THE END Or TIME. 333 and introduce you into his Father's presence with com- fort: This is a day of hope for the vilest and most hate- ful criminals ; but if you continue to refuse, he will shortly swear in his wrath, you shall never enter into his kingdom, you shall never taste of the provisions of his grace, you shall never be partakers of the blessings pur- chased with his blood. Heb. iii. 11, 18. " I sware in my wrath, saith the Lord, they shall not enter into my rest." Oh the dreadful state of sinful creatures, who conti- nue in such obstinacy, who waste away the means of grace and the seasons of hope, week after week, and month after month, till the day of grace and hope is for ever at an end with them ! Hopeless creatures ! Under the power and the plague of sin, under the wrath and curse of God, under the eternal displeasure of Jesus, who was once the minister of his Father's love, and they must abide under all this wretchedness through a long eternity, and in the land of everlasting despair. But I forbear that themeat present, and proceed. V. Atthe moment of our death " the timeof our pre- paration for the hour of judgment, and for the insurance of heaven and happiness shall be no longer." Miserable creatures that are summoned to die thus unprepared ! This life is the only time to prepare for dying, to get ready to stand before the judge of the whole earth, and to secure our title to the heavenly blessedness. Let my heart enquire, "Have I ever seriously begun to prepare for a dying hour, and to appear before the Judge of. all ? llave I ever concerned myself in good earnest, to secure an interest in the heavenly inheritance, when this earthly tabernacle shall be dissolved ? Have I ever made inter- est for the favour of God, and a share of the inheritance of the saints, by Jesus the great Mediator, while he af- forded life and time ?" Death is daily and hourly hastening upon us: Death is the kingof terrors, and will fulfil all his name to every soul that is unprepared. It is a piece of wisdom then for every one of us, since we must. die, to search and feel whether death has lost its sting or no.: Whether it be taken away by the blood of Christ? Is this blood sprinkled on my conscience, by the humble exercise of faith on a dying Saviour? Are the terrors of death re- moved, and am I prepared to meet it by the'sanctifying 5
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