were wise, that they understood this, THAT

THEY WOULD CONSIDER THEIR LATTER

END. Such, in the judgment of the All-wise God, is one of the surest marks of true wisdom. And, believe me, my brethren, all worldly wisdom, separated from this, or opposed to it, shall appear as real ignorance as the greatest folly, and as the veriest madness, in that day, when God shall judge the secrets of men's hearts according to the Gospel.

I have been led to these observations, in the commencement of this discourse, by a desire to obviate a difficulty, which sometimes presents itself in the way of the youthful pilgrim; especially of him who has a taste for classic lore and polite literature. If it be inquired, Must we relinquish the study of the Muses? we answer, No; but we beseech you neglect not the study of the Scriptures. Admire, if you please,-for who can fail to admire?-the orations of the two great masters of Grecian and Roman eloquence; but do not forget the words of a greater than either, who spake as never man spake.

Derive all the instruction which you can from the annals of history; but do not overlook the annals of the Church, or the records of salvation. Having formed your taste in the studies of the Grove, come forth and consecrate your powers to the service of THE CROSS. And determine, henceforth, to glory in Him alone, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.

To this Divine Saviour I am to direct your attention this evening, while endeavouring to improve the removal of a young man, who was doubtless well known to many of you. And God grant that this solemn occasion may prove a lasting benefit to the young persons, from the age of fifteen to twenty, so many of whom I see now before me. Several of you, my dear hearers, have enjoyed the advantages of a good education; a blessing which, we rejoice to think, is so widely diffused in this parish, by our excellent and chartered Grammar School. Yet forgive me, if I press upon your notice a spiritual education; yea more, the regeneration of the

soul, the being begotten again, the being born from above. Without this, you cannot be holy or useful in your day and generation. Without this, you cannot lead a truly happy life, or die a truly peaceful death.

But, perhaps, some of you are consoling yourselves with the idea that you are in the bloom of health, and approaching the vigour of manhood. And so was once our departed friend, whose mortal remains are now inclosed in their coffin, and deposited in their grave;-that grave only a few feet from the house of prayer in which we are now assembled. Ah! one is ready to think, could he rise from the tomb, and be permitted from this place to address a few words to those of his own age, and then return back again to the regions of the dead, an impression would be made, both deep and permanent. But no! Could he now stand before you in his shroud; and with the earnestness of one who has beheld the realities of the eternal world, beseech you to be reconciled unto God; it would be all in vain, unattended by the power

and the grace of Christ. If the Saviour speak to the heart, the sinner shall see, and shall believe, and shall live. Without that, all human argument, or persuasion, or entreaty must be in vain. For let it never be forgotten, what indeed it is one principal object of the following observations to prove and to apply, that an exertion of the same Divine and Omnipotent power is necessary to the conversion and salvation of a sinner-in raising his soul from a spiritual death unto a life of righteousness,as was exerted on the dead body of the young man mentioned in the text.

The day before, our Saviour had healed the servant of a pious centurion. That one work of mercy might be followed by another, to-day he raises the son of a weeping widow. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier;

and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak.

In the remarks which will be offered to your consideration this evening, we shall notice the subject before us, by way of ACCOMMODATION;-which is the rather mentioned thus plainly and explicitly, because, as you are aware, it is not our usual method of discoursing on Scripture. This being distinctly stated, let us proceed, in humble dependance on that Divine Spirit, without whose grace all human agency is vain, to bring before you the following particulars.

I. THAT THERE IS A STRIKING ANALOGY

BETWEEN NATURAL AND MORAL

DEATH.

II. THAT AS GOD ALONE CAN RAISE A
DEAD BODY, SO HE ALONE CAN

QUICKEN A SOUL DEAD IN TRES

PASSES AND SINS.

III. THAT IT BECOMES ALL, WHOM

CHRIST HATH THUS RAISED, TO USE

THEIR LIPS IN HIS SERVICE AND

PRAISE.