181 / 674
SERM.
XENIX.]
THE
RIGHT IMPROVEMENT
OF
LIFE.
161
to get
safe
within
the
walls
of
paradise
:
the
thief
on
the
cross,
who
was
called
at
the last
hour of
life,
obtained
this
privilege
:
but
let thy ambition rise
higher,
and reach
at
some
of
the
more exalted stations
in
that
kingdom.
Then
shall
it
appear;
that
life
is
thine
in the sweetest
sense,
when every stage
and
period
of it
shall
add
new
honours
to
the name
of
thy
God,
give new
blessings
to
the
world,
and advance
the
joys
of
thy own
eternity."
Second Reflection.
If
life be
such
a privilege
to
a
christian,
and
be a
part of
his
treasure
in this
sense,
then
what a
dismal
account hath an
old
sinner
to
give,
who
bath
wasted
life
and
time in folly
and
guilt,
and
no
part
of
it
hath
been improved for
his
eternal
happiness.
O
miserable
creature
!
Neither
life
nor death
is
thine.
Bethink thyself a little,
and
review
the dismal
scene
:
Say to
thy soul,
"
What
have
I
been doing these
fifty
or
sixty years
?
I
came
into
life
guilty
,and
unclean,
and am
now
upon
the
borders
of
death unclean and
guilty
still.
I
was
born
a child
of
wrath, and
am a son
or
daughter
of
wrath
still.
I
was by
nature an
enemy to
God, and
I
am an enemy to
God
still,
and have
no
interest
in
his
love. Life
was
given me
that
I
might seek
reconciliation
and
grace
;
but
I
have
neglected and abused offered
grace, and
am
not
yet reconciled
to
my
almighty
and
offended
Maker. The
Judge
is
just
at hand, methinks
I
hear
the
sound
of
his
chariot
wheels,
and a
dismal
ac-
count
have
Ito
give
of
all my wasted
life.
I
have
done
no
real
service for
God,
nor
have given
an example
of ho-
liness to men
:
but
alas
!
I
have been
a
pattern of ini-
quity,
or
at
least,
I
have
followed
a multitude
to
do evil
:
Every
year
have
I
heaped
up
to
myself
new
treasures
of
wrath
in hell,
instead
of
securing
a
crown in heaven,
and
advancing
my
station
and
my
joy there.
Is
there any
hope
for
me in
the
poor remains
of
life
that
may
yet
be
allotted
me
?
Is the grace
of
the gospel
sufficient
to
save
such
a
wretch
as
I,am
?"
"
Yes,
O
sinner,
it
is
sufficient,
for
Jesus
Christ
came
into the
world to
save
sinners, even the very
chief
of
them.
There
is
grace
in
the
heart of
the
Father
to
re-
ceive
thee
:
there
is
sufficient
virtue
in
the blood
of
Christ
to
cleanse
away all
thy
guilt;
there
is
influence
enough in the blessed
Spirit
to soften thy
heart, and
re-
VOL.
II,
M