acquiefcence we are prepared for all events: Without it we cannot enjoy life in any circumftances, however eligible: Without it we must be wholly unprovided against misfortunes, diftreffes and danger: We must be at the mercy of all who may wifh and be able to injure us. And in what condition are we to appear before our Judge? The Lord is at hand. The thoughts and intents of our hearts are open to him. Let us then, according to the apoftle's inftruction, refer the term of our life, and all our purposes to him, without whose will nothing comes to pafs.

To fay, If the Lord will, we fhall live, and do this or that, expreffeth a becoming fenfe of the infinite prefence and providence of God, and our own dependence-a just confidence in his wifdom, power, goodnefs and faithfulness-a conviction of the transitory nature and infufficiency of things on earth-an holy fatisfaction that we, and whatever concerns us, are in the hands of God-a willingness to live the time he hath appointed, and in whatfoever ftate he may ap point-a fpirit of gratitude for his various gifts, and of refignation under any frowns of his providence.

Such a temper is the oppofite to that which boasts of years to come-of great fchemes to be executed, and great things to be enjoyed, in future years. It is the oppofite alfo to impatience; moft of all to that impatience with our lot which impels to fuicide; as tho' we had a right, by our own prefumptuous act, to defert our poft, to quit life without a call. It is oppofition to the will of God, whether men cut short their days by self-assault, by any excess, or by repining. He may juftly demand of fuch, when they launch into eternity, How cameft thou here before thy time?— the work given thee to do not finished nor begun? Life is the time which God hath given to ferve his will in our generation, and to finifh his work. This work, if not done while the day lafts, cannot be done at all: For no man can work when the night cometh.

Shall we pursue our fecular business with ardour; but in regard to our main bufinefs be all the day idle? There is a time for every good purpose. Every thing is beautiful in its feason. The wife and the pious refer it to the God of their lives, whether they fhall do this or that, be it ever so juft in itself.

Take all prudent care of life and health. Provide for your own. Guard your rights by all reasonable means. Do good to all as you have opportunity. Having, according to your means and ability, laid a foundation for fafety, comfort and usefulness in time to come, should life be fpared, hefitate not to leave it with God to do what feemeth him good. Whatever purpofe you form, be fure that it be no other than accords with his will. Prefume not to refolve on lefs or more. When he giveth time and opportunity for any good purpose, defer not the performance. For For you know not what will be on the morrow. Another opportu

nity may not offer; at least not a more convenient one than the prefent. You may not live. Or you may have no heart to improve a future season. Or you may be in no capacity to do the good you would. Your own ftate, or the ftate of your deareft connections, or of others whom you might effentially ferve, may depend upon your embracing the firft opportunity to do a neceffary and good work.

"The willing mind is accepted, according to that "a man hath." If, however, you do not lack opportunity, and yet neglect it, God may deny you another fpace to get, enjoy, or do good. Paft opportunities never return: Future ones may not be indulged you. Have the past been mifimproved? The only amends you can make is to lay hold of the prefent-to do with all your might whatfoever your hand findeth to do. "Ac

quaint now thyfelf with him, and be at peace: "Hereby good fhall come unto thee,"

Though we may not boaft of time to come, it behoves us to review time paft-paft fmiles and frowns,

and our behaviour under them-paft advantages to be bleffings to others and ourselves, to lay a good foundation against the time to come; and the ufe we have made of these advantages. What have we done for God, for our generation, and for our own fouls? What have we left undone, which we ought to have done? Have we, and how far, minded or neglected our own business? Hath our youth, our manhood, or our decline been regulated by our Lord's injunction, Go, work to-day in my vineyard? Hath paft experience of the world taught us its emptinefs? the vanity of human wifhes? of all purfuits which do not centre and terminate in God?

