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prince, who, however exalted, is a mortal like himself. The other is a minister of the "Prince of the kings of the earth, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords." The employment of the one, however important and beneficial to the interests of man, is confined to the welfare of our present state of existence. The labour of the other tends not only to promote the present peace and happiness of his fellow men, but to make them partakers of a felicity which will run parallel with their immortal existence, and endure through the revolutions of eternity. Let the ministers of the gospel then magnify their office; not by assuming an authority which does not belong to it, but by supporting it with a conduct consistent with its real dignity, and by exercising it so as to render it extensively beneficial to mankind. But, my respected and reverend brethren, while we contemplate the importance and dignity of the ministerial office, let us not forget its tremendous responsibility. We are "stewards of the mysteries of God;" but the eyes of our Lord and Master are upon us, and soon must we give an account of our stewardship at the tribunal of Him "who shall judge the quick and dead at his appearing and his kingdom." If we are accounted faithful in the discharge of our office, when the chief Shepherd shall appear, we shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." On the other hand, should we be deemed unfaithful, by concealing the truth, by corrupting the word of God, by acting merely as men-pleasers, by saying, "Peace, peace, when God says, There is

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had never existed in it. Where is he, in respect to any farther preparation for his eternal state? The fight is terminated, the race is run, and the crown is either awarded or lost. There is no return to the field of action; no scope for any amended efforts. "As the tree falls, so it must be." Pardon, peace, and holiness are now at an unapproachable distance from all who have not attained them in the present world.

3. Let us consider the question thirdly, with reference to the different characters of men.

Look at the presumptuous sinner: the man who is running a race of sin, who transgresses against conscience, warning, and example: who never troubles himself about faith, or repentance, or holiness; and who, notwithstanding this, presumes that all will be well with him at last. His time is come, "he giveth up the ghost, and where is he?"

Consider the character of the unbeliever. This is the man who hardens his heart against the threatenings and promises of God: who endeavours to persuade himself that the Bible is not a true book. His evil heart of unbelief causes him to depart from the living God. He rejects the counsel of God against his own soul: he despises the offers of mercy, and will not lend an ear to the invitation of the Saviour of sinners. At length he finishes his course, his race is run, he is undeceived! "He giveth

up the ghost, and where is he?"

Reflect on the state of the hypocrite. This is he who may put on religion as a cloak to cover his

dishonesty or covetousness: who may wish to appear religious for popular applause, or to hide his sins under the appearance of virtue. The time is at hand when the mantle of hypocrisy will be stripped off, and he will stand exposed in his true character before God, angels, and men. "He giveth up the ghost, and where is he?"

Look at the blasphemer, who sports with oaths and curses; and who delights in sin for its own sake who plunges in crimes that bring neither profit, honour, nor pleasure. "He giveth up the ghost, and where is he?"

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But when and where can we stop?-sin is exhibited to us in such multifarious forms. View the miser who spends his life in heaping up that which will not profit in the day of wrath; while he disregards the welfare of his soul, in exchange for which the whole world were an useless ransom. Look at the man who scruples not to overreach and defraud an unsuspecting brother or neighbour, prospering in his dishonesty, and perhaps maintaining his reputation to the last. Look at the trifler who spends his time in idleness, pleasures, and amusements, dancing on blindfold to death's precipice. Add to these characters the melancholy list given by the apostle, "the unrighteous, the fornicator, the adulterer, the thief, the covetous, the drunkard, the reviler, the extortioner." One after another, they all give up the ghost, and where are they?

And, once more, look at the Christian: the man who knows that he has the seeds of all these sins in his

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soul, and who may have fallen into them, in a greater or less degree, but who has looked for pardon through the Saviour's blood; has exercised repentance for his transgressions, and prayed for grace to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. "He giveth up the ghost, and where is he?" Let the Bible answer the question here, as well as in the other points of view in which it has been proposed.

4. Let us consider the question in the fourth and last place with regard to the final destiny of man.

And here we must reduce the whole of the human race into two great divisions, the righteous and the wicked. These universally give up the ghost, and where are they? Both classes are consigned to the grave. Both go into the unseen world, the state of existence between death and the resurrection. The righteous enter into paradise, to see the Saviour whom not having seen they loved, to be with him where he is, to have fellowship and communion with the angels, and to enjoy the society of the spirits of just men made perfect. On the other hand, the wicked go to their own place, to endure the torments of the damned. "The hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." Then the bodies of the righteous shall be changed, and fashioned like unto the glorious body of the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, according to the

working whereby he is able even to subdue all
things unto himself." The bodies of the wicked
shall also be changed, and endued with the capacity
of eternal suffering. All the sons and daughters
of Adam, must stand before the judgment-seat of
Christ. "Before him shall be gathered all nations :
and he shall separate them one from another, as a
shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and he
shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats
on the left. Then shall the king say unto them
on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the
foundation of the world. Then shall he say also
unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye
cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil
and his angels."

Let us endeavour to improve this subject by making two inquiries.

1. Where are we now?

We are in a transitory world, dying creatures, born unto trouble, and rapidly hastening into eternity. But we are also in the land of grace, of prayer, and of hope; and under a dispensation of mercy. We are indeed, by nature and practice, condemned sinners; but we are respited, and thus an opportunity is graciously afforded us to avail ourselves of the offers of mercy made to us by the God of love. "God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life." The Saviour has been sent.

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