SBRM. XXXIX.] THE RIGHT IMPROVEMENT OF LIFE. 'I49 ii.wfnl moment, must be for ever undone. At the voice of the summons we must go, whether pardoned or un- pardoned, whether holy or unholy, whether hoping or despairing. And a dreadful spectacle it is, as your eyes ever beheld, to see a sinner expiring in full and raging despair. But O, what infinite advantage has it been to chris- tians, that they have enjoyed this golden hour of grace, and been taught to improve it well ! What had become ofyou, O believers, if ye had, been arrested some years ago by the messenger of death, and hurried away into eternity ? Where had your portion been, if ye had been sent down to the grave in the midst of your sins, before you were awakened or convinced of your folly anddan- ger, before you had felt inward repentance, or had been acquainted with Jesus that bought and bestows forgive- ness ; before ye had known the virtue of his reconciling blood, or seen the face of a God reconciled ? While your hearts and life were all unclean and unholy, your death must have been dreadful, and your soul for ever unhappy. What infinitehonours are due to the patience and long-suffering of your God, and to the mercy and mediation of Jesus your Saviour? Glory be to divine patience, anfl divine grace, for life prolonged, and a sin-; ner saved ! II. Life is yours ; it is your opportunity of doing much service for Christ, and manifesting your gratitude for his redeeming love. 2 Cor. v. 15. " They who live, should not henceforth live to themselves, but to him that died for them, and rose again." Here on earth, you may speak of the wonders of his grace that has saved you, and publish his love that is unspeakable : You may tell sinners of the infinite di- mensions of this love, to invite them to partake of the same salvation. Here your lips and your tongues may be delightfully employed, in declaring what you have tasted of the blessings of the gospel, and the grace of Christ ; and call others to " taste and see that the Lord is good, and how blessed the man is that trustetn In him !" .Ps. xxxiv. 8. Here you may make it known, for the support of poor convinced wretches that are ready to despair, what heights and what lengths, what breadths and what depths there are in the love of Christ : for it L3
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