Should that withdraw, you are irrecoverably lost; and how long this may be extended to you is the most uncertain.

But there are other things beside those which have been stated, which render the situation of the sinner very dangerous. For

17. Beside being in this ruined state; condemned and hastening to destruction, he is very insensible of his danger. The sinner is naturally blind to his ill desert, and consequently inattentive to the evils which threaten him. Danger is greatly increased, when not apprehended nor feared. That the impenitent are very blind to their danger, appears from the general security which prevails among them. It is no uncommon thing to see persons, who in their own view are destitute of true religion, quiet and unconcerned. Careless, secure sinners may be found in every place, professing themselves accountable, and designed for immortality, who live in the known and open contempt of the laws of God, and yet think but little about their present state, and scarcely bestow one serious thought upon the consequences of living without God, and without hope. Such instances are to be found among the aged, who are tottering over the pit. And such instances are common among the middle aged and the young. A very great part of mankind, even of those who live under the light of the gospel, are evidently pursuing worldly enjoyments and possessions, as their chief good, and do not even profess any concern for the interest of their own souls; but live as if all would be

well with them, and they had nothing to fear from the
nature and tendency of sin. Such persons are in im-
minent danger of falling into hell. Their danger is
greatly increased by their security, and they discover
too, evident marks of a reprobate mind and seared
conscience, which nothing will awaken but the light
of eternity. The peculiar danger of such persons ari-
ses from their security under the means of grace. The
sinner must be convicted of his sin and danger, or he
can never be recovered. Convictions are necessary
even to show the sinner the need of a new heart, and
of a Saviour from wrath. It is not the manner of God
to convert the sinner before he shows him, in an im-
pressive manner, his guilt and danger. The truths of
the gospel must be attended to, and in some measure
understood, before the sinner can have correct views
of himself and of a Saviour.-They therefore who dis-
regard the gospel, are in no way to become the sub-
jects of right affections, which are founded upon cor-
rect apprehensions of truth. The secure, careless
sinner is opposed to such convictions, and willingly
avoids the means of such impressions; and that com-
pany,
and those places where he is likely to meet the
just reproof of his sins, are unpleasant to him. And
if at any time, he is in some measure impressed, he
will try various methods to silence the accusations
of his conscience, and hush all his fears to sleep.
Now this is an awful, though common case. The
sinner, who is careless and secure, who avoids the
means of conviction, is not likely to discover his guilt
and danger, and consequently will not escape to the

L

strong hold. So that if men are not first convinced of sin, and truly awakened to a sense of their crimin ality and danger, we are not to expect, they will ever be converted to God. From all which it appears that sinners are in imminent danger; that they stand on slippery places, and the time is fast hastening when their feet shall slide. This soon will be their dreadful state, unless they are awakened, converted and turned to God by repentance; and the probability of this is diminishing every day. The longer they live în sin, the more insensible they become to their guilt and danger, and the less hope there is that the means, under which they have long lived securely, will ever profit them. How affecting is the situation of sinners! danger seems to surround them on every side. How evident is it, "that there is no peace to the wicked." Standing on slippery places, they are in danger every day, of falling into hell. This is the state of every sinner in this assembly. thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee life."

IMPROVEMENT.

"O awake

1. If the situation of sinners be thus dangerous, we can see the folly of indulging an envious spirit towards them, even in their highest state of worldly prosperity. David was guilty of this folly, and wickedness. "For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." This he confessed with shame and humiliation before God. "So foolish was I, and ignorant, I was as a beast before thee." There is nothing

in the situation of sinners to excite envy, but every thing to call forth the compassion of every child of God. Look at the situation of the most prosperous sinner through the glass of revelation; view attentively the situation of the rich man in the gospel, drawn by our Saviour; see his wealth flowing in on every side-not even room to bestow his goods. See Lazarus lying at his gate, poor, friendless, sick and dying : "The rich man clothed in purple and fine linen, and faring sumptuously every day." Look attentively at these two men. What do you see? Much, you say, in the state of the rich man to be desired; much to be deprecated in the state of Lazarus. Look again, examine the picture which Christ has drawn of these two men. You see one setting down amidst his abundance, and saying to himself, "soul thou hast much goods laid up for many years; eat, drink and be merry." You see death lie concealed from his view, like the serpent under the flowers of the garden. You see death in some unexpected moment strike the fatal blow; the curtain drops, eternity opens, and you see this rich man fall from his affluence, his security, his elevation into hell. In the same picture, you see Lazarus, poor, but satisfied with his lot; sick, but patient; waiting "all the days of his appointed time till his change come." "After having suffered according to the will of God" he falls asleep, and is carried by angels into Abraham's bosom. You are ready to exclaim, “O let me die the death of the righteous; let my last end be like his." Christian, never envy the

sinner, should you see him "clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously every day."

2. If the situation of sinners is so dangerous, how reasonable is concern for the soul. Concern for an object implies danger. If a man ever acts reasonably, it is when anxious that his soul be not lost. The man who can think that such anxiety is unreasonable, gives the greatest proof of his own stupidity. The world would not think a man unreasonable who had a large estate in danger, if he were anxious to secure it. The world would not think the merchant unreasonable, who had a large property on the seas, were he anxious. The world would not think a sick man unreasonable, who should send for a physician, and anxiously inquire, what he should do; No man's conscience, however stupid he lives, will allow him to say, that the world is of more value than the soul. If it be reasonable for a man to inquire, what he shall eat, what he shall drink, how he shall live a few years in this world, how much more, that he should be anxious, how and where he shall live through an eternity. The question, which the poor distressed jailor proposed to the Apostles, is the most reasonable, that a man can ask,

Sirs, What shall I do to be saved?" And should the most careless sinner in this assembly, for a single moment, see the worth of his soul, and its danger, he would instantly join with the anxious jailor in his reasonable question.

How can you excuse your neglect of your souls? You are concerned for your bodies, how you shall feed