DISC. MI SIMPRIZE IN DEATH. 3SP - let them look upward to the crown that is not far off, to the prize that is almost within reach : " Whatsoever your hand or heart find to do for God, do it with all your zeal and might;" .Eccles. ix. 10. Let your loins be girded about, and your natural powers active in his service, let your lamp of profession be bright and burn- ing, that, when Jesus comes, ye may receive him with joy; Luke xii. 35, 36. 5.. And are there any ofyou, 'that.are.under decays of grace and piety, that are labouring and wrestling with strong. corruptions, or in actual conflict with repeated temptations, which too often prevail over you ? It be- comes you to hear. the watch -word, which Christ often gives to his churches under such circumstances:. " Make haste and awake unto holiness, be watchful, andstrengthen the things that remain that are ready to die ; . hold fast what thou hast received ; Rev. iii. , 11. "remember thy first affection and zeal, and repent and mourn for-what thou hast lost, lest I come upon thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know the hour ; ,Remember whence thou art fawn, and repent, and do thy first works, for thou hast 4 st thy firstlove ;" Rev. ii. 4, 5. Have a care of dan- gerous lukewarmness and indifference in the things"of religion. This is the very temper of a sleepy-declining christian, while he dreams he is rich, andhas great attain- ments : Take heed lest, presuming upon thy riches and thy self-sufficiency, thou shouldst be found " wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked ;" Rev. iii. 16. Keep your souls awake hourly, and be upon your guard against every adversary, and every defile- ment, lest ye be seized away in the commission of some sin, or in the compliance with some foul temptation. The drowsy soldier is liable to be led captive, and to die in fettere, and groan heavily in death. But blessed is the watchful christian, he shall he found amongst the overcomers, and shall partake of the rich variety of di vine favours, which are contained in the epistles to the seven churches; Rev. chapters ii. and iii. Though the greatest part ofa formerdiscourse has been describing the blessedness of a watchful christian at the hour ofdeath, and in this I have set before you the sad consequences thatattend sleepers, both whichare powerful preservatives against drowsiness, yeti at the conclusion of c 3
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=