lord, throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

SERMON II.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MINISTERIAL OFFICE.

EZEK. Xxxiii. 7, 8, 9.

So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from

me.

When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die: if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

THESE Solemn words are the application of a striking similitude with which this chapter begins. The unerring word of God compares the office of a minister to that of a watchman in a time of public danger; and under this idea, both the ministers and hearers of the Gospel are admonished of their duty, and the awful consequences of neglect or

disobedience. "If the people of the land take a man of their coast, and set him for their watchman if when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow notthe trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand."

Such is the view of the Gospel message our text conveys; in which I observe the following ideas:-The high authority of the Gospel ministry;-its principal aim ;-its various success;-its awful responsibility;-and, the condemnation of its despisers.

In considering each of these particulars, may the Spirit of God assist us all, both as preacher and hearers of the Gospel, to examine ourselves as to our past neglects and deficiencies, deeply humble us on account of them, and stir us up to greater zeal and fidelity for the future; and, while your minister strives to be pure from the blood of all men, oh! may he also experience the unspeakable happiness, on behalf of you, the people of his charge, of beholding many seals to his ministry; here, his hope and joy-his crown of rejoicing in the presence of Christ at his coming.

I. Our text suggests the high authority of the Gospel ministry. Thus saith Jehovah, the Lord of all; "Son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me."

This leads us at once to the source whence the Gospel ministry derives its authority, value, importance, and efficacy; and whence the good servant of Jesus Christ seeks direction, supply, and success in the discharge of his ministerial duties. We come, my brethren, in the name of the Lord of hosts, whose messengers we are, (however mean and unworthy,) if sincere, under the authority and command of Jesus Christ, King of Zion. We "go forth into all the world," as far as our feeble means extend, "and preach the Gospel to every creature." While we approve ourselves faithful ministers of Jesus Christ, diligently seeking the word which we speak from the mouth of the Lord, and explicitly and affectionately proclaiming it to others, our message is sanctioned by the broad seal of the majesty of heaven; "He that believeth shall be saved; and he that believeth not shall be damned."

Here then, my brethren, behold the ground on which we claim your attention and respect; we ask not, we desire not, any homage to our persons; we are "men of like passions with yourselves;" and we well know, that though "man