Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

JESUS CHRIST was a wise and solemn preacher. In all his ministrations it was his aim to enlighten the mind, move the heart, and amend the life. These being the objects he had in view, an air of consistent seriousness breathed in all he said and did. Whether we accompany him amidst the crowds on the side of the mountain,-in the ship by the sea shore,—in the temple among the wise and learned, in the synagogue among his countrymen,-in the house with a family, or in solitude with his disciples, we find a uniformity in his character and conduct, which awakens our admiration, and demands our imitation. To the disciples in particular he unbosomed his mind. It was in a conversation with them that he uttered the words of our text. He had given them previous intimation of the destruction about to come upon the Jews, their city, and temple. And they came unto him privately, saying, "Tell us, when shall these things be, and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" To these enquiries he returned pertinent and instructive answers; and, towards the close of his remarks, endeavoured to reduce the whole to their immediate profit.

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He urged them to watchfulness, and exhorted them to be ready for, said he, " in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh."

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Whether we consider these words of our Lord, as referring to the destruction of Jerusalem,-to man's departure from the world by the stroke of death,—or to Christ's coming in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory, to gather all nations before him, they wear an air of solemnity, admirably calculated to impress our minds. In fact, I know not but they may have reference to all these events. My design, however, at the present, is to apply them to the solemn hour of man's removal from his present abode, by the resistless arm of death. It is in this sense I intend to sound in your ears, Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. I feel the more anxious to do this, as I am surrounded with numbers who appear insensible to the uncertainty of their situation, and the dreadful solemnities with which they will soon have to do. This I have thought must arise, in part, from forming improper views of the near approach these things are making to them. For, however awful an object may be, yet, when viewed at some distance, either as to time or place, we are prone to survey it with comparatively little concern. This will appear obvious if we refer to our feelings when news has reached us of the desolating march of war. We are informed that a sanguinary conflict has commenced. All within us is roused in a moment. We eagerly ask, where? And when informed that the place of conflict is remote, and that its aspect is in no wise formidable with reference to us, our flutter and anxiety settle into comparative indifference. Far from the disciplined crowds,the pealing cannons, the war torn country,-the cities laid in ruins, and the carnage of destroyed thousands; we think ourselves safe, pursue our occupations, and enjoy

the comforts of life. But how widely different would be our views and feelings, were our country the seat of desolating slaughter, were we placed amidst the terrific scene, our estates crowded with armies, and ourselves surrounded with the deafening clangour, enveloped in the smoke of the cannon, stunned with the cries, and drenched in the blood of our companions, placed in the heat of the battle, and likely every moment to be added to the number of the slain: the impression made on our minds would bear some proportion to the appalling scenes amidst which we were placed.

Let me apply these remarks to your present situation, and as the hour in which the Son of man will appear is uncertain, let me urge you to be ready for the solemn event. It is not my intention to give a minute exposition of these words, but as the design of the speaker evidently was to urge his disciples to be ready for all alarms, and prepared to leave the world at any hour, I will endeavour to make a similar impression on your minds, by noticing, I. The certainty of Christ's coming to call us away by death.—II. The uncertainty of the circumstances under which the arrest will be made,—and, III. Enforce the exhortation which the text contains.

1. THE CERTAINTY OF CHRIST'S COMING TO CALL US AWAY BY DEATH.

This truth is plainly implied in the text. I do not, however, urge the idea under an impression that any who hear me doubt this fact. But, on the contrary, I presume that of this you have the fullest persuasion. You are certain you must die. But it is one thing to credit a truth, and another to lay it to heart. When Moses breathed his fervent dying wish for the Israelites, he did not say, Oh! that they knew they have a latter end, but "Oh! that they understood this, that they would consider their

shindo glony sła, 18it wond latter end." We may further observe, that though when we think on this solemn theme, we do not entertain any doubt of its certainty, yet it is an obvious truth that frequently the recollection of it is absent from our minds,

and we can be more affected by the most consider

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currences than by it. Let me then urge you to consider this momentous truth-the certainty of death. There are many things around you which may be helpful to you in performing this important duty. Avail yourselves of the the three following-the Bible-the world-and your own experience. The Bible with its truths-the world with its decays your experience with its facts. Repair, 31. To the Bible with its truths. Here you learn how death entered our world and became the common lot of of man, You are informed "That by one man, sin entered the world, and that death came by sin, and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. v. 12. In accordance with this sentiment, we learn that when the first transgressor was brought to trial, the Author of his existence said, *In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread till thou return unto the ground, for out of it thou wast taken: for dust thou art and to dust thou shalt return." Gen. iii. 19. *This sentence not only concerned the first sinner upon earth, but sounds with equal solemnity to all the human race. * When the woman of Tekoah, was speaking to the disconsolate monarch concerning the unfortunate Absalom, she reminded him that "we must needs die, and are as water pilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. 2. Sam. xiv. 14. As if she had said, though the hand of Absalom had never been lifted against the impious Amnon, yet he must have died. This is the Divine decree, and the royalties of David cannot reverse it. The Apostle reminds the Hebrews that it is appointed unto men once to die. But it is not my intention to multiply quotations. You

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know that the whole contents of this Book, are designed to make deep impressions upon our minds concerning the frailty of our bodies, the immortality of our souls, and and our eternal destiny. And the Lord knowing how prone we are to forget our approaching dissolution, has not only caused several fragments connected with it to be scat, tered in various parts of the sacred volume, but in some intances has put it into the hearts of the inspired penmen to write largely upon it, so that in a sort of soliliquy they have pursued it through a whole chapter or Psalm. Mark,

2. The world with its decays. In consequence of the the curse brought on by transgression, this world has many things in it subject to decay and dissolution, and that are falling beneath the strokes of death. This you know is the case with the whole of the vegetation that covers and adorns its surface. Let me imagine that, at the present, you are encircled with the imposing beauties of spring. A mantle of living green is thrown over the earth, the fields are covered with herbage for man and beast, the hand of plenty is scattering its bounties on every side, a balmy influence breathes in the winds, the forests smile with verdant beauty, sensations of pleasure thrill through unnumbered thousands of animated beings, and the mountains echo back their mingled sentiments of joy. Surrounded with a scene like this, I could imagine an ardent flame of gratitude to kindle in your mind, while with an inspired penman you exclaim: "Bless the Lord, O my soul. He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst. By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation which sing among the branches. He watereth the hills from his chambers; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle and aucis sure service of man, that he may bring forth

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food out of the earth. And wine that maketh glad the heart