150 TIE RIGHT IMPROVEMENT OF LIFE. [SERM.XXXIX. reached your soul even at the borders of hell, it spread wide to cover all your great and heinous iniquities; it rises high, for it has lifted your hopes to heaven, and it stretches its sweet and sovereign influence beyond the length of time, and provides for your life and happiness that shall measure out eternity. Here you may proclaim the praises of your Redeemer to an ignorant world, you may promote his interest a hundred ways on earth, and thus glorify your Saviour which is in heaven. sa(This is not to be done in the same manner, nor for the ne blessed purposes amongst the saints above. When the body lies senseless and mouldering in the grave, the tongue cannot praisethe Lord; "The living, the living, they praise thee as we do this day;" as Hezekiah did when he was recovered from sickness, and had a sense of pardoned sin. Is. xxxviii. 17, '18. " In love tomy soul, thou hast delivered it from the pit of corruption, for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back. Thé grave cannot praise thee, the dead cannot celebrate thee, they that go down to the pit cannot hope for thy truth." This is the proper work of the livin saint, to make known to sinners the grace of salvation Life is the only time of suc work and service. " Op- portunity, (saith a writer on this subject) is like a golden instrument to dig for heavenly treasure : Do not wear it out as many have done in digging for pebbles, and at your latter end become a fool. Plead not your mean capacity : Kings of the earth, and all people, old men and children, may praise the Lord, Ps. cxlviii. 11, 12. Serve your age according to your talent; Mat. xxv. 15. He that had but one talent, but a single capacity, was called to account for it, and cast into outer darkness. Think howmany opportunities you have out- lived, which will never have their resur ction : Redeem lost time, by improving what remains. Project improvements of life, since your light is nearly e tinguished. Make up in af- fection what may be wanting in action. If you cannot do much, yet love much. Ifour servants should work no better for us than manyhave done for God, we should. turn them out of doors. Stir up others to work for God, that you may do by their hand what you cannot do by your own," Thus this pious author. Let us consider what glorious services have been done
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