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the hand of the Most High had planted, was blasted by sin. When man became a sinner, he became mortal. The doom was pronounced, that, after few and evil days, he should return to the dust from whence he was taken. Since that time, as soon as our eyes open on the light, we come under the law of mortality, and the sentence of death is passed. In the morning of our day, we set out on our journey for eternity; thither we are all fast tending and day and night we travel on without intermission.There is no standing still on this road. To this great rendezvous of the sons of Adam we are continually drawing nearer and nearer. Our life is ever on the wing, although we mark not its flight. Our motion down the stream of time is so smooth and silent, that though we are for ever moving, we perceive it not, till we arrive at the ocean of eternity. Even now, death is doing his work. At this very moment of time, multitudes are stretched on that bed from which they shall rise no more. The blood is ceasing to flow; the breath is going out; and the spirit taking its departure for the world unknown.

When we look back on our former years, how many do we find who began the journey of life along with us, and promised to themselves long life and happy days, cut off in the midst of their career, and fallen at our side! They have but gone before us; one day we must follow. man! who now rejoicest in the pride of life, and looking abroad, sayest in thy heart, thou shalt never see sorrow, for thee the bed of death is spread; the worm calls for thee to be her companion; thou must enter the dominions of the dead, and be gathered to the dust of thy fathers. If then death be certainly approaching fast, let us learn the true value of life. If death be at hand, then certainly time is precious. Now the day shines, and the master calls us; in a little time the night cometh, when no man can work. To-day, therefore, hear the voice which calls you to hea"Now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation."-"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."

ven.

II. We may consider the time and manner of the arrival of death.

Death is called in Scripture, the land without any order; and without any order the king of terrors makes his approaches in the world. The commission given from on

high, was, "Go into the world; Strike; strike so, that the dead may alarm the living." Hence it is, that we seldom see men running the full career of life; growing old among their children's children, and then falling asleep in the arms of nature, as in the embraces of a kind mother; coming to the grave like a shock of corn fully.ripe; like flowers that shut up at the close of the day. Death walks through the world without any order. He delights to surprise, to give a shock to mankind. Hence, he leaves the wretched to prolong the line of their sorrows, and cuts off the fortunate in the midst of their career; he suffers the aged to survive himself, to outlive life, to stalk about the ghost of what he was, and aims his arrow at the heart of the young who puts the evil day far from him. He delights to see the feeble carrying the vigorous to the grave, and the father building the tomb of his children. Often when his approaches are least expected, he bursts at once upon the world, like an earthquake in the dead of night, or thunder in the serenest sky. All ages and conditions he sweeps away without distinction; the young man just entering into life, high in hope, elated with joy, and promising to himself a length of years; the father of a family from the embraces of his wife and children; the man of the world, when his designs are ripening to execution, and the long expected crisis of enjoyment seems to approach. These and all others are hurried promiscuously off the stage, and laid without order in the common grave. Every path in the world leads to the tomb, and every hour in life hath been to some the last hour.

Without order, too, is the manner of death's approach. The king of terrors wears a thousand forms; pains and diseases, a numerous and a direful train, compose his host. Marking out unhappy man for their prey, they attack the seat of life or the seat of understanding; hurry him off the stage in an instant, or make him pine by slow degrees; blasting the bloom of life, or, waiting till the decline, according to the pathetic picture of Solomon, "They make the strong men bow themselves, and the keepers of the house tremble; make the grinders cease; bring the daughters of music low; darken the sun, and the moon, and the stars; scatter fears in the way, and make desire itself to fail, until the silver cord be loosed, and the golden bowl

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be broken, when the dust returns to the dust as it was, and the spirit ascends to God who gave it."

