amongst us. Is it the result of a well-founded consciousness, that, in proportion to our free enjoyment of God's word, we have become worthily obedient to it's precepts? Have we this (the only proper) reason to allege, why we can hear its straitest commandments, and most alarming denunciations, undisturbed? Happy, indeed, are the few that are in such a case; being exempt from the terrors of the Lord, there is no inferior terror which can greatly trouble, or confound them. Yet beware, my brethren, of rashly claiming so high a privilege. Rather stay, and consider, whether you are, as becometh persons for whom Christ hath died, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, and living righteously, soberly, and godly, in this present world?" (Titus ii. 12.) whether you are walking "worthy of God, who hath called

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you to His kingdom and glory," (1 Thess. ii. 12.) by zealously following after, and carefully maintaining good works? Have you no occasion to be afraid on finding, that the religion of a man who bridleth not his tongue is vain; (James i. 26.) and, that "whoso keepeth "the whole law, and yet offendeth in one point, "is guilty of all ?”(James ii. 10.)—None for selfabasement and regret, on surveying the human character of Jesus Christ, as the pattern by which His disciples are bound to order their

conversation and deeds? Are you, at the least, learning to cease from evil, and to do well? Have you been giving a proper diligence, that "all carnal affections may die in you, and that "all things belonging to the Spirit may live and

grow in you?" Unless these, and the like inquiries, can be satisfactorily answered by us, "without partiality and without hypocrisy," it surely cannot be just and proper that we should be able to hear the word of God, and experience no uneasy apprehensions.

But to what may the fact be ascribed, that many so evidently are able? I reply, to our long established familiarity with the book in question. We have "the Bible" always with us. The appearance of it, and the sound of it's words, and perhaps the chief of it's entertaining histories, have been known by us from our early years. For the rest, we are apt to read, or to hear it read, without any due thought and understanding: there seems for the present no urgent need of attending to it, since we may, at our leisure, take it up again. Hence the case has come to be, that the greater part of men professing godliness, are wont to endure unmoved the most affecting parts of Holy Scripture; hence it is, that passages, the best adapted to convince and alarm transgressors, not only

fail to make them rend their clothes, and smite their breasts, but prove unable to produce such ordinary tokens of grief and apprehension as may still frequently, on less occasions, be observed. This, undoubtedly, is the true reason of our unconcern. Yet, in confirmation of it, I will remind you, that the best inclined and most upright of the Jewish nation, was the man on whom the Book of the Law had the most lively and sensible effect. Be assured, by the example of Josiah, that scarcely one can be too far advanced in righteousness to tremble at the perfect holiness of the Divine law.

So it appears that God's word,—the most precious of His gifts, by which He would constrain men to repentance and salvation,—is, to a great extent, lightly esteemed, because of it's abundance amongst us. The liberality of God in giving us His word, has become with many a temptation to slight it, and, consequently, an occasion of falling. Surely, however, this is wrong. The cause indeed is on no account to be spoken against, or removed; rather should one desire it to abound more and more. by abounding, the Bible will only aggravate the condemnation of the many who shall continue uninfluenced by it's contents. Wherefore, in conclusion, I will endeavour clearly to state,

Still,

how we should yield ourselves to be properly stirred by them, and impressed.

Let, then, each man know it to have been naturally his case, and suppose it still to be so, unless he can shew proof to the contrary, that he has ample cause to tremble at the purity and strictness of the word of truth;-let each man, I say, take up this conviction, and study to keep it alive within him, during all his intercourse with that sacred volume. And, in order thereto, never be willing either to read or hear the smallest portion of it with irreverent and inattentive minds. Whether or not, one may again take it up, the heart (originally hard) will be made harder, by every such instance of neglect: to slight a thing of importance to-day, is the very worst preparation for reverting to it with reverence to-morrow, or at any future period. Accordingly, every wise person will give heed, on all opportunities, to Holy Scripture, with a view to further by it his repentance and salvation, lest he become, in default of doing so, more dangerously impenitent than before. One of this description will not suddenly betake himself to the Bible, from any trifling employment or conversation, but will previously recall his thoughts, and breathe a prayer to the Divine Author of it, that his stony heart may be wrought upon by

a perusal of it's highly interesting revelations. Likewise afterward, he will not directly hasten into the midst of worldly occupations, if by any means he can have time to pause a little, and let that which he may have profitably learned take root within him.-This, my brethren, is the way to provide that the word of righteousness and of life shall have a good effect. Thus received and cherished, one chapter, or even one verse, may prove far more touching and beneficial, than all its chapters otherwise read through and through. The nature and spirit of the book will seem like a newly discovered treasure. You will be apt to rend your hearts, though not your garments, on perceiving, the first time, how angry the Lord may well be at your deficient obedience, in many respects, to His will. You will thence proceed anxiously to inquire what He hath said concerning sinners, and will fully embrace His great salvation, in order to your deliverance from the wrath to come. All, no doubt, must die, notwithstanding their best repentance and conversion. Yet, if any, like Josiah, will humble themselves, and turn unto God, through fear of His judgments, He will not leave them to die eternally. He will give them peace, and a good hope for the present, and at their latter end, and having redeemed and sanctified them