years are wasted and lost, and you cannot recall them. Is it not 'high time to awake out of sleep'? As you think of the days gone by, as you remember how different it might have been with you had you lived in the fear and love of God, will you not turn at once? Will you not hearken to the call? Awake! Awake!

The time remaining is short. The sands of life are quickly running out. Much of life is gone already, and the remainder will soon come to an end. Man's time passeth away like a shadow. 'We spend our years as a tale that is told.' If you reach the three score years and ten, it will not be long. But it may be much shorter than this. A man was boasting of his strong constitution. He said he should be as strong at seventy as most men at fifty. But he never reached even fifty. A fever laid him low, and in a few days he was carried to his grave. And your life at best will soon be over. A few more mornings and evenings, a few more busy working days, a few more Sabbaths, perhaps a few more birthdays, or changes of the year, and then all of this life will be over. Your earthly race will be finished. For weal or woe the door will be shut, and your lot fixed.

Then do not delay. Boast not thyself of to-morrow. Be in earnest now. 'Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.'* Awake! Awake!

Awake! Awake! Many are awake around

you.

In a house where many are already awake and at work, busily engaged in their different duties, it is a shame if one, without cause, is still slumbering on and wasting the precious hours. Remember in these days how Christ's people are awakening. They are striving to save souls that are perishing. Efforts are made in all ways to win back wanderers. Besides this, many sinners have been aroused to see their danger and seek the Lord. Many who were fast asleep in the death-slumber of ungodliness a few years ago, are now numbered amongst the true servants of Christ. And Satan is awake. He is ever busy, stirring up evil of every kind. He loses no opportunity of tempting the unwary and of ruining souls.

And if this be, will you sleep on still, thoughtless and heedless of your soul's welfare? Shall the Church be awake, souls around *Eccles. ix. 10.

you be awake, Satan be awake, and yet you still slumbering? God forbid. Let it not be so. In sight of many awaking round you, I cry, Awake! Awake!

The sun of gospel light has arisen. When the morning is dark, and the sun is far below the horizon, it is some excuse if those in the house be asleep; but when it is high in the heaven, and light is streaming in at every window, is it not a shame for persons to be giving more time for sleep than is needful? Remember, sinner, the light has come. The Sun of righteousness has arisen over our earth. You have all the means of grace. You have a Bible in your house, and the gospel preached in your hearing. You have been taught the peril and misery of sin, and you have heard the glad tidings of a Saviour's grace. Pardon and peace are offered through His blood. The Holy Spirit is willing to renew and sanctify your heart. The love of God in Christ is brought near to you, and may be all your own. The light is shining all around, the way to heaven is made plain and clear. Surely then

it is time to seek the Lord.

'Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.' Awake! Awake!

Awake! Awake! The day of eternal glory will soon be dawning. True, there is much darkness still in the world. There is sin and sorrow, and sickness and death. All creation groans beneath the burden of misery that lies upon it. But this will soon be passed. A more glorious day is coming for those who serve the Lord. Christ is coming in His kingdom, and every eye shall see Him. He will make all things new. Day by day His coming draweth still nearer. It may be at our very doors. Hence let the sinner awake. The virgins slumbering without oil in their vessels awoke when it was too late. They went to buy, but it was in vain. They that were ready went in with the bridegroom, and then the door was closed, and could not be reopened.

Awake!

But hearken to the call now. Awake! Arise from sin; arise from old habits; arise and pray for mercy and grace.

'To-day, if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.' 'The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us, therefore, cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light.'

WHAT SIN HAS DONE.

IN has brought into the world all the evil and misery beneath which it

groans. It separated God and man. It drove our first parents out of Paradise. It slew righteous Abel. It filled the earth with violence, and thus brought the flood which destroyed all flesh. It brought down fire from heaven on the cities of the plain. All this Sin has done.

In addition to this, Sin has broken up ten thousand homes, and destroyed all the peace and comfort of numberless families. It has broken the hearts of fathers and mothers. It has made wives to be widows, and children fatherless. It has blasted the prospects of the young, and made those whose lives might have been bright and gladsome to drag out a miserable and wretched existence. It has filled the parish unions and the prisons with