-Ye who have chofen him for your portion, who make it your fupreme care to know, obey and fubmit to his will, labour after a more entire refignation, and more constant attention to his footsteps. It is the fum of piety to govern ourselves by his direction-to have no feparate will. The trial of this fpirit is when our own wishes are denied, and our hopes difappointed. He is the proper Judge what is fit and beft-by what means our chief good will be fecured. He hath kept the times and feafons in his own power. His time is always the fitteft. He feeth the end from the beginning. One day and a thousand years are alike to him. We are of yesterday, and know nothing. Events, which God meaneth for the good of his fervants, may, in their own view, be against them. Hard as fubmiffion may be, it is owing to human imperfection that it is fo. The end of the Lord in trying their faith and patience is not duly confidered. Any want of fubmiffion, any impatience, is unreasonable and unthankful, harder to bear than the outward evil. Every wish to choose for ourselves is rebellion; as is every complaint. Lay your hand upon your heart, and be humbled in the fight of God for every thing of this kind. "Be "watchful, and ftrengthen the things which are ready " to day." Remember your declenfions, and repent.

Pray for this fpirit more and more: "Not as we will, "but as thou wilt." Keep in mind the Saviour's example and counsel ; "My meat is to do the will of "him who fent me. Yet a little while have ye the light with you: Walk while ye have the light." Thus will you be ready to fay, when the hour of your departure is at hand, Come, Lord Jefus.

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Are there not numbers present who have never realized so obvious a truth as that before us, Your life is a vapour? a scene of difappointment, labour and forrow. If paft days, and years, and the history of the world have fhewn that changes, grief and perplexity are infeparable from the condition of man, you have no reafon to fuppofe that there will be an alteration for the better, until the period fixed in prophecy, the times of the reftitution of all things. With all that earth can give, man faith not, It is enough. Shall he oppofe the will of God, whose favour is better than life? Shall he affume to be independent? In his fulness, shall he deny the Being who giveth him richly all things to enjoy? If poor, fhall he fret against God, and envy others their poffeffions? If forrowful, fhall he indulge to that forrow which worketh death? If joyful, fhall he fay, To-morrow fhall be as this day, and much more abundant?

Would to God that all who have lived, forgetful of him, all who have been indifferent to the work he hath given them to do, all murmurers, all who difquiet themselves in vain, might think foberly. He may require their foul this night. In what preparation are they to appear before him? To thofe who fay, To-day, or to-morrow, or the next year, we will get gain, or promotion, or take our ease, or acquire fame, what would be the advantage of many years to come? Continuing in their present temper, they will but treasure up to themfelyes wrath. What is your life? Be fober, and watch unto prayer. In vain will you afk, Who will fhew us any good? Rather learn to fay, The

will of the Lord be done. Until this shall be your heart's defire and prayer, you will be far from your defired reft.

By the removal of our acquaintance, neighbours and kindred, with the attendant circumstances, we are conftantly reminded of fuch truths as the following: The progrefs of time-the vanity of human hopesthe folly and danger of depending on future years-the high importance of an habitual sense of our own infufficiency, and of making God in Chrift our hope-the wisdom of governing ourselves by the will of God in all relations and circumftances, waiting for our great change. If pain and fickness, disappointment and forrow, whether our own or of others, have not taught us difengagement from the world, we have lived to little purpose. In vain are we afflicted in the distress or removal of those who are most dear to us on earth, if we do not forrow after a godly fort-do not bring forth fruit meet for repentance. The way of peace is to have no will of our own-to feek firft the kingdom of God to wait on him, hope in his word, acquiefce and rejoice in his government, whatever may befal us. Have any prefent lived hitherto to the lufts of men? May the time past of their lives fuffice them to have thus lived. May they live the reft of their time to the will of God. The time is fhort. The Lord is at hand. We are not our own. Whether therefore we live or die, it highly concerns us to live and die to the Lord. We are ftrangers and fojourners on earth, as all our fathers were. Lord, make us to know how frail we are-to remember how fhort our time is. Teach us all, old and young, high and low, rich and poor, so to number our days as to apply our hearts unto wisdom.