because perverted or unimproved, contributes to painful results, the hardening of the hearts and the aggravated ruin of multitudes.

II. In what respects are we doing this great work?

We are not to forget that the efficiency is God's. Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. It is one of the chief delights of the christian in a revival, to feel, and to say, "Lo, THIS IS OUR GOD!" To exalt the Holy Spirit! To magnify His office, and His work.

Yet in some important respects, we do this work. For, we use the means of its advancement.

We preach the word,-frequently, plainly, and with adaptation to the season, and to the numerous classes which the season occasions. In the inquiry-meeting, and from house to house, we confer with the troubled soul; explain to him the way of God more fully; expose his errors; answer his excuses; resolve his doubts; reduce to order his confused thoughts and mingled feelings; and, divesting the subject in hand of all that does not properly belong to it, simplify his duty, and enforce it upon his conscience.

We bring the unconverted to the house of God-all who love their souls can do this—and endeavor to place them under all the means of grace. By evincing an affectionate interest, we encourage them to seek their salvation. We take them by the hand, when impressed, point them to the Savior, and show that "the elder brother" can favor the return and pardon of "the prodigal."

We pray for them. This we do, in public and in secret; in their presence, and also where they hear it not, and when they know it not.

III. What, in the course of a revival, is to be guarded against, as likely to cause the work to cease?

PAST SUCCESS. Christians count the converted; pronounce on the power and extent of the work; congratulate themselves and each other; and are satisfied.

UNBELIEF. The idea obtains, that God will not save many in so small a congregation; or in a congregation where the proportion of the unconverted is so small; or without more preaching; or without more powerful or exciting preaching; or with the measures employed. As many have been converted, as in the circumstances, could be expected.

DISCOURAGEMENT FROM THE CHARACTER OF THOSE WHO REMAIN UNCONVERTED. There are but few of them; or they are too hardened; or they are as yet little impressed; or they have passed through many revivals; or they are fast bound in error; or they make bitter opposition; or they plead so many excuses.

WEARINESS, from continuing in an uniform and absorbing work. The spirit—not merely because the flesh is weak-grows restless. A change is desired: some new excitement, or at least some relaxation.

A DIMINUTION OF ATTENDANCE UPON THE HOUSE OF GOD. The influence of the mere presence of each member of the church, is mighty. The influence of his absence, mightier still. His absence, if unnecessary, discourages the preacher, and is a comment upon the work of God which sinners easily read. Yet a dropping off, in the attendance of professors of religion, is not uncommon. Many of them begin the revival-season well. They come to the first prayer-meetings. They hear the first sermons. Their goodness is a morning cloud; and as the early dew it goeth away.

WORLDLY BUSiness. It is a hard lesson for christians to learn that their business is God's, if such that they have a right to pursue it; and that God's work is theirs. They are not the proprietors of their worldly concerns, but only agents. If the Proprietor calls us off, and by his providence and Spirit points us to the revival, as the scene of chief labor for the present, there we must be. While such is the indication, there we must stay-only caring meanwhile that His other business takes no harm. When the members of the church "cannot afford time from business," the work is likely to cease.

WORLDLY COMPANY. When christians go again for their happiness, into circles where religion is not ascendant, or court or admit the attentions of the irreligious and the gay-it is saying decisively that we have no further occasion for the company of the Holy Spirit.

HABITUAL AND EASILY BESETTING SINS. The first step, on engaging in a revival, is to part with these. If they are resumed, the work ceases. Too often, the christian has not slain his sins; nor was it his calculation to slay them. He only laid them by; to take them up, perhaps with new zest.

OUR SELFISH ENDS ANSWERED. Numbers and strength have been added to the church. My own house has shared in the blessing. I have received a new impulse: it has been a season of comfort to my soul; my doubts and darkness are scattered; my backslidings healed. My child, my husband, or my parent has been saved.

These are blessed results. But ends no higher, no larger, are selfish ; and if we rest when they are gained, the work will cease. Thus saith the Lord God, I do not this for your sakes, but FOR MY HOLY NAME'S SAKE.

A VAGUE IMPRESSION THAT THE WORK WILL GO ON. If the idea obtains, that the preaching is good; the preacher wise and successful; the church humble and prayerful; the congregation deeply moved; the Spirit powerfully operating;—and therefore, irrespectively of the part individuals may act, the work will advance, it is likely to cease.

PRAYER INTERMITTED. Exalt God less; recognize, realize less, your entire dependence on the Almighty Spirit; let prayer flag in the closet, prayer-meetings become thin and lifeless, and the conviction less fixed and less felt, that this work advances only as GOD IS HERE,and the work will cease: IT HAS CEASED.

IV. Why should this work NOT CEASE?

The work HONORS GOD. When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory. It is in transforming the sinful heart, and and in training his child for his service and kingdom, that God best displays his glory. When, by the outpouring of his Spirit, he multiplies these results, as the drops of dew, or the leaves of spring, it is the brightest view of grace, that earth, or heaven, knows.

THE PRESENCE OF GOD. He speaks much of times of visitation, and of refreshing from his presence: and insists that his people shall improve them. "A present God is all our strength, and all our joy and hope." Wo to them when I depart from them!

THE PROMISES OF GOD. Many, varied, full, sincere, exceeding great and precious. Often tested, and never known to fail.

THE NUMBER ALREADY CONVERTED. That this has been considerable, should only prompt to greater desire and effort. It is so in other things to have, is to desire more,-success gives birth to enterprise. Why not in the case of the best of blessings:-and on the part of their Giver, untold resources, a warm heart, and the most encouraging offers ?

