NOW OR NEVER. 171 doing! 0 that we might once more be admitted into the holy assemblies, and have the Lord's days to spend in the business of our salvation! We would plead no more against the power and purity of the ordinances; we would no more call that day a burden; nor hate them that spent it in works of holiness, nor plead for the liberty of the flesh therein.' H e that would have Lazarus sent from the dead to warn his unbelieving brethren on earth, no doubt would have strongly purposed hlinself on a reformation, if he might once more have been tried: and how earnestly would he have begged for such a trial, that begged so hard for a drop of water? But, alas! such mouths must be stopped for ever with-' ' Remember that thou, in thy lifetime, received thy good things." So that " it is appointed for men once to die, and after that the judgment." But there is no return to earth again: the places of your abocle, employment, and delight, shal1 know you no more. .You must see these faces of your friends, and converse in flesh with men no more. This world, those hous s, that wealth and honour, as to any fruition, must be to you as if you had never known them. You must assemble here but a little while. Yet a little longer, and we must preach, and you must hear it no more for ever. That therefore which you will do, must presently be done, or it will be too late. If ever you will repent and believe, it must be now. If ever you will be converted and sanctified, it must be now. If ever you will be pardoned and reconciled to God, it must be now. If ever you will reign, it is now that you must fight and conquer. "0 that you were wise, that you understood this, and that vou would consider your latter end !" And that you would let those words sink down into your hearts, which came from the heart of the Redeemer, as was witnessed by his tears: "If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this "thy day, t~1e things which belong unto thy ' . -
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=