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present alone, is a day of probation. All beyond, is a solemn, and endless, and unmingled retribution. Those who have received their good things in this life, must have a hopeless, and wretched prospect before them, in that eternity upon which they shall enter, when God shall take away ther souls. To-day then, my friends, is a most important and solemn period with you. Your probationary sun shines with bright and inviting beams. All along your path, you meet with warnings and entreaties. Now, that you are hastening your way to the night of the dead, improve the moments as they fly. O, let not the darkness overtake you, and find you at enmity with your Maker. Be not satisfied with receiving your good things in your life time. Stretch your hand, and glance your eyes to the heavenly world. Feel that eternity lies before you. Be moved by the invitations of your compassionate Redeemer. Raise your heart to the world's victim for sin. Bow at his feet, and live for ever.

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SERMON XI.

"Quench not the Spirit."

I. THESS. v. 19.

THE Spirit is here, as elsewhere in the Scriptures, compared to fire. There is no other element to which we apply the term quench. The influences of the Spirit are as essential to the comfort and to the comfort of the body.

happiness of the soul, as fire is, Would our temporal blessings

perish without the latter; we can have no spiritual enjoyments without the former.

"In

The exhortation, "Quench not the Spirit," appears exceedingly important, and much in point, when we view it in connexion with the preceding context. The apostle had said, "Rejoice ever more.' "Pray without ceasing." every thing give thanks." But how are these great duties to be performed? The selfishness of our hearts, is opposed to the disinterestedness required in the first. Our love of ease and indulgence, to the painful and laborious effort, and incessant watchings required in the second. Our natural insensi bility to kindnesses received, and our pride of heart, to the

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sense of obligation and of entire dependence required in the third. To the faithful, acceptable, and comforting performance of the duties to which we are here exhorted, we need the aid of the Holy Spirit. Without his gracious enlightening, quickening, and sanctifying influences, we shall make not an effort, either for the glory of God, nor for our own, nor the salvation of our fellow men. Would we then enjoy God;

would we be faithful, diligent and persevering in the discharge of the duty of prayer; would we enjoy the blessedness of a grateful heart, we must not quench the Spirit.

That we may be profited by this important portion of God's word, it is my design to speak

I. OF OUR NEed of the SPIRIT'S INFLUences.

II. OF THE MANNER IN WHICH WE MAY QUENCH HIS INFLU

ENCES.

III. OF SOME OF THE RESULTS CONSEQUENT ON QUENCHING THE SPIRIT.

1. OF OUR NEED OF THE SPIRIT'S INFLUENCES.

We need the influences of the Spirit

1. Because the Spirit is the great agent, in promoting conviction of sin. In this department of his agency, his influences are as important to sinners, as to saints. And the exhortation, "Quench not the Spirit," addresses itself with solemn import to every unsanctified person. Whilst it is true, that the exhortation relates principally, to the operations of the Holy Ghost upon the hearts of God's people, it is at the same time true, that sinners are solemnly warned not to resist his strivings with them.

It is the appropriate office work of the Spirit, "to reprove" or convince "the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement." No other agent in the universe can work so deep and effectual a conviction in the sinner's heart. Man naturally does not feel that he is a great sinner, and that sin is very odious. He does not see why it is, that God has expressed such abhorrence of it; and thence, uninfluenced by the Spirit, he is not under any very serious apprehensions as it regards the consequences of sin, with reference to his own personal happiness. Sin is very, natural to him. He is so entirely devoted to his own individual enjoyment, and is so in the habit of feeling that every thing around him may be employed by him to promote it, that he loses sight of the interests and happiness of those about him, and even of the being and government of God, any farther than the whole may seem necessary to the attainment of the private and individual good which he seeks.

This spirit of entire selfishness, would fill our world with wrath and death, were it not that the Holy Ghost reproves of sin, and by his invisible, and powerful agency keeps more or less alive, in the consciences of men, a sense of guilt, and a dread apprehension of the retributions of the future world. His restraining influences, by the method of operation now noticed, are an incalculable blessing to the human family. Those who are utterly abandoned of the Holy Ghost, are like infernal spirits, clothed in human flesh, that cast a lowering look of malignity and vengeance on all around them, that tells us, in language not to be misapprehended, that they

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