parent call the child to hear the voice of instruction? And does the son or the daughter gladly lend the ear to words of soberness and truth? Does the brother speak to the sister of the things concerning her soul? the master to the servant? and the friend to the friend? What a blessed thing would it be, if it were so! If in every house the day of God were thus observed, surely this would become the fairest spot in all the earth! It would indeed be light arising in the darkness!

But this must be strangely different from other places if it be so. We dare not hope

it. Are there not some who consider the time given up to religion by far the least pleasant part of the day? Surely it is no want of charity to say, that some take more pleasure in dress, or feasting, or visiting on the Lord's day, than in the worship at church or the sermon they hear! Some even will own it and make a jest of it. Fools make a mock at sin.

But ah! how wretched will be the end of all this pleasure! Every health that is pledged over the 'cheerful glass,' by the lips of worldly men, will, to the enlightened mind, speak rather of the sickness of the soul! And while they are expressing to themselves and to each other, their happiness, he will sigh over misery!

Oh! how sad it is to see the houses of the richer classes of the land filled, on the Lord's day, with luxury and carnal mirth, and to

see the lower ranks sabbath-breaking in the streets by idleness, drunkenness, and gross sin in various shapes! Sad; that all these should suppose they are treading the path of happiness when, indeed, it is the way to endless misery!

(3.) Once more. It has been said that light springs out of darkness to the upright, when the exercise of his graces (such as patience and humility) causes his light to shine before men, and his heavenly Father to be glorified.

Now, with the ungodly, just the contrary happens. When they are in what they consider their brightest hours, then it is their character appears the darkest. At the time they feel themselves the happiest, then it is that God is most dishonoured. With them the creature is every thing, the Creator nothing. They love the gift but love not the Giver!

Thus it appears that while light arises out of darkness to the upright, those things which should be for the good of the ungodly, become unto them an occasion of falling! In a word, while all things are working together for good to them that love God, even their very troubles; all things are working for evil to them who do not love him, even their very pleasures!

A word, in CONCLUSION, to those of the Lord's people who are not now in darkness, as regards their present frame.

Beloved, you are sitting in the sunshine of your heavenly Father's favour. Rejoice in your blessedness: but rejoice with trembling. When goodness abounds, and mercy embraceth us on every side, we should walk very softly and very warily. Satan watches his opportunity to harass and distress us: And never, perhaps, are we more especially under his eye than when all runs smoothly with us, and we are exulting that our mountain stands strong.

I mean not, (the Lord forbid it!) to hinder or damp the rejoicing of any believer in Jesus; nay, I rather say, Rejoice evermore. But let it be a sober, subdued, a wise joyfulness: such a rejoicing as may leave you on your guard. For, alas! beloved, it is true that as light often springs up when we are in darkness, so darkness often overclouds us suddenly while we are sitting in the light: in the light of our heavenly Father's coun

tenance.

Let us, then, be sober, be vigilant; we know not what a day may bring forth. Just as the bright and sunny sky is sometimes suddenly covered with black clouds, and the peaceful vault of heaven filled with vivid lightning and peals of thunder, so may it be with us. However calm, peaceful, happy our walk may be at present, another day may find us troubled, distressed, perplexed!

And why do I remind you of this? Simply to impress upon your heart that this is not

our rest. To kindle your desires and awaken your longings for that happy state, where fears, or doubt, or sorrow cannot be where light shall never arise out of darkness, for there shall be no night there, for the Lamb that is in the midst of it shall be the light thereof. There will be no cause for watchfulness, for there danger cannot come. Then the cold and careful rules (needful, alas! for our fallen nature!) will be done away ! 'Prudence,' Danger of Enthusiasm,' and terms like these, will lose their application; Grace will then become our entire nature. Now it is a conflicting principle: (reigning, indeed, but still conflicting.) Then it will take undisputed possession of the soul, and we may venture upon the boldest flights of rapturous joy secure!

SERMON XIII.

THE CHARACTER AND PROSPECTS OF THE RIGHTEOUS.

ECCL. VIII. 12.

IT SHALL BE WELL WITH THEM THAT FEAR GOD.

We find in the lxxiiid Psalm, Asaph, a man who feared God, confessing that he envied the prosperity of the wicked. My feet, says he, were almost gone, my steps had well nigh slipped: For I was envious at the foolish when I saw the prosperity of the wicked: For there are no bonds in their death, but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain... Behold these are the ungodly who prosper in the world, they increase in riches. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. So far did the corruption dwelling within him lead him astray!

But when he went into the sanctuary he saw the end of these men; how they were