walk with God. Where he goes let us humbly follow, as the Israelites followed the cloud and pillar of fire in the wilderness; and we may rest assured that God will guide us to the promised land.

God walks with us, to direct our steps, to defend us in danger, and to comfort us in distress. While he is near we are safe. "I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand I shall not be moved. We often repent of having walked with unholy men; but we shall never repent of our walk with God. The more closely we walk with God in the paths of holiness, the more delightful are his ways; but the man who walks merely in the paths of outward and formal obedience, is a stranger to those joys which accompany the life and power of religion.

II. THE END OF ENOCH.

The end of Enoch is expressed in two particulars: "He was not; for God took him."

1. He was not. Enoch was not any longer an inhabitant of this lower world; he had left it to return no more. He left his relations, his friends, and his enemies. His pious friends might seek him for counsel and encouragement, as the sons of the prophets sought Elijah, upon the mountains of Israel; but he was not. His enemies

might seek him with envious and malicious designs, against his person and character; but he was not. Soon it will be said of us, they are not. Death is a final departure out of this world; and in a short time we must all depart! The apostle Paul longed to depart, and to be with Christ; and when death drew near, he said, "The time of my departure is at hand." At death our earthly connections are broken, our business is ended, and our race is run. Happy will it be if we arrive at the mark, and gain the prize!

Enoch had been a fine example to his family, to the church, and to the world; but he was not. How soon we lose examples of piety! Let us imitate and highly prize them for their works' sake! Enoch was a prophet; but prophets must die. "Your

fathers, where are they and the prophets, do they live for ever?" Prize faithful ministers. You will not have them long; they will soon depart out of your sight, and you will hear their voice no more.

2. God took him. God took him out of a world of snares, temptations, and`afflictions. When a good man dies all these are left behind. The world had not profited by the example of Enoch; and therefore God took him out of the world. The world probably had used him ill; but God took him out of the reach of ill-usage. He had

fought and conquered, and God took him to a state of peace and glory. He had walked with God on earth, and God took him to live with him in heaven. Heaven is a place where all good men meet after death. God takes them to behold his glory, to sing his praise, and to enjoy his perfections. What a glorious assembly! Enoch was made fit for that place, and God took him to reside there for ever! When wicked men die, devils take them. They are

children of the devil, and he is suffered to take his own. Good men are children of God, and they are taken to dwell with their heavenly Father. Heaven is their home, and they will reside there when the system of nature is destroyed, when the visible heavens and earth have passed away. O may we be found there when we are lost amongst men!

God took Enoch out of the common way, "By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God." The circumstances of his translation are not recorded. Job Orton says, "This was probably done in a public manner, on some solemn occasion; by which God testified his regard to his singular piety, and comforted the hearts of good and pious men with the hope of future

happiness, when those great calamities, of He which he prophesied, should come." was taken up, body and soul, without seeing death. No doubt a great change passed upon his body, to make it fit for the heavenly world; for "flesh and blood (in its present state) cannot inherit the kingdom of God." It was an easy matter for God to translate Enoch, and to change his natural body to a spiritual body; for the power of God is unlimited. The same power will be employed at the last day, in raising the dead, and making the bodies of the saints meet for the heavenly inheritance. O let us admire and adore the Lord God omni*potent!

We cannot expect a translation without seeing death; but, if we walk with God, we may expect a deliverance from this present evil world, and an abundant enDeath will trance into the holiest place.

find us out; but he with whom we walk will not forsake us in that awful hour. "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.'

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God requires us to walk with him; and that which is a duty, is a glorious privilege! Let us now begin to walk with God; and though the way be narrow, let us cheerfully go forward, without turning either

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to the right hand or to the left, The journey will soon end; the reward will soon be given. In the mean time God will uphold and bless us in the way. Every new day will lead us to new enjoyments; and the nearer we approach the heavenly country, the more glorious prospects will open to our view. Hold out a little longer, and "thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty; they shall behold the land that is very far off." Amen.