THE ESTABLISHING OF CONVERTS. No school for them like a revival; the revival in which they were born. Let them learn here, the ele ments of truth, the guidance and witness of the Spirit, the source of their strength, the blessedness of bringing others to Jesus. Let him that heareth, say Come. The conversion of the convert is not his last step, but his first. Let these happy influences remain about him, till he shall have taken many a manly stride.

IT IS A DELIGHTFUL WORK. It is drawing from the richest fount of joy in the sanctified heart; since "it is more blessed to give than to receive." It is mingling with our friends in the scene of their overflowing love, their first real happiness. It is sympathy, in desire and employment and the delights of success, with the Savior!

THE INFLUENCE OF THIS WORK, ON OTHER CHURCHES. It is a token for good, a hold upon heaven, when the Spirit is operating in a neighboring church. The hope is, that the happy contagion will reach us: that God, who has come so nigh, will favor our Zion. Praying ones are encouraged to cry, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for us? Bless us, even us also, O our Father!

THE WORTH OF THE SOUL. With its immortal nature; its deep affections; its ever enlarging capacities for bliss, or for wo; its ransom, no less than "the precious blood of Christ," the soul is to be converted, or lost; and that soon!

THE NUMBER OF THE UNCONVERTED. Many are "anxious"; many evince earlier stages of sensibility; many are unawakened.

THE CHARACTER OF THE UNCONVERTED. It may be that they are "the hardened," "those who have passed through many revivals," and "the opposers." They have indeed withstood powerful influences, these many days. But shall the work for this reason cease, and the Spirit be withdrawn, and these be left to certain death?

THE NEARNESS of MANY TO OURSELVES. By blood, and by strong

affection, they are dear to us. We love them, as our own souls. All the close relationships of life are here. And can we deliberately concur in separations which now exist; and which, remaining to the close of this work, are so likely to exist forever? Could we all agree today, where this revival shall stop,-which of our houses it shall not enter?

THE INFLUENCE THAT THE CONVERSION OF A SOUL MAY SET IN MOTION. The conversion of a layman, Page, is supposed to have resulted in the direct conversion of one hundred others. To how many more, God blessed his influence, in life, in death, and now, when being dead, he yet speaketh, will not be known on earth. How many more might have been converted through the labors of that useful man, but for his early departure, it is impossible to conjecture. But suppose his labors blessed in the saving of one hundred,-nay of fifty souls. Suppose each one of those, or half of them, possessed of his zeal and his faith, and instrumental in the conversion, each one of many more. And they, in their turn; and so on, till time shall end," the circles widening as they recede."

Suppose a young man converted, who becomes educated, and preaches the gospel. In connection with his labors, it pleases God to save many hundreds. Of these, many inherit the spirit of self-denying labor for the cause of the Redeemer. Not a few become preachers: some, missionaries of the cross. Many a mother, among those converts, now begins to train her children for heaven. Many of the youth, in after life are parents, and train their children for God. Who can calculate the influence of the conversion of that young man? And if one such trophy may be secured to the Savior in this revival; or one person saved, who shall accomplish a fraction of that good,-why should the work cease?

Finally, if the work ceases, it is that we "GO DOWN" AGAIN INTO CARELESSNESS AND SIN. The close of a revival is as sad, as its commencement is happy. The church laying down their watch, and relaxing their effort and prayer, and the irreligious falling into indifference, must compensate the adversary it would seem for the inroads he has suffered. Shall this be? Can we bear the thought?

V. How may we secure the continuance of the work?

Continue all that we have done, to invite the presence of the Spirit; and to promote the work. Abandon all that may have hindered its more powerful progress. Cherish your interest in the revival. Be present amid its moving scenes. Learn within those walls, how little is the world; how valuable is the soul; how great is God! Be humble; be watchful; be solemn; be prayerful.

If you have withheld your presence, and your hearty co-operation; repent. Now throw yourself into the work. Show that you have enough religion, enough sympathy with the Savior, enough regard for the souls of men, to concur in the saving operations of the Spirit.

If you cannot show this:-if it is not so: then inquire into your own standing before God. Inquire whether there is not the first and best of reasons, why you, you should enter into this work: whether this revival may not have been sent to rescue one at least from a state as fearful as avowed impenitence!

It only remains, therefore, that we press onward. I seem to hear that cheering order, Speak to the children of Israel, that they go forward. Tire not. Let your trust be in God. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse. Lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left. Thus the work shall not cease. "The Lord is with you, while ye be with Him."

SERMON CCCXLVII.

EXCUSES FOR NOT BEING A CHRISTIAN.

*I pray thee have me excused."-Luke xiv: 18.

It

*MANY and various are the excuses which men plead for neglecting religion when its importance is pressed on their attention. All have some excuse, but among them all there is not one which is valid now, or which will prove well grounded in the day of judgment. Some of the excuses which are urged are indeed very deceptive. is not uncommon to hear individuals say "I wish I were a christian, but I do not know how to become one." Impossible. To wish to be a christian, and actually to be one, are the same thing. Still many persons use this language, "I wish I were a christian but do not know how to become one;" and this discourse is designed to show you, my hearer, not how to gratify your supposed wish, but to show you that if you are not a christian, you have, in fact, no wish to become one. There are reasons why you have not; which, though they are sometimes expressed, oftener lie coiled up secretly in the heart, and are only perceived when they are distinctly pointed out. Some of these will be brought to view in this discourse; and the hearer, while he considers them, should carefully inquire whether he is not himself under the influence of them; so as, in fact, not to wish to be a christian; so that, though he may wish for the safety and the happiness which he imagines piety would bring, he does not really wish for the reign of piety itself in his heart.

I. I am too young to attend to religion.-Some have a secret feeling, that they are so young, that it is not necessary for them to attend to