III. We have to consider the change which death introduces.

Man was made after the image of God; and the human form divine, the seat of so many heavenly faculties, graces and virtues, exhibits a temple not unworthy of its Maker. Men in their collective capacity, and united as nations, have displayed a wide field of exertion and of glory. The globe bath been covered with monuments of their power, and the voice of history transmits their renown from one generation to another. But when we pass from the living world to the dead, what a sad picture do we behold! The fall and desolation of human nature; the ruins of man; the dust and ashes of many generations scattered over the earth. The high and the low; the mighty and the mean; the king and the cottager, lie blended together, without any order. The worm is the companion, is the sister of him, who thought himself of a different species from the rest of mankind. A few feet of earth contain the ashes of him who conquered the globe; the shadows of the long night stretch over all alike; the monarch of disorder, the great leveller of mankind, lays all on the bed of clay in equal meanness. In the course of time, the land of desolation becomes still more desolate; the things that were, become as if they had never been; Babylon is a ruin, her heroes are dust; not a trace remains of the glory that shone over the earth, and not a stone to tell where the master of the world is laid. Such, in general, is the humiliating aspect of the tomb; but let us take a nearer view of the house appointed for all living. Man sets out in the morning of his day, high in hope, and elated with joy. The most important objects to him are the companions of his journey. They set out together in the career of life, and, after many mutual endearments, walk hand in hand through the paths of childhood and of youth. It is with a giddy recollection we look back on the past, when we consider the number and the value of those, whom unforeseen disaster and the hand of destiny hath swept from our side. Alas! when the awful mandate comes from on high concerning men, to change the countenance, and to send them away, what sad spectacles do they become! The friends whom we knew, and valued, and loved; our companions

in the path of life; the partners of our tender hours, with whom we took sweet counsel, and walked in company to the house of God, have passed to the land of forgetfulness, and have no more connection with the living world. Low lies the head that was once crowned with honour. Silent is the tongue to whose accents we surrendered the soul,. and to whose language of friendship and affection we wished to listen for ever. Beamless is the eye, and closed in night, which looked serenity, and sweetness, and love. The face that was to us as the face of an angel, is mangled and deformed; the heart that glowed with the purest fire, and beat with the best affections, is now become a clod of the valley.

But shall it always continue so? If a man die, shall he live again? There is hope of a tree if it be cut down; but man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? Has the breath of the Almighty, which animated his frame, vanished into the air? Is he who triumphed in the hope of immortality, inferior to the worm, his companion in the tomb? Will light never rise on the long night of the grave? Does the mighty flood that has swept away the nations and the ages, ebb to flow no more! Have the wise and the worthy; the pious and the pure; the generous and the just; the great and the good; the excellent ones of the earth, who, from age to age, have shone brighter than the stars of heaven, withdrawn into the shade of annihilation, and set in darkness to rise no more? No. While "the dust returns to the earth as it was, the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." Life and immortality are brought to light by the Gospel of Christ. "We know, that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."

The periods of human life passing away; the certainty of the dissolution which awaits us, and the frequent examples of mortality, which continually strike our view, lead us to reflect with seriousness upon the house appointed for all living. Death is the great teacher of mankind; the voice of wisdom comes from the tomb; reflections, which shew us the vanity, will teach us the value of life. Such meditations are particularly suited to beings like us, who are subject to infirmities and defects. For such is the weakness of human nature in this imperfect state; such is the strength of temptation in this evil world, that frail

man is often led astray before he is aware. The enemy of the soul attacks us in every quarter; approaches often under false colours, and tries every disguise to deceive and to destroy. Vice often borders on virtue; the narrow path and the broad way lie so near, that it is difficult to distinguish them, so as to order our goings aright. Inadvertence may frequently betray; the impetuosity of passion may precipitate, and the gentleness of our own nature mislead us into steps fatal to our peace. I speak not of wicked men, who acknowledge no guide but their passions, and submit to no law, but what one vice imposes upon another. I talk of the sincere, and the good. The most watchful Christian has his unguarded moments: the most prudent man speaks unadvisedly with his lips, and the meekest lets the sun go down upon his wrath. Alas! man in his best estate is altogether vanity, and always stands in need of the lesson from the tomb. "O that they were wise," said Moses, "that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!"

SERMON VII.

1 Cor. xv. 55, 57.

O death! Where is thy sting? O grave! Where is thy victory? Thanks be to God who giveth, us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

THE Messiah is foretold in ancient prophecy as a magnificent Conqueror. His victories were celebrated, and his triumphs were sung, long before the time of his appearance to Israel. "Who is this," saith the prophet lalah, pointing him out to the Old Testament Church, "Who is this that cometh from Edom; with dyed gar ments from Bozrah? This that is glorious in, his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength?" I have set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.-I shall give him the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